[akots]

Your questions are getting harder and harder.

18. Collateral damage is very powerful. Chokonu is a very powerful unit if used in time and properly. But they should not be used to attack cities defended with archers/longbowmen. They can be used but it is usually not a good idea. They are great against melee stacks in the open though.

19. In case on aiming for Conquest it is better to raze everything. Domination is harder to acheive sometimes because you have to bear the maintenance costs. Actually, it is the easiest victory on lower levels (up to Monarch) and usually can be achieved before other conditions, sometimes on Prince or Monarch and epic speed even in the BC ages on standard map size if no Astronomy is needed. With Astronomy on Monarch and up to Immortal it can be done with a good start and a good leader prior to 1500AD if executed properly. There are numerous examples in GOTM/SGOTM spoilers.

20. Flanking/retreat promotions are greatly nerfed down. It might still be important though sometimes but usually is absolutely useless. Other promotions are more complex and depend on the situation. Healing promotions are better be taken by some weaker unit which is supposed to survive the combat in a stack of big guys (scout or explorer or even warrior/chariot). And you need only 1 Medic 3 promotion for a stack. Raiders against AI often times can be indeed promoted to city raiders but archery units and spearmen can have a variety of promotions. For spearmen, advancing in combat level might be good up to Formation and for archers City garrison or Guerilla are rather useful at times depending on actual situation. Of course there are multiple exceptions. Artillery units can be maxed on accuracy/collateral and sometimes trebuchets can be given Raider as well since their collateral is somewhat lower than that of cats and they are substantially more expensive.