Early Game Cao Cao - Expand North?

[G0LKS]

As Cao Cao is it best to go North and take out Yuan Shao early? In my last few Cao Cao campaigns, I've expanded south because of all the easy-to-take Han territory. However, this leaves me with too many open fronts with Sun Jian, Liu Biao, and various other small factions.

Would it be best to expand north instead and conquer Yuan Shao and Gungsun zan territories since they're easier to defend?

[carl.bradding]

a little bit of cao cao dipolmatic manipulation and yuan shao is you best friend and invited you to coalition by turn 35 i used it to create coalalition of cao cao yuan shao and lei bia and was us 3 that made emporior rank 1st so now we fighting each other

[TDBD-SEBN]

Cao Cao has a lot of options since he cam manipulate the fk out of everyone. in my campaign I just abandon my capital and move slowly to the south, defeat Sun Jian early game and secure the south while using froxy war to gain diplomacy advantages. I like how in this game you can easily migrate. as Liu Biao or yellow turban I also migrated to the south, for now Sun Jian has no competition, so I always prefer taking him down early. Yuan Shao is ok now, idk why people complain so much. just hope in the future update, the south got more factions so it gives players more choice.

[Crowkeeper]

Sun Jian is top priority.

[LuNi]

Expand south.

[Greldinart]

cao cao only want to expand milf harem...historic truth

[alex010300]

Never won the game with Cao Cao yet but historically he went east and booted out Liu Bei and then went North and destroy Yuan Shao.

[tz7bandit]

Going south immediately is the coward's way. Chen must be defended at all costs. Spec into military infrastructure and aiming for the 10% replenishment increase and building the added garrison in all your commanderies. Expand to the east aiming to take Guanling and the Tradeport which will give you access to trade with the rest of the world. Proxy war sun Jian against Liu Biao and yuan shu and eventually get in a coalition with Liu Bei. This will allow you to follow the story and kill Tao Qian and eventually retake the old capital of Luo Ang. Be prepared for all-out wars and betrayal the first 30-40 or so turns. Don't be afraid to sign non-agression pacts with some of the other minor warlords to the immediate north and northeast and betray them when the time is right. Works on legendary difficulty to set up a really fun mid game for the eventual showdown with Sun Jian and whoever comes out the top dog in the North. Running to the south like a craven from the center of power is only for the weak.

[Crowkeeper]

Originally posted by tz7bandit:

Running to the south like a craven from the center of power is only for the weak.

Uhm, no, going south to destroy Sun Jian early is for the intelligent.

[alex010300]

Not going to sugar coat it, it's going to be tough going east and than North. Yet the real Cao Cao did it.

[Crowkeeper]

Originally posted by alex010300:

Not going to sugar coat it, it's going to be tough going east and than North. Yet the real Cao Cao did it.

To be fair, Cao Cao didn't have a Sun Jian that conquers the southlands uncontested.

[ACS36]

Taking too much han terriority in the early game is a trap for several factions(including sun jian). The ideal strategy is taking out threats early so you don't have much to worry about in the late game. Preventing other factions from vassal/coalition blobbing is way more important for your late game strategy than gathering han settlements. Even taking out tiny factions in the early game should be the players priority as this will prevent the AI from being able to turn them into vassals.

In regards to Sun Jian, too many players think taking all the southern land is the best way to play him, but in reality it's not the optimal path to victory and a lot of it's wasted time. He doesn't need all that land to win the game. His efforts are much better off spent in the north disrupting the AI as early as possible.

[tz7bandit]

Originally posted by WouldSmash:

Originally posted by tz7bandit:

Running to the south like a craven from the center of power is only for the weak.

Uhm, no, going south to destroy Sun Jian early is for the intelligent.

Some of us like to have fun and recreate the history, not running to the south and hiding for 100 turns to repopulate the abandoned south and playing a city builder simulator.
That's probably why you haven't won a campaign after 140 hours because the way you play makes the game boring and tedious

[Crowkeeper]

Originally posted by tz7bandit:

Originally posted by WouldSmash:

Uhm, no, going south to destroy Sun Jian early is for the intelligent.

Some of us like to have fun and recreate the history, not running to the south and hiding for 100 turns to repopulate the abandoned south and playing a city builder simulator.
That's probably why you haven't won a campaign after 140 hours because the way you play makes the game boring and tedious

Hiding? LOL No, I play to win. Kill Sun Jian and then consolidate. You then just kill everything else with your southern flank safe and secure. It's called being pragmatic.

I haven't finished a campaign because I get bored once I become King. The early game is the most fun. Check my other achievements for previous TWs.

Oh, and just for you, I'm going to finish my legendary campaign tonight. I'll be sure to post here once it is finished so I can gloat.

[Kuromiya]

Originally posted by WouldSmash:

Originally posted by tz7bandit:

Some of us like to have fun and recreate the history, not running to the south and hiding for 100 turns to repopulate the abandoned south and playing a city builder simulator.
That's probably why you haven't won a campaign after 140 hours because the way you play makes the game boring and tedious

Hiding? LOL No, I play to win. Kill Sun Jian and then consolidate. You then just kill everything else with your southern flank safe and secure. It's called being pragmatic.

If you play to win, why would you pick Cow Cow?

[Crowkeeper]

Originally posted by KickySonichu:

Originally posted by WouldSmash:

Hiding? LOL No, I play to win. Kill Sun Jian and then consolidate. You then just kill everything else with your southern flank safe and secure. It's called being pragmatic.

If you play to win, why would you pick Cow Cow?

That's a silly question. I'll play as any faction, Cao Cao was just the topic.