War Academy: Railroads and Defense

[Shiber]

Now that the entire continental part of our empire is connected by railroads, which allow instant travel in game terms, why do we still need to keep forces inside our empire?
I've seen some musketmen and riflemen in our core cities that could be of much more use on the borders. I suggest that they indeed be moved to the borders.

[Aro]

As usual, I agree with Shiber...
I do the same in my games.

[Hot Mustard]

I agree in principle, but let's not forget that many of our core cities are coastal cities, susceptible to attack from the sea.

[UnOrthOdOx]

True. Leave some in the coastal cities, but our 'core' cities can be emptied, freeing up more units for more...usefull tasks of attacking.

[Shiber]

There's absolutely no need to keep garrisons in coastal cities until amphibious warfare is discovered.

[joncnunn]

But be sure to monitor the AI's transports and be sure to send military units to block potiental invasions should we not desire to fight that AI.

[E_T]

Yes, aren't those Railroads just beautiful. I am so proud of them.....

E_T

[Robber Baron]

A timely suggestion, Shiber. Not only does it concentrate our military resources, but it also scrambles the AI's ability to strategize its attacks.

[Arnelos]

We particularly need troops in occupied Persia at the moment. Susa and Bacteria have some Zulu naval units near them and are defended only by single swordsmen.

[Hot Mustard]

Originally posted by Shiber
There's absolutely no need to keep garrisons in coastal cities until amphibious warfare is discovered.

This is not true. If a boat unloads onto a railroad, they can block access to the city. If you don't kill the entire stack that turn, they can take the city.

But I haven't downloaded a recent save to see if this situation is possible with our RR placement.

[E_T]

Originally posted by dejon


This is not true. If a boat unloads onto a railroad, they can block access to the city. If you don't kill the entire stack that turn, they can take the city.

But I haven't downloaded a recent save to see if this situation is possible with our RR placement.

With the placement of the RR's, we will have no problem with getting to a city, if we have to leave and travel on just one road square, only a bit of movement is lost.

Besides, we can build more Rails as needed, if this were to occure.

E_T

[Shiber]

But there's always a road leading to the city. You can use the railroad to get as close to the city as possible without using any movement points and then move on two road tiles into the city and have 1/3 movement point left, which is just enough to fortify.

Edit: cross-posted with E T.

[Thud]

I've started this process. Most units will soon be moved to Germany's border in preparation for our invasion.

[roadcage]

Before we go hog wild with troop positioning for invasion, please be reminded that our battle plan for Germany contains a high pillaging content. They will be moving deeper and deeper into harms way leaving a 3 tile wide swath of destructioin in their wake. This means that the main force will be not immediately retrievable for rapid reactionary defense.

Enough units will need to remain "on the rail grid" somewhere in our territory to be that reactionary force.

Just pointing out that there are tradeoffs involved. The Pillaging strategy with Army/Stack cover:

.) reduces the absolute required size of the invading force compared to direct city attacker rush (good)

.) removes that smaller force furthur away from home lands turnwise (bad)

.) tempts the defender to venture out from cities to kill zones (good)

.) reduces the probability of early city capture (bad)

.) is exceedingly deadly to a Civ (like Germany) that has taken the high trade few high pop city low shield way of the scientist instead of our balanced trade many city modest pop high shield way of the worker.

[Zero]

Move the units out! out out!