"Presto" mod: recruit units faster, but at more cost

This is my first mod. I just uploaded the installer to the .org
http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/Rt...Presto_v01.zip

I want to know what you think of it.

Here's the ReadMe file:
PURPOSE OF THE MOD:

This mod allows you to recruit units faster in exchange for a higher cost. If you ever find yourself late in the game with oodles of money and nowhere to spend, then this mod is for you!.

HOW IT WORKS:

The mod creates a "presto" version of each unit recruitable by your faction. The "presto" unit has zero build time, but costs more (e.g 4 times more). Otherwise it is identical to the regular unit. When you have lots of money, you can spend it on the "presto" units and build your armies faster.

Of course, you can always build the regular unit if you like, or if you cannot afford the price.

In the recruitment screen, you will see 2 copies of each unit. If you hover the cursor over them, you will see they are identical except for cost and recruit time .The one with recruit time of zero is obviously the "presto" version.

HOW TO INSTALL THE MOD:

Unlike other mods, this mod does not replace game files. Instead, it edits them directly. This means it is theoretically compatible with any other mod, although I only tested it with Vanilla RTW 1.2 .

To Install, simply launch the prestomod.exe file. Then choose the copy of RTW you want to edit. Choose how much more the presto units should cost (default is 4), and which faction you want to play. Then hit the "apply presto" button. That's it.

Note that you can only make presto units for one faction at a time. This is due to limitations on unit numbers within the game.

[prestomod was built with Visual Basic, and may require the visual basic libraries (DLL) to run. This is my first ever program with Visual Basic, so I am not sure about this]

IS THIS A CHEAT?

In a way, since the AI will not benefit from the extra units. But I think of it as an added feature, to speed up the mid-game and late-game. Hey, it beats resorting to mass bribery to conquer the world! And it is also realistic: why can't recruit quicker if you have the money?

CAN I ADD IT TO A PRE-EXISTING CAMPAIGN?

You bet!. Just pick the faction you are currently playing, apply the patch and relaunch RTW.

HOW TO UNINSTALL:

prestomod creates a backup file everytime it mods the unit and building files. You can restore it to return to Vanilla form. Note that if you had modded those files in the meantime, they will get overwritten. So beware and read the on-screen warning.

UNDER THE HOOD:

Presto mod creates a copy of each unit belonging to your faction in the export_descr_unit.txt file. It then appends the word "presto" to the unit type. The unit name is unchanged, so you never see the word "presto" on the screen.
It then adds the required recruit line in the export_descr_buildings.txt file. It looks for every line where the original unit is recruited, and adds one for the "presto" unit. The only difference is that the presto unit is specific to the faction chosen, and not the entire culture.

Pretty simple really.

Because this is done programatically, you should be able to apply it to any modded version, as long as there are enough unit slots available (RTW 1.1 has a 300 unit limit, RTW 1.2 has a 500 unit limit. Vanilla uses up 265 units already, so you only have about 35 units available in 1.1).

Well done Afrit. Very well documented and thought out.

I wonder if the ai could be given instant units( a la Spqr mod I believe), whilst the human player has to build them albeit with Presto units enabled would balance up the advantage you have given to human player. Maybe the ai would have too much of an advantage?.

It is an interesting concept and alteration of the Mass Conscription mods out there...

I have played around with this myself but have not considered having multiple cost versions of units for different build speeds (too much work... ~;) ).

While I like the idea of mass conscript from the player perspective the jury really is still out on it's effect on game play...

I don't know how the AI will respond to having instant build units. In my testing, the AI did not seem to take advantage of zero build times; rather it still recruited units one at a time.

Because the presto approach gives an edge to the human player, we can help the AI by giving it different bonuses (e.g lower upkeep costs).

Problemo
While playing the Brutii (happened with Julii) I had maxed up Tarentum, no Marius reforms. When I press the unit train button, if buzzes for three seconds then CTD. Is this a error in the unit description were there is no second unit? Some help would be appreciated.