The #1 reason I think this should be used is because I think its dumb that you have to wait 500 years to produce units in the early years. The #2 reason is that it's more realistic to have countries purchasing their units. Countries almost always contracted factories and corporations to produce weapons for them. Some countries have had the government producing weapons, but even then those weapons aren't free. Not to mention that this would stop the ridiculousness of having to "make" infantry units. Why should a factory affect the ability to produce a division of soldiers?

Under this plan, I think certain units should not be able to be produced without the proper industry. I think a factory should be required for a city to produce things like planes and tanks. This would prevent players from founding a tiny city on an enemy continent and buying up tons of weapons from that little city.

Also, the more industry a city has, the less it costs to produce the unit. For example, producing a tank could cost $500 with only one factory, but with four it would cost half that much or less. The only time this wouldn't be true is for infantry or cavalry units. Still, mobilization of troops costs money, and the cost would remain very much the same for all cities. Although maybe technologies affect the cost. Feudalism and Conscription could alter the costs of mobilization of cavalry or infantry units.

------------------
"...The highest realization of warfare is to attack the enemy's plans; next is to attack their alliances; next to attack their army; and the lowest is to attack their fortified cities." - Sun Tzu

Dom Pedro II.... aka Hannibal3

quote: Why should a factory affect the ability to produce a division of soldiers?

Soldiers still need weapons, uniforms, helmets and other gear. factories can make this stuff faster than other ways. so factories should make unit production faster.

Ok, maybe factories do provide supplies for troops more easily, but that really wasn't my point.

Yes, you CAN rush build units, but they are ridiculously expensive if you do this immediately. Just buying units is not the only reason I like this idea. I also think its good because then it only takes one turn to get a unit which is much more realistic. I mean any time it takes centuries to build a unit, something is wrong. And its not just about being ABLE to buy units, its about ONLY buying units. I just don't think the current method is realistic.