Outposts

[marcuspeddle]

Does anybody use outposts? I think they are a good idea but they don't work well in this game.

1) I can build them at the beginning of the game but unless you're on a mountain then they become useless after your borders expand once or twice.

2) I have to use a worker to build an outpost. I could use that worker (or build a warrior) to patrol my borders. That's a lot more useful than a single outpost giving only a few squares of surveillance at one point in my country.

I think a 'border patrol' function for some units would have been a better idea than outposts. The unit would walk around just outside (or inside if the border is shared with another nation) your borders to check for barbarians or enemies or sneak attacks. Well, you could do this manually, I suppose.

Anyway, just my two cents.

[vmxa1]

In a SP game, I do not see the value in them.

[alva]

No, same here, don't use them in SP. They are just not worth it IMHO.
(maybe if they would give a small defence bonus too...?)

[marcuspeddle]

I'm not even sure how useful they are in a multi-player game. A cheap unit patrolling or fortified would be much better because it's mobile and defensive.

[Acererak]

I've used them a few times. To me, they are only useful on a mountain where they can see the farthest and in certain areas where your borders won't grow. They're useful in the right spot.

The typical places I've used them:
* At the very tip of my continent. This gives me additional warning of ships approaching.
* At the edge of my continent with a small sea gap to another continent. Allows me to see into the other continent.
* At the edge of my border with another civ at a strategic point. This allows me to see all their movement near that point.

I almost always use foreign labor to build them

[alva]

Why use a free worker, when you can use your own and save some gold?

[Acererak]

Originally posted by alva
Why use a free worker, when you can use your own and save some gold?

Noticed I said "almost" . It all depends on the situation. If I build outposts, it's typically in the first 1/3 to 1/2 of the game.

If I need a lot of worker production, I'd rather get rid of a foreign laborer and build a new one. If I don't have a lot of food to build a new worker from (i.e. can't easily replace the citizen lost and take the hit in production), then I'll use foreign labor. If I have the opposite situation, I'll use one of my own workers.

[wilbill]

Originally posted by Acererak

* At the edge of my continent with a small sea gap to another continent. Allows me to see into the other continent.

I've never used them, but this is a good idea. Conceivably you could get contact with other civs much earlier than waiting around for Mapmaking. I like it.

[Flandrien1]

Originally posted by alva
Why use a free worker, when you can use your own and save some gold?

Because those free workers work too slow ?

[MoonWolf]

I use foreign workers for it because they're slow and I really don't need them most often. And why not let the enemy's poplutation work against him/her?

Also, if you share border with an other civ, it's good for always have a clue of the civ's tech status (defendig unit in city, terrain improvement etc).

[Sperricles]

I agree with the outpost right on a border with another Civ, especially in MP. Yes you can see their units, and their development, and all without breaking a treaty, you can also see their attacks coming sooner, and you can get an idea if another civ has a right of passage with them, because just because you and your neighbor are at peace, does not mean that your enemy won't be at peace with them as well, but marching right through them to get to you. Very good warning system against pillagers, and also limits the points where they will attack you with a sneak attack.