Quote Originally Posted by Sir Beane View Post
The factions don't really need balancing too much, as they all have near indentical unit rosters.

Giving facions first rates at the start would invalidate the naval tech tree, because a lot of it needs to be researched to build them. And then of course there's the fact you need a top-level shipyard as well.

It's irritating, but I can understand where CA is coming from. Teching up gives you a sense of progress and accomplishment which would be missing if all the tech was available from the start.

It's one of those tricky realism vs. gameplay issues .
Defo agree with you on the sense of achievement from teching up. The first battle with Fire by rank was awesome. The cherokee charging at me like usual, probably cocky that they'd do some good damage. Then they rout before they even clash with me. Nothing like slaughtering the natives with superior firepower.