The AI and Mercenary recruitment

**gunslinger** · 05-23-2008, 11:56

Where do you get the revamped version of JA2? I used to love that game.

**oz_wwjd** · 05-25-2008, 12:57

Actually in my current game the AI does seem to use mercs,or at least the Italians fielding Viking Carls in there army seems to suggest that,but I'm using the XL 3.0 mod and the Tyberius add-on so that could be the reason

**bondovic** · 05-25-2008, 16:47

Originally Posted by oz_wwjd

Actually in my current game the AI does seem to use mercs,or at least the Italians fielding Viking Carls in there army seems to suggest that,but I'm using the XL 3.0 mod and the Tyberius add-on so that could be the reason

The mercenary recruitment is hardcoded, so it's not possible to mod the game so as to make the AI hire mercs. I don't remember how it is with the Tyberius add on, but if I'm not entirely mistaken the viking units are only exclusive regarding province and not faction.

**The Unknown Guy** · 05-25-2008, 20:08

gunslinger: you can download the mod from http://www.ja-galaxy-forum.com, but you need to install JA2 to run it, obviously..

**Martok** · 05-28-2008, 06:27

I agree bondovic is most likely correct in that Viking units in Tyberius' mod are province/region-specific instead of faction-specific. When you look at that unit of Viking Carls, oz_wwjd, just look to see if their unit card has a small bag of gold on it -- if it does, then yes they're a mercenary unit. Otherwise, they're not.

It does bring to mind a question, however: Has anyone here ever had an army stack that included mercs bribed away from their faction? I don't believe that I have, but it's such a rare occasion to begin with that that's not necessarily saying anything.

**Ironsword** · 05-28-2008, 10:36

Yes. As the English and not long after starting in early. I lost a small stack in Anjou to the French AI, including two units of mercenaries; spearmen and a catapult.

It was a complete shock. I was trying to get a high loyalty general down there at the time. It provided an interesting start to the campaign and set in motion fifty years of bitter war.

**oz_wwjd** · 05-30-2008, 05:18

Recently I encountered a army that had managed to aqcuire itself a merc units of Swiss Halbs,or they had the gold bag on it anyways,so I'd say the AI does use them as it can afford it.