Unique Unit Strategies

[Global Nexus]

Enough of the negativity about the UUs. There's WAY too much talk about "what is the worst UU" and such, so this topic will be focused on the postive things about each UU. And that basically means that one should not come into this topic and scream out "*insert UU here* SUCKS" or anything of the sort. Personally, I see each UU as fitting into SOMEONE'S gameplay niche. I'll start with one of the more looked down upon of UUs.

Spanish Conquistador - Yes, yes, we can bash this one all day for replacing the explorer, being weak, blah blah blah. The Conquistador is the ULTIMATE SPEED DEMON. This thing can move like the wind into an opponent's territory, pick off their resources, take out their workers, and pick off strong offensive units with not-so-good defense.

The Spanish Conquistador also makes for a good Middle Ages blitzkrieg. Though not possessing the ability to blitz themselves, ten of these things can rush INTO enemy territory and wreak havoc. Certainly, they'll die fairly quickly, but you're also softening up the enemy before your main assault force of Knights [or Cavalry, if you're REALLY ahead in technology] enters the battlefield.



Okay, that's just how I've used Conquistadors in the couple games I've been the Spanish...I'd like to see other strategies for UUs. No bashing, remember, just a look at how one can effectively use a UU, regardless of what it is.

 

[superslug]

I prefer several UU's, but they all can move more than one movement point. I don't have to make an argument for the Sipahi, I don't think. I also think very highly of the Chinese Rider.

My heart's soft spot goes to the Jaguar Warrior. Everyone and their uncle knows what you can do with them early, but I also like to use them after I get Pikemen. I trigger a war with the AI but don't invade, instead letting them to soften themselves up on my wall of defense. Any weakened units they have sitting around get picked off by my supposedly obsolete Jags...duck and cover!!!!

 

[casual_moose]

the gallic swordsman the retreat ability is really handy

 

[Justin_Sane]

I'm a fan of the Cossacks, which doesn't seem to be on many people's favorite list. Why, you ask? They may not have a huge amount of offensive capability despite being an offensive unit, but I find them useful since I generally dislike massive blitz tactics since it'll spread me too thin. That being, I sit in captured towns for a few towns while they recover, fending off attackers with their extra point of defense, and striking when I feel like it.

 

[Norlamand]

I break it down based on the game type, multiplayer vs single.

For single player games I love the Chinese Rider. Good overall UU that gives a GA at a really good time. The Panzer is also great, but I rarely play to the point of getting it. The Sipahi are my true favorites though. Bone crushing offensive unit at the right time for a GA and combined with an Industrious and Scientific civ.

For multiplayer (elimination ladder games) I love the Mounted Warrior, War Chariot and Immortals. All come early enough to come into play and give a GA as well as having quite a punch. I don't play many non-elim games on line but the Panzer, Sipahi and Rider would be good choices there too.

 

[Gengis Khan]

Immortals

I can't count the number of games Immortals have saved my @ss: the best attacker in the AT, good enough D to stand up on their own, and they don't become obsolete until Calvalry(late in the MA). Plus they induce an excellent timed GA!

Add that to the fact that the Industrious/Scientific combo is hard to beat and you get truly the best UU out!! *cringes expecting the onslaught of "scientific sucks" posts*

 

[WickedSmurf]

Nice thread! Finally the UU's get som real loooooooove.

The Panzer and the Berserker are the best UUs imho.
None trigger the GA too soon and they both can dominate the battlefield. Ok, the Berserker need defensive support units to do so but that's no problem at all. And oh yeah, it also requires a solid infrastructure.

 

[Darkness]

I love the Samurai, and not just for its great animation...

Also the rider and the sipahi are great...

 

[rilnator]

I mainly play as the Russians so I say Cossacks. I don't know if its coz they're a particularly good unit or I just build heaps of them but they always dominate the battlefield. I always look forward to developing military tradition as it sets me up for the rest of the game.

 

[Mano3]

Originally posted by Gengis Khan
Immortals

I can't count the number of games Immortals have saved my @ss: the best attacker in the AT, good enough D to stand up on their own, and they don't become obsolete until Calvalry(late in the MA). Plus they induce an excellent timed GA!

Add that to the fact that the Industrious/Scientific combo is hard to beat and you get truly the best UU out!! *cringes expecting the onslaught of "scientific sucks" posts*

Hey folks, time for another history lesson! Did you know that the "real Immortals" of the ancient times were actually elite homosexual warriors? I'm not making this up and not trying to bash.

