I told you so.. and assorted queries thereon

**Es Arkajae** · 09-01-2005, 08:33

Originally Posted by khelvan

Err, I'm not sure what you mean, here. What sort of revamping did you think was possible?

More numbers of unique mercs, greater availability of them but increased cost, more regional varriability. That along with the similar new regional units available to different factions (just like mercs in effect but more selectively available to different factions). So for instance Rome conquers a certain province and gets a type of mercenary spearmen, but the Dacians conquer the same province and get an axemen unit or something.

Hey which raises a question I'd like to ask, are there going to be mercenary Siege engines in EB?, or failing that region specific siege engines?

In medieval times siege experts were usually mercenaries, what was the situation with this in ancient times?

**khelvan** · 09-01-2005, 09:32

Originally Posted by Es Arkajae

More numbers of unique mercs, greater availability of them but increased cost, more regional varriability. That along with the similar new regional units available to different factions (just like mercs in effect but more selectively available to different factions). So for instance Rome conquers a certain province and gets a type of mercenary spearmen, but the Dacians conquer the same province and get an axemen unit or something.

This isn't possible. We will have regional units available to different factions, as described above, but we can't fudge the mercenary code to do this. Either the mercenaries are available to all factions, or they're not mercenaries and they're recruited/built like any other unit. I don't think we can make mercenary availability based on anything but what is defined in the merc file either. This is one area that is pretty rigid.

There will be more mercenaries, but the vast majority of our models are going to regional units, not unique mercs. This is because the function of the mercenary as we know it was very different in Classical times than in more recent times, and they're better reflected, in most cases, as regional units to be built. Even if they fought for money, they usually didn't fight for just anyone at all, they fought for various causes and picked and chose who to fight for. The mercenary code can't handle this - if a unit is a mercenary, it is available to all.

**Es Arkajae** · 09-01-2005, 15:34

Originally Posted by khelvan

This isn't possible. We will have regional units available to different factions, as described above, but we can't fudge the mercenary code to do this. Either the mercenaries are available to all factions, or they're not mercenaries and they're recruited/built like any other unit. I don't think we can make mercenary availability based on anything but what is defined in the merc file either. This is one area that is pretty rigid.

*shakes head*

I'm aware of that mate

"That along with the similar new regional units available to different factions (just like mercs in effect"

Pay particular attention to the italicised words (thats why I went through the trouble of italicising them)

**jerby** · 09-01-2005, 15:50

Originally Posted by Es Arkajae

*shakes head*

I'm aware of that mate

"That along with the similar new regional units available to different factions (just like mercs in effect"

Pay particular attention to the italicised words (thats why I went through the trouble of italicising them)

then, what was the actual question?

**khelvan** · 09-01-2005, 16:44

Originally Posted by Es Arkajae

Pay particular attention to the italicised words (thats why I went through the trouble of italicising them)

This would make sense, if you actually did italicise them in the original statement. Which you did not.

Your post is open to interpretation, you must admit...

**SwordsMaster** · 09-01-2005, 19:31

On a completely unrelated note, I think/hope/suggestively-let-it-slip the next preview is going to be Rome or the suitable substitute. Come on, EB, we also want to see some 'civilized' factions....

**Big_John** · 09-01-2005, 19:44

Originally Posted by SwordsMaster

On a completely unrelated note, I think/hope/suggestively-let-it-slip the next preview is going to be Rome or the suitable substitute.

i suggest the open beta as a suitable substitute.

Come on, EB, we also want to see some 'civilized' factions....

**kayapó** · 09-01-2005, 20:02

Originally Posted by SwordsMaster

On a completely unrelated note, I think/hope/suggestively-let-it-slip the next preview is going to be Rome or the suitable substitute. Come on, EB, we also want to see some 'civilized' factions....

The last three previews were of "civilized" factions. Hayasdan, Pahlava and Koinon Hellenon.

**Steppe Merc** · 09-01-2005, 20:20

Well Phalava start out as the Parni, on the steppe, but whithin 20 years they become the Phalava. But they were more settled (I pefer that term to civilized) than the Sauromatae for example.