some things I haven't figured out

[RaulTT]

I have some questions on things I have yet to figure out.

First in the campaign map what determines whether you can start building military buildings? For example playing as the US I start out with the carolinas as a province and I have the option to upgrade the government buildings but I don't have the option to build barracks. Is this becasue of population?

The other thing I have yet to figure out is what determines that you can deploy defenses in the battle map (like trenches and anti-cavalry hedges)? It seems to me a bit random that sometimes you can do it and sometimes the option does not appear.

Also what is the proper use of the square formation? In a defensive battle do you start out in square formation? Is it any good going into square formation after you have been engaged in melee?

Thanks for the replies.

[Mechstra]

Some provinces only have provincial towns. Those are the one-tile settlements. Big settlements like Philadelphia and Boston are proper cities and can have a full range of buildings.

[Blue Ice]

Based on my limited experience & intuition I would say on your questions 2 & 3 :

2. My intuition is that you can deploy battlefield defenses if they show up on the main map with "stakes" around your army. For instance if you are besieging or standing on same spot for several turns, but not if your are attacking or standing on spot less than x turns. mind, I have not tested this idea yet

3. the "hollow square" (I believe this is what you refer to), is useful when you expect a cavalry charge against your infantry. This way, you incur less casualties.

[Mechstra]

Blue Ice filled in on the stuff I was editing into my post when TWC went down for me and refused to let the edit through.

[notger]

@Square-formation: When you have been charged already and the cavalry is mauling your infantry, it is STILL advisable to change to square formation. You will win the melee, if your men can form a square.