Building forts near bridges

**Grand Duke Vytautas** · 02-09-2005, 09:31

Hi everyone! I was wondering on what side of the bridge do you build forts? Well from my experience I have come to conclusion that it's best IMO to build a fort not in 'your side of the bridge', but on the other side, cause when AI army comes and seiges it, you don't have to fight the bridge battle against it. What are you thoughts? Thanks in advance

**Somebody Else** · 02-09-2005, 09:59

If you have a bridge, why bother with a fort?
It shouldn't matter what side you build the fort - because if you are making a sally from the fort - it would be a sally battle and not a bridge battle, surely? However - it would seem that having the fort on the friendly side would cut down on the availabilty of reinforcements to the AI, and increase it for you.

**The Stranger** · 02-09-2005, 10:02

yes just build an army and just put it on the bridge

**FURRY_BOOTS** · 02-09-2005, 10:14

i like to fort my troops whenever i can especially in the winter, it must be cold for the poor beggers,i would like to see in future games, armies moral deteriating if left standing around to long, making building forts a must, also recruiting local farmboys at forts should be allowed, they could start as veletis then with time can be promoted to hastati,principes,triarii etc,
we have some old roman forts up here in scotland & they were pretty much permenant features, im sure trading, recruiting must have gon on,

**Es Arkajae** · 02-09-2005, 10:20

Originally Posted by Emperor Umeu 1

yes just build an army and just put it on the bridge

And pay the enormous maintenance for it if you're keeping it there. I don't know about you but I build armies to go around conqering stuff, not sit around on their arses near bridges, stealing the locals chickens and harrassing their womenfolk

Forts are excellent for guarding frontiers, just build them, stick them at choke points with a unit of town guards inside and presto!

They prevent an enemy from rushing into your territory and besieging your cities by holding up an enemy army long enough for you to send an army to lift the siege and deal with them.

This keeps enemies off your land.

They also act as watchtowers of a sort and help to discourage the formation of bandits in the area.

As for the thread question it depends, if the other side of the bridge is someone elses territory (someone I'm not at war with) then putting a fort there would be a trangression. Otherwise yes I prefer to place them on the far side as it allows me to just stick my relieving army on the bridge where the enemy can still reach them, thus forcing the enemy into a bridge battle where I'm the defender.

Though there is one annoying bridge on the map, between Thrace and Tribus Getae where you can't stick a fort on the southside of the bridge despite it being perfectly flat/non-swampy, oh well.

**The Stranger** · 02-09-2005, 10:24

i'm not telling on every bridge just the main bridges with gaul i hold of the romans for 50 years with one main army

**Bob the Insane** · 02-09-2005, 10:29

I like to put the fort on the other side of the bridge with only one cheap unit in it. I then keep a army within a reasonable distance a few choke points ready to leap into action if one of the forts is besieged...

**Paul Peru** · 02-09-2005, 10:36

Depends...
A) If you are expecting action, put your army on the bridge, as previous posters suggest. You may want to have a fort on your side of the bridge as a backup, though. If defeated the army on the bridge will retreat there, and the enemy will have to siege.

Not expecting action:
B) If the other side of the bridge is neutral or allied, put the fort on your side to avoid transgressing.
C) If the other side is enemy, protectorate or you have military access (never happened to me) you may consider putting the fort on the other side to see a bit further, but putting it on you own side lets you fall back to A) or B) when necessary and lowers the risk of brigands.

Either way, man the fort with something with low upkeep. I use depleted mercenary units.