Obsolete Units - what does it mean?

[Mercade]

In the civilopedia entry for e.g. spearman (see spoiler image below) it specifically identifies the tech (Civil Service) at which the unit becomes obsolete. In previous instances of the game we had buildings become explicitly obsolete, but never units become explicitly obsolete. The question is: what does this mean?

Is it as simple that Civil Service unlocks the Pikeman unit, which is superior to Spearman, and thus the Spearman is obsolete? Or does it actually do something to the abilities of the Spearman (like the abilities of some buildings would become void in Civ4)?

Spoiler :

 

[Thyrwyn]

I would assume that that is the tech after which the unit may no longer be built.

 

[stealth_nsk]

I suggest you can't build the unit anymore after discovering the tech. That looks good - so it's not necessary what unit is obsolete with available upgrade - for example even after musketmen available you'll be probably able to build crossbowmen for some time to fill the gap of simple ranged unit.

 

[ValugaTheLord]

maybe you cannot build it any more..

or you cannot win that unit at all.. 0%

 

[Mercade]

maybe you cannot build it any more..

or you cannot win that unit at all.. 0%

Ouch. That'd hurt if they wouldn't be able to kill anymore.

 

[stealth_nsk]

Ouch. That'd hurt if they wouldn't be able to kill anymore.

It sounds rather impossible.

 

[12agnar0k]

Well if anything happens then I would agree they would no longer be able to be built, but this is not so "new" in civ4 didn't you notice that eventually you weren't allowed to build warriors anymore, I think everytime you gained access to the "upgraded" version of the old unit, you could no longer build the old unit and just had to build the upgraded one, i.e eventually on a new one pop city you had to queue a rifleman as apposed to a warrior or archer, which could be really hard to build.

 

[Schuesseled]

Obselete = can't build no more.

Stops you fluffing out your oil and nuclear armies with inexpensive and no resource requiorung warriors and spears.

 

[Mustakrakish]

I'm sure it just stops you from building it anymore.

 

[PinkHammurabi]

Hmm, what's a new way to essentially say the same exact thing...

I reckon' ya'll won't be all ables to build that unit no mores.

 

[Souron]

If we're competing for how to say the same thing in a new way, here's an answer in limerick form :

The advanced technology you take:
obsolete your old unit you make.
That unit you can't build,
no matter that it's willed,
but you may use it until it break


Civ 2 had units go obsolete with techs like this.

 

[AriochIV]

This is not new; units have always become obsolete with certain technologies; it just means they have been replaced by a newer unit in the build queue.

 

[Schuesseled]

yes, it just wasn't as obvious when they went obselete, but they always did.

 

[Ramesses]

Hmm, what's a new way to essentially say the same exact thing...

I reckon' ya'll won't be all ables to build that unit no mores.

Question: What accent is that supposed to be?

 

[Mustakrakish]

Hey smart arses Didn't it come to your minds that some people read the OP and answered without reading all posts? Or while typing, another poster posted. Crosspost? Is that how it's called? Especially when someone as slow as I am tries to post.