It can be useful as it usually has 2 exits, so you leave a couple of units inside and walk the rest out the back. You can then flank etc. The larger your fort garrison the more probable it is you will have to attack because missile/artillery fire in that confined space will damage you badly. They are useful to block wandering AI armies. Place forts, for example, near Metz, Dijon towards Bern, on the road from Marseille to Genoa, 4 forts along the Pyrenees, on the bridge north of Antwerp, and one more southeast of that and you pretty much close off wandering armies into France.
They are useful to block chokepoints, mountain passes, bridges, river crossings. They also give you 1 turn (minimum assault time without spy) advance warning of an attack on your nation.
Of course you can use them as forward outposts, like this. I'm copy pasting here, please have a look at this thread. <-Link.
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In this image reserve forts replenish the forward forts. No army can come through there into Turkey. One of the forts also serves as an Intelligence HQ (emissaries, spies, asssassins), and a trading post (merchants).
Constantinople, which has been the front line for fighting off Crusades for about 60 years, has 4-5 forts surrounding it.
The Northwestern fort serves as a base for an Infantry army (the Sword of Hussein), which can deploy along the road, south towards Thessalonica, or north towards Sofia. This is mainly an army in training, but serves as the province garrison.
The fort also serves as a trading post, a diplomatic mission and as a secret service HQ.
The Southwestern fort is base to an all cavalry army (The Sword of Suleyman). This army is used for intercepting Crusades and other hostile forces as they are spotted by spies in neighbouring regions. This army is deployed beyond the empire's frontiers from this base, to hunt down hostiles. This army has successfully campaigned as far afield as Bern.
There are two "feeder" bases housing reserve troops for both armies. These reserves are deployed as and when the armies are in the field. The forts are then manned by fresh reserve troops coming from Izmir (Smyrna) and Malazgirt (Caesarea).
The cities have their own militia garrisons.
The same can also be done in hostile territory but since merchants (apparently) make more florins on their own territory, it may be best to do it on you own territory. You can also negotiate military access with an ally and establish this sort of HQ in their territory.
Of course as a superpower, you can also just walk in and push people around.
Thanks.Originally Posted by todorp
That's an excellent example you gave there. Bravo !
Anyway in game it's a lot of fun to do.
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Forts can also be placed in between settlements so your captains can stop in them on journeys. This helps prevent desertion and ambush.
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