I almost never build them, yet feel that i should be.. i try to get Sun Tzus every game, but practically never can get it (within 1 turn more often than not). So should you build Barracks? And if so, at what point in the game would it be best too, without it being a negative affect on something more useful you could be producing.
To build Barracks, or not to build Barracks?
- Thread starter werdhertz
- Start date
Sultan Bhargash
Trickster Reincarnated
I always build barracks in my first and second cities. If I am militaristic I keep it up, if not, I might wait and send veterans from the first two cities to guard the outer cities while they build workers/settlers/improvements/wonders. Still I try and add barracks anytime I have a gap in production and certainly before I will build the second defender of any city in that city.
It is a bummer how hard it is to get Sun Tzu.
It is a bummer how hard it is to get Sun Tzu.
If your the type of person who will not build barracks is it safe to assume you are not the type of person to build pikemen, musketmen, etc???
I used to play like that prior to my war monger days in civ2. But in civ3 even the most pacifist peace-monger should build barracks with the new "upgrade" option.
Currently I'm going for a cultural victory, and am isolated on a continent not building pikemen etc, but I built barracks everywhere and have a reserve of cash should an invasion occur from any of my inferior fellow civs.
And seeing as they're the cheapest building it's quicker than building the upgrade units seperatly.
I used to play like that prior to my war monger days in civ2. But in civ3 even the most pacifist peace-monger should build barracks with the new "upgrade" option.
Currently I'm going for a cultural victory, and am isolated on a continent not building pikemen etc, but I built barracks everywhere and have a reserve of cash should an invasion occur from any of my inferior fellow civs.
And seeing as they're the cheapest building it's quicker than building the upgrade units seperatly.
joycem10
Deity
if militaristic i build barracks everywhere. if not i build in my most productive cities and shuffle units back and forth from my frontier cities.
Sparrowhawk
The Builder
I build barracks in all of my larger cities and in any cities on a hostile border. I always try for Sun Tzu's though, and I don't have too much trouble getting it most of the time on monarch. You just have to prebuild.
Cantankerous
...but I do know Shinola
I build barracks as soon as I can. I know that they cost gold to maintain, but I just hate building troops that are not veteran.
Early in the game, once I've planted a city, I build a defender (which will of course be a regular unit). If I'm not going to use that city to produce a settler, I'll usually build a temple and then a barracks, especially if said city is on the border with a less-than-friendly neighbor. Then I'm able to build veteran units that can be used for attack (or increased defense) against aggressive AI's.
I typically build barracks in my biggest two or three cities as soon as possible from which I will produce virtually all horse-base units and swordsmen. (The only regular swordsmen I generally have will be warriors that were upgraded.)
Maybe it's just me but I feel that I have a slight advantage in the early game by utilizing veteran troops over the AI's typically regular units. And (whether justified or not) I've always felt that regular troops are too vulnerable.
So my preference is to build barracks in key cities as soon as possible, build troops there, and move them to the frontiers. Then the "older" regular units can be moved to the interior of the empire for military police duty in the less-vulnerable cities.
Because of this I almost never build Sun Tzu's Art of War, instead concentrating on other wonders since by the time it's available I will have barracks in most, if not all, of my cities. (Granted Sun Tzu's AoW would be nice--no barracks maintenance--but if I have barracks in most cities and it's a choice between Sun Tzu and some other wonder--especially Sistine Chapel--I'll concentrate on the other wonder instead.)
Early in the game, once I've planted a city, I build a defender (which will of course be a regular unit). If I'm not going to use that city to produce a settler, I'll usually build a temple and then a barracks, especially if said city is on the border with a less-than-friendly neighbor. Then I'm able to build veteran units that can be used for attack (or increased defense) against aggressive AI's.
I typically build barracks in my biggest two or three cities as soon as possible from which I will produce virtually all horse-base units and swordsmen. (The only regular swordsmen I generally have will be warriors that were upgraded.)
Maybe it's just me but I feel that I have a slight advantage in the early game by utilizing veteran troops over the AI's typically regular units. And (whether justified or not) I've always felt that regular troops are too vulnerable.
