Large standing Army or massive mobilization?

[C.V. Mannerheim]

Which to you guys prefer to use?


I've noticed the AI tends to simply build massive amounts of units for a large, standing army. In my current VIP game the UK has over a million men in uniform guarding Bristol.

I tend to ere on the side of a large Mob pool, keeping perhaps 15 units on active duty (as the US)


what side you guys fall on?

CvM

 

[Orm]

In the early and middle game I rely heavily on my mob-pool, but in the late game I tend more towards a standing army.

 

[Cinéad IV]

I personally prefer a standing army with plenty of attachments (artillery, engineers, HQs and tanks), but kept at minimal strength, backed up with a large mobilisation pool. My specialised units are used for offensive actions, while my conscripts are used for defence during wars where there's a chance my home territory might be invaded.

 

[unmerged(81390)]

I build a mob. pool for mil. score and emergency. When I fight offensive wars I always rely on my (as small as possible, with as many brigades as possible) standing army

 

[unmerged(103789)]

A small professional force for me, even when playing as the UK. I feel safe in leaving the home isles lightly defended, the professional force sets out and takes the area and then returns home after a quick victory.

 

[unmerged(26364)]

Very interesting answers. I myself tend to build more and more units during the game as my countrys territory and population grows. At the same time I also enlarge the mobilization pool and principally, actually even unconciously I divide all the wars in my mind into the small ones, which I can finish successfully without mobilizing the pool and to the big ones, for which I have to mobilize my forces already at the beginnig of the war.
Examples. As playing Argentine and having swallowed Uruguay, Piratini Republic, Paraguay, Bolivia and taken parts of Chile, Peru and Brazil; I managed to succumb Piratini Republic with the standing army, but combatin Brazil and later on the allies Bolivia and Chile, I always had to mobilize.
So, long story short: I go for a mixed system and try to keep all the standing army units provided with attachments, my favourite being the regulars or the guards, depending on the wealth of my country.

 

[tylerhink]

In the early and middle game I rely heavily on my mob-pool, but in the late game I tend more towards a standing army.

Same here. I wait until I'm 1st or 2nd industry power before i turn my eyes upon military.

 

[unmerged(76730)]

Super Standing Army. Using Mob only in very early stage when manpower/more units is/are unavailable (e.g. Prussia DOW Hannover when Hannover is still satelite of UK - need some extra troops to cover beaches against British invasions).

To much hassle wit Mob/DeMob when I need to crush revolts. Of course I increasing MobPool but doing that as a precaution if I mess something up big time.

 

[Zuckergußgebäck]

I combine both. Although using this strategy as Germany against an invading Russia in the early twentieth century failed - just too many Russians. But I suppose that nothing can stop Russia in the early twentieth century.

 

[Searry]

Both. I usually end up having 1000 mil points or more in the end.

 

[C.V. Mannerheim]

For those of you that field massive standing armys, do you find that it cuts into your budget quite a bit?

I assume you max our taxes and tariffs to sustain your force....

 

[unmerged(84717)]

I usually focus on building a dozen divisions early in the game, then focus on a large mobilization pool. Later in the game, as it becomes harder to increase mobilization, I start fielding a larger standing army. And I keep doing that if I'm playing offensively.

If manpower allows, though (as with China), I rely on a standing army and fund it up when I go to war.

 

[k-59]

I build what i need as a standing army, witch most of the time is not lot because i don't like to fight wars. Then build up the mob pool for the stats. Witch can mess me up when i do need it because i have more in it then i need.

 

[likk9922]

I generally keep as large a standing army as possible. If I'm attacked, warmongering, or it strikes my fancy to kill an unciv, it's a lot more convenient to use my standing army.

Mob pool is a huge help in long wars, though. Plus higher military score = good.

 

[unmerged(65202)]

Mobilization is cruise control for cool.

 

[unmerged(76730)]

For those of you that field massive standing armys, do you find that it cuts into your budget quite a bit?

I assume you max our taxes and tariffs to sustain your force....

In current game as Prussia/Germany. Tariffs of course maxed out. Logical step. But taxes are @ 35% so not too high. I never move taxes above 50%. Good thing with Prussia/Germany is that it is really hard to turn country into Liberal free trade state. Liberal form of goverment is a curse for countries like Germany which need to field huge army against France, Russia and Austria-Hungary (at least until I get every German province I want ). One general tip: want huge army - do everything possible to avoid Liberal gov.

Depending on a country large standing army is a must (Prussia/Russia/China), is an option (medium size countries which want to sneak at majors or UK& France if want to protect all colonies), is completly unnecessary (UK - naval spending killing budget enough) or it is not viable option (Liberal, free-trade, countries with not enough income - tariffs running standing armies).

 

[Phoenix VII]

I always build the largest army I can comfortably support with every division having a brigade. I also build up my mobilization pool as much as I can, but I never mobilize unless I have no choice since I don't like loosing my Clerk/Craftsmen POPs.

 

[unmerged(8915)]

i use a core of professional troops with attachments, relatively small to my size /40?/ and a large mobilization pool to call about 200 divisions when fighting other majors in europe towards the 20the century. those numbers i used when france.

and a small colonial presense thats good enough for taking down natives, but not really for intra-colonial warfare

 

[Orm]

For those of you that field massive standing armys, do you find that it cuts into your budget quite a bit?

I assume you max our taxes and tariffs to sustain your force....

In peace time I cut down the size of most of my units by cutting military maintenance for a day then bring it up to max again. I usually have only a few divisions standing around at full size for emergencies.

 

[RELee]

Gosh I hate saying this so often; but it really does depend on my situation. Of course, it also tends to depend on my whim of the day as well. Generally speaking, however, I tend to lean towards keeping a small, potent standing force of divisions with attachments along with a large-as-possible mobilization pool to supplement the standing army in time of war with other Great Powers, or simply if I perceive the need to augment my standing force for faster assimilation of the uncivilized heathens.