A couple of questions, comments, and general ideas

These are all based from my Ottoman campaign *currently 1789 or so.*

1. Where are the Mamelukes? At first I thought they don't exist, since neither the Ottomans*everything in the middle east is maxed out* or the Mameluke faction*in custom battles anyway* can get them. But they are in the unit list that was just put up. So are they a regional unit specific to the rebel Mameluke faction*ie so they won't show up in custom battles*? Or is it a bug/on purpose and just not in the game. Just seems odd a unit they previewed on the site isn't in. Also means the Ottomans only have 2 factional cavalry options, and 2 more regional ones, which feels odd. Thinking of causing a revolt in Egypt just to find out.

2. Is it just me or are Xebecs useless? First of all they don't have oars like it says they do/should, so they can't go against the wind with any speed. Their 4 aft and 4 bow guns give them a very weak broadside. That with their horrible reloading skill means they will get out shot by pretty much anything. I understand that with their high speed and maneuverability plus their decent sized boarding crew you should board. But unless you've already taken out a lot of the guns/crews, something the Xebec's can't do, the enemy will just firing point blank broadsides into you as you try. And the Xebec share the sloop's tendency to blow up under those circumstances, which is a tactic I don't need to use anymore. More so, you need a level 3 shipyard to get them. Maybe if they were cheaper and could get them earlier, I could overlook their flaws, but by the time you get them you also get 2th, 3rd, 4th, and 5th rates already.

3. Why don't regional units show up in custom battles? It would really help get rid of the super clone armies you see online.

4. How many people use grenadiers? Maybe it's an Ottoman thing that makes them pointless *melee troops if you want something can fight, hand mortars if you want grenades, others for better shooting* but even online/in custom battles I can't find a use for them. Since line infantry can rank fire, that and their double numbers makes them much more useful, even in melee then grenadiers.

Comments

1. I like how they actually did improve the diplomacy AI. Threats actually seem to work, and nations do realize when they are beaten. Yea you still get your stupid things *Seriously Britian, you want me to pay/give YOU regions for trade rights when I control all the world's trade?* but over all it is better. Oh and I've also been able to get protectorates without offering them eighty billion gold first, which is a first in TW.

2. I also like the new trade system, and how the prices of things change with supply, as they should. For example, I destroyed 3-4 tea plantations for cotton since it was getting a much higher price, and did the same with my sugar ones for spices and coffee. Since I'm Europe's supplier of, well, basically everything, this makes the price of tea jump a good 8 gold and sugar has been making a comeback from it's old dreadful price.

How about adding South Africa as a region, there was so much stuff going on in this region in that time period. I would be cool to fight over this area you could hire native tribesman as mercenaries Dutch v English. It was a rich area too Ivory, Gold, Diamonds, Slaves

I use grenadiers as my main assault troops out in front. 4 lines of grenadiers, with 8 lines of Line infantry to back them up. When the grenadiers close with the enemy they begin throwing their grenades a couple times then I charge them in to the melee while my dragoons sweep in from behind the enemy lines to shoot the buggers in the back.