carlton@genrad.UUCP (Carl Hommel) (10/31/84)
Today's epistle discusses aggression - a subject near and dear to all budding
warlords, and of utmost importance to pacifists who wish to remain un-invaded.
1. Have at least 5 military in each sector. This cannot be over-emphasized.
If this token presence is not maintained, then an invader can walk in with
no loss of mobility, or troops. Further, he will be able to use the
mobility of his newly-won sector to to cakewalk into an adjacent
de-militarized sector. I lost my first country this way.
Remember that urban centers will not enlist - you need to manually move
a garrison in.
2. Put at least 7 guns in a fortress. This ensures that they will have the
maximum range allowable for your Tech Level. Fire off a shell or two
into the sea or unoccupied land, and find out what your range is.
3. Your guns will fire automatically in two cases:
a. You are being shelled.
b. You are being invaded.
4. Make sure that every sector in your country is in range of one at least
of your gun-toting fortresses. Then, if someone launches an invasion,
your guns will give him a bloody nose, and he might decide to seek
elsewhere for easier pickings.
5. If possible, make your fields of fire overlap, so your fortresses support
each other. In my latest game, this stopped an invasion cold.
I had designated many fortresses on our border, with a full load of guns
and shells. He was being shelled by 7-10 forts every time he tried
anything. This meant that he was several guns and several shells
each time he fired. Every time he attacked, his efficiency was reduced
by 20-70%.
6. The ultimate in defensive ability is a harbor. "A harbor," I hear you cry.
"What good does that do?" Well, think battleships. If nukes are out of
your reach, a harbor with 20 battleships will work wonders on defense.
All 20 of those ships will fire at the invading barbarian hordes. Smoking
scraps of leather will be all that are left.
7. Be very careful when shelling someone else. I forgot a minus sign, and
accidently shelled myself. When the dust cleared, 10 of my other fortresses
had reduced the wayward miscreants from 100% to 2%, along with 300 civ,
800 mil, 10 guns, and 100 shells.
Carl Hommel
Wife: Nuke 'em till they glow!
Husband: Then shoot 'em in the dark!