Do you mainly upgrade old units or purchase new ones?

[Strategist83]

Re: It's all in the flat 25 gold cost

But do you not think it would be better if all upgrade costs were relative to the tech level? Why punish players upgrading units during the early stages of the game?

[Arrian]

Because of the power of early rushes via mass upgrades (build 10 warriors, save gold for a few turns, BOOM, now you have 10 swordsmen).

-Arrian

[Strategist83]

How is that any different from a 'BOOM, tank rush' during the later stages?

[couerdelion]

Absolutely.

I think the flat retraining charge is extortionate to early civs. Warrior to Pike or Mace might make sense but you'd have to have compelling reasons to upgrade to Axeman or Spearman.

[Arrian]

In the later game, city defenses are more prominent and civs are generally more developed. Further, there is a difference in the power of capturing (or destroying) cities in 1000bc vs. 1000AD.

Besides, you cannot mass upgrade anything to Tanks. You gotta build those babies from scratch.

-Arrian