Does anyone use forts?

[Killazer]

Do any of you use forts or found any need for forts? If you do why do you build them and have they ever come in handy?

They may be useful as a front line harassment barrier that can weaken invading forces before they get to their targets. I don't know just curious.

[jshelr]

Forts are not used a lot, IMO, because most people are on the offense. It's also true that city defense bonuses are roughly the same as forts.

There are exceptions. Sometimes they are great to defend a choke point or key resources. This is particularly true if you can successfully hide behind the choke point and get an SS victory while the world is otherwise at war.

[Palaiologos]

I use forts a lot, actually.

I always have a strong neighbor who i can't invade so i build border forts with two-three defenders. The AI tends not to bypass them since the defenders take free shots at passing units. I prefer to build them on mountians and hills. Once a single musketeer on a jungle fort killed 6!!! invading cavalry before anInfantry unit stormed the fort.

[jabberwockysr]

I'd used forts in a similar manner in my first game, but that was when I had Civ2 ZOC understanding... Chinese cavalry took 2 of my border cities by simply marching past and taking the ZOC shot. Oops.

Since then I've used them in choke points to good effect, but haven't had any long-term borders that weren't choke points...

[Theseus]

I use them a lot. Chokepoints and Maginot Lines (more like Maginot Walls). Also for forward posts, and when elite-hunting.

[jabberwockysr]

Originally posted by Theseus
Chokepoints and Maginot Lines (more like Maginot Walls).

How can you afford the gpt to pay to man such a line? It seems this would cut into your science, but I've only played on Regent so far... I usually go for rail garrisons and a border patrol instead of a Maginot Line to save on the cost.

[Mattaba]

How about a war on 2 fronts, a line of fortresses with garrissons on 1 front and you can go on the offense on the other front.
It feels a lot safer when you have a line of fortresses near your border, especially in the industrial age with railroads you can reach them immediately in an emergency.

[vmxa1]

Never use them in Civ2 or Civ3, not saying they are bad, just prefer to be on attack. If I have a big time choke point, I will likely drop a city there.

[Theseus]

Originally posted by jabberwockysr

How can you afford the gpt to pay to man such a line? It seems this would cut into your science, but I've only played on Regent so far... I usually go for rail garrisons and a border patrol instead of a Maginot Line to save on the cost.

Depends on how big the respective border is... typically I only do this when I have to cover maybe up to 10-12 tiles. I don;t use all defenders, either... 1-2 strong defenders, and then I spread out my offensive units if not currently at war.

[alva]

Don't use them much, seems that ther's always some better use for the worker

If I use them, it is usally on the offensive (after rubber(double work-rate)). Building forts next to a taken city to protect 'stranded' units. And in case a culture flip does happen.

[Catt]

I don't use them a lot, but probably build several forts in about 40% - 50% of my games. Like others, I sometimes use them for chokepoints - I more often use them to build a defensive line on a border or front at which I do not expect to launch an offensive for some time -- by a "line," I don't necessarily mean a solid interdiction line blocking all access, but more frequently several forts in mountains or hills a tile or two in from the border as a good counter-attack point should the civ in question decide to get frisky before I'm ready to come for him. In effect, it serves to set up the killing fields well before hostilities begin.

Catt

[Chemical Ollie]

I have used them in a few games to block chokepoints against stronger opponents. But you need a solid line of them, preferrably on high ground.

Forts where better in CIV2, where units had a zone of control that the enemy could not pass. One option in CIV3 is to have a few forts on hills and mountains, then use plenty of artillery to hit enemies that try to pass in between, then use cavallery or tanks to finish off the wounded.

[XOR]

I use them A-LOT. One of the reasons is because I always end up with more slaves than cities + my own workers, so there's always a moment where there's plenty of idling (shift+A wating for pollution to come). Additionaly, I defend my strategic resources, not ALL of them, and I dont build fortresses on all of them.

On mountain/hill resources I simply fortify a unit w/o fortress.

On resources that are on the shore I build a fortress and fortify a unit.

On resources that are near land borders I build a fortress and fortify one or 2 units.

If a resource is abundant (I have many and I'm not selling any) I just leave it unprotected, unless I have too many idle troops and workers.

On borderline strategic positions (artillery ranges and offensive deployment routes) I build a fortress, fortify a few good defensive units and a couple of artileries. This does not mean every tile in the land border, in a 20 tile land border, 4 are usually enough.

Borderline fortresses are for peace time only, to get ready for a sneak attack. At war I dont build fortresses, I invade. But I've been getting a huge lack of sneak attacks compared to what other's here claim to get, most of the time I'm only attacked by huge multialiances, seems like the AI wants to attack me all the time but wont go unless it can put it's buddies in trouble with them.

[Bella Hella]

i've mainly used fortresses as a hangout spot for soldiers so i don't have to find them when i need them. also as a hangout spot for idle workers. i imagine they'd be good for a builder style game when you're done with expansion/warring. i haven't had much experience with using them to snipe at enemy units, although i hear good things.

[alva]

idle workers?? ther is always something to do for the little buggers!!! or you just have too many(not good for your income).