Do you... Upgrade?

[JonathanValjean]

Absolutely. However, I sometimes retain older units for MP duties.

 

[Volstag]

Just to reiterate what most people have said: If I have Leonardo's and/or the cash on hand, I will, in almost all cases, upgrade obsolete units. If I don't have the cash, I'll trim my sci/lux sliders back for a handful of turns until I gain the requisite moolah. If, however, the upgrades cost a tremendous amount of money and/or I can't afford to trim my sci/lux sliders, I will then begin the laborious process of disbanding and rebuilding.

In short: I almost always upgrade obsolete units.

-V

 

[Milan's Warrior]

Yes, upgrade, upgrade, upgrade.
Squeeze the citizens with taxes and upgrade.

 

[Samson]

Well, I would say, offensive units, every time. Defensive units, debatable. In my pressent game, I am ATM upgrading every non-elite archer I have to longbows, but then I have to decide what to do about my Enkudu wariors. They cost 150 (?) to upgrade to musketmen (saltpeter is my first strategic resorce), and my total gpt at 0 reaserch is 112. Is this worth it for doubled defense? I am not sure. I think I shall do 1 to sit on top of my SoD.

 

[majk-iii]

I for one allways upgrade... however, i do understand how it could sometimes be better to just let your 40-50 cities make three infantry each... that is if the whole process only takes about 6-9 turns... and then get the disband-shields from all of your old pikemen instead of laying down thousands of gold that u have better use for.
Now, this becomes an even more viable option if you're "between city-improvements"
...that is if u allready built everything and you're now waiting for the next improvement-tech.

 

[Paradigne]

If I am running a communist 'empire' (lots of cities) I will generally upgrade one or two units in a city, and just keep 2 spearmen or so for attitude adjustments

 

[alamo]

Pre-build and mass upgrade is the preferred strategy for a smack-the-AI game. If you don't have Leos, then go get it!

If you've got too many obsolete troops then you're not attacking enough!

 

[Swooping Hawk]

I usually upgrade my defenders, and only the offensive units in troublespots if i can afford it.

Upgrading turns all units into veterans though doesn't it? I noticed that my elite warrior lose a hit point when it became a swordsman.

 

[alamo]

Elites turn into vets, but everything else stays the same - vet, reg, conscript.

Paying a full price u/g for a conscript is usually a waste of gold.

 

[Kronis]

Elites turn into vets, but everything else stays the same - vet, reg, conscript.

Paying a full price u/g for a conscript is usually a waste of gold.

Just to clarify, since you mentioned conscripts:

Does everyone else use/create conscripts in the same fashion I do- (1) in emergencies, or (2) when a city's growth is very slow/stagnant, and the treasury can support it ?

 

[SesnOfWthr]

I do #1, but only in extreme need, but I almost never do #2. I'd rather build a worker or something first.

As far as upgrades in general, I upgrade my offensive/seige units pretty regularly. The defensive ones only get upgraded if there is an eminent danger, or on borders/coasts. It's not entirely uncommon for me to have spears defending my core at the end of the game. If I'm in Republic/Demo, there may not be anything defending my core, except for a rapid response force.

 

[Me-262]

I use it a lot now.I didn`t before because I didn`t have money