Are Mercs worth the cash?

[SeveredSoul]

Just want IYHO. Are mercs worth the paper, bills, greenbacks, dough, moola, ching..........

(SOMEBODY STOP ME&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/dizzy.gif

[Spetulhu]

Siege engines are easily worth it if you buy them just for taking over a castle or two and then dismiss them. Other merc troop types are only useful as cannon fodder, since you can`t refill or merge merc units.

[PanthaPower]

I use them all the time. Especially in Early. It is always handy to have inns so that when you are in a surprise attack and your catlle is being sieged, you can get reinforcements quickly.

[Ueriah]

Also good for a filler troop... when you know that, say, the center of your line will get heavy casualties, send in the mercs and keep your own men alive... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[SmokWawelski]

Yes, they are good if you need to have troops fast, or just cannot build a specific unit yet.

[MasterM!nd]

As said before they are handy if you want the merc siege engines, or need some cannon fodder (wonder what the term was before the invention of cannons?) or just want to get some special units you cant build yet...

But if you plan on keeping em for long it might be a good idea to marry a princess to the merc leader, else you might risk him getting bought by the other side... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Exile]

I use them for the above reasons and when I play the Byz faction I tend to use them more. Byz support costs are steep anyway and they seem to get a discount on mercs. I use them for cannon fodder too, they're first to meet the enemy etc. I sometimes sacrifice a unit or two of mercs to pull the enemy out of a strong defensive position.

I put them under one of my loyal generals to avoid their being bribed. That happened to me once in a most unfortunate situation http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[PanthaPower]

Quote[/b] (Exile @ Jan. 02 2003,14:50)]I use them for the above reasons and when I play the Byz faction I tend to use them more. Byz support costs are steep anyway and they seem to get a discount on mercs. I use them for cannon fodder too, they're first to meet the enemy etc. I sometimes sacrifice a unit or two of mercs to pull the enemy out of a strong defensive position.

I put them under one of my loyal generals to avoid their being bribed. That happened to me once in a most unfortunate situation http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Yeah, that's what I do too. They usually miss a good command rated general anyway. What I also do is giving one of my hears the command of a merc army just to bring him good vices and experience. I also add two spearmen because the available mercs tend to be mostly offensive in my experience.

[el_slapper]

They are very useful before a massive attack. But don't garrison with them - their upkeep is double the normal and the upkeep is from far the main espense concerning the military units.

Hire-attack-disband is the usual way to proceed to attacks. Especially early, as they seem to be numerous.

[Edratman]

Mercs are quite good, you often can get higher quality troops than you can build yourself at the time. I have found them most useful for aggressive moves in the beginning of the game. When playing Byz or HRE an inn is the first building I put in because you can't afford the normal tech tree with all those provinces.
They become rarer in the later game because each castle upgrade reduces the attraction factor for mercenaries.
Mercs also have a tendency to low loyalty, so I also replace them with faction troops as soon as I can afford to.

[TheViking]

I use them very scarcly. When i do use them i only hire htem to help garrison a recently taken territory. I have them there for 2 times or till i can get more of my own men there. then i send them into battles often where they all will die. If they should survive and win a battle i disband them and move my own men into that territory.

I never build Inns myself so i can onlyt hire them if a territory that i conquer have that building.

[Stormer]

erm most defenitly they worth the price they fast good and with high valour the can be unstopable but iv found in many occasions they get messed up by nobilarty (chiveric knights, Knight templars etc) but apart from that they good.

even though im not a big fan of them

[Lehesu]

I never use mercs in large numbers.

[Exile]

Quote[/b] (Edratman @ Jan. 02 2003,12:41)]...They become rarer in the later game because each castle upgrade reduces the attraction factor for mercenaries...
Very interesting. I knew that available mercs seem less numerous as the campaign progresses, but I was sure never why. So I suppose if mercs are an important part of my strategy in a particular campaign, I should dedicate a flop prov like Georgia or Sinai to Mercs - an Inn and don't upgrade the castle. I'll try it.

[Vertigo10]

Generally, I try not to rely on them too much after I get a keep, but in the early stages of the game, they make excellent shock troops. Not only do you not have to worry about losing your own troops, but they appear on that very turn, so they can help quickly send off an enemy who's besieging one of your provinces. You just have to make sure you don't keep them for *too* long, and that you have a steady cash flow; mercs definitely aren't cheap.

-Vert