choice of weaponry

Throughout Civilization IV, you have the option of creating or updating your weaponry, as to protect or to prepare for war. The weapons start off very primitive, such as spears and axes but progress to weapons of today over the course of the game. A common misconception people may have while playing the game is that the newer, more advanced weaponry is the best for all circumstances. For example, players of the game druel over new muskateers and send them out to go fight though they were not used for that. They are better off staying in one location and should be used as a line of protection because they take so long to reload and are not necessarilly good to have on the move. Though you may have newly researched and acquired gun powder, prior longbowmen are much more suited to attacking than muskateers. I am by no means telling you to refuse upgrades on weaponry, but showing you that you should choose weapons carefully and that the more sophisticated weapons are not necessarilly the better ones; it all depends on context and use.