Alternate uses of military besides warfare?

[DensterNY]

Hey everyone.

I was wondering whether or not your military units serve as peacekeepers, police or whatnot while in your territories and do they contribute to happiness or prevent riots, etc? I do a good job of maintaining my people and keeping them happy but let's just say I'm not always a benevolent rule :dwink:.

Actually I want to go to war with an AI and I anticipate disruptions in my supply line and also being distracted from dealing with the day to day needs of my population. I pretty much would like Marshall law during this time of war until hostilities cease.

[Rnett]

They outta have a dread factor but they dont...:huh:

[Dobber]

I have heard that having military in your town center helps prevent spy action, but I don't know if it helps prevent riots or not! I do know it costs you upkeep to have them!

[BaldJim]

... I was wondering whether or not your military units serve as peacekeepers, police or what not while in your territories and do they contribute to happiness or prevent riots, etc? ... I pretty much would like Marshal Law during this time of war until hostilities cease.

http://www.anno1701.de/launch/index.php?lg=en&l1=aufbau&l2=ehrengaeste&l3=kommandant

The game website has this small hint about the role of the military as part of a description of the "honored guest" Commander:

Having an expert who ensures that justice is done by training Troops in a Garrison or Fortress can only be a good thing. With a bit of luck, the Commander's visit will come just at the right moment.

Note that the Garrison comes at the "Citizen" level.

It is possible to speculate that your military, when usefully placed, may counter foreign "lodge activities" which disrupt things. However, whether they will counter (oppress) strictly home-grown discontents is far more obscure. I would make the wild guess that they never contribute to happiness.

This seems not a topic on which the developers have been forthcoming. They leave it to game play experience, I suspect.

:scratch:

edit: I suspect that this game is designed to correct a perceived flaw in the previous one of the series -- that is, one could ignore the military and be entirely pacifist with no penality. It appears that this time around, it is necessary to include a minimal recognition of the military no matter how peaceful you wish to be in your game play. Perhaps your people will respect you just a bit more if you have a minimal military presence at the town center and other key locations.
:eek:

[DensterNY]

I suppose it is a matter of experimenting though. Unfortunately, as Dobber mentioned the military units have an upkeep cost to them. I haven't used them to counteract espionage but I'll take note to drop a militia or two around my town squares.

Thanks guys!