I did post this somewhere else but it got lost in among the rest of that thread.
What does everyone else think of this?
I know an argument can be made for every faction to have reforms once it outgrows its immediate starting area. But given their limited number of lvl 1 and 2 settlement areas. These guys seem to need more help!
The change that would be of the most benefit to the Lusotannans is with government levels and AOR. The victory conditions are great and really make you work for your moment of glory. So - in order to eliminate Carthage, you effectively have to conquer and hold Africa, but cant build anything more than a level 3 govt or train much of anything substantial. Also, the same situation recurs in Gaul. These are the two areas that naturally you would expand into first after taking Iberia.
This makes the campaign challenging and fun, but also quite slow going as all troops need to be trained in two provinces (lusotanna and sucum murgi) before being marched all around the place on basic roads. the Iberians are of course also useful as support. I know every faction - to a point - is in a similar situation, but I would say Lusotannan feels it more than most due to a combination of geography, infrastructure and victory conditions.
I might suggest some type of minor reform that allows some few basic native troop types to be trained outside of Southern Iberia, which represents what would have inevitably happened IMO if a credible overseas empire had in fact been established. (If these reforms would also allow a slightly better fleet to be available that would be great as well.) That is Lusotannans developing their culture after more contact with foreign ways and their conquered subjects adopting some of the mannerisms of their conquerors. Maybe it would be easiest to implement if it could be tied in with the conquest of Ireland?
For example in west Africa, imagine recruiting an equivalent to Iberian Light/Medium Infantry - more expensive of course. The Carthies did it, the Romans did it, the Arabs did it, Im sure others did as well - so why cant the lusos train these guys to fight like them? Not to knock the Numidians or Celtic troops that can be recruited but they can only ever make up part of an army and consequently comes the ball-ache with the marching around.
Im not talking so much about the initial conquest, but if you want to hold onto an area then surely you cant really be busing troops over from the other side of Europe for the garrison.
Also, if you ever need to lose a unit from the roster, look no further than Iberian Medium Infantry, In 1.0 at least. They take up a valuable slot that could be better used elsewhere. The Scutari are far superior Medium Infantry to hold a battle line. Iberian Light Infantry can flank well enough (better) already and the Iberian Heavy Infantry are effectively the same price and are very superior in an assault role.
My favourite battle with the lusos was during the conquest of Africa on the plains half way to Carhage, where I met a large Qarthy army (1.5 stacks) with mostly elite troops, using the fact I could hide virtually every unit in my army (0.75 stack) in either long grass (even the heavy infantry!) or a small nearby forest, I was able to repeatedly ambush the superior enemy cavalry and phalanxes, eventually driving them from the field for a Heroic Victory. :2thumbsup:
