Defending cities and the empire

[Jacke]

I've not taken any game too far (at most about 8 years) but I quickly get to the point where things are quiet, I keep very low garrisons, say one unit (Hoplitai Haploi as Koinon Hellenon). With the low chance of naval invasions, even playing on the Alex executable (although I do remember Ptolemaioi showing up with a fleet around 8 years in), I only have to worry about Eleutheroi armies, which tend to be slow to attack.

But I worry I'm not putting enough into defense. Looking at the AAR's, I see player empires thick with armies, like the AI empires, even where there isn't an ongoing war, allow them to react against invasion as opposed to losing cities.

So what should I do to defend my cities and the empire?

[fomalhaut]

have developed infrastructure and intelligence networks to allow yourself time to anticipate any invader. Spies and watchtowers on all enemy borders, gives yourself a few turns to levy a defensive force.

its a huge waste of money to have a standing army, imo, but it is smart to have at least a one/third stack ready of professionals and a FM on call which can be supplemented by levies when the need arises.

If your empire is big enough, then you may need multiple 'response centers' unless your infrastructure is amazing like Rome's, whose highways allow for movement across the entire peninsula in one turn, able to respond to anything basically

[Tyrfingr]

As someone said elsewhere on the board: It's only in EB where the royal army conquers the world and the rest of the empire is heroically saved by slingers and family members...

Stone walls in every town and slinger garrisons manages most things. In my arverni game, Ankyra rebelled to me in the early 260s and I have repelled fullstack after fullstack with my silver chevroned slinger garrison. Meanwhile, the swordsmen and spearmen roams the countryside and raids the nearby towns every now and then.

[Ca Putt]

as long you have walls in all settlements plus some slinger(+haploi) garrisoned forts at some "goatpaths" a medium sized taskforce in central position is very usefull. for the KH it may be usefull to use a hired general (who lives in a fort or an allied free poleis) jet not necessary as it is a relatively costy alternative.

[eo9o]

The best way to protect your empire is block the borders with forts and watch the big plains using watch towers.
Don't wait the enemy siege your cities to protect then. Fight out of them, take a good denfense position and stay there waiting the enemy attack. Bridges and gorges are the best places to rise a defensive point!

You need to take a look in your territory and think : "What kind of defense is better to use here?"

I'm playing EB with Romanii and my empire extending of North Spain to Turkey, North Africa to Makedonia.

I have 2 ways of thinking:

1º - Deep defense:
Borders are not defended. The enemy can enter in your lands and take a walk there many miles with out to be intercepted by my army. Look the picture:



You can see my borders with the Dacians, they are my allies, so, I adopt the deep defense strategy.

2º - eggshell defense:
You need to protect the borders because if the enemy get in your territory it could be terrible! so, Keep some defensive points and confronto de enemy there!
Now, look those photo:



In Spain, I'm constantly under attack by Lusotanos and Cartagians troops, so, as I can't to extend my empire, I decite to keep my actual position for a While. I adopted the eggshell defensive strategy and put many forts with few troops there. The enemy need stay in siege until to build a siege weapon. In time, you can intercept them before they enter in your lands!

I hope to be useful!

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

As already mentioned, expendable border guards in forts are essential to buy time to react. Watchtowers on the borders, and spies in neighbouring provinces. Early warning is key.

For nearly all factions, instead of having a large standing garrison, I rely on having family members available in likely invasion areas, plus at least 50,000 mnai saved in the bank. Then, when invaded, I can send out my family member and have him hire a full stack of mercenaries to counter any invasion. Mercenaries are expensive to hire but provided no-one else is drawing on the local pool, they are always available to hire when you want them, you can recruit a full stack in one turn (if there's enough units in the pool) and they don't cost you any upkeep BEFORE you hire them, only afterwards. This is easier and cheaper than maintaining large standing armies. The final advantage of hiring mercenaries is that they don't deplete your towns of population, unlike ordinary recruiting.