Both the Greeks and Persians utilized them in combat. One Theory behind why they fought so well is that since the soldiers 'loved' eachother, they would fight to the death for eachother.

I can quote historical soursec if need be...

 

[Sukenis]

People always complaine about the cost of Carthage Mercs, but you get alot of bang for your buck. I regularly take them to war and fortify on a hill/mountain/forrest and let the other civ impale themselves on me. The units of of the enemy that do win are weak adn the 2 offense can more than kill it. Tack on a handful of swordsmen for good measure and you are unstoppable. Very few early UU can fill both the offense and defense role effectivly. They do.

 

[ptclouds]

Samurai are pretty cool. First game I ever won was playing Japan. Took out the Persians, despite their Immortals, no worries. The only reason I didn't win early on was because I got stuck on this huge continent and the other continent got developed before I could get a big toehold. I think my standard Horsemen helped out early on too.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Originally posted by Mano3
Hey folks, time for another history lesson! Did you know that the "real Immortals" of the ancient times were actually elite homosexual warriors? I'm not making this up and not trying to bash.

Both the Greeks and Persians utilized them in combat. One Theory behind why they fought so well is that since the soldiers 'loved' eachother, they would fight to the death for eachother.

I cannot put down a certain suspicion that you've read garbled account of the Theban Sacred Band - an elite unit consisting of pairs of homosexual lovers. This was a specifically Theban institution, which to my knowledge wasn't copied anywhere. That's not to say that there weren't any homosexuals in other ancient armies - only that they normally weren't organized into special units.

Of what little we know about the Persian Immortals (which weren't known under that name to the Achaemenid military authorities - it may be a mistranslation, since the Persian words for "immortals" and "companions" are similar) there's nothing to suggest they were picked for their sexual preferences.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Sukenis: I agree the Numidians aren't bad, but I also understand why Rome won the Punic Wars ...

 

[Norlamand]

Numids aren't bad as a UU, just overpriced. Same price as the Roman Legion but with less attack strength. Three spearmen cost the same 2 Numids and offer the same total defensive points with 33% more Hp. They also upgrade to pikemen for 1.5 times the total defensive value and 67% more Hp. Of course the upkeep is 50% higher.......
For my money I prefer the Roman Legion to the Numids. Same cost with both offensive and defensive balance makes them more useful. I'd miss the industrious trait but the increase promotions from the military trait would make up for it in warmongering.

 

[Arathorn]

To get extra value out of an underappreciated UU, play as India and trade away your last horses and/or iron while still building knights....

Trade away all your horses (even after you get Military Tradition) to build up an army of elephants and then upgrade them all to cavalry once you get your horses back. Play with your resources more and don't worry about losing them.

Arathorn

 

[Mano3]

Originally posted by The Last Conformist


I cannot put down a certain suspicion that you've read garbled account of the Theban Sacred Band - an elite unit consisting of pairs of homosexual lovers.

Last Conformist is right! The Theban Sacred Band was homosexual, but the Immortals were not. I did some research (pulled the ol' college books off the shelf) and did find that the Immortals received their name because selected soldiers waited to fill the place of casualities, thus keeping the line alive or 'immortal'.

 

[kgillaume]

GREEK HOPLITES!

A fantastic unit to have in the begining, especially when one of your opponents is a nasty and aggressive general that goes by the name of "Hannibal"... Plus, its great when you get a Golden Age after the first battle...

I also really like the Scandinavian Beserkers... I am a little partial to them because I'm of scandinavian decent so I bring the Viking Hoards down upon my neighbors as soon as I get them...

If a game gets to the modern age, The F-15 means I win... Its nice to have several aircraft battle groups with a ton of F-15s and stealth bombers along with Ageis cruisers and a couple of transports... I bomb you back to the stoneage, then march in with minimal troops on the ground to clean up... A couple of Nuke subs are a good insurance in the event that I lose my armada or if I cannot get air dominance early...

 

[kgillaume]

Theban Sacred Band? as in Thebes? Thebian? Thebes is a Greek City right? You mean my hoplites are like richard simmons? ACK! thanks for ruining it for me... :suicide:

 

[Michael York]

I don't know if that's what their talking about, but Thebes was also a city in Egypt. They probably weren't the only ones in the ancient era.

Hoplites were the citizen soldiers of Greece that fought in the phalanx formation and carried long spears. They were the top infantry of their day Others are more knowldegeable on the subject.