Unit Size Mod

[Soapyfrog]

I have started working on a mod to change relative unit sizes to allow quantity vs quality type contests.

The intent is to reduce units sizes, and then play with huge units. Most units have been reduced 50%.

In this case, the cheaper, earlier units are generally larger than the expensive, later ones. So far I have made the following modifications:


Militia units - 100% size
(peasants, urban militia, woodsmen, kerns, fanatics, ghazi)

Golden Horde units - 100% size

Gunners - 100% size
(handgunners, mamluk handgunners, arquebusiers)

Royal/Ghulam knights - 100% size

Light Cav - 75% size
(hobilars, alan merc, steppe, mounted sergeants, ott. siphai, mounted xbow, mounted archer, bedouin camel)

Pure Archers - 66% size
(archers, desert archers, janissary archers, longbowmen)

Semi-Militia units - 66% size
(militia sergeants, gallowglasses, vikings)

Early Spear units - 60% size
(spearmen, nubian spearmen)

Arbalest units - 33% size
(arbalests, pavise arbalests)

All other units - 50% size

In addition, I have made a few cosmetic changes in terms of spacing and appearance of the less disciplined units.

Horde units I have left at full strength in the hope that this will make them scarier.

Archers got a relative size boost to compete better with hybrids and xbows/arbs... arbs I have tried to nerf... they were heavy, mechanically complex weapons and really not THAT widespread.

Input is GREATLY appreciated!!!!

Does anyone know what the "Units base strength" in the stats refers to?

[Lord Krazy]

base strength is base on the number
of men in a unit before it is scaled up
this is very important for what you
you want to do if I understand correctly.

LK

[Soapyfrog]

Yes Lord Krazy, exactly.

You see, I reduced the base unit size, and then play with huge units.

Therefore a unit of peasants is 200 (base 100) men and a unit of feudal sergeants is 100 (base 50) men.

Works very well. I should note that this generally intended for SP. For MP, you could balance things differently... i.e. make archers more attractive by upping their base units size and so on.

This can also be used to create a more cavalry heavy battlefield, for those who feel that cavalry is not getting the primacy it may or may not deserve.

In addition to these changes, I adjusted the unit spacing on the militia-type units to give them a more 'rabble-like' look... looks very good!

It has worked very well for all the tests I have run. I will be attempting my first campaign with this adjustment once they release the patch.

Again the more input the better! If someone can see a serious balance problem, or has suggestions for adjustments for MP, fire away!

[Soapyfrog]

I've been thinking of playing with unit costs as well... frex working out some standard value calculated from a unit's stats and calculating the price from that.