Rebalance mod, need info and Ideas

[Aenlic]

Interesting stuff there. Sounds good.

Some more suggestions for you:

The Russians need a spear militia that actually has anti-cavalry bonuses. They get torn up by the Polish in the vanilla game. They could also use a second starting province to better balance them against the Polish.

You didn't mention the Moors at all. I'd like to see them get a non-spear infantry of some kind.

[Re Berengario I]

Pretty nice ideas around :D

I think I'll get out my Osprey books when the unpacker will be out. Moors for example had slavonic mercenary spears together with other africans units if I recall correctly.

Anyway the main problem with huge stacks wandering around are that in middle-age, being no real state institutions, most of the army were mercenary, also the ones of your vassals are mercenary indeed as your vassals usually supported you if they could conquer some loot and lands (the real reason of the crusades) or have cash and lands from you in exchange for the support.

The only real popular armies were from the city states (not just italians, germany too had a lot of "imperial cities" alas cities which were under self-government, not ruled by a vassal, "protected" by imperial edict).

CA tried to accomplish this different kind of troops giving us the infamous italian spear militia and similar units which, in reality, are pretty unbalancing.

This because it also lacks another view of these fact, being raised amongst population (and usually not the lowest classes) these units were employed just in case of dire need as otherway the city would have gone broke. Artisans, mercants, land owners in the army = no commerce, industry, agriculture.

So while they were damn effective on battlefield (they fought for their rights and their lands) they weren't employed in time of peace were the communal army was just a bunch of mercenaries or troops of communal vassals like everyone else.

So my advice wouldn't be to nerf them but to make them cheap to get but damn expensive to maintain, at least try it out so you'll spare me some experiments :P :D

[redmark]

Did longbowmen ever fight mounted?

England needs an early period non-knight sword unit, IMO, as well as enabling spear-carrying sergeants. William had them at the Battle of Hastings.

If Sherwood archers are kept, they should be slightly weaker with the bow than retinue longbowmen, but with better melee.