Generals

[A.Saturnus]

Well, I disliked about MTW that anyone could become a general. Any peasant could get an asignement, become governer and marry even a princess. That's not just unrealistic, it's entirely against the medieval mindset. If you were born low, you couldn't just become great, not even with talent. Ok, you might say people could be knighted, but not even a knighted guy would normally be able to get a high title. Status was acquired by generations and without status, you couldn't become a leader.

[Bob the Insane]

Well, I disliked about MTW that anyone could become a general. Any peasant could get an asignement, become governer and marry even a princess. That's not just unrealistic, it's entirely against the medieval mindset. If you were born low, you couldn't just become great, not even with talent. Ok, you might say people could be knighted, but not even a knighted guy would normally be able to get a high title. Status was acquired by generations and without status, you couldn't become a leader.

Well I always pictured (abstracted) that the unit's captain/leader was a minor noble of some type or other distinct from the men he commanded...

[zakalwe]

Interesting discussion. I liked bits and pieces of both systems.

My thoughts on the options you should have

- Train a Noble unit (with a starting 5 or 6 bodyguards - increases over time) - 'Pictured' unit who can be a governor, general, marry, gain titles, etc

- Knight/Grant Title an existing unit which would mean that the unit has a noble leader that appears on the battle map with that unit. This unit would now have a 'pictured' leader but would remain the same type of unit. This would cost X amount of money. You would also have the option to transform the unit into a Noble unit (as in 1 above) if you wished. Hence if you 'Knighted' a Peasant leader you could choose to keep him as a 'pictured' noble in charge of the peasants or upgrade the unit into a mounted Noble unit.

- All members of the Royal Family would automatically be 'pictured' and start with a bodyguard of 25

- You could hire in Mercenaries mercenary generals who would be horse units that would lead your forces. They would be unable to become governors, heirs or marry, but you would have the option to Grant Title them which would mean they would become normal Noble units.

- Heroic battles mean that the leader would become a noble as in section 2 above.


This would mean that only nobles would be governors and almost exclusively nobles would be generals. You could create enough governors to look after your cities. If you had a favouite unit you could upgrade it by granting the leader a title, but still keep it as the same type of unit - but you would also have the ability to turn that unit into a Noble unit with mounted bodyguard if you wished. Mercenary generals would also be feasible and you would be able to make them your retainer over time.

[Cesare diBorja]

Best idea I have heard yet, Zakalwe!

diBorgia

[A.Saturnus]

Well I always pictured (abstracted) that the unit's captain/leader was a minor noble of some type or other distinct from the men he commanded...

I thought of that, but it doesn't work. Any member of an unit can become its leader. Just kill off leaders with assassins, every time a new leader will be chosen. That can't be all nobles.

[spmetla]

Now that they have "officer" units a leader of a peasant unit could still be a noble but that might be all that he as a vassal could bring to his lords service. I'd like the MTW general system if I could select a unit to be the general's body guard. Then you wouldn't need special bodyguard units.

[A.Saturnus]

I think the best solution would be to use the BI system but with more and easier accessible hired generals.

OR

The Royal Family could have vassal families that provide larger numbers of generals if you need them. For example, whenever you conquer land, new titles are generated and with them new vassal families appear. That might be more historically accurate and also more fun. The problem would be the implementation.

[Rufus]

You should also be able to give titles to your princes - Duke of Normandy, etc. That would also be more historically realistic. You couldn't do that in MTW.