Learn how to win a ground war and rally support from allies in Civilization IV Part 22. Includes tips on defending settlements and choosing your constitution.
Walkthrough
- 1Rally support by getting as many people as possible to declare War on the King. Ensure you have their support, as you do not want another enemy while fighting the King. Allies are needed now; while fighting a naval battle, rally support. It is best to have 3 empires and a colonial force, with some natives, fighting an empire.
- 2Once your navy is damaged and returning for repairs, begin fighting a ground war. The enemy will land at the closest port city and attack the nearest settlement. Use all your troops to defend the city, and only move out to attack any artillery unit that comes too close.
- 3Defend the settlement, which has a defense bonus, making any attack an uphill battle for the enemy.
- 4Move several regular soldiers to support the settlement while moving your Dragoons out of the city. Dragoons do not have the Settlement Defence bonus, so move them behind the city or use them to attack enemy units. Dragoons have the strength to defeat enemy units; defeat them and then retreat to heal.
- 5Shift a few Cannons to the settlement under siege. They will have an extra defense bonus while in the settlement.
- 6Arm all colonists working fields outside the settlement to act as the last line of defense for the city.
- 7If the city falls or the enemy lands near another port, move all colonists to another city using available Guns and Horses. Use what is left of your navy to transport goods from the colony to another colony.
- 8To prevent invaders from taking anything, arm all unused colonists. Heal veteran soldiers who are useful for your colonies.
- 9Rest and then use veteran soldiers, as they are greatly superior to raw recruits. After the first settlement falls, start using Roadblocks and find more troops.
- 10Arm all colonists except those producing food, lumber, production hammers, and Liberty Bells to fight the enemy. Colonists producing ore, tools, guns, and horses should remain to provide resources for new colonists, troops, and building new units.
- 11Defeat all enemy forces until they surrender and grant your freedom.
- 12If you need support to keep your colonies, rely on friends. Other Colonies lending their troops and ships can reduce the number of units you need to take down yourself.
- 13Win your victory by harassing and using unconventional tactics. Ambush from hills and forests, attack when unexpected or when the enemy is fleeing. Attack only when you can win to avoid losing settlements unnecessarily.
- 14If you lose a settlement, ensure all colonists are evacuated, and then counter-attack.
Your Constitution:
When you declare independence, you must draft your own constitution. These stances will affect your entire colonial empire. Choose carefully.
Stance on Slavery:
- All Men Are Free: +2 Population per Settlement. This population boost provides more colonists who can be turned into soldiers and defenders for your colonies.
Tips
- War is ultimately won on the land.
- Always have allies when fighting a tough enemy like the King.
- Settlements provide a significant defense bonus.
- Dragoons are effective offensive units but lack settlement defense bonuses.
- Cannons gain an additional defense bonus when placed within a settlement.
- Arming colonists can provide a last line of defense.
- Evacuating colonists and goods is crucial when a settlement is lost.
- Veteran soldiers are more effective than raw recruits.
- Roadblocks can be useful for defense.
- Prioritize which colonists to arm based on their production.
- Leverage allied troops and ships to reduce your own burden.
- Use unconventional tactics and ambushes for victory.
- Counter-attack strategically after losing a settlement.
- The '+2 Population per Settlement' constitution stance is useful for generating more soldiers.
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