Roads and how they should work » Forum Post by Solam

I think allowing the enmy to use your road is the best way to go. Ofcourse also give us the option of dismantling that section of road, providing us with a form of attrition to use against the enemy.

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You could have techs on outpost and guardposts that can be laid near a road, this should slow them down alittle and take fire even if they dont attack (at war).

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Quoting Tridus,

reply 25

The reason why enemies can't use your roads in Civ 4 isn't for realism reasons (because it obviously makes no sense); it's for gameplay reasons. A game where you can build a fast force and then use the enemies roads to rush directly at towns on the far side of his empire (where the defenses are weaker) would be frustrating. Since the enemies can't use the raods, what you get is they have to either go around say by sea, or go past the border towns where presumably a stronger garrison will be available.

So, if you're looking for a realistic modeling of how an enemy army would use roads, stop. Instead, look at what can be done that isn't going to drive players nutty when the computer does it to them.

In fact it's more realist : when you are invading a country, you don't travel as fast as you would while in peace. You need to take care of yourself, thus you avoid walking at full speed (you need to be able to fight). Moreover, even if you have well scouted the region, you're not "at home".

And supply : the more you advance in enemy territory, the less supplies you get. You need to wait for them, but for the defender their supplies are near.

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The roads you build are nothing more than a conduit for trade among your Cities. An investment made to encourage said trade. If you find yourself unable to defend those roads against the enemy, then the defense of said roads would be the least of your troubles. The enemy is obviously headed for your likewise poorly defended cities, by your road... or not.

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If an enemy army occupies a road/trade route within your borders then any leader worth his weight will take notice when all the traffic suddenly stops or slows to a trickle without explanation. Theoretically it's balanced because while you know something must be out there, you don't know any details of what or exactly where. Last time I checked roads are automatic and not manually built like in civilization, preventing abuse. Your opponent can use the road's speed boost to his advantage but at the cost of possibly giving up their element of surprise. It also could be useful in psychologically harassing an opponent by setting off false flags of enemy presence. Nothing helps player to player relations like a good dose of healthy paranoia.

GUI graphical representation might be coloring a road yellow, red ect when it becomes interrupted.

Quoting EadTaes,

reply 24

Outpost: (inspiered from Starbase in Sins and the Ruined tower in LoTR where Frodo got stabed by the Nazgul)
-Outpost can only be built on roads (what do you expect). They can be upgrade by 2 way that I can imagine, first more traditional is a build upgrade your puchase for it that takes time to build and increases defence and so on. Second, more original way is to have it being reinforced with troops, when reinforcing the troops now become part of the outpost (you lose control of them) and the type of troops determines what type of upgrade the outpost gains. (type of upgrade is left to imagination and debate)
-Outpost have a small 360 zone of influence aroudn them that will slowdown any hostile forces traveling throught it. This zone is uncontestable (EI you can claim teh tiles unlest you conquer the outpost) and this zone can not contest teh zone of influence of other players, you will need to conquer the enemies influence via teh otehr means the game has. (Ei you can not build and outpost next to enemy teritory to steal the teritory. It's not a terrytory stealer.)
-Outpost should provide protection for your road vision magic for around double the distance of the zone of influence. (So your roads cannot be stolen right up to your front door.
-Outpost strenght? Dunno how strong these should be but they should not stand up to armies, maybe only small gangs and such. (IE much weakear then the SBs of SINS in tearm of firepower and defence)

It could be difficult to rationalize (sell) this idea. Maybe have the outpost simulate entrenched medevil traps and a population defense presence in the area?

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Not hard to justify at all. In antiquity and the midel age outpost along trade routes where commond.

The romans has messenger relay stations at X distance along their roads to allow for faster communication. And these stations where more or less defended depending on the needs.

In the middel age the navigation contries would build lots of miniature ports and fortress along the coast of important maratime routes to secrure those routes for them self, to resupply ships, provide protection and spy on passing ships.

So a system of outpost in Elemental would find all sorts of historical backup.

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Quoting Tridus,

reply 25

The reason why enemies can't use your roads in Civ 4 isn't for realism reasons (because it obviously makes no sense); it's for gameplay reasons. A game where you can build a fast force and then use the enemies roads to rush directly at towns on the far side of his empire (where the defenses are weaker) would be frustrating. Since the enemies can't use the raods, what you get is they have to either go around say by sea, or go past the border towns where presumably a stronger garrison will be available.

So, if you're looking for a realistic modeling of how an enemy army would use roads, stop. Instead, look at what can be done that isn't going to drive players nutty when the computer does it to them.

Using enemy roads to attack weakly defended cities? Where have I heard this before?

Oh yeah...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blitzkrieg

Honestly, I think that this should be a perfectly acceptable strategy.

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