Byzantine Heavy Infantry?!?

[Grifman]

Are the Byzantines just limited to the Varangian Guards as heavy infantry? The unit chart shows uniquely Western units as red, Muslim units as green, and Orthodox units as purple. Both the halberdiers and pikemen are black which means anyone can build them. But I've spent a ton of time and money in Constantinople building up to a Town Militia building and I can't build halberdiers - they are not an option http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/frown.gif So I'd like to know why this building is even an option for the Orthodox if they can't use them - or at least the Byzantines. I really like an anti-cavalry weapon before I invade the West http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

Grifman

[Vanya]

GAH!

Vanya suspects you need a spearmaker in addition to the town guard. Don't know what level though...

GAH!

[Ckrisz]

I think this probably goes into the Byzantine units being a bit more archaic than the more developed European/Turkish units in the High and Late periods.

Do as the real Byzantines did, and just hire lots of mercs.