How big is your military?

[Proteus_MST]

Normally 1 Defensive Unit per City in my Possession,
20-50 Ground Attack Forces (For Example Cavaly and Artillery) depending on Era (more Forces in industrial/modern times), Nation size and Diplomatoc Relationships (War, now War? Actively trying to seize enemy Terrain or just defending? etc)
After the Discovery of flight usually 1-10 Fighters/Jetfighters and 10-20 Bombers

Oh and I normally play huge Maps

[jabberwockysr]

Originally posted by vmxa1
One point about garrisons is that on higher levels, you may need at least two troops for suppression. Unless you keep size down and luxs up, you will need a few troops in town. Unhappy faces come sooner as you go up.

Only for Monarchy and Communism though, garrisons do squat for happiness on Rep/Dem, which I tend to stay in through almost all of the game. This makes the rail garrison much more attractive, especially considering that you're paying for all of them.

[vmxa1]

Do not garrisons prevent rioting?

[Norris]

Garrisons only useful for, Despotism Communisum and Monarchy. Also to supress resistors in recently captured cities. I only play at Emperor level and some times at Diety where I have to Mircomanage everything!! It gives me a headacahe.

[Silpy]

Re: Military size

Originally posted by Norris

The AI will respond to the size of your military, or it's neighbors. if your military is small (and the AI likes you) his military will be smaller. when you build 100+ units the AI ups it's numbers as well. Does the term arms race sound familar?

But! If you start down the 100+ units road, it is very hard to get out of it! Say if you have 150 units, and your rival has 125. You deside to make the world less voilent by getting rid of about 50-60 units spread over 20 turns (3-4 per turn). They will eventully realise that you are weaker now, and they WILL declare war (even the Indians)

[Silpy]

Fools!

Am I the ONLY one who actully bothers updating my forces here! You would NEVER see me keeping outdated units (I call a unit outdated when a newer unit is better than the old unit in every way, so Cavalry remains in my forces along side Tanks, waiting for Armour units do oudate them, 'cos Cavalry are faster than Tanks!)
Only exeptions
a)I need every unit do defend the homeland
b)Dont have the Resorses to build new unit.

Beleve me, I laugh when it is 1900 AD and I see other nations, the most powerful in the world, who hung on to Warriors, Chariots and Galleys!
Come on, every nation deserses a well equipped, trained military. Just dont go overboard (North Korea)

[aaglo]

1830
Large map, regent, 6 opponents - 2 of them destroyed

- 44 cavalry
- 198 infantry
- 45 tanks
- 45 bombers
- 13 arty
- 2 swordsmen
- 18 battleships
- 12 destroyers
- 5 transports
- 43 workers(chinese) and +150 captured
- 7 armies
- 2 longbowmen

total : 384 military units.

Population: +135 million
Land-area: 225 squaremiles


Where can I see the number of my cities (there are too many to count.)

[Arrian]

Playing on standard maps, normal or maybe large landmass, I typically end up with 200-250 units. Probably 100-125 defenders, 10-15 bombard units, 10-20 ships (though I have had many more), 75-100 attackers. I typically add my native workers to cities and use slaves exclusively once the RR'ing is done.

-Arrian

[Catt]

Originally posted by Silpy
Fools!

Am I the ONLY one who actully bothers updating my forces here! You would NEVER see me keeping outdated units (I call a unit outdated when a newer unit is better than the old unit in every way, so Cavalry remains in my forces along side Tanks, waiting for Armour units do oudate them, 'cos Cavalry are faster than Tanks!)
Only exeptions
a)I need every unit do defend the homeland
b)Dont have the Resorses to build new unit.

Beleve me, I laugh when it is 1900 AD and I see other nations, the most powerful in the world, who hung on to Warriors, Chariots and Galleys!
Come on, every nation deserses a well equipped, trained military. Just dont go overboard (North Korea)

Other players might laugh when they see you've "invested" thousands and thousands of gold to upgrade spearmen and other outdated units in core cities well away from any danger.

[joncnunn]

There's really too many factors to consider for this poll.

Perhaps a Military Unit per city would be more interesting.

Say:
A. Fewer than 1 military unit per 2 cities.

B. At least 1 military unit per 2 cities but less than 1 military unit per city.

C. At least 1 military unit per city, but less than 2 military units per city.

D. At least 2 military uinits per city, but less than 3 military units per city.

E. At least 3 military units per city, but less than 5 military units per city.

F. 5 or more military units per city.

[Silpy]

Other players might laugh when they see you've "invested" thousands and thousands of gold to upgrade spearmen and other outdated units in core cities well away from any danger.

Not when thay pick a fight with me, and see all their units destroyed, their cities under my rule and their Civ good as buried?

PS I actully dont like war. It's too unorganised, it will result in death and destruction and it gives my funds a heart attack!

[Zero]

Originally posted by Catt


Other players might laugh when they see you've "invested" thousands and thousands of gold to upgrade spearmen and other outdated units in core cities well away from any danger.

Agreed. Outdated units have far better uses as MP than being upgraded to update unit. Heck, I used to save all my swordmen from ancient aggression era just to use them as a internal MP unit (moving out all pikemen to be upgraded to riflemen later). But if I didn't have any swordmen I'd keep those pikemen just where they are.

I'm not so sure about PTW now that swordsmen aren't the deadend... Hmmm.

As for defender per city question, I average 3-4 per city. It's not that I have 3-4 defender in city in SP game, It's just because there's alot out in the field stacked. In MP game? I havent tried Civ III MP, but in Civ II MP, defender/city averaged out much much higher (once again not necessarily all in city)

[King of Rasslin]

Sometimes you have to get down and dirty and switch to communism or monarchy if you want a long war to break the enemy's back. So, you should always have at least 2 defenders per city for martial law purposes. Smaller cities might not need that much, but 2 seems to be good regardless of city size. After that, focus heavily on offensive units. Their mobility will make them better than defenders while in your territory (because of roads), and they can take enemy cities effectively and quickly. I don't make artillery unless I expect an infantry attack, but I tend to avoid war in that time period anyway.

[Theseus]

Hey, King, where ya been?

While I agree that garrisoning under Monarchy or Communism is a must, I've otherwise been experimenting lately with MINIMAL defenders... literally 1-2 per *frontline* city only, and otherwise only offensive units.

[King of Rasslin]

Even before the marine and paratrooper arrive, it's still a good idea to garrison your cities well. In the ancient age, you need to be ready for barbarians. And the military police aspect is much more important if you are playing on a hard difficulty or if you just have bad luck in getting luxuries.

You don't need to worry about defending all of your cities in the back if you have a decent navy. Otherwise, don't be surprised if a landing force takes a city or 2 while you are too busy on the offence. I don't have 2 defenders per city if I am on an island. There are a lot of factors involved, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.