My first BE war...

[Mutineer]

yes you have patch

 

[ProphetMaster]

Given that the OP has never had a war in Beyond Earth before, I think it's unlikely that he's playing on Apollo difficulty like you apparently are.

4 gunners and 2 marines is a fine city-assault force in the early game (affinity 2 or so) - obviously the force required increases as the game goes on.

True, I am playing at the beginner level so that (hopefully) I don't get wiped out by the AI before I can get to the end of the game.