What to Garrison Cities with?

[Civ'ed]

Hi,

In Civ 4, it was all about Archers with defensive promotions. Now, in Civ 5, cities have their own defense, so it's not as critical. Am I also right in thinking that Archers are bad because the'd have to un-garrison to be able to fire (which you'd want them to be doing)?

Well, you could use city bombard THEN the archer...

 

[Bibor]

The main purpose of Military Caste as I see it is to make the army you'd have anyway useful during times of peace and for short bursts of extra happiness that make it easeir to annex conquered cities.

Yes and no. Depending on map size, Military Caste can and should constantly provide 5 happines or more, otherwise its a wasted policy. Garrisoned units don't have to be an important part of your attack (or defense) force, but they need to be powerful enough to increase your military might. Naval units, AA guns and fast-moving land units all make good garrison units. Road and railroad connections between Military caste "garrisoned cities" are pretty much mandatory so you can pull those units to the front if need be.

Garrisoning conquered cities is a good idea, but can be a double-edged sword. Newly captured frontline cities are very vunerable to recapture, while garrisons (again) prevent you to use these cities as an artillery base.

 

[Bibor]

Well, you could use city bombard THEN the archer...

Yes, but as soon as you attack with the archer it stops being a garrison (and garrison is more important during the AI turn). The whole idea of the garrison is that it ties up that unit.

 

[Tabarnak]

In front war city it's useful to keep a melee unit so he can fight without being killed outside, and keep higher defence of city himself.

But for using best units for Military Caste purpose is dangerous if you need them for emergency. If happiness drops below -9 after moves you definitively need some crap and cheap units for extra garrison for cities who don't need extra defence. But it's easy to predict.

I usually take Military Caste if i have 8 or more cities.

 

[Monthar]

Actually they can. Only instead of right clicking the embarked unit you have to use the "ranged attack" icon from the list of possible orders.

That makes it sound like a bug with the right clicking then.

 

[stormerne]

Yes and no. Depending on map size, Military Caste can and should constantly provide 5 happines or more, otherwise its a wasted policy.

Many of the trees are peppered with wasted policies. Sometimes you have to get through them to unlock the ones you really want. At other times you have to take them because you want the whole tree for a cultural victory. So nothing new there. If you want Professional Army or want the whole Honor tree, and you have the units to spare and don't mind paying the upkeep, you may as well take advantage of Military Caste.

 

[Varanid]

I usually keep a unit garrisoned in border cities; it seems to make the AI think I'm stronger.
what it is just varies depending on circumstances. In the hilly cities, where the enemy units would have defensive bonuses (from being on hills) and my units would be slowed down due to hills I keep a ranged unit. Otherwise a melee unit.