Splitting an empire?

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

If I conquer the middle of an empire, splitting it into two unconnected parts, will that drive a spike through their economy? Seems like it would make sense. I don't mean just conquering their land, but does actually breaking their empire in half do extra damage to them?

[LCD Soundsystem]

well i guess they lose road trade.

[Ciisar]

well i guess they lose road trade.

Me to.

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

Me to.

Same here...

[eXistenZ]

Conquering of any province would hit their economy. but sea trade still makes a lot more cash than road trade.

[Fireright]

Yip, sea trade is where the big money is. Spiking an empire should cut the road trade, esp where towns are pre-programmed to trade with each other by land. If you're squat in the middle, might make doubly sure by plonking a stack or two on roads...like what those pesky rebels do.

[Steve2295]

Try conquer all their coast cities

that would really cripple them

[roam]

I just go in and smash them up, taking the cities logically, to avoid fighting on more than 1 front in that area. Against the computer i never bother with strtegies like that. I find there is no need. I can generally beat the ai in a battle...it usually allows it on my terms.

Yes it would ut road trade, but cutting naval trade is better.

[Spartan198]

Try conquer all their coast cities

that would really cripple them

It also eliminates their navy, so it works two-fold.

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

Thanks, especially on the tip for road blocking.

[Hader]

Ideally, yes, splitting the Empire like that would cause some serious problems to the nation in question. However, as far as RTW goes, it wouldn't really serve to do anything significant on its own. I mean, you can do this and you will block land trade, however, if they still have sea trade, or if they still control some really prosperous city, then it just won't affect them to the point of an economical collapse on their accord. True, they will likely try to retake the city, but in RTW that's because the AI just wants the city back for the sake of having it, not just for the re-establishment of land trade routes.

If you want to cripple an AI economically, the best way is to take away their sea trade, as it is generally more prosperous than most land trade areas. A combination of both taken away though, will definitely impact their economy quite horribly, and you might be actually able to see some of the effects of the loss of so much trade.

[Fireright]

Being plonked in the centre of an enemy empire is also a good place for assassins to easily nip out and do some damage to economic buildings/markets etc. Bit like guerilla warfare heheheheh.

[HanatielHawk]

Blockade ports? If you're like the scippii and in an later stage you want to destroy the Brutii the best way to let their economy fall apart is to take Croton and Tarentum, build an armada and drive their fleet out of the Mediteranean and blockade all ports in Greece, sea-trade is vital for Greece and West-Turkey, if that's blockaded it wil do some severe damage. Then take Athens to split their empire and next you can choose to damage their economy or grow yours, damage = take Larissa and grow = take Appolonia and Sparta or Corinth. From this stage you're a extremely dangerous enemy for the Brutii.

But, if you want to severly damage inland civilisations like the Germans, the best thing you can do is to break a way through their borders with a full stack army to Damme. Mogontiacum + Damme = severely damaged trade. Just think logically

[Julius Barca the Great]

Splitting the empire also has the effect of limiting militaristic opportunities. They won't be able to create large, concentrated armies nearly as quickly.

[HanatielHawk]

Splitting the empire also has the effect of limiting militaristic opportunities. They won't be able to create large, concentrated armies nearly as quickly.

Because the economy fades away

[Julius Barca the Great]

Because the economy fades away

I meant in addition to the ecenomic downsides. With fewer interconnected cities, in a game like R:TW, army production is slowed way down.

[Fireright]

Spiking an enemy empire also gives players several expansion targets, and can be a thorn in the side of the enemy. If the pesky AI does it to moi, that territory is always target #1 for clobbering, to keep fighting fronts down to a minimum.

[Steve2295]

I havn't heard of the road blockade tbh. Just a waste of upkeep. Blockade all ports, split the empire. Thats a economic downfall

You don't even need a boat to blockade a port, just get your army and move them over the port. Works for Fishing villages too I think.

[Dave Strider]

I recommend not just splitting them in half because that wouldn't do much. Then their cities on one side could all trade and the cities on the other side could trade. Plus if they're a strong nation then they're bound to have Trade partners(assuming that you haven't killed them or isolated the towns). I recommend finding the biggest cities in the "Hub" of cities, and taking that one. Then the smaller cities get less money. Also cut them off from the coast.

[LCD Soundsystem]

even better, surround them