IF and WHEN to build Heroic Epic

[Merenptah]

For OCC I generally find a good spot to build Workshop/Barracks/Heroic Epic just after Education (and rush-buying the University) and before Machinery (Ironworks), so that all my new, i.e. not-upgraded XBows have the +15% Morale promotion.

However, with more than one city I find it quite difficult to find "the right time" to build the Heroic Epic. And more often than not it turns out that I don't build it at all. It just seems that the opportunity cost of building it is just so much bigger: buying Barracks in 2nd and 3rd City equates to rush-buying at least two additional units; in addition building the Heroic Epic also takes longer with more cities and for those hammers you could get an additional two units.

Of course I wish all my units had the Morale promotion (+15% strenght that carries through upgrades and compounds with all other promotions) ....

So, my questions are:
1) Do you build the Heroic Epic?
2) If "yes/sometimes" ... what are the circumstances?
3) What is your timing for building the HE (depends on level obviously so please specify; I play Emperor/Immortal/Deity)? ... I guess best timing would be after having a small defensive contingent.
4) How do you deal with Barrack requirements in other cities (hard build or cash bought? do you build units there as well before the HE is complete in the capital and then delete/sell those Barracks?)

Thanks in advance for any replies ...

 

[Moriarte]

1. Yes, i love heroic epic.
2. Deity domination games. Otherwise, i can't think of a reason to build it. There are so many things you can build, only on Deity it makes a difference, since promoted recruits are actually important there.
3. Just before compass on archipelago map. After education on Pangaea.
4. Hard built. I like hammer heavy cities.

Basically, i usually start with 7-8 CBs and then, mid game, use combined power of all military buildings to quickly produce artilleries/cavalry/air support.

Why would you want to sell barracks, btw?

Barracks + HE + Armory + Military Academy + Branderburg = new airplanes come with auto repair.

 

[kirbdog]

If I build Heroic Epic, I will make any melee units in the city with Heroic Epic, but I will often build some artillery or ships in the cities without Heroic Epic. So they can keep their barracks.

 

[Merenptah]

Basically, i usually start with 7-8 CBs and then, mid game, use combined power of all military buildings to quickly produce artilleries/cavalry/air support.

When is mid-game? After Plastics? Or you go Military Science before Plastics and Dynamite/Flight also before Plastics?

Why would you want to sell barracks, btw?

I meant in those (few in my case and relatively low production) cities without Heroic Epic (or Brandenburg) ...

 

[Ninakoru]

Barracks + HE + Armory + Military Academy + Branderburg = new airplanes come with auto repair.

Actually He's moral bonus doesn't affect planes.

Rush-buy barracks is often a bad idea, unless you have a pretty good income or the city production is too low.

I build it when I feel it ok. Usually in the Medieval era, just after ironworks If you plan it well you can have half of your military with the moral bonus, this do some difference.

If you manage to get a high production coastal city, that's the HE target.

 

[Moriarte]

When is mid-game? After Plastics? Or you go Military Science before Plastics and Dynamite/Flight also before Plastics?

Yes, Dynamite & Flight before plastics. Sometimes i beeline dynamite before Scientific theory, provided i have solid science.

 

[Liegence]

I generally build it for any Civ with a rifle rush as you can snap it up fairly quickly if you're going tall just before you can start cranking out gunpowder units. Don't forget to sell worthless barracks after you build it.

 

[joncnunn]

For OCC I generally find a good spot to build Workshop/Barracks/Heroic Epic just after Education (and rush-buying the University) and before Machinery (Ironworks), so that all my new, i.e. not-upgraded XBows have the +15% Morale promotion.

However, with more than one city I find it quite difficult to find "the right time" to build the Heroic Epic. And more often than not it turns out that I don't build it at all. It just seems that the opportunity cost of building it is just so much bigger: buying Barracks in 2nd and 3rd City equates to rush-buying at least two additional units; in addition building the Heroic Epic also takes longer with more cities and for those hammers you could get an additional two units.

Of course I wish all my units had the Morale promotion (+15% strenght that carries through upgrades and compounds with all other promotions) ....

So, my questions are:
1) Do you build the Heroic Epic?
2) If "yes/sometimes" ... what are the circumstances?
3) What is your timing for building the HE (depends on level obviously so please specify; I play Emperor/Immortal/Deity)? ... I guess best timing would be after having a small defensive contingent.
4) How do you deal with Barrack requirements in other cities (hard build or cash bought? do you build units there as well before the HE is complete in the capital and then delete/sell those Barracks?)

Thanks in advance for any replies ...

#1 Yes; always at some point

#3 This goes up when enough of my cities have the basic inferstructure in place to build barracks. The city I'm intending this for will have an Armory first. Immediately following this, the surplus barracks are sold off to save maintenance.
I try to build it in time for at least two of my Privateers to have it.

#4 I may buy the barracks in the least productive city if it's really poor compared to the next worse. Nope, as the designated city already has an Armory, these are only used in order to build HE.

 

[The Pilgrim]

1) Nope.
Unless for some weird reason I have no more than 2-3 cities and even then it's iffy. Usually, though, I either settle or annex a healthy bunch, so NC and Ironwork are bad enough. I think that units you can build with all the hammers spent on barracks + HE add more sheer power than HE.

Barracks + HE + Armory + Military Academy + Branderburg = new airplanes come with auto repair.

You don't need HE for that.

 

[Matthew.]

IMO Heroic Epic is best used like the other XP buildings: To replace previously promoted units. Losing a double cover or logistics unit sucks, but two promotions and a passive 15% combat boost on a new unit helps cover the loss.

Don't really need it early game though. Better to wait until later when you can finish barracks in a turn or two and crank out HE from a high hammer city.

 

[azzaman333]

If Tall, HE gets built eventually.

If Wide, never happens because you won't get a rax in every city.

 

[Novalia]

Hardly ever.