1/2 building time gives more variety

[Maltz]

I just tried a simple mod of everything 1/2 build time:

Old 1 turn -> New 1 turn
Old 2 turn -> New 1 turn
Old 3 turn -> New 1 turn
Old 4 turn -> New 2 turn
Old 5 turn -> New 2 turn
Old 6 turn -> New 3 turn

I was hoping to bring more challenge to the game since the AI are not restricted in money due to its cheating ability, so it should be able to build better buildings and train better troops. Also, this way the human player can also plan more variety of city development plan. Usually there is only enough fund to develop a few core cities, though.

So far the results are quite satisfying - and there could be high end units much earlier in the game. At least for me this is a big blessing. I wonder whether anybody has tried similar things and what do you find out about gameplay? Thanks.

[Maltz]

I did this 1/2 build time mod with a Carthage campaign. By the time I can see Macedon's capital (about 7 years into the game) I could see they have built a stone wall. I have never seen a stone wall built in this city, in any campaign before. (even as Armenia, by the time I got there was about 10-15 years into the game)

Also, I just grabbed the city of Larrisa - it was fully built with everything you can build in the 2000 level. Cool! I was worrying that the AI now spends more on building then on military. It seems to me it is fine now - I still encounter a normal number of AI units.

So essentially shorter building times makes it possible to replenish advanced units to all expansion fronts. I now enjoy the game much more than vanilla.

[Maltz]

Sorry to triple post - I just tried a more extreme way:

- All buildings take exactly 1 turn
- All recruit time halfed. To be more specific: 1 turn -> 0 turn, 2 turns -> 1 turn.

I agained fired up a Carthagian Vh/Vh campaign to see the effect. I was wondering whether the AI will now spend all their funds every turn. That is not true. Their treasury size accumulated like before, yet I found them now build way faster than vanilla.

For example, when I took Brutii's Tarentum in turn 3, it is almost completed with everything it can build, same is true for Scipii's Messena in turn 4 and Capua in turn 5. The Roman AI also field good sized army right from the start. I enjoy smashing down a lot of useless military buildings for extra income.

Military wise the AI seems also very competent. Due to its money cheating ability, the AI, as long as not terribly in debt, is now able to train better units from advanced military buildings, developing its quality power early on. However, I am not sure the AI knows they can train multiple units in 1 turn. I haven't been rich enough to do this except for emergency peasant garrison purpose.

The game after this mod again gives more variety and challenge. It is very fun!

[The_678]

This sounds like alot of fun i think I might try it.

[Boudicca]

I´ve gained the stron impression that the AI does build more than one unit a turn. I am currently playing a campaign using the same modifications you have done and I am facing a large number of AI units. Much more, than ever before.

As the Julii, the Gauls sometimes bring forward 5 or 6 fully developed armies, whereas I can only set up one. It was not until the Marius Reforms, that I was able to beat them. Before that, I was totally outnumbered. A great challenge.

[Maltz]

I just played a bit more of this "crazy-rush" mod with my Carthagians. The Romans are done, but the barbarians are giving me a good headache. For every expanding army I expect a full stack every few rounds, and it is very likely to end up with some cross-sword on the ground.

I just captured the Macedon capital and transformed this city into my frontline production center of troop of mass destruction. I just produced golden-dagger 9 slingers right off the archery range because I suffer from a complete lack of missle units. Next I will probably get 8 onagers once the upgrade is complete (in one turn).

Right now everybody is "rushing" - it feels really good because I can't expect what I am going to see tomorrow. I already see tons of stone walls when I quene up "toggle_fow". Greeks and Macedonians already bring up a lot of 3rd level infantry (the principe level, 6000 pop. level). It is only 8 years into the game and I feel AI is more advanced than 20 years. Same things happen to me. I have got a few armored war elephants shipped to the front line. They bashed the rebels so hard. Oh so hard.

[Razor1952]

I tried a different variant, using realism mod 4.1, I added the highest military buildings to every capital city, so you could get the quality troops from the start, but of course you can only build a few quality units for your armies as this is your only source. And also if you capture another capital those high end military buildings are useless and have to be demolished (Realism Mod). I faced mixed high and low end armied from the start.

Interestingly I also added 25k cities with imperial palaces from the start in capitals and didn't get the Marian reforms.(? the BUILDING completion is the trigger not their presence) or maybe I a date is also required I played to about 260 bc? .