To Mobilize or to Not Mobilize

[cromagnon]

How many of you use mobilization? I know a lot of you will want the option of 'I use mobilization when it suits my purposes,' but I'm intentionally not putting that as an option in the poll. Put your foot down - do you think it's worth it?

I'd like a brief discussion on any strategies to use or pitfalls to avoid when using mobilization.

Also, detractors of mobilization are welcome to extoll the virtues of normalcy.

 

[Zcylen]

I have never used it, even if Im fighting a war against a powerful enemy I avoid that.
the reason is because when Im biulding military units, somewhere Im biulding a wonder, or temples or libraries in conquered cities, even airports in other continents.
Im not willing to stop those cities' production.
I know an extra shield could be helpful but I wont risk anyother civ build the UN before I do, or any moder wonder.

 

[Grey Fox]

Originally posted by Zcylen
...the reason is because when Im biulding military units, somewhere Im biulding a wonder, or temples or libraries in conquered cities, even airports in other continents.
Im not willing to stop those cities' production.
I know an extra shield could be helpful but I wont risk anyother civ build the UN before I do, or any moder wonder.

You can still build any un-militaristic building you were building (but those won't get any shield bonuses).

 

[Yndy]

My core cities are the ones that produce 80% of my shields. So if I'm not in the situation that I've just discovered mass transit and want to build it everywhere I will mobilise. The far cities are slow builders anyway so if they manage to finish something during the Mobilisation period I set them for a military unit which would take 20+ turns. when I make peace (presumably in less than 20 turns) I switch those cities to a building.

Most of the time i use mobilisation in the middle or in the end of a war when my forces get depleted.

Rarely I use mobilisation before starting a war and I plan that carefully.

 

[Aggie]

Originally posted by Yndy
My core cities are the ones that produce 80% of my shields. So if I'm not in the situation that I've just discovered mass transit and want to build it everywhere I will mobilise. The far cities are slow builders anyway so if they manage to finish something during the Mobilisation period I set them for a military unit which would take 20+ turns. when I make peace (presumably in less than 20 turns) I switch those cities to a building.

Most of the time i use mobilisation in the middle or in the end of a war when my forces get depleted.

Rarely I use mobilisation before starting a war and I plan that carefully.

I mobilise as well, but never used this great tip. Thanks! I'm sure that I will use it more often from now on.

 

[Fanny Brice]

I usually mobilize as a last resort and then usually I'm on the defensive against multiple AI civs.

If I'm conquering, mobilization works against me because I will need to build temples and marketplaces, airports, etc. in newly won cities in order to keep the population under control.

I will mobilize to hurry along some big ticket items like battleships and bombers if I'm at war with many civs and I know I can get a peace deal with one of them in a few turns.

Hell yes, I mobilize!

 

[Sgt.Hellfish]

I use mobilisation if im suffering bad losses, i think of it as a conscription that makes good soldiers.

 

[cromagnon]

Seems pretty split so far...

By the way, I should also take this time to reference an excellent article on Mobilization by Catt: http://www.civfanatics.com/civ3acad_mobilization.shtml , which can be found at the War Academy.

Speaking of which, I wonder if the results of this poll might be different if it were posted on the Strategy Forum. Not to make gross generalizations (I will anyway), but it seems to me that the populations who frequent the two Fora are different. Perhaps their ideas on Mobilization may also be different.

 

[DaDoo]

I find mobilization a bit too limiting. I always need to rush a temple and sometimes a library in newly conquered cities to prevent them from flipping. Mobilization won't let me do that.

 

[wtiberon]

I used mobilization once just to see what it would do (i'm the type of player that plays the game first reads directions last..if at all) then I couldn't figure out how to get out of it. (I was forced to read instructions arggh) Once I did I swore never to use it again.

 

[WildFire]

Originally posted by wtiberon
I used mobilization once just to see what it would do (i'm the type of player that plays the game first reads directions last..if at all) then I couldn't figure out how to get out of it. (I was forced to read instructions arggh) Once I did I swore never to use it again.

Were the directions even correct?

 

[CenturionV]

i dont bother hwne i'm fighting a casual war were i'm am totally smashing the enemy with ease and basicly only using pre-produced but i always use it when i backed against the wall and i need everylast man to win (you know thsoe exstinction wars were it so hard every enemy city you capture you burn emmediatly to make sure the enemy is permanetly crippled)

 

[warpstorm]

I use it when I am warmongering.

 

[Raijer]

I've never used Mobilization, but I think it was due to my own misunderstanding as to how it worked and what it did. That link cromagnon provided to catt's outstanding article in the War Academy about Mobilization shed a great deal of light, and now I'm pretty sure it will figure strongly in a few future games. Thanks cromagnon

 

[sealman]

Originally posted by wtiberon
I used mobilization once just to see what it would do (i'm the type of player that plays the game first reads directions last..if at all) then I couldn't figure out how to get out of it. (I was forced to read instructions arggh) Once I did I swore never to use it again.

There are instructions?

 

[JonathanValjean]

I voted yes, but I really was looking for "I use mobilization when it suits my purposes."

 

[nullspace]

My armies are usually small and outdated at the beginning of the industrial age, since my cities have been busy building banks, universites, factories, and hospitals. But once those are done, there isn't much to build except for units until the modern age. It's a perfect time to build up vast quantities of infantry and artillery and then tanks. Mobilization helps speed up the construction.

 

[Tassadar]

Usualy i wage war in industrial era with thanks and bomber, my cities are size 12 with factory and hover dam. This mean i can produce a panzer in 2 turn in each of my city ( under communist). if i mobilize then it is still panzer in 2 turn, so for me mobilization give nothing at all. In modern era it can be good, because you are able to produce modern armor in 1 turn ( nuclear plant+metropolis ).

 

[dojoboy]

I've used mobilization in a couple games. And, it was because of a lack of experience on my part, where I over reacted. Now, I believe it can be integrated into a builder's stratregy. I like nullspace's approach to mobilization: build improvements then crank out MA (for example) at insane rates, then expand your hegemony.

 

[Sultan Bhargash]

I have never seen the point of mobilizing. You become trapped. When I take enemy cities, I like to rush temples in them to quickly end subversion and grow borders. You can't with mobilization. Nor can you build wonders even if you generate leaders. And what I don't get, you can't get out of it till the enemy lets you make peace. You are trapped. Boo.