So my preference is to build barracks in key cities as soon as possible, build troops there, and move them to the frontiers. Then the "older" regular units can be moved to the interior of the empire for military police duty in the less-vulnerable cities.
Because of this I almost never build Sun Tzu's Art of War, instead concentrating on other wonders since by the time it's available I will have barracks in most, if not all, of my cities. (Granted Sun Tzu's AoW would be nice--no barracks maintenance--but if I have barracks in most cities and it's a choice between Sun Tzu and some other wonder--especially Sistine Chapel--I'll concentrate on the other wonder instead.)
I usually play as the Greeks, so i dont need to build Pikeman, but i DO usually skip Mustketman as Rifleman come up so quick afterwards i get stuck with a million Muskets and since i barely build Barracks, no place to upgrade them LOL! But lately i HAVE been trying to squeeze building Barracks into my strategy, although its been roughgoing trying to figure out a smooth way to keep the process going...
The reason is, I am in love with artillery, so i NEED Barracks to upgrade my countless Catapults, Cannons, etc.
The reason is, I am in love with artillery, so i NEED Barracks to upgrade my countless Catapults, Cannons, etc.
RobOz
Whatchoo lookin at?
It depends on the size of the map. If I only have less than 15 cities, I will build barracks for all of them. Once I get to the huge maps, though and have enormous amounts of cities, I will only build them in my core cities and sometimes on hostile borders for quick healing.
Lt. 'Killer' M.
Deity
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2001
- Messages
- 7,475
Depends. Sometimes I build a few in military production centres, sometimes I build none knowing I will probably get Sun Tzus. Sometimes, I feel early wars coming and build them everywhere.
It certainly doesn't need barracks in every town - if I set up a worker factory why should I build barracks there?. Also, Wonder towns don't get them either - waste of money. Same if i culture war - border towns get their troops from elsewhere, and for upgrade I rotate the units around into towns with barracks.
It certainly doesn't need barracks in every town - if I set up a worker factory why should I build barracks there?. Also, Wonder towns don't get them either - waste of money. Same if i culture war - border towns get their troops from elsewhere, and for upgrade I rotate the units around into towns with barracks.
Barracks have always been a big part of my strategy. Like Cantankerous, having a majority of my forces as grizzled vets gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling in my warmonger's gut. But it's really the updating of units that sell the barracks for me. I always try to remain finanically solvent in the event I need to make sweeping updates.
As far as Sun Tzu, if I'm a militaristic Civ, or find myself in a particularly hostile environment, then yeah, it's a wonder I'll shoot for. I'll set my tech tree striaght for it, and pre-build as well. Then it's on to Leo' Workshop. These two wonders, in a militaristic-type's hands, are a leathal combo!
As far as Sun Tzu, if I'm a militaristic Civ, or find myself in a particularly hostile environment, then yeah, it's a wonder I'll shoot for. I'll set my tech tree striaght for it, and pre-build as well. Then it's on to Leo' Workshop. These two wonders, in a militaristic-type's hands, are a leathal combo!
sabo
My Ancestors were Vikings
I can't live without Barracks, because you build veteran units which is one step close to being Elite than regulars, which are the units you need for Great Leaders.
Cartouche Bee
Appropriations Consultant
If I know I'm going to build more than two military units (other than warriors) in a city I build barracks. Sun Tzu's is one of the best wonders for both defense and aggression.
nullspace
King
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2002
- Messages
- 728
I build barracks in any city with good production. Then those provide units for every other city. Honestly, I don't want to fight unless I can do it with a veteran unit. If I'm attacking, all my units are veteran. If I'm sitting around being peaceful, the best defender in all my towns is verteran. The only untis that aren't veteran are the very early police and barbarian fighters. And I don't pay money to upgrade those. When it's upgrading time, I'd rather disband the regulars and build veteran replacements. So I like barracks (maybe a little too much) 
Finvola
Where's my pie?
Yes, I always build barracks..I can't imagine it any other way. All sorts of problems could arise. It's much handier to spend the money and upgrade for me.
Mad Bomber
Commander
I build barracks in the early years, but I tend to stop when I get close to Sun Tzu (only lost this once). As far as upgrading, I would rather have a regular infantry than an elite spearman, so I upgrade all units regardless of experience (which can always be gained)
