What's the point in elite units?

[d'Arthez]

Functionally speaking Elites are most often not worth it. They are only worth it if you have a limited number of slots available (like the 20 in a regular full stack). They are, as you noted also better than levies, in terms of providing flexibility (not always, but usually). Another problem is that for garrisoning duties Elites are far worse than your regular levies, due to limited unit size, and offer less strategic flexibility on the campaign map. This also applies to replacing casualties. With some units, you are restricted to one or two provinces only to recruit the elites from - and spending 3 years to replenish losses is not a very efficient manner to go about military campaigns.

However, if you are venturing deep in enemy territory, and hence would struggle to reinforce your army / replace your casualties, a stack with more elites naturally will last a lot longer. This is especially true if you can wage battle on your terms, rather than the terms of the opponent.

I am sure that if you put 5 units of Hoplitai Haploi against pretty much any elite infantry they will win (at equal monetary recruitment cost). But battles don't work on the basis of such 1 vs. 5 mechanics. So even though 5 Hoplitai Haploi may be a match for a single unit of Elites, that does not mean that an army of 10 Hoplitai Haploi would beat an army of 5 Hoplitai Haploi and an Elite (both armies in conjunction with cavalry etc).

[QuintusSertorius]

I can certainly see the notion that the more durable troops (as elites tend to be) will survive a protracted stay away from home better. Though in the case of many of the regular units, you can easily replace with mercenary versions (true of Peltastai, Hoplitai, Thureophoroi/Keltohellenikoi at the least) so I think that works in the opposite direction.

I should say I see three tiers of unit: Levy, Regular and Elite. This is more of a comparison between Regular and Elite, rather than Levy (like the Hoplitai Haploi) and Elite. A better comparison for hoplites would be regular Hoplitai and Hypaspistai. The latter is more than double the price, yet you're not getting a huge amount more.