Why do workers build forts?

[sjudubbel]

I put some of my workers automated. I know it is newbie, but I don't always have the time to micromanage all of them.
The problem is that now they keep building forts over some of my resources, instead of harvesting them. Why would they do that? Seems idiotic.

Can you give some examples of when you could actually have good use for forts in general?
Thank you.

 

[Bandobras Took]

If you have BtS, then forts will provide the resource as soon as you get the unlocking technology. Otherwise, you would have to spend worker turns after the unlocking technology in order to hook them up. Usually the workers will replace the forts once you've unlocked the actual technology.

Also, if it's not in a BFC, you might as well have some defensive bonus on the tile in question.

 

[JonathanStrange]

The AI builds forts so that the human's invasion forces have readymade safe places to occupy.

There are some good uses for forts, but offhand, I can't recall any. When they used to have Zones-of-Control, forget which Civ that was, I used 'em regularly.

 

[SlipperyJim]

Forts can also serve as airfields in the late game, and coastal forts are a lovely place to load/unload your ships.

 

[Ghpstage]

Check here for everything you need to know about forts in BTS.
They are actually quite useful, but I rarely build many until I at least get privateers.

There are some good uses for forts, but offhand, I can't recall any. When they used to have Zones-of-Control, forget which Civ that was, I used 'em regularly.

Civ 3 they had the shoot at passing units type ZOC, in civ 2 every unit had an unpassable ZOC, never played civ1 though.

 

[Kerran]

The AI builds forts so that the human's invasion forces have readymade safe places to occupy.

Forts don't provide a bonus in enemy territory, they must be in neutral or inside your borders to work.

@OP: As has been said, the reason your workers are building them is either that it's a resource you can't improve yet (with a fort on top, you get access to the resource on the same turn that you unlock the tech to improve it, without having to wait for the improvement to be built first) or one that's outside a city BFC.

 

[amit9up]

Forts help connect resources outside your cultural borders? Wow how did I manage so far without knowing that one!

 

[Bleys]

Forts help connect resources outside your cultural borders? Wow how did I manage so far without knowing that one!

You didnt, it doesnt happen this way. It connects resources that are inside your Cultural borders, but outside any cities BFC.

 

[Kerran]

Forts help connect resources outside your cultural borders? Wow how did I manage so far without knowing that one!

Let me clarify: forts in neutral territory will not give access to resources, but they will give a defensive and healing bonus (as well as protect from flanking attacks) to whoever controls it.

I do wish there was an improvement similar to the Civ3 Outpost though ...

 

[amit9up]

Ah thanks for saving me a few turns in my next game!

 

[Bleys]

Forts outside cultural borders isnt common. They cant be built there and only occur when a city changes hands, and suddenly the tiles outside the BFC have become neutral again.

 

[cas]

Forts can also serve as airfields in the late game, and coastal forts are a lovely place to load/unload your ships.

Just an extension to this, they can act as land bridges for sea units between 2 bodies of water...there are some restrictions, but this is probably explained in detail in the link provided by Ghpstage.

cas

 

[gskyes]

The reason your workers do this is because a fort will connect the resource to your empire exactly like the appropriate improvement would. If the tile is workable by a city (in the fat cross) they build the improvement, but if it is not workable they build a fort. Both connect the resource, but the fort has the added bonus of giving that nations units a defensive bonus when defending the resource.

edit: I checked the link that Ghpstage posted, and forts also have a higher air defence than normal improvements.

 

[Ghpstage]

Forts outside cultural borders isnt common. They cant be built there and only occur when a city changes hands, and suddenly the tiles outside the BFC have become neutral again.

They can be built outside of cultural borders, its just rare and mostly pointless.
They can't be used as airbases or naval ports and the defense bonus is rarely useful otherwise, the most likely use for forts outside of borders is for linking to a trade network.
It's very rare this will ever be worthwhile mind, as most neutral territory isn't usually neutral for very long. (Unless you go into the ice or tiny islands)

Ah thanks for saving me a few turns in my next game!

Forts do however take considerably longer to build than other improvements, so letting auto workers build forts can be a major drain on your workerturns.

 

[JonathanStrange]

I keep thinking of the song Why do fools fall in love? whenever I see this thread's musical question Why do workers build forts? Why do they fortify? Tell me whyyyyy?

Just thought I'd share with the class.

 

[Bleys]

They can be built outside of cultural borders, its just rare and mostly pointless.

Oops, my bad, I always thought they needed to be in culture. Good to know with the ice-canal trick.

 

[SlipperyJim]

Ghpstage already mentioned it, but I thought I'd show proof that forts can be built outside of cultural boundaries:

In this case, I'm assuming that my culture will sweep over the fort sooner or later, and I'd like to have that Stone. I had a few Workers who weren't busy right then, so I figured I'd build a fort. Whenever my culture takes control, I'll have instant Stone.

 

[Ghpstage]

Oops, my bad, I always thought they needed to be in culture. Good to know with the ice-canal trick.

Unfortunately neutral forts can't be used as airbases and naval units can't move into (Or through!)them. This is why I said it's pretty pointless

 

[sjudubbel]

Can they AI:s naval forces move through a fort inside of my cultural borders?