These tile improvements seem lackluster compared to what roads and embarking offer at the same tech cost in the same era. Vision and healing is nice, but what they should offer is protection.



Armies should be allowed to Garrison on built watchtower tiles (just like in cities). This would open up new and immerse tactical decisions players could take when going to or defending in war.



1. Building up troops would be more cost efficient as players can only store so many units within cities (at garrison cost) which would benefit both defensive and offensive play.

2. Players would actively look for regions with more watchtowers to sustain bigger armies efficiently.

3. Boarder conflict would actively become a "thing" as players would have more defense then just at their city walls.

4. Reinforcement would work just as with city garrisons.

5. Watchtower Vision range could be reduce (slightly) before being "manned" if balance is necessary.

6. Hero "spying" skill would become more useful.

7. Watchtower "islands" off the coast/ in ocean areas could offer amphibious invasion defense (as there is no "water" combat atm).



Discussion, pro/con, and comments are encouraged as well all have an interest in making EL as best as it can be.

I think WatchTowers are great and innovative, that healing should be like few tiles around, and probably made units be able to garrison watch towers and attack everything in range. It would make enemy wary about going to attack you.

Garrisoning watchtowers is a great idea! Would definitely help make protecting border be more interesting and more important.



On the other hand, in order to make protecting territory important enemies would have to be able to garrison/destroy your watchtowers, and probably also loot your extractors / minor faction villages / etc.

EcthelionHelm wrote:
Garrisoning watchtowers is a great idea! Would definitely help make protecting border be more interesting and more important.



On the other hand, in order to make protecting territory important enemies would have to be able to garrison/destroy your watchtowers, and probably also loot your extractors / minor faction villages / etc.

Siege can do that. When sieged you don't get anything from city except district tiles. So that block you from extractors etc.

I am hoping for something a bit larger than siege - a reason to actively keep enemies out of your whole region. As is, siege isn't very impressive in restricting fids (since terrain fids are meh), although loss of resources can hurt. Garrisonable watchtowers, or razable improvements would help to make a proactive defense a better choice.