Mercenaries

[ajaxfetish]

I've got a couple questions about mercenaries someone may be able to help me with.

1) I've noticed I'll have mercenaries show up a lot in some of my provinces and never in others. I've heard that they prefer more undeveloped lands, especially if it doesn't have a keep yet, but are there any other factors that influence their preference? Are some provinces just naturally more likely to attract mercenaries than others?

2) My mercenary market always seems to dry up right when I need them. One year I've got like 20 merc options just waiting to be bought, and then the next year I get attacked unexpectedly and I could actually use a little temporary help, and what do you know! All I've got to choose from is two trebuchets and an archer unit! Seems like those lily-livered swords-for-hire heard there was a war on took to the hills. Does this happen to everyone else, too, or do I just have extra cowardly mercenaries?

[BAD]

Well it would make sense that they ply their trade in undeveloped lands. Why would you hire them when you get them for half price by training them (In your well developed provinces anway). I think they just move around I guess if they don't get hired they move off like in real life. I have definately seen the smae unit travelling the med a few times in games.

I try not rely on them too heavily anyways. But if there is that choice unit to fill a gap in my armies I always snap it up quick. Normally it'll be the quality Sword units or polearms. ie Druz. . . (cough) Feudal Foot Knights (cough). . . inha cavalry, Billmen or some Vikings

[fuddha]

Mercenaries folow two set of rules as I see it.
For the player, it seems that mercenaries favour undeveloped lands close to a place where they were disbanded in the first place. Yes, disbanded... Try disbanding some units in a province with an inn. They'll be availible for hire. The pool of mercs from each inn gets its share, is filled with disbanded units (yours and AIs) and with a few random units. At the beginning of the game, since there are no disbanded units, computer adds some randomly in the choosing pool.
For the AI, there's a whole new song... It seems that AI gets to choose from the same units you choose and thus, if you aren't quick enough, the AI can buy them right under your nose. That would explain why you can't get them when you really need them. The AI probably filled it's ranks with mercs to attack you... Talking about irony, eh...

However, try to get more advice from more experienced players, since I seldom use mercs myself. I rarely build inns in the first place, and I build them only for the happinnes bonus, not the merc option. I use mercs at the very beginning of the game, when there are still some very good units availible in the pool. I use them to expand myself rapidly and terror any neighbours in obedience. Later, I use them when I find myself desperatly defending against three or four strong factions and every bit of help is needed. Also I use them to help me when I need that extra bit of punch to kill a big faction. The turn I feel I don't need them, I disband them or send them on a suicide mission without looking back. Let the AI hire them again and pay the double support cost!

[ichi]

1) I've noticed I'll have mercenaries show up a lot in some of my provinces and never in others. I've heard that they prefer more undeveloped lands, especially if it doesn't have a keep yet, but are there any other factors that influence their preference? Are some provinces just naturally more likely to attract mercenaries than others?

Each level of castle upgrade reduces mercenary likelihood.

ichi

[Ironside]

For the AI, there's a whole new song... It seems that AI gets to choose from the same units you choose and thus, if you aren't quick enough, the AI can buy them right under your nose. That would explain why you can't get them when you really need them. The AI probably filled it's ranks with mercs to attack you...

I've never seen the comp buy mercs, and I doubt the do considering that the merc symbol is seen even on "converted" (by a crusade) mercs.

[Darius]

Well most mercs will tend to stay near the area their disbanded for a while, but eventually they drift all over the place. I know one time I got a disbanded group of Feudal Knights from France or something while playing the Byzantines. Not to mention some mercs are unbuildable, like the Algumahavar(Sp?) and seem to go where they please. Though I'm not sure if it's just me or not, I also seem to get them more often in areas that are closest to the frontlines.

[Ciciocle]

i think that if u build taverns and brothels the chance for mercenaries to show up at the inn grows. just look in the building txt and look at the brothels. it says something about mercenaries magnet, or something...i don't have mtw installed so i can't tell for sure