Fortresses, to be, or not to be?

[Marlos]

In pre-railroad days, it is easiest to capture a city with your attacking units at 100% power. To do this, they must be next to the city. To ensure that they don't get picked off by the AI, I utilize the following strategy:

1) Move two (to thwart bribery) of your strongest veteran defensive units next to the target city and fortify them. If possible, place them on the best defensive terrain.

2) After they become fortified, move a settler/engineer (and an attack unit) into the same square.

3) Build a fortification to prevent the AI getting lucky and defeating your stack.

4) Build a road in that square so that new troops can also move into and occupy the fortification.

5) Attack away!

I have methodically taken several cities in early warfare using this strategy. So much for armor and howies!

 

[ACR]

Frist as previously stated a choke point. And if you fortify a pirce of flat land, turn it into a hill, plus it screws with resources if in enemy city ZOC. Second, as a jump off point for assaults build one next to enemy cities and then fill with catapults and cannons which oly have a movement factor of one. Add some foot troops for defense and off yo go.