| Settlement Fortifications
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| Category: |
Fortification
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| Level: |
0
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| Turns to build: |
4
|
| Building cost: |
4000
|
| European
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| Indian
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| Middle Eastern
|
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| Enables
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| Improved Settlement Fortifications
|
Defences constructed around a town will hold off many attacks, but cannot be expected to resist heavy attacks forever.
Settlement defences are seldom allowed to be truly impregnable defences. Practical matters such as cost, or the need to house a growing population, often stop city fathers from investing fully in their own defences. Instead, their defences are good enough to deter a casual attack, and good enough to hold up an enemy’s advance. Interlocking fields of fire can sweep attackers off the glacis as the defenders reap a terrible toll. It takes a disciplined approach to reduce a settlement’s fortifications to the point where a breach is “practicable” and the town can be taken.
Historically, town garrisons were often offered the “honours of war” and allowed to march away with their weapons, but only if they gave up without a fight. The townsfolk were likely to be spared any indignity. Once, however, the attackers had launched an assault then the town, its inhabitants and the garrison were fair game for any amount of pillaging and looting. The assault was a dangerous business, and a lawless orgy afterwards was often the soldiers’ reward.
