EB starting armies - low tech or good to go?

**econ21** · 09-29-2005, 09:57

I wonder what approach EB will take to the starting armies and cities of its factions?

A. Will there be small, low tech armies with underdeveloped cities like vanilla?

or:

B: Will there be well rounded armies with all the core troops (e.g. cavalry, missiles, decent infantry) available to be built in the capital, like say RTR?

[I know there will be "reforms" that mean early units get slowly replaced by better ones.]

Option A is fun because it motivates the building side of the game.

Option B is more historical and probably helps the AI put up a better fight.

I used to like option A (always preferred the early period in MTW, for example). But having tried RTR, I can see the counter-arguments.

Also, while I am at it, is there any plan for different starting periods for the game (eg. early, high, late in MTW)? I guess it's a lot of work right now, but it might be not too hard to do at a later date.

**jerby** · 09-29-2005, 15:53

I'd say B.

1: because Rome already had Triarii. and vanilla-style would mean you start out wiht hastati-only armies, and gradually also princepes and later along triarii...
also: Seleucids would ahve to wait 20 turns to get archers...
2: would make the game start faster.
3: i would like it

i think i recall soem member saying B. for reason 1...and building-system is totally different from vanilla...

and: you need to build "barracks" to get acces to units that weren't originally recruitable in your homeland...

so i guess that with this descision both military/historical start ánd building-up game style is emphasised enough...

but these are al assumptions from things i've heard..don't hold EB for things I've said...

EDIT: i also think EB's starting armies could make a good example of numbers(ratio's, percentages of units...dunno the english word voor "verhoudingen")
and ratio for teh composition of the armies of the factions..
like romans in a 2:2:1 hastati:princepes:triarii...or so..

**Moros** · 09-29-2005, 18:38

it all depens I guess if a city was a powerhouse I guess it'll be. But if it was just a "small peacefull fishing village" I guess it will have much less recruitable units.

**ah_dut** · 09-30-2005, 22:01

I think the capitals definitely need to be able to build all core units...it's more historical. You didn't have all hastati and then principes and triarii gradually introduced...