[GS] Did GS nerf encampments? When do you build them now?

[Bliss]

For me, I can't ever find a window to build encampments. They feel very weak except for, maybe, defensive positions.

I don't think that the resource storage is a benefit good enough to justify their existence, nor the minor experience buff from buildings.

As a warmonger, you are not supposed to be losing units anyways.

 

[criZp]

GS nerfed encampments by giving encampment buildings an extra benefit? Huh?

 

[Bliss]

GS nerfed encampments by giving encampment buildings an extra benefit? Huh?

Before GS, encampments were the only way to build resource units without having more than 1 copy of them. If you had 1 horse or 1 iron, you could'nt build a horseman or swordsman, so encampments were needed a lot more.

 

[Lord Shadow]

I wouldn't call the experience and production bonuses "minor". Plus it's an additional location with an autonomous ranged attack.

 

[Icicle]

GS buffed engineers which require encampment+ to build, so no, no it didn't.

Also being able to build armies directly is super useful.

 

[Bliss]

I wouldn't call the experience and production bonuses "minor". Plus it's an additional location with an autonomous ranged attack.

GS buffed engineers which require encampment+ to build, so no, no it didn't.

Also being able to build armies directly is super useful.

What moments do you build them now?

 

[Fluphen Azine]

For me, I can't ever find a window to build encampments. They feel very weak except for, maybe, defensive positions.

I don't think that the resource storage is a benefit good enough to justify their existence, nor the minor experience buff from buildings.

As a warmonger, you are not supposed to be losing units anyways.

Well, how are you going to get early Great Generals without at least one?
Don't you get a boost for building one?
BW shows Iron and building a first Encampment gets you that civic boost for building a district.
I am pretty sure you get Era Points for the Military Academy?
If you build a Barracks or Stable doesn't it make your units stronger and build them faster?
Another issue is if you are messing around with District Discounts you can use them to get discounts on your Campus or Hubs.
Adjacency Bonuses?
Some of my best games have come from Encampments getting GG's and stronger units.
I would focus on Encampments and Commercial Hubs first.

I dunno though... I certainly am not the expert and hopefully others will come in and tell us what is best.
I know that when I do not build one encampment my game is worse off just because of the boosts.

 

[criZp]

Oh yes, I forgot all about that. Maybe the unit production bonus policies like agoge and co should be changed to only apply in cities with encampments.

 

[criZp]

GS buffed engineers which require encampment+ to build, so no, no it didn't.

Also being able to build armies directly is super useful.

Engineers should not even require a military base, most of the things they build is civil engineering stuff, it's nonsense.

 

[criZp]

Well, how are you going to get early Great Generals without at least one?
Don't you get a boost for building one?
BW shows Iron and building a first Encampment gets you that civic boost for building a district.
I am pretty sure you get Era Points for the Military Academy?
If you build a Barracks or Stable doesn't it make your units stronger and build them faster?
Another issue is if you are messing around with District Discounts you can use them to get discounts on your Campus or Hubs.
Adjacency Bonuses?
Some of my best games have come from Encampments getting GG's and stronger units.
I would focus on Encampments and Commercial Hubs first.

I dunno though... I certainly am not the expert and hopefully others will come in and tell us what is best.
I know that when I do not build one encampment my game is worse off just because of the boosts.

They don't give you "stronger units". Generals is the only major thing.

 

[Bliss]

They don't give you "stronger units". Generals is the only major thing.

Yeah. Maybe I'm overlooking the power of Generals?

 

[Fluphen Azine]

They don't give you "stronger units". Generals is the only major thing.

I am pretty sure the buildings like barracks and others give you faster combat experience which makes your units stronger.
I suppose that is semantics though since the Encampment won't make your units stronger out of the gate.
You also get more production in the city with these buildings.
I am not saying that they are the best district or that you should focus on them.
I do feel that Encampments have plenty of value though.
I could be wrong but Great Generals make a large difference if you are going to Warmonger.

If you are going to play peaceful I guess you just build one for the boosts.

 

[Bliss]

I am pretty sure the buildings like barracks and others give you faster combat experience which makes your units stronger.
I suppose that is semantics though since the Encampment won't make your units stronger out of the gate.
You also get more production in the city with these buildings.
I am not saying that they are the best district or that you should focus on them.
I do feel that Encampments have plenty of value though.
I could be wrong but Great Generals make a large difference if you are going to Warmonger.

