Mercs

[Auxilia]

Not really earth shatteringly important but:

1 Are any/all troop types available at one time or another?

2 How are units chosen to go into the hire pool?

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/handball.gif

[Phatose]

1. No, not every unit is available - there is a flag for each unit in crusaders_unit_prod11.txt for each unit type that determines whether or not it can be a mercenary unit.

2. I don't know this one.

[ichi]

Units that have been disbanded go into the pool, but it seems like there must also be additional units generated.

ichi

[Mummer]

I think additional units are generated periodically, but I don't know for sure. I know anything you disband goes into the pool.

[Myrano]

More units are generated when there is a war going on nearby (i.e. lots of conflict w/in a 3-4 province radius). I've noticed that artillery (non-gun) is very common. So common, in fact, that there is little reason for me to build siege workshops or whatever they're called early in the game.

[Thon]

ya i've noticed that too. when i'm at war there are plenty of mercenaries around, especially where i have my large armies on the border.

when at peace my inns are generally abandoned

[bighairyman]

well historically, mercenaries fight for money. so if there's war war going on, the mercenaries will rush there to get hired. i love those mercenaries, saved me a couple of times. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

[Voigtkampf]

Very, very often I find gun units in various inns during the early period, long time before the appearance of gunpowder. Though I consider it to be a bug, I snatch them right away. Inns are also the main source of all my siege weaponry, which I take on the payroll ASAP. Dismissed units will seek out the inn, but additional units will be randomly generated, mostly around the provinces where there is a lot of fighting; I suppose it's one of those reasons why Khazar usually has the greatest number of mercenaries.

[Auxilia]

Quote[/b] (Myrano @ Jan. 25 2004,16:20)]I've noticed that artillery (non-gun) is very common. So common, in fact, that there is little reason for me to build siege workshops or whatever they're called early in the game.
Me too now you mention it - it can be pretty frustrating when you're in the market for either some shock cavalry or good defensive infantry - like I always seem to be in early on in the game http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-furious3.gif

Mind you if a quick assault is in order, catapults and so-on bought off the shelf are a godsend. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

[rpasell]

I love the fact that there always seems to be Druzhina (sp?)Cavalry available early as mercs. I picked up a unit of them early in one campaign, and had him as a great general 30 or 40 years later.

I know the opinions vary on this, but early in a campaign mercs make it much easier to expand. Especially if you haven't had a chance to tech up yet, and can pick up some silver shiels units very early.

[jadast]

When at war I try to buy up 1 army of mercs. Usually I send it on a rampage through enemy territory. Not holding the ground I take but moving on to the next province until my merc army is finally worn out.

This does several things. First I crush my closest rivals biggest army. Second I stop them from collecting taxes and producing units while I hold the province. Third it opens up several weakened provinces to my occupation armies which now arrive in province fresh to lay siege or defend counter attacks.

[Kulgan]

I found the tactic of rushing through the enemy's unprotected land after you broke through the line and confiscating the lands to have downsides too.
When you move out, there will often occur huge rebellions and those armies will often go to the previous owner ( the one before you yourself )
It's frustrating to defeat a few thousands of men in good battles and then to ' give ' your enemy those thousands of troops again for free.
I'v found it I hardly make money by doing this, considering the extra troops I have to fight.
Also you'll mostlikeley loose your army
Unless you can destroy your enenmy's major troop building facilities you're better of without it ( says me http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif )

Kulgan

[gaijinalways]

Loyalists do get generated sometimes and my common sense says that the number and quality is in relation to how long the faction before held the province and generally how rebel prone a province is (some provinces are often trouble, Portugal I believe is a common one). Sometimes this is a reason to avoid crushing the Pope completely, because he just comes back with more armies. If you can, let him out for ransom(best) or let him escape into a province you have 'vacuumed' all the buildings off, you weaken him so he is more likely to make peace with you eventually rather than assassinating the guy.

So, trying to avoid the loyalists is important though there are times when they simply just become rebels.

Anyone out there know what are the factors that determines the difference; rebels or loyalists of the some faction?

[Bob the Insane]

I go for the rampaging tactics sometimes too... In addition to taking out the enemy's armies I will destory all structures in the province (including farms), really raze it to the ground, I will also set tax to very low...

If there is a rebelion, howfully it is a rebel one and not a loyist, but if it is a loyalist one it can also cripple your enemy... Because with his provinces razed and his treasury ransacked it will be very difficult to pay all these new troops and rebuild...

I usually reserve these tactics for faction that really annoy me... Long term allies that stab you in the back or those bully factions that attack everyone, destroying port and disrupting my trade income...

[RJV]

Hi,

Merc armies rule In certain circumstances of course... Particularly useful when attacking the Antioch/Tripoli coastal area where the income will cover the expense. Almost never build seige engines early, the inns will usually cough them up eventually. And as rpassel said, I have a fondness for Druzhina so their appearance is most welcome.
Plus, it doesn't matter too much if they die Only bad thing is that you can't merge them, but if they get too few in number I just retire them anyway.

Cheers.

[Chaffers]

I'm always on the lookout for certain unit types as I don't necessarily build the infrastructure to buy them or am capable of building them. Catapults, Arqs and various HA types will usually be snapped up, especially if my faction can't build decent HA themselves. Luckily these unit types rarely lose men so the inability to reinforce isn't much of a problem.

Also anything fast and on 4 legs gets bought.