question... the city auto defense only counts if another player is attacking you right? it doesnt count toward instants attacking you? we were playing that it did help against instants as well which might have been wrong.

The 'Auto Defence' only applies to the units defending a siege against that City. When attacking an unowned City you only have to overcome its combat value on the shield bottom right. Ignore 'Auto Defence'. If attacking a City owned by another player, you have to overcome the units defending the City plus its 'Auto Defence'. Ignore its combat value. Cheers!