Trading post stagecoach question

[DemonDog]

I'm going to use great plains as the basis for this question. This is not map with three trading post and not the EP version at all.

Player x has two TP's

Player y has one TP

Should player X upgrade it to stagecoach or dumb idea?

[thebritish]

no. never

[Jaeger]

I would upgrade it most of the time, but make sure to have units near the other trading posts so the enemy doesn't use the extra 400 res they have on you to build 2 more TP's

[MCJim]

Not sure if it's good on 3 tp maps like GP or Arkansas. Keep in mind your opponent will get free resources as well and he doesn't have to pay for stage coach. Tbh the risk of losing one on these maps is pretty high. I'd only build 2 if I know I can defend them well or if I'm ahead.

[Garja]

I'm going to use great plains as the basis for this question. This is not map with three trading post and not the EP version at all.

Player x has two TP's

Player y has one TP

Should player X upgrade it to stagecoach or dumb idea?

In otto mirror was kinda common knowledge to not up the route till you had a military advantage

[DemonDog]

I'm going to use great plains as the basis for this question. This is not map with three trading post and not the EP version at all.

Player x has two TP's

Player y has one TP

Should player X upgrade it to stagecoach or dumb idea?

In otto mirror was kinda common knowledge to not up the route till you had a military advantage

I was thinking more of French mirror in my head. Although I didn't know that about ottos though.

[britishmusketeer]

If you have a military advantage then yes.

[S_I_D_aoe3]

I think it is more situational. If you get military lead and you can afford to dump 400res into it then I think it can be okay. I've done it on GP or Patagonia before since each side has 3 tps and the upgrade only affects me.

[yoqpasa]

I never give my enemy anything for free, except maybe with 4-1 tp's.

[Panmaster]

Did you know that Stagecoach AKA TradeRouteUpgrade1 is bugged? The tech status is always inactive. Not a problem for humans but it's a PITA for the computer player.

[momuuu]

Well its kinda like upgrading just a single trading post right, which doesnt really seem worth it. If you're sure you wont lose the middle TP it might be worth it I suppose.

[Ikilled4penguins]

Well its kinda like upgrading just a single trading post right, which doesnt really seem worth it. If you're sure you wont lose the middle TP it might be worth it I suppose.

I never give my enemy anything for free, except maybe with 4-1 tp's.

Agree to both of these, and will elaborate further on my logic:
1. Need to see a return of investment. If opponent can easily knock down TP's, probably a no-go.

and

2. The stage coach upgrade will in some way provide you a greater advantage than to the opponent, in which case you are taking a risk. There are countless possible scenarios, I will illustrate an example on Great Lakes:

You are Ottoman and rush early game, but things don't work out. Your economy is now almost hopelessly far behind, but you have sea deck w/ schooners (40 wood fishies!), while your opponent(s) chose land deck (or you believe you will be able to control sea). You also have 2-3 TP's, while the opponent(s) might have same number or less. At this point, your chance of survival might be greater to risk giving your opponent who is already ahead a relatively small economic advantage, while giving yourself a relatively larger one to catch up/stay in the fight.

It's worth pointing out in these scenarios most of us assume all resources are spent efficiently. For games pr25 & under, it's very possible for opponents far enough ahead to be floating tons of resources (guilty of this myself), in which case they might not truly capitalize on your stagecoach upgrade. Also, if it's a team game, it is possible the enemy occupied TP's are divided among multiple players (as opposed to being owned by one person), thus providing them each less of an economic advantage.

[yemshi]

never sea boom on great lakes