Is Archery Underrated?

[drkodos]

Archery is important for 3 reasons:

A) Early start with no strategic resources close by that allow for better soldiers.

Catch-22 because you do not know you are strategic resource poor until you tech to BW, IW and Animal Husbandry.

 

[wookiee]

The look of surprise on an opponents face when a archer on a hill near captial guarded by only an axeman is upgraded to a xbow is just priceless - archery is good, but not always offesively - unless u are using xbows or cho-ko-nus

 

[wioneo]

Exactly whose face can you see?

 

[Murky]

Each game presents an entirely different set of circumstances. Sometimes, I think it would be best to go with Archery before BW but other times go BW first. Depends on resources, leader traits and game settings.

 

[Mr. Civtastic]

I almost never go for archery before copper. Mainly because I need to find copper asap. In most my games (monarch) ive got a small window to get out 3-5 cities before things close in. Grabbing that copper is so important...not only for you to build units, but for you to deny it to the enemy. Taking out a city defended solely by archers is much easier then a mix of copper units.

That said, I do like archery. They make cheap garrison units, and if youre protective or chinese I feel youre missing out on one of your advantages by skipping it.