Fortress Strategy and HOSPITAL PLACEMENT 101 for new folks!

Day 905, 13:27 • Published in USA USA • by Candor

I've been recruiting a lot of new people for the party I belong to, the Nos Party: http://www.erepublik.com/en/party/the-nos-3089/1

In doing so, I've been engaging a lot of new citizens in PM's. Always, the conversation comes to Hospitals. Now look, old guys and wise men, I apologize in advance if I explain this too simplistically below (or slightly wrong even), give me some slack. But here is the PM I send back, when it gets to this.

Old wise men, feel free to expound. I'm going to republish this every week or so.

HOSPITAL STRATEGY; WHY WE LOCATE THEM WHERE WE DO:

Hospitals do exactly what you probably think they do: They concentrate the population in a few key states.

You probably hadn't thought about those states as "key", right?

Well, those hospitals are placed where they are so that the people will concentrate where they are. Every person who lives in a state adds to it's "wall", that is, it's "fortress strength". Or, the amount of damage an opponent would have to throw at that state to "take it over" in a battle.

The hospitals create a "fort" in the states they are located, since they draw people to them. The people make the "fort" through their combined strength (in combo with a &quot😉efense System" equally placed, a "force multiplier", essentially)

Karnataka, in example, is a fortress state, because it would be a path our enemies would need to come through to get to us. So we have a "fort" there, and keep it there with a hospital, and therefore a lot of people (and the Defense System).

North Dakota, in example (a random example) doesn't border any enemies, so no fort need. Same with just about all the other states. (I think Florida and Alaska might also be fortress states, but not my area, never looked).

Where we place forts (hospitals) is decided by the Generals in the JCOS (Joint Chiefs of Staff), though the physical button pushing belongs to The President.

Typical question #1: Could I go build a hospital?
Answer: Yes

Typical question #2: And place it where I want?
Answer: No. Only the President can place them. Only a NATION can BUY them. Go try to BUY one, I dare ya.

Typical question #3: Why not build more elsewhere, even smaller ones?
Answer: Because that would dilute our "fortress" state populations, as people moved elsewhere. Bad, bad.

Typical question #4: Can I build a Defense System?
Answer: Yes. But same as a hospital, only a nation can buy one, and only a President can place one, so don't do it, my suggestion. Few buyers.

Typical question #5: can we "vote" on where to put one?
Answer: Sure you can. Join the military, play about two years, advance to JCOS, and VOTE where to put hospitals.

Typical question #6: Can hospitals be moved or destroyed?
Answer: See John's answer in comments below.

Questions? (Usually this isn't so easily explained, so I'll expect a few, no worries).