Your Use Of Forts

[dismal]

them me

OK, taking the map on the left, the border between France and Spain.

If I own Toulouse and Bordeaux, I have two big "forts" (aka citadels) that any enemy who comes through those 4 passes will head straight for. Those citadels more than effectively control that territory. With a couple of watch towers to warn me that an emeny is heading my way, I can get by with maintain minimal garrisons in those citadels if I am in need of troops elsewhere.

Why would I want to tie up 4 armies and spend 1600 florins to take enemies on under less favorable circumstances? The game is all about cities, "controlling" land has minimal value.

Those 4 armies could be rampaging through Spain instead.

[elbasto]

OK, taking the map on the left, the border between France and Spain.

If I own Toulouse and Bordeaux, I have two big "forts" (aka citadels) that any enemy who comes through those 4 passes will head straight for. Those citadels more than effectively control that territory. With a couple of watch towers to warn me that an emeny is heading my way, I can get by with maintain minimal garrisons in those citadels if I am in need of troops elsewhere.

Why would I want to tie up 4 armies and spend 1600 florins to take enemies on under less favorable circumstances? The game is all about cities, "controlling" land has minimal value.

Those 4 armies could be rampaging through Spain instead.

That's actaully one single army guarding ALL of France, 1 fort with 1 peasant each buys me from 2 to 3 turns, more than enough to prepare myself (aka train troops and bring the reinforcements), reducing enourmously the upkeep.

Bordeaux is a city also, so more money. I had 3 citadels, Metz, Tolouse and Angers.

With all that profit all of France and the Benelux were fully developed by 1200 (1 turn per year).

[Von Nanega]

Thanks, elbasto, that was a really excellent post for me. I am taking notes as to placement of forts and garrison armies. This hopefully will turn into a guide on to regional defense on all "areas" of the map. Like how to garrison and protect Turkey with minimal cost. Or France, ect. Thanks everbody and keep it up!

[dismal]

That's actaully one single army guarding ALL of France, 1 fort with 1 peasant each buys me from 2 to 3 turns, more than enough to prepare myself (aka train troops and bring the reinforcements), reducing enourmously the upkeep.

Bordeaux is a city also, so more money. I had 3 citadels, Metz, Tolouse and Angers.

With all that profit all of France and the Benelux were fully developed by 1200 (1 turn per year).

Well, if it's just one peasant, it's not so bad. There may be cases where you could save a little money on a static front. But, it's probably even better not to have static fronts.

Honestly, I generally pay next to zero attention to defense specifically once I get rolling. Certainly not near where I have a citadel. A citadel will normally be pumping out troops and be more than ready to defend if need be, which is seldom if you are generally taking those troops you're making and attacking with them.

[Daveybaby]

What's stopping the AI from completely ignoring your forts and plunging on straight to your cities?

Well, apart from its own stupidity, that is. Since the AI doesnt use forts in this way itself (and a human player would certainly tend to ignore them if they only had one peasant in each) this is almost an exploit IMO.

[Multiplicity]

The AI doesn't stop. Particularly if you simply put a light garrison inside, the AI will definitely attack it. even if they decide they don't, they will have to deal with the zone of control (assuming the fort is in a nice choke point). Though if you don't put enough of them down, then the AI can probably slip a few armies through (did once with me as Egypt... bloody mongols).

[elbasto]

@ Dismal:
Well, that depends on how you like to play. Sure, blitzing it's the shortest road to victory, but I enjoy turtling a lot and so this strategy helps me to.

@Davebavy:
Whenever you come close to an enemy or neutral army or settlment (including garrisoned forts), there is a red area around it which means that you can't pass through that area without attacking the unit.
If you place the forts close enough and in choke points (a.k.a. mountain passes, next to bridges, etc.) neither an AI or human player will be able to pass through.
For this effect, notice the 3 lined up forts in Bordeaux.

[dismal]

@ Dismal:
Well, that depends on how you like to play. Sure, blitzing it's the shortest road to victory, but I enjoy turtling a lot and so this strategy helps me to.

Well, I wouldn't presume to tell you what you should and shouldn't enjoy.