Statements like this show you’re playing against noobs (That is no insult to them or you). Firstly I said “goon war”, so not the same thing. But to answer your question, vs CA, you win if you hit-and-run and abuse his CA by only letting them shoot when your next volley is recharged (Dragoons shoot slower). Problem is in a real game he should just pull back to safety. A noob might chase and allow you to hit and run him to death. If you’re an age ahead, you might be able to stand and fight, but with equal skill and normal upgrades you just lose this as Malta. It’s simple DPS and HP math.
Btw, saying “he should have made Skirmishers” was exactly my point here:
Attacking with primarily Cuirs into primarily Dragoons isn’t a good move (even Dragoons that are weaker than average). He didn’t do the “right thing” he should have made Dragoons instead. Even French Dragoons with Cav Combat will beat yours (assuming even ages etc). He should have thrown in a few stagger mode skirms to kill your Dragoons (even if he’s taking a few losses, it should still be cost effective in stagger mode). Culvs +Mortars can make quick work of Fixed Guns.
Many of the interactions you’re describing are only allowed because of noobish mistakes. I’m unsure what the decks looked like, but I suspect the issue is you’re playing with late game cards in Sup (I saw your deck in the casted Russia Mirror) and your opponents are playing too slow with decks that can’t complete later on.
The +5% he was referring to was about Mill rates. You literally said a +5% Mill gather rate will cause you to go to age 2 with a different number of vills.
Your beating noobs and your inactions with them are telling you things that aren’t true at higher levels. Have said that, I do have to admit I messed up my math earlier:
Over an upgraded Factory worth of food and +30% mill gather rates is still likely too much tempo in Sup, but I forgot to factor in the 6 Settler Wagons in Treaty. It’s would basically be -2 vills compared to a normal Euro civ with no extra eco bonus (85v + 6 SW = 97 vill pop). This seems unlikely to have a big impact on treaty (other than a small stockpile when the fighting starts).
On reevaluation, this suggestion isn’t terrible, but it doesn’t do what I think the civ actually needs (or what you probably intended). By boosting population space (shrinking your economy’s footprint to save more space for army) you provide an outsized buff to the most pop efficient units. That’s Bow/pike for Malta. I don’t think pushing them further down that road is a good thing. I love the bow/pike comps, but they need something that opens up more options. I’m currently working on a list of suggestions, I hope to have it out in early January at the latest.