Persian Archers Question

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

Ok so I'm playing through a Seleucid campaign and as such, have become quite fond of my Persian Archer Spearmen as well as the base Persian Archers. I have a question about their recruitment however. Persian Archers require the first regional MIC to recruit which is understandable given that they are a basic, if strong archer unit. Persian Archer Speramen require the second, again understandable as they are an archer unit capable in melee. However, their price is cheaper than that of the standard Persian Archers.

Can anyone give me an explanation as to why? AFAIK they have the same or very similar range and the same amount of ammo. The only advantage I can see is that Persian Archers have the fast trait. Of course I'm not complaining, as the spearmen are much more useful in my campaign, especially against those annoying Pahlava and Saka generals.

Anything I'm missing about the regular archers?

[ARCHIPPOS]

archer spearmen have shorter range than the archers... however they carry more ammo (not sure how much more exactly but my guess would be 30% more) ...

as for the archer spearmen lower recruitment costs i have had the same question myself...

[Watchman]

It has to do with values in the unit-creation system concerning the final price equation. Let's just say that the improved archery skill thingy that gives the basic archers their longer range is rather more expensive than the archer-spearmens' long pointy stick.

[A Very Super Market]

Persian Archers have a cooler uniform as well...

Archer-Spearmen should be a staple for Baktria, lacking the huge horse-archer armies of the nomads. It gives you enough range to hit back at them, although they have no real effect on the Armoured HAs. Subeshis have the longest range, though.

[antisocialmunky]

Yeah, Persian Archers are the only real archer that Baktria has. Indians are horribly inaccurate, unarmored, and ammo low and archer spearmans aren't really that great at anything. Atleast Indians can melee quite well.

[ARCHIPPOS]

subeshis are quite expensive though...for missile troops i go for a mixture of persian archers/archer spearmen/slingers... behind phalangites those guys nicely make up for each other's shortcomings and work wonders in missile duels ... i haven't tested Indian longbowmen in missile duels yet but what did you expect??? they have an upkeep of 113 or sth... i say for their money the longest range/deadly machette edge is not that bad :)