Never build Heroic Epic

[Seabastian Civ]

Barracks in every city seems like a waste of early hammers. HE is probably out of the question in wide empires, but even tall, it seems like a waste! Do you build it often, outside of OCC? I have never actually built it...

 

[Arachnofiend]

I'll sometimes build it in a culture game when I am next to a formidable neighbor. The combat bonus is pretty significant and is totally worthwhile if you know you're going to be behind in tech and fielding a smaller army than the guy who is looking hungrily at all those wonders you have massed up in one city.

 

[Matthew.]

Yeah I've built it. Finding the hammers isn't too bad once you stop and think whether you actually need whatever else you are focusing on. It is one of the few bonuses in the game that is an investment rather than a quick pay-off. Whether that investment is worth it is up to personal opinion I suppose.

I like to combine it with the 15% from Honor. Double open terrain + HE + Honor + GG = 75% increased combat strength. Turns long swords into rifles, rifles into infantry, etc. If you can get a couple of melee upgraded to march, they are nearly invincible.

The flip-side argument is, of course, that a bomber stack is just as invincible with little to no focus on promotions. Although at the very least it is an option to consider if you want a game to let samurai or berserkers really shine.

 

[joncnunn]

I play with Tall Empires. It's not a big priority; but I'll build it in time for some of my Privatters with Coastal Raider III (from that city having an armory) to have the 15% bonus

Following which all the extra barracks get sold to eliminate their maintenance cost.

 

[kirbdog]

If your main goal is to win through the military, it seems like a pretty good idea to me. After your get universities up, what's so much more important?

It goes pretty well with any strategy where you plan to stack as many promotion buildings in one city as is possible. Think about putting the Heroic Epic, armory, military academy, and possibly Alhambra and/or Brandenburg Gate in one city (not necessarily the capital). Build or buy all your units there.

 

[Zezima]

In domination games I always make it a priority once available.

I usually manage to build it around Renaissance in tall/culture games. I'll rush buy the last barracks if I need to and have a few thousand gold lying around.

Anytime it happens in a wide game is usually by accident or not really intentional (running out of things to build in most cities and see I'm only 1 or 2 cities away from meeting the requirement).

They build quick enough and like others have said, it's all about stacking the bonuses together. I once had Discipline/Morale/GG'd Mehal Sefari's going toe to toe with Infantry and Rocket Artillery, with proper terrain bonuses of course. Really made Ethiopia an amazing underdog civ.

 

[Dogmouth]

The only time I've ever built it was in a Roman domination game. It's actually really good for Rome, because you need to get IW anway, +15% is great on the Legion's beefed up base strength, and the Roman UA makes it pretty easy to build.

 

[whyidie]

Its a building I'd like to build more, but due to my tech preferences I rarely get there.

Love the idea of coupling it with Alhambra+Brandenburg but Alhambra is usually gone well before I can get there. If I do get Alhambra, I'm unlikely to get Brandenburg.

Two current games I rolled Mongolia on both, I actually halted expansion a bit so I could build National Epic. Didn't get Alhambra in either one, but was able to pull Brandenburg in the other.

 

[apocalypse105]

I've only built it if I play russia beause krepost are awesome

 

[Seabastian Civ]

I've only built it if I play russia beause krepost are awesome

Interesting. I guess that's really making lemons out of lemonade. I've always hated kreposts, but I guess getting HE is some small compensation.

 

[iconocast]

actually u should try to play a civ wit early uu, and instead fo the usual build order go a fast baracks into HE ( full honour tree) bullying CS for extra cash for settlers. u get some pretty interesting results

 

[smallfish]

Later on for when I want to pump out Frigates or Bombers (Panzers?), otherwise stuff like NC, markets, happiness and Unis come first

 

[dopingman]

actually u should try to play a civ wit early uu, and instead fo the usual build order go a fast baracks into HE ( full honour tree) bullying CS for extra cash for settlers. u get some pretty interesting results

In the next game I will try a strategy like this out, the benefits will be larger on slower speeds I presume? E.g. Rome, Pangaea, epic speed --> build Legions and Ballistas, bully like a boas, conquer your puny neighbours with still up to date units?

At least it will be a welcome change to the usual 4 cities trad opening