Fortresses, Schmortresses!

[bongo]

50 fortresses!! That's not a 'mannerheim-line'. That's a Great Wall.

I would build more of them if I could raze them without destroying other improvements. Of course, if my workers have nothing better to do I raze the forts anyway and rebuild other improvements afterwards.

[Nym]

Originally posted by aaglo
Once I made a "Mannerheim-line" across the continent, approximately 50 fortresses side-by-side. It was beautiful

Can you post a capture?

[Patroklos]

Fotresses are in my opinion interesting, not useful. As all of you have said, you can just walk by them. Now as you all have pointed out this they can be useful because the AI is stupid, but no human player would make such mistakes.

What would make fortresses absolutley wonderful as far as the game goes is if they had ZOC a la CtP style, where you couldn't walk bt fortified units (in civIII I would restrict this to units fortified in fortresses). imagine cuting off access to seas and bays with coastal fortesses and severing continents with inland forts, kind of like what they did in real life.

[aaglo]

Can you post a capture?

Yes I can, but it's not very interesting anymore. I have long time ago crossed that line and conquered the lands beyond. Besides, the modern fortresses aren't as nice looking as the previous looks. And as I counted them, there were about 35 fortresses - not 50 .

[aaglo]

About the fortresses:

Why do they automatically change their looks, when era changes? It should require worker actions.

And wouldn't this be cool: You have a fortress built during the medieval era - ZAP - era changes to industrial. The fortress doesn't change looks, and it's effect drops 33%. But if you put a worker on the job, it becomes a new type of fortress with new looks, with shorter building time.

I bet this can't be modded in...

[bongo]

The fortresses stay the same but the graphics changes...

Why only fortresses, why not have roads disintegrate after 100 so your workers had to repair them on given interval If I had to manually 'upgrade' forts and other improvements each time I reached a new era I would simply find another hobby. I could take up fly-fishing, even with all the mosquitos you find around lakes and rivers the micro-management is still much less than 'improved' civ3.

[aaglo]

But.... but...

Old fortifications tend to collapse. And they are not effective against modern artillery.

And by all means, do go fishing.

[Zachriel]

The Wall of Eridu

In Eridu, there was a chokepoint which, as long as the wall held, could keep back the "barbaric hordes" of Persia forever. If they wanted to invade, they would have to come by sea. Of course, the Forts of Eridu were full of Artillery.

http://www.zachriel.com/gotm12/Eridu.htm

[aaglo]

Heh... that looks very much like my style of playing.

[bongo]

aaglo , I know that old fortifications tend to crumble or become inefficent over time but I'm willing to sacrifice that bit or realism for the sake of playability Did I mention that I violently oppose any suggestion that will increase the need for micromanagement?

If you want realism back in you should add maintainance cost for forts under your control. That way you can justify fortifications remaining intact and effective during the centuries.

[Theseus]

Zachriel, the SW Army should be on grassland.

Great screenshot though... my games often look like that at some point.

[Zachriel]

Originally posted by Theseus
Zachriel, the SW Army should be on grassland.

Great screenshot though... my games often look like that at some point.

The Army is question is on a mountain full of Artillery and reinforcements. The Artillery is in range of any force that approaches the Southern Wall of Eridu, but of course, can be relocated on Rail to any point necessary. The Army, Infantry and Tanks stationed in reserve can also be deployed along the walls as needed. If the enemy were to breach the Wall, then the mountaintop Artillery station will make them pay for every inch of ground they take. Plus the Army looks cool overlooking the battlefield.

(Admittedly, this is way overkill for an AI enemy. )

[minke19104]

Originally posted by Zachriel

If the enemy were to breach the Wall, then the mountaintop Artillery station will make them pay for every inch of ground they take. Plus the Army looks cool overlooking the battlefield.

(Admittedly, this is way overkill for an AI enemy. )

Or.... they can just paradrop and do marine attack..

If I were Persia, however, One of my nuke reserves will do the trick

[Agathon]

I place a few here and there on my borders before I plan an attack or if I think I am about to be attacked. I put a couple of infantry and a stack of artillery in them which I use to wear down enemy units that attempt to cross the border. Artillery are incredibly useful IMHO. I also take along a worker or two and build a fortress next to a city I plan to attack this helps a great deal, especially if there is a hill to build on.

I played a few games where I tried to wall off my whole country, but this only works up until the development of tanks (much like real life) and as soon as you conquer another city, you have to rebuild the wall. Then if it is broken the AI will hole up in the empty forts behind you. That can be a real pain.

[aaglo]

Okay, here's my fortress-wall. The picture is zoomed out, and I've put a red arrow on top of each fortress. Now this was the old line, I was originally on the southern side.