Defending cities

[Elowan]

Firstly - I'm a Builder-Militaristic player who usually plays Americans (chauvanist and masochist that I am).

I'm currently on a continent that has Persia, Babylonia and the Iroquois on it.

My question is general, however:

What units and how many do you leave behind to defend core cities whilst you move Swordsman, Horsemen, and Spearmen to the front and also on galleys for an 'Inchon Move'?

The 'enemy' has galleys as well.

Answer and explain for:

1) Ancient world
2) Early medieval

TIA.

[Jaybe]

Depends on the situation, but generally at least one spear/pike plus whatever for military police purposes. If there is a possibility of an enemy "end run," then you want a few offensive units in reserve also.

Then there is (NOT) always the barbarians to be ready for.

[alva]

Depends, when I take the initiative(when the AI has wasted it's offensive units) and know the Ai can't reach my cities in 2-3 turns(and no barbs), I would say often next to none.

(new units are being build anyway, and if really necesairy, rushing is an option)

[jshelr]

Most peole give the AI little respect. As a general rule, a successful human attack with concentrated force seems to preclude AI end runs as long as you are not facing multiple AIs. So, I leave a fairly thin rearguard defense. Some people have also said on various threads that they prefer a highly mobile rear guard to make a few units go a long way.

[vmxa1]

Ancient - I am probably in despotism, so I need 2 units to keep the pop happy (ignore this if below or even at monarch), regardless of what I send off to fight or else cough up lux or specialist, in most cities (over pop 3).
Middles ages - I can have mimimal for safe keeping as I am now in republic and do not get any police action. I would have to look at the the situation. What locations are exposed and to whom? If I have 10 cities all connected and only one front was facing an AI and the rest are water fronts, I feel better. The will have to land troops and I will see them coming and be able to defend and they will only be dropping 2 units most of the time. I am a get by with the least number of troops as I can type of player. Anyway I will have to adjust if I have more than one civ to deal with as I could have 2 or more show up with troops and that will require my being prepared.

[joncnunn]

Your stack of defensive units near to be on the border cities.

As for core cities in the interior, sometimes I leave them empty on purpose just to bait the AI into sending it's forces at them so that my forces can take the AIs cities.