is the city defense promotion ever useful?

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Well thankyou for that insightful analysis DrSpike

Well it is the answer.

[ghen]

Originally posted by DrSpike


Well it is the answer.

sure it is, but to the wrong question :P

[DrSpike]

To the question asked.

[Xerxes712]

If you aren't getting cities attacked, its time to up the difficulty level

I use Forts (does anyone?) out in the field on the border patrol. After a good beating, my army gets a defensive rest there to heal, plus one medic unit does wonders to heal them up.

I never seen the AI build a fort though for defense.

(Does the AI ever clear up Fallout too?)

I laughed at a Fort on a hill with forest on the border with my Longbowmen. It took the AI whole army 10 to 1 to take my Hambuger Hill.

I would say that was a good deal, because my counter attack was devastating to the AI city. Loosing the Fort was better than not loosing a city; to let the AI bang his head against it.

Yes, the defense bonus is good. The AI will pay a high price to take my city.

[Adagio]

I've never used forts, but I guess it could be useful on the more diffecult settings...

[Xuenay]

(This should go to the Civ4-Strategy section, perhaps?)

It seems to me like the best strategy would be a mixture of different units defending your city. You'll want a couple of fast-moving hard hitters that can stop the enemy units from pillaging your land, cut off enemy reinforcements and attack any artillery the enemy might bring in. The flanking promotions may be in handy here.

Then you'll want a couple of archers/longbowmen/riflemen/whatever with the City Defender promotions because without those the enemy can simply take the city without bothering to lay siege and you won't get a chance to use those hard hitters of yours.

Finally, it could be useful to have a couple of artillery units of your own stationed in the city, in case the enemy is all in one big stack that needs some softening up for the hard hitters.

[Dis]

I find the city defense promotion very useful for city defenders.

[pauli]

city defense is for the defenders who stay in the cities. you use other units to deal with pillagers and attacking forces.

civ4 is interesting because, from my perspective, mounted units are no longer for fast city assault - they're for destroying the enemy in the field to protect your cities and stacks.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Dis
I find the city defense promotion very useful for city defenders.

Too slow.

[Dis]

Originally posted by DrSpike


Too slow.

But I speak the truth. I use it all the time for city defenders. Usually archers, longbowman, grenadiers, infantry, rifleman all get this promotion. Unless I happen to be using grenadiers on offense. They can be useful against outdated units.

[ghen]

Originally posted by Dis


But I speak the truth. I use it all the time for city defenders. Usually archers, longbowman, grenadiers, infantry, rifleman all get this promotion. Unless I happen to be using grenadiers on offense. They can be useful against outdated units.

But seriously how many times do you let units actually reach your cities after they've pillaged everything in sight? The AI has one methodology of attack in the game... Pillage until completely barren, then try the city.

[Dis]

Originally posted by ghen


But seriously how many times do you let units actually reach your cities after they've pillaged everything in sight? The AI has one methodology of attack in the game... Pillage until completely barren, then try the city.

not in my games, but it doesn't help I keep them too lightly defended. They go right after my cities. And yes the city defender has helped. I had 1 grenadier fight off about 10 samuraii.

I had cavalry, but they were getting slaughtered in the open field. It took a little time to build them back up. Amazingly despite both the french and japanese attacking the same city at nearly the same time, I managed to keep the city. I still lost the game, but that's another story...

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Dis


But I speak the truth. I use it all the time for city defenders. Usually archers, longbowman, grenadiers, infantry, rifleman all get this promotion. Unless I happen to be using grenadiers on offense. They can be useful against outdated units.

Yes it's the truth, but your quip was already posted by my good self.

[Enigma_Nova]

A Tough unit in the city will make the AI think "Hmm ... can't take that, let's go pillage". This will cause the AI to start parking on your improved tiles and razing them, at which point you kill their units.
It's not always about the Battle, it's about the overall Strategy.

I agree with the idea of putting Artillery in a base. Probably not promoted to a defender, but being able to whittle down a big enemy stack is a great help!

[Grumbold]

I always put at least a couple of units in border cities with double CD promotions. If my army is busy elsewhere it can keep the AI busy while they come back or continue doing something more important.

I rarely have enough units on hand to obliterate the enemy stack before its pillaged a bit. I just try to put cheap improvements like farms, mines and windmills on the border line and hide the towns in safer sites. The AI rarely goes past the city to pillage them if it thinks it can have a go at the city itself.