Hello,
Simply removing upleep, helps powerful AI factions (like the Byzantines) as well as the smaller factions line Denmark. It also helps the player a lot because he has less upkeep to pay for these units. Also removing upkeep means AI keeps training lots and lots of these units and imbalances the campaign.
There is fine line between role playing and playing the game in a forced, unnatural way, because it has ceased to be a challenge.
Best approach really is to make these units default size, 0 upkeep, and untrainable (reducing the stats is also advised but not as important as the other changes). This works very well for both player and AI. Try it.
Yohei
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