Which do you use for garrisons: Peasants or Town Watch?

**Hurin_Rules** · 10-19-2004, 18:42

Just curious.

I'm near the end of my first campaign as Julii and have up till now been using town watch, as they seem to have some military value. But now my empire stretches from Spain to Asia, and some of my interior provinces will never be attacked. Peasants would be cheaper; do they have the same effect on order in cities? Are there any downsides to using them?

**Slaists** · 10-19-2004, 18:58

I prefer town watch: since a horde of those under the leadership of a general stands some chance against more advanced brigands... Peasants would just route... :)

**therother** · 10-19-2004, 19:12

For my core cities, that are highly unlikely to face a significant enemy thread, I use peasants; I also always have an advanced army within a 2 turn "rush-in" distance if there is trouble. I always have a diplomat in each city as well, so if needs be, I'll just bribe the invaders. Although town watch are significantly better than peasants, I'd rather not have to fight with either, and peasants are better value per man in terms of garrison duty, as it's only numbers that count.

Out on the rim, however, I have armies of older front line troops (e.g. pre-Marius units), usually augmented with a few peasants if I need the Public Order boost. I usually prefer to have my best generals and troops in the field.

**Doug-Thompson** · 10-19-2004, 19:38

Originally Posted by therother

For my core cities, that are highly unlikely to face a significant enemy threat, I use peasants; I also always have an advanced army within a 2 turn "rush-in" distance if there is trouble. I always have a diplomat in each city as well, so if needs be, I'll just bribe the invaders. Although town watch are significantly better than peasants, I'd rather not have to fight with either, and peasants are better value per man in terms of garrison duty, as it's only numbers that count.

I do the same, only moreso. I use peasants exclusively. There's no significant enemy threat unless there's a significant enemy army, and that justifies a worthwhile army of my own.

The AI doesn't use its naval superiority well. I haven't had to cope with a hostile landing yet.

**Akka** · 10-19-2004, 20:52

Town watch (or militia hoplite, or any other corresponding "militia" unit).
I mean, that's militia is made for. I just can't bring myself to use rag-tag untrained, non-organised peasants to maintain order and security in my city.
Gah !

**TheDuck** · 10-19-2004, 21:07

Originally Posted by Hurin_Rules

Just curious.

I'm near the end of my first campaign as Julii and have up till now been using town watch, as they seem to have some military value. But now my empire stretches from Spain to Asia, and some of my interior provinces will never be attacked. Peasants would be cheaper; do they have the same effect on order in cities? Are there any downsides to using them?

On a 'cost per man' basis, peasants are cheaper. But you can actually use militia in battle and have them not route instantaneously, which makes them more flexible. And for the same 'per unit' maintenance cost (100 Dinari for both peasents and and militia), I build at least 4 militia for each town, then mix it up depending on how much I feel threatened in the area and how much I need numbers.

I also agree with the statements about earlier armies. I tend to have hastati/regular archers left over after the Marius reforms that I put in backwater provinces to keep the peace and act as a defense force. My front line forces tend to be the hardest hitting I can make.

**Slaists** · 10-19-2004, 21:17

i tend to have garrisons composed of all town militia and wandering regional armies of regular troops: i.e., I would have an army for Spain, another one for Gaul, another one for the Dacian provinces, etc., everything else would be town militia.

**TinCow** · 10-19-2004, 21:23

I use the militia. The peasants can't adjust formations and simply sit around in a mob. I want my town guards to stand in pretty formations while being slaughtered by unexpected attacks.

**Doug-Thompson** · 10-19-2004, 21:30

Originally Posted by TinCow

I use the militia. The peasants can't adjust formations and simply sit around in a mob. I want my town guards to stand in pretty formations while being slaughtered by unexpected attacks.

Now that's funny.

How many battles are fought with town militia, anyway? I can't remember ever having to fight with a garrison.

If there's an unexpected, strong outbreak of brigands, I just que up some real units in nearby towns.

**Spino** · 10-19-2004, 21:37

Depends who I am playing but generally speaking I keep one or two 'real' infantry units with one or two missile units in each city on a neutral/friendly border or in cities that are unusually problematic. I deliberately avoid using low level, non-missile troops for garrison duty if I can afford better. In case a quiet neighbor gets uppity or I need a decent army in a pinch it gives me better piece of mind knowing that I can call upon respectable infantry units to help put out the fire instead of a pack of weekend warriors with pointy sticks.

**Oaty** · 10-19-2004, 21:42

20 units of peasants will give you the bonus for 20,000 residents. Whereas the town watch will only keep full public order for up to 13,333 residents. I garrison with a few few professionals and after that its peasants to keep public order. Where a town hits 20'000 residents I have 20 peasants inside and keep a profeesional army nearby

**Slaists** · 10-19-2004, 21:58

Originally Posted by Doug-Thompson

Now that's funny.

How many battles are fought with town militia, anyway? I can't remember ever having to fight with a garrison.

If there's an unexpected, strong outbreak of brigands, I just que up some real units in nearby towns.

actually, i have fought quite a few battles with town militia. the problem with brigands is: if you leave them standing for more than a turn or two, they start to kill your economy. so i rather use cheap town militia to eliminate them right away as soon as they pop. i am picking up some extra stars for my governors too...

**Slaists** · 10-19-2004, 21:59

20 units for a garrison??? that's at least 2000 dinari of 6 month upkeep, using peasants or militia. i think, i've never had that yet, except in the case my ARMY just occupied a city. the most i'd have in a garrison is usually 10-12 units. 12 including a wandering governor and some support unit (usually cavalry) he's taking for a ride.

**Doug-Thompson** · 10-19-2004, 22:13

Originally Posted by Slaists

i am picking up some extra stars for my governors too...

I sent a couple of young family members on brigand-killing duties and made them into four-stars, but used cavalry units so they could cover a lot of ground.

Also, i bribe brigands -- a lot. You can often get archers and garrison-level infantry for the cost of one infantry unit. I've even picked up a familly member once in a while. I'm not choosy.

**Hurin_Rules** · 10-20-2004, 19:20

WEll, I've gone through my cities and realized I should use peasants in certain circumstances.

First and foremost, in the larger cities. 10 town militia don't even give you 50% public order bonus if your town is over 25,000. So the extra 40 men in each peasant unit come in very handy, and cost less too. I'm definitely going to use peasants in cities that won't be attacked.

Peasants are also useful in cities that have small garrisons that they need to build up quickly. Again, the extra 40 men improve public order faster, cost less and slow the population growth more. Plus, if there is rioting, they are cheaper to retrain if they take casualties. If you have just taken a city that is very rebellious, peasants are the way to go for sure.

Thanks for the tips!

**TheDuck** · 10-20-2004, 19:58

Originally Posted by TinCow

I use the militia. The peasants can't adjust formations and simply sit around in a mob. I want my town guards to stand in pretty formations while being slaughtered by unexpected attacks.

LOL!!!!!! Ah.. someone into aesthetics. I LIKE it!!!

**Red Harvest** · 10-21-2004, 01:15

Neither. I build units I can use in battle, and shuffle them out when I need them. I keep some basic infantry or cav, and javs around in towns and scraps that I might want to use as an emergency force. Peasants are a waste of upkeep and can't be positioned to do anything useful. Town militia rout almost instantly on VH, so they are used only as a placeholder early in the campaign until I can disband them and replace with a real unit.

**Nelson** · 10-21-2004, 05:42

I only raise peasants to move population. That's it. Town watch do most of my garrison work with an occasional gladiator in big cities. In fact, gladiators only perform garrison duty or local rebel suppression. I never campaign with them.