Siege is difficult to use at the best of times, due to the fact that you have to clear barracks space for them.

So...how about this: we used to have 4 buildings, and trained troops out of them at will, controlling the rate with guilds. So - how about - we bring back ONE type of extra building...BUT - all it does is provide you with an endless stream of one type of siege weapon (method of choosing weapon either being by teching up the building, getting tech and making a 3rd type (not a fave of mine) or simply picking it from the start. Of course, you will have to pay to deploy as with any kind of troop. On this one alone, there'll be no building limitations, in contrast to the barracks.

Why do we need it? I hear the defenders have it too good. And I have to admit, having recently faced up to a massive wall of mace, if I didn't go for the barracks - by melee too - I would be in a big heap of trouble right now, if I'm not still in it!!!

Most players with maxed-out barracks are struggling to find ALL the gold to get their troops out anyway...so the extra cost fo siege is still there - the main difference is, the defender won't suddenly be out-producing you, despite the fact you're siege-ing HIM, just because you had to pay up to get a decent stack of rams or cats

It's probably too radical an idea....but you never know...folks might like it, so I'm putting the thought out there

i actually like the idea.... barracks house troops... battering rams/catapults arent really troops there Weapons.... so some kind of armory or smithy should be built that turns out a set amount of catapults a turn. To get them more used....

keep the same techs, just apply them to the blacksmith. Makes them use full, like the acads are needed for more troop stacks, and training guilds increase a unit's level.

Production would be only 1 slot and it could only be rams or cats built with the option of no training. Now when the blacksmith is being used to build seige weapons it cannot be used for teching/upgrading.

So to get cats one doesn't have to wait till late in the game, well they would have to wait untill they get 12K gold and assorted resources to get to cats, but it would be much easier.

yes, i think this is doable.

although im not sure i can do it for this version. not sure if the system would allow for something like that.

Well yes I like this also
however, sorry to be contrary;
but if there is no limit to how many can be built I think an imbalance of strategy will result because "catapults" have "awesome stats" now and this idea will allow us to build them on the spot where needed resulting in everyone destroying everything in range before the game is 2/3's over.

I would say to allow a maximum of 5 or even only 3 "blacksmith shops" and a player can tear them down to rebuild them at a more convenient location.

TR

If it comes down to that....we can make it a flat rate of one active a player

However, siege weapons aren't that cheap, and certainly aren't efficient on-field....