Defense units versus Attack units

[Jon Miller]

OK, my style of play is to have few deffensive units and mostly attack units (defensive units only for my stacks)

there are a number of threads in the strategy forum where people basically agree with me that this is the best policy

therefore I think that we should not build defensive units, and should instead produce attack units (and bombards)

Jon Miller

[Rhothaerill]

If we were playing against the AI, which is what the strategy forum is geared toward, then I would wholeheartedly agree with you. My style tends to preclude defensive units as well in many cases. However we're playing against other humans and that is where defensive units shine. You can often predict what the AI is going to do so you can plan for that and often don't need defensive units.

But you can't plan what a human is going to do. Not to dredge bad memories, but witness what GS did against Vox back when, or what GoW and ND did to GS in the Bob war (the dribs and drabs we saw at least).

There are a few other extenuating circumstances in this case as well. The first of those is our terrain. If someone attacks us they will likely land on one of our mountains to avoid a powerful counterattack. Even one unit that they landed would take us two or three cavalry to dislodge because of the mountain defense bonus. The second point feeds off the first in that we don't have the kind of production necessary to sustain attacking an opponent if they land on our territory. We need to make them come to us and beat their units against our units where WE have the advantage...i.e. fortified defender in a size 7+ city (well, eventually ), covered by bombard units. We can't keep up with the big guys in terms of production now. If we trade two or three of our units for every one of theirs, then that production gap is only magnified.

We have the treaty in place with Lego that they will defend us if someone lands on our territory. Within a few short turns we'll have the rail network fully up where a ROP will be able to get them anywhere in our land without using movement points so they will be able to attack our invaders. Lego does have the production capacity to throw two or three attackers at a defender if necessary.

So yes I believe we should build up a bit more of a defensive force, along with several more bombard units, and then concentrate solely on naval power. Naval power will allow us to be more useful to Lego anyway. The only reason I believe we'd need any attack units is if there is a war in the heart of Bob, but even if we got involved there is no way we could do anything of value with the production capacity we have (even when we have our max values).

[Beta]

Yup.

[Jon Miller]

I agree on the naval power btw, I just don't like defensive units in general

Jon Miller