Stupid Mercenaries

**Alexanderofmacedon** · 10-08-2005, 05:18

I am playing a Brutii campaign during the year 165 B.C.

I have swept into the Carthaginian territories and taken Carthage itself (from the Scipii, not Carthaginians). I did this solely for the purpose of getting Elephants for my upcoming war against the Numidians.

I spent thousands of Denarii, countles stacks of men to take these provinces (get into the provinces, which equals taking the provinces if in enemy hands) and tons of time. I need to mercenarie elephants, but they're not here? Why does Carthage, the supposed Elephant riders, not have elephant mercenaries! I need mercenaries!

Anyone know which territories would give me some elephant mercs? Not just in that area, but the whole game?

**lilljonas** · 10-08-2005, 08:36

They have elephant mercs. They are just very, very rare.

**Demon of Light** · 10-08-2005, 09:22

Quite rare? I actually find them quite frequently in North Africa.

**Conqueror** · 10-08-2005, 10:37

From descr_mercenaries.txt:

Code:

pool North_Africa
	regions Mauretania Numidia Gaetulia Sahara				
	unit merc libyan infantry,			exp 0 cost 350 replenish 0.1 - 0.15 max 2 initial 1
	unit merc numidian cavalry,			exp 1 cost 750 replenish 0.1 - 0.15 max 2 initial 1
	unit merc balearic slingers,			exp 0 cost 750 replenish 0.03 - 0.05 max 1 initial 0
	unit merc elephants,				exp 0 cost 4000 replenish 0.005 - 0.015 max 1 initial 0

The campaign starts out with 0 elephant mercenaries available in North Africa. These units will be generated at a rate that is somewhere between 0.005 and 0.015. I assume that it means a probability that is checked each turn. So at worst, one elephant will appear (on average) once per 200 turns, at best you can get one per 67 turns.

**Kraxis** · 10-08-2005, 13:18

As similar chance to get elephants is there in region around Antioch.

**edyzmedieval** · 10-08-2005, 14:59

I hate that....

I didn't get them also... I was forced to edit the descr_mercenaries.txt to have them.....

**Alexanderofmacedon** · 10-08-2005, 15:25

once per 200 turns, at best you can get one per 67 turns.

*shakes head and cries*

**Conqueror** · 10-08-2005, 16:10

^
Those are just the average rates they are generated at, for the best case scenario and the worst case scenario. If the game checks the probability each turn, then theoretically you could end up with an elephant unit generated every turn, if you were really lucky. OTOH, it could also lead to a game where no elephant mercs are available, ever.