I know city holders won't like this, but it is a bit more realistic/strategic.

Hostile armies around your cities should prevent your reinforcements from arriving inside the city. They should just go to the "around the city" area, and have to fight their way in.

Basically, add them to the list that can attack surrounding armies, but not to the city defenses. Upon clearing the blockade (which I suppose would mean all surrounding armies), they would move inside normally.

There is some space here to do clever things with alliances. Obviously, you'd want to be able to move troops past alliance members without conflict. If you go one step above what I mention above, that you can't move into a city (even an unoccupied one) without clearing enemy armies also around the city, things could get interesting.

Allies could defend cities, for example, but those cities would still be vulenerable to attack.

Pat.

I like that idea a lot. I don't know if it's possible to implement it, but I like it.

ehm, i posted this idea somewhere, cant search for it now, no time.

lets just say i fully agree, but there has to be an advantage to larger armies, or there would be no difference in just getting over some armies from your homebase. also buying armies inside the city should ofcourse be made impossible.

darn, i cant find it. the idea was just thesame, you surround a city, this costs you to lose some troops temporarily, when attacked you wouldnt have them, but when packing up and going away (or attacking yourself) you'd get them back. meanwhile the city owner wouldnt be able to buy troops or get any inside, thusly having to fight you with 2 smaller armies whilst you get more troops.

this would need a significant larger army bonus, and i also combined it with my plan of letting your troops be able to "prepare" for an attack, 2 hours in which they are more vulnerable, and after that they are stronger in attack.

this would then need a defensive bonus..

at the time i had it all worked out ;-), and dont worry, ill bug luke about it till he gets it done. right after being able to attack homebases and upping the price of oil.