Explorer's Guild & Other Guild questions

[Flavius Gonzo]

What exactly does an Explorer's Guild do? Does it offer a global advantage or only to the town itself? If it's global, does it stack? I currently have 2, and I'm trying to decide which one to keep.

Also, I guess a merchants guild improves trade, but again, is this for that settlement only?

And finally, I currently have a theive's, assassin's, merchant's, and explorer's guild, but duplicates of most of them. What are some other guild types that I can get offered, and what units should I focus on training to get them?

Any insight, even speculation is appreciated... I know this is a new feature and we don't yet know lots about the mechanics.

[Polemists]

If you pull out your handy dandy chart with all the builder info it shows what all the guilds do. The flap that has the tech tree/ building list.

Explorers improve movement. It's not major but there is a minor adjustment.

[Flavius Gonzo]

OK, but does Explorer's Guild improve movement just for troops produced in the guild city, or does it hook everyone on the map up? This would factor into my decision to keep my second guild.

And what units can I spam to get offered other guilds elsewhere? Some seem obvious (bows for woodsman, swords for swordsman), but others are less so, like the Mason's guild. And does this tactic even really work or is it just luck of the draw with the guilds? When I got offered my assassin's guild, I hadn't even built an Inn (and therefore no assassins) in the city.

[Polemists]

It says certain ones are faction based. I dunno what to tell you. I did a test with spain. It seems the are all faction based. If you spam spies you always seem to get the thieves guild. Assassins guild is dependent, as Spain I had to build a certain city large enough, as Moors I didn't have to build up much.

I'm not to familiar with kniglty orders, I've had the templar but no others. SOmeone else prolly knows more

[Flavius Gonzo]

Got it, thanks. I can deal with experimenting in my current H/H campaign, but I think it would be good to know more about the mechanics before starting a VH campaign.

I do really like this element though, it seems like this adds a lot more complexity to the city planning aspect.