If you are going to play peaceful I guess you just build one for the boosts.

What kind of production bonus do you get? I can't find it anywhere. Or do you mean that I get production when I assign poulation to it? It is only +1 production +2 gold at cost of 1 population, isn't it?

 

[criZp]

It's like +1 production from barracks and +2 from armory

 

[Fluphen Azine]

This all depends on the map and what is going on like usual.
If you have 1 to 3 Military CS's nearby that you can get envoys into the Encampment and Barracks are kinda good aren't they??
I guess it all depends on what you want and what you have in the game.
At the very least you need one encampment for the boost or boosts but as always map and game dependent.
I am just saying they can be powerful, IMO, that is.

Look into those Military CS's and what they provide.
They seem awesome for many different things.
Kabul gives Double Experience for Battles your Army Initiates!!
Akkad and Carthage are pretty sweet!!
Other ones are good too!
I understand though... I tend to forget how good Military CS's are actually and focus on Science, Culture and Trade ones but I am learning that Military CS's can be very strong.

 

[Bliss]

This all depends on the map and what is going on like usual.
If you have 1 to 3 Military CS's nearby that you can get envoys into the Encampment and Barracks are kinda good aren't they??
I guess it all depends on what you want and what you have in the game.
At the very least you need one encampment for the boost or boosts but as always map and game dependent.
I am just saying they can be powerful, IMO, that is.

Look into those Military CS's and what they provide.
They seem awesome for many different things.
Kabul gives Double Experience for Battles your Army Initiates!!
Akkad and Carthage are pretty sweet!!
Other ones are good too!
I understand though... I tend to forget how good Military CS's are actually and focus on Science, Culture and Trade ones but I am learning that Military CS's can be very strong.

I totally agree with you, but justifying the construction of a disctrict based on CS bonuses just serves to my point. The district itself isn't much valuable...

 

[MrRadar]

Before GS, encampments were the only way to build resource units without having more than 1 copy of them. If you had 1 horse or 1 iron, you could'nt build a horseman or swordsman, so encampments were needed a lot more.

That's a very fair point though, and a major change in GS. Most of what's been mentioned above, already existed in the same or very similar form pre-GS. Although you could argue that before it was far easier just to buy that one or even both lacking strategic resources and make do without the Encampment anyway, as land war and conquest was much easier and I usually did not bother with them earlier.

After September, you kinda need to pay more attention to maximizing combat strength points, so probably it is best to build them as early as possible, if you go warmongering, as you'll conquer other districts that you postpone building because you prioritize Encampments. And if you want early Generals, one Encampment may not be enough. XP boost may seem small, but it will still mean maybe one combat less to Commando for melee and 3 movement points. Add the effect of the General and you'll have a highly mobile unit which will increase its chances to survive. Later, after Military Academies, you save production and resources by building Corps and Armies.

As a warmonger, you are not supposed to be losing units anyways.

I really try this, but I still get my nose bloodied, sometimes my armies even get half-destroyed. You can get such geography and such Encampment placement from the AI that sacrifices are inevitable, if you want to make progress.

 

[Fluphen Azine]

@MrRadar

I like the point you make that building Encampments gets you other Districts from the AI if you Warmonger.
I still think at least one is important.
Armory gives you a boost in tech as well.
I believe that most of us do not use them to their full potential.
I kinda run into the same problem with Entertainment Districts.
Not using them properly.

It also depends on if you are playing Deity or not and how much are you abusing the AI.
Anyways, If I Warmonger I will build 2 or 3 Encampments.
If not I may forgo them but I usually always build one for all the boosts.

 

[Bliss]

@MrRadar

I like the point you make that building Encampments gets you other Districts from the AI if you Warmonger.
I still think at least one is important.
Armory gives you a boost in tech as well.
I believe that most of us do not use them to their full potential.
I kinda run into the same problem with Entertainment Districts.
Not using them properly.

It also depends on if you are playing Deity or not and how much are you abusing the AI.
Anyways, If I Warmonger I will build 2 or 3 Encampments.
If not I may forgo them but I usually always build one for all the boosts.

Going a bit offtopic on my own thread, but how do you think we could benefit more from entertainment complexes? To this day, I build them when I'm low on amenities sources. Getting -1 on multiple cities.

 

[criZp]

Maybe they could make "great entertainment people".