EB starting armies - low tech or good to go?

[econ21]

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]

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]

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]

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...

[Urnamma]

Large cities will be able to produce a good range of troops from the beginning. Rome will be able to produce legions from the beginning.

[jerby]

?what? rome? legions? hé?
what gives? why?

[kayapó]

Yes, legions of Hastati, Principes and Triarii...

Whad did you not understand?

[Crazed Rabbit]

B.

Funner and more historical. After all, the celts sacked Rome under Brennus when? 400BC? Why should they just get crap units to start with? And why should the diadochi not be able to build the pike units that made Alexander the Great?

Plus, I don't like the contrived tedium of 'building' an empire that's been around a while.

I'm pleased to hear about Rome.

Crazed Rabbit

[jerby]

Yes, legions of Hastati, Principes and Triarii...

Whad did you not understand?

sorry,
whenever someones says "legions" i think of the empirial legions..the late ones..

whoopsie

[Byzantine Mercenary]

i would like to see only the capitals able to produce the full rang of troops at the beggining. Isn't that how armys were put together anyway, in some ways i liked the fact that triarii were hard to build in vannilla, in RTR my armys were made up of almost all triarrii and they were easy to replace, i definately valued them more in vaniila because so few citys could retain units of triarii below stength.

[Meneldil]

I think this problem (being able to hire loads of Triarii) isn't related to the buildings available in a city at the beginning of the game, but rather to the cost of the Triarii.

[khelvan]

Each province/city on our map has been given ratings for various things, including military and industrial development, and size. Based on those ratings we scale the starting values of the cities. Some small number of cities will be able to produce the most advanced units, based on historical development, not number of cities per faction and such.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

On a related topic, is squalor bad in EB? As bad as Vanilla? Just wondering.

[Moros]

well there will be new buildings wich will increase happyness and law...

[Birka Viking]

The squalor in vanilla is terrible

[Sheep]

Each province/city on our map has been given ratings for various things

Sightseeing?
Weather in the fall?
Potency of the alcohol in their taverns?
Creativity of the girls in their brothels?

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Legality of certain substances?

[Steppe Merc]

You want that, head to Scythia. They've apparantely got a Cult of Hemp (not in game, though). Sounds like a fun place.