What's the perfect size of your permanent army?

[Grey Fox]

For starters, i most often play Emperor.

In the ancient era i usually build a warrior for Happiness. Then if the city is growing (and not a Settler/Worker factory) I tend to build another Warrior, if the city isn't a border city and then I might build a spearman.

But as I tend to be agressive, I usually spend my shields on Offensive units, like Archers, Swordsmen or Horsemen, all depending on what resources I have.

But as the time flies I usually ends up with 2 Spearmen in every city, as they tend to be the cheapest unit once Iron comes online.

But mostly for happiness reasons.

I never build Artillary, why build when I can capture them?

I usually end up with 30-40 Cannons, (upgraded from Catapults).

In the Middle Ages I usually upgrade those Spearmen I need to upgrade, with the money I have made by building the Great Library. And researching at 0% and with a Scientist.

As I usually build my cities with only 2 tiles in between, I can transport defenders from my core cities to my border cities quite fast. You could call it the "Bucket Strategy" or something...

In the Industrial age I usually have one or two Riflemen/Infantry in my newly built cities, but the Cavalry units are often enough.

I usually don't wage war in the Modern Age, as I tend to play very Agressive. And I usually have won already or if a HOF or GOTM game are milking the score...

 

[WUM]

In the ancient era i have 1 spearman/warrior in each city. And as much offencive units as i can possibly build to conquer the civ next door...

in all other era´s i usually have 2 of the most modern defencive units fortified. Some cities deep inside my territory have only one. It varies on the front, since i keep sending defenders to the newly conquered cities.

During war or when preparing for war i build as many offencive units as possible. After the war i only keep those if i can afford it (i almost always can) and if i expect a new war. Otherwise i disband them in the conquered cities to speed up the production.

I never build any bombarding units. They move to slowly and faster units are more effective for pillage of certain tiles with strategic resources. Same thing for bombers and fighters. I only build those if my enemy also has those.

 

[Grey Knight]

I tend to have 1-2 defenders in cities until I hit railroads, then it is 0-2, depending on how close it is to an attack path. Not only does this conserve forces, the AI will bypass the heavily fortified border town to attempt an attack on an undefended core city. This allows you to use your "defensive" quick-response force [of offensive units] to counterattack.

Once rails are up, you only need enough units per continent to do point defense.

Cheers,
Shawn

 

[Radegast]

Ancient;Depotism; 2 Warrior/Spearmen per city, for happiness and defence. Possibly an archer or two in some contested cities to attack with first so I can get my retaliation in first! But normally the AI is not attacking me, its the other way round.

Once I reach monarchy then up to 3 defenders in the larger cities for the happiness/growth.

By the time I reach republic/democracy then all the regular troops that are left over get disbanded into production, only veterans are built from here on (actually much earlier, after the first 50 or so turns I'll almost never build regular unless I'm forced too. Same applies to naval vessels). Swordsmen usually get burnt as well at this point, perhaps not the elite ones cos even thay can kill most units at 1HP, and they'll supress resistors too. And any elite victory is a leader chance.

If my core cities are under threat at this point, well what am I doing in rep/dem? So, they require no garrison at all although they may have some as a result of troop building that has not yet been distributed.

Coastal cities might have a single unit for garrison if I think there is a threat of invasion, and border cities are definitely garrisoned well. But their garrison is often my attack force! Which will include defensive trrops too.

Before railroads there will be a few 'Rapid Response' Knight/Cavalry forces scattered about just in case, although these will often get involved in the assault when every body counts. But then, when I'm at war my cities are producing units as fast as they can, so there will always be something coming next turn to act as a reserve. Fast units get built at the rear, foot units nearer the front.

I differ from many in that I might have between 25 and 35% of the army as cannon/artillery. Before that I'll build a few catapults but I'll not rely on them.

Cannon/artillery are marvelous in the set piece assault at the begining of a campaign reducing the city in size to diminish defensive bonus, make the city more manageable once captured and reducing the troops hit points to ensure victory.

But their true value lies in their efectiveness as counter counter attack. The AI will always respond in force, sometime massive force, but will avoid your strongpoints. Nine time out of ten they end up next to your city/troops, in roll the cannon, bang, reduce their fast units to 1 or 2, surround with cavalry/infantry, kill fast units with HP left with cavalry, kill the rest with infantry from the artillery square, take the last with a fast unit so it can retire, retreat to cities wherever possible. Like taking candy from a baby. I can kill at ratios of 20 to 1, and maybe will lose 2 or 3 exposed infantry if they come back for more medicine.

I get a fair few elites during this process as well, and as barracks will often be captured, any damage is quick to recover.

And combined artillery and railroads. Well awesome in a mobile defence mode. All enemy incursions are dealt with before the artillery is assigned to assault tasks.

Bombers just extend the range into enemy territory although in the late game I can often outrun them too. I'll generally have a few elite cavalry around at this point to reach really deep before modern armour arrives. Once MA get there, all else is redundant except perhaps a few mech infantry for forward defence.

I'll usually start building a few swordsmen as well at this point! Yes, modern age swordsmen act as policemen. I may well have to be monarchy/communism if the war gets lengthy, these guys can get built relaitvly easily in my low production towns, they are just as effective as an elite modern armour at supressing resistance and unhapiness.

A long answer to a short question, but how big should your army be? As big as you can afford!