Number of defenders?

[HawkeyeGS]

This is a poll and the situation is a classical age with about 3-4 close civs all of which are pretty aggressive, I would have about 7-9 cities with about half bordering civs and I'm playing on Prince. I normally have a manditory archer and axeman in each city with an extra archer or 2 on border cities. I would build spears but I normally don't see many horses. All the while a large axeman and horse archer army invades everyone. Pretty soon a civ on the opposite side declares war and just throws dozens of spears and warriors with a few axemen and just doesn't stop untill I am completely rzed or have decided to prematurely end my humiliation. I realise i am most likely putting a few too many units on the border cities but how many would most people put? Post comments as well please.

 

[thordk]

i rarely have more than one defender in the classical age. all surplus units are for wars i initiate

 

[DarthBeer]

^ What he said

 

[OutOfFaze]

I can rarely be bothered fighting until the modern era, unless a neighbour has a particularly nice city or cities, ripe for the picking. Pretty much means i spend the most part of 5500 years repelling attacks.

For that purpose I tend to have one or two of the best defensive units of that era, Archers, Longbows, Grenadier, Machine gun, in each city. On top of that I have several more offensive units, Axemen, Pikemen, Macemen, Riflemen, Infantry etc which can attack an invading force to prevent to much pillaging.

Of course, when I get Marines, Tanks, Mechanized Infantry, Gunships etc etc. all those civs who aren't my friend go bye bye.

 

[Lockesdonkey]

I'm generally very good at managing my neighbors (thank God for Organized Religion), and can generally get away with two; however, if the city is large or important, I'll generally put three to four.

 

[Willem]

I try to have one of each unit type in my border cities, whatever number that is. With a combined arms approach, I want to be ready for anything that might come my way.

 

[Crighton]

I'm generally very good at managing my neighbors (thank God for Organized Religion), and can generally get away with two; however, if the city is large or important, I'll generally put three to four.

Amen my brother.

 

[Mordraken]

I said 2. One would be an archer, the other a spearman to repel those horses... I also typically have a few macemen/axemen that are intended for war that can come and backup a city, but as far as a regular city defense, it's an archer/spearman or archer/axeman.

 

[RMF]

3 for me usually. Two archers and an axe. I use the axe to rush out and smite the intruders if I get a good opportunity. If I have horses I like to keep a few a little way back so I can quickly reinforce threatened areas.

 

[Potatish]

Usually, it's just four defenders per border city. That's two archers and two spearmen.

However, if things are looking dim, I'll boost that number to five each. That usually does the trick.

 

[Traflagar]

You're supposed to DEFEND your cities? Ohhhh, now I know why I've been losing so much.

 

[Malarkey]

I try and keep 3-4 units in my border cities, which means usually 1 archer, and a few offensive units to keep the enemy from pillaging my land. If I see another civ making a big stack in one of their border cities though, you can be sure I'll match, or surpass them in units just so they don't get any crazy ideas. I prefer to fight wars on my own terms, not someone elses.

 

[Vikings Diehard]

I try to use a minimum of 4 defenders in my border cities. 2 archer/longbowmen with city garrison promotions, 1 spearman with combat1+2 and formation promotions, 1 catapult/axeman/crossbowman with combat1 medic and shock promotions . Then I keep a reserve force of a few axemen/macemen/horse archers/crossbowmen to pick off the pillagers and reinforce a city under determined attacks.

 

[ionimplant]

it depends so much on the game setting (difficulty, map type, etc).

 

[Memphus]

one the cheapest unit...if someone is attacking me I am not playing as good as a can.

If you go to war first and are always pressing forwards in all directions, then you have nothing to worry about. (just follow up with weak unit to fill the city to stop their whinning)

As for a map which is not a single landmass, (i.e. continents archipelago)
sink thier ship before it gets there much more efficient then filling up your cities

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

I only have 1 defender per city. I simply position a stack or two of units to take out any attackers before they reach my cities.

 

[Veteranewbie]

3 - 4 is good for each city, more for borders
This way you can always spare a few in each city to reinforce your underattacked one, plus 3 - 4 is always good to repel an attack for 1 turn before you realized you are underattacked and send in help

 

[King Flevance]

I voted 1. I simply have and archer go out to defend a sole city that early. IF I am actually AT war make it 2. I prefer most of my defenses to be on the border terrain itself then in my cities. Usually I guard cities with archers and sometimes spearmen. Any axemen or swordsmen go to the borders for counter assault.

 

[Hardvark]

I generally go for about 4 in my border cities, but I keep some mobile units at various strategic points so that they can quickly get to any city that's under threat.

For some particularly nasty neighbours I do increase my defender numbers just to dissuade them from starting anything.

 

[Panda]

2 in cities on borders where I don't fight. If the war situation requires it or the neighbour is an ally, 1 will have to do.