I went back to playing this game a while ago, since I was having sudden surges of nostalgia for it. Unfortunately, I'd forgotten the basics of militaristic control, and soon found myself as a second power in the game.

I'm the type of player who probably has about eighteen cities within the first few turns, and then a slow spreading to other continents, etc. I always have a unit guarding each city, and usually I set it to build citizens until it reches level eight, where I switch over the amenities.

However, the last time I played, I did not reach the same military heights as I used to, so basically had an army of scouts/civilians and nothing more. I don't remember my production being so slow... it's not major, as I'm a peaceful player for the most part, but not having a standing army is a little worrying. Tips or suggestions?

Can't help you there... I never really have a standing army, I just produce military units whenever I run out of improvements to build...

I never have a standing army, either. The only time I build offensive units is when a country declares war on me, or as the previous post mentioned, when I've constructed everything else. It's just a waste of production to have whole armies just standing around, doing nothing.[size=1][/size]

It's more of a security thing for me. Keeping a good supply of men for a war until I have nuclear capabilities is something I prefer, since I can always disband the units if necessary later.

I do, however, sometimes "accidentally" go to war, and end up conquering a couple of cities while I'm at it. It's just a little frusterating not to have my cake and massacre my neightbour's cake while I'm eating mine.

Usually I keep three military units in each city to maintain order and to be called up if a neighbor attacks me. If you don't want it to really slow down production, then just keep 1-3 defensive units in your cities(if you have despotism, monarchy, or communism as your government, these will also help maintain order). It will be quite effective at keeping your opponents from attacking and stopping them if they try anything. Plus with your cities well guarded, it can give you time to build offensive forces. Also keep SDI in every city when you reach modern times, because without it your screwed against enemy country with a sizable nuclear arsenal.

"Build City Walls and other improvements later!"

I usually have two units guarding to begin with, then three later once I have a few improvements in the city. Then more again in war time in cities at risk. I never usually have an army sitting around doing nothing unless they are leftovers from a war. I prefer to build all the World Wonders I can and then once everything is done just switch them over to Stock Exchange.

I usually build up the World Wonders as well, typically having the center and original cities totally loaded with them all. I'm finding it a little odd that you would have so many troops within the cities, though, doesn't that compromise the expansion of your empire by limiting the amount citizens can eat, if so much is allocated to the army?

Well, depending on what government you are under, units may not be consuming any resources. My tactic is simple, each city builds 1 defence, 2 settlers, then 2 more defence units. The first settler goes off and founds a new city, and the second works the land. The result is a constant and rapid expansion of your civilization.

As I'm lazy and never really understood the pros and cons of all the governments, I stick with depotism until fundamentalism comes by (Or get the world wonder which allows any government). So many benefits, but one major drawback - 50% cut in science. But with so much money floating around, I just channel that back into improving science in every city and making sure I get all the science improving wonders.


As for a standing army, I have a few units floating around when not at war, but nothing excessive. Ensuring all my cities are linked via railroad is a priority, so should they be needed, I can summon troops from just about anywhere.

I find Nuclear Weapons to be a major problem, so I don't build the Manhattan Project, and usually try to sabotage anyone who does

This morning I managed to build up a handy assault group, and as usual, it paid off when I got invaded by a once peaceful ally for refusing to join a war. I find it happens a lot in the harder levels. Fortunately, I was lucky and had a stable series of roads set up right to a chockpoint on the continent, just at the front lines. I slaughtered their army and managed to expand into the Persian empire a good bit, about six cities taken, before they were clamouring for peace.

The early governments tend to have a lot of problems with food consumption and armies, which was what I was refering to. You get to a point where you have to change from expansion to internal support, but reaching that point is essential for the game, right? Especially if you want to get your ship out into space first.

Do any of you play hard? I find it really changes the experience when it comes down to diplomacy, which is usually why I always have a massive army as close to the people (I'm negotiating with as possible.

I haven't played much on the Harder modes, usually because civilisations declare war on you at the drop of a hat and I prefer to expand, build my Spaceship and war at my convenience Usually I take out the particular races early that are usually pretty hostile if given the chance to expand.

Going down my favourites list today, and noticed that this thread has been a little rejected since I was last here. Recently got back into playing myself a few more rounds and found that, when an enemy is cut down to one place early in the game, they fail to rise again, even when they probably could have under me. I know that when I defeated the Vikings, their capital, Tronjheim, went through something like eight or nine riots and then just sat there for over two millenia.

quote Ren of Heavens

As I'm lazy and never really understood the pros and cons of all the governments, I stick with depotism until fundamentalism comes by (Or get the world wonder which allows any government).

As far as I know, despotism has no advantages over monarchy or communism other than elimination a brief period of anarchy between governments (which is eliminated with the Statue of Liberty wonder), with disadvantages being higher corruption and less tax flexibility, so I'd recommend switching to monarchy and then communism as soon as they become available as many turns of greater prosperity are worth a few of anarchy.

Edit: There is another advantage to despotism, and another advantage of monarchy and communism I forgot about. Despotism allows you to support more units with a higher population than 3, but less with a population below 3.

Id recommend getting the Key wonders of the world, Leos workshop is essential. Always go for Gunpowder first!

The Great Library is also essential for those games with more than two other people out there. A few times I've worked on the oddest things because the six other nations were all working on something like pottery and I would prefer to have something along the lines of a market. Instant bonus right there.