Quote Originally Posted by Viking
The game would be better if they went back to the old system (and made it work ) , I agree.

When playing as a barbarian faction, you would get the improved bodyguards before your civilized neighbours, a benefit that the barbarians would deserve.
Why on earth should the barbarians get high-tech armor before their more advanced civilized neighbours? That makes no sense to me.

In my latest game as the gauls I eliminated the romans before the marian reforms, but I'm not really missing the armored generals since it's equal for all.

I do agree, that they could set a date for those generals, or let each civilization get it when their first city gets above 12.000 inhabitants or something.