MTW Pocket Mod: General

[caravel]

I have Alans as trainable in Georgia and Khazar by the Byzantines the Horde and Russians/Novgorod. It may be an idea to allow all of the eastern European Christian and Pagan factions to train them. I haven't given them a valour bonus there however. I don't use inns/mercenaries in my games (removed) so this is the only way for me to get Alan Mercs. I've also thought of putting the Inn building to other uses.

The lands most lacking valour bonuses are, again, Eastern Europe. It may be an idea to put a valour bonus for vanilla horse archers and/or steppe cavalry in one of the eastern steppe provinces, such as volga bulgaria. Also it may be an idea to add bonuses for the Mongol units in their emergence provinces to give them a bit more edge when they arrive. The Mongols should sweep across Asia and eastern europe making a big mess, in MTW they penetrate the Turkish provinces and slug it out with the Russians before losing momentum and petering out.

In the west it may be a good idea to put a valour bonus for Feudal Knights somewhere in Europe. You'd have to do the research as to where, but possibly in Ille de France to replace the one for Chivalric Foot Knights.

I would also ditch the valour bonuses for all ships (portugal, wessex, Venice, Tunisia, Aragon, Denmark etc) as they're not really much cop and the AI can't exploit them. Another one is the Inquisitor and Grand Inquisitor valour bonuses in Castille. That's a particularly nasty one, as GI's are dangerous enough as it is. It also berates Castille which was not only famous for lunatic witch burners. It would do better with a valour bonus for a Spanish specific unit such as Lancers, Javelinmen or Jinetes.

Another one that I would remove is the Syrian valour bonuses for assassins and Nizaris and replace it with a more realistic one for e.g. Desert Archers, Horse Archers or Futuwwas. I am working on a mod to make the Taverns and Inns in MTW easier to upgrade, to give decent agents to all factions.

Another good one is Bedouin Camels and/or Arab Infantry for Arabia.

[Vladimir]

Good suggestion on the Mongol valor bonuses. Give all the mounted units hidden bonuses in Kazar (or lesser if an XL style map) and have one territory give a Step Cavalry bonus.

[Martok]

Some great ideas there, Third spearmen.

As one who plays the Spanish (Castille-Leon in XL) a lot, I won't disagree that Castille-trained Inquisitors are perhaps a bit overpowered. I wouldn't mind if Castille gave a bonus to Jinnettes instead, although Lancers would perhaps be more appropriate.

I personally would keep the ship bonuses in, if only because it helps lessen the odds that the AI's lone barque manages to somehow sink my 3 galleys (). If you are intent on removing the ship bonuses, however, then I'd recommend Venice's Galley bonus be replaced with a bonus for Italian Infantry.

Another would be to replace Wessex's Caravel (or was it Cog?) bonus with a bonus for Feudal Knights--the English were somewhat known for their cavalry-heavy armies until the Scots showed them the error of their ways at Bannockburn.

Denmark's Longship bonus could possibly be replaced with a bonus for Viking Carls, but I'm not sure how historically accurate that would be. (And giving the bonus to Huscarles doesn't bear considering; that would just be scary/ridiculous!)

Tunisia's ship bonus could be replaced with a bonus for Muwahid Infantry, although I'm not sure these guys need the help! Still, it could provide the Almos with another strong unit that can help them out in the later stages of a campaign.

I would also recommend Arabia give a bonus to Bedouin Camel Warriors. Not only was it home to the two largest Bedouin tribes (Aniza & Shammar), but it would also be nice if Arabia actually possessed some sort of strategic value for once.

[Third spearman from the left]

Martok, Vladimir and Caravel

thanks for the great feedback so far guys

I had not thought of getting rid of the ship bonuses but that sounds like a great idea. The idea of trying to get a good bit of historical fact behind these valour upgrades really appeals. The Arabia/Bedouin Camel Warriors valor bonus is one I'm going to go with for sure.

Do any of you guys want to suggest any units that should be more readily available to build by more than one faction?

[Galagros]

Are you doing this for vanilla or a mod? (so I can get the right units into my head and think)

[caravel]

I presume he's doing it for Vanilla, though not sure.

With regard to Arabia and Bedoiuns, it's the best idea, but I'd throw those poor devils the Arab Infantry in as well. They need all the help they can get. I did it once, and it gave me both the incentive to develop Arabia and reason to train the arabs in the first place. I remember a certain campaign where I used them as mass flankers against the mongols and they gained valour quite quickly.

As to units that should be more readily available, I'd say Futuwwa. The Egyptians should definitely be able to train these as well.

Also, and dare I mention this, it may be an idea to give the Byzantine at least access to Armoured Spearmen.

For the Almohads, Turks and Egyptians I'd take away the Militia Sergeants/Urban Militia. They seem to be a muslim reworking of the Catholic units, that is not at all accurate. Also I feel that with Ghazis and AUMs available there's not a desperate need for them.

Also another one I've wondered about is Armenian Heavy Cavalry. They're only available to Muslims yet they are inherently a christian cavalry type. Oddly enough the unit dismounts to feudal sergeants giving indication that CA may have considered making them available to all factions occupying those provinces, regardless of religion or culture type. They may have made them exclusively muslim in order to fill the gap for an exclusively muslim medium cavalry, though I don't see it as the muslim factions can train Ghulam Cavalry which are almost the same (though AHC cost less to support and have a better charge).

The only other unit changes I can think of are more restrictions.

[Martok]

With regard to Arabia and Bedoiuns, it's the best idea, but I'd throw those poor devils the Arab Infantry in as well. They need all the help they can get. I did it once, and it gave me both the incentive to develop Arabia and reason to train the arabs in the first place. I remember a certain campaign where I used them as mass flankers against the mongols and they gained valour quite quickly.

Good point, Caravel; I meant to mention that in my earlier post but forgot to. I rarely bothered with Arab Infantry in vanilla MTW/VI, as Gazis were always superior in terms of "bang for your buck". VikingHorde's XL Mod gives AI the ability to throw armour-piercing javelins, which helps; but even then they still seem a bit underpowered at times. A valour bonus in Arabia could actually make it worthwhile to train them again.

Also, and dare I mention this, it may be an idea to give the Byzantine at least access to Armoured Spearmen.

Ooh, that's a good one! (The XL Mod gives the Byz the ability to train Latin Auxilaries, which definitely helps out with their lack of a strong anti-cav unit.) I would even go so far as not only give the Byz access to AS, but give them a training bonus as well (in Anatolia, perhaps?).

For the Almohads, Turks and Egyptians I'd take away the Militia Sergeants/Urban Militia. They seem to be a muslim reworking of the Catholic units, that is not at all accurate. Also I feel that with Ghazis and AUMs available there's not a desperate need for them.

I agree with removing UM; not so sure about removing Militia Sergeants, though. Having a cheap anti-armour/cav unit can be useful for dealing with Crusades coming through your lands, particularly if you can't recruit significant numbers of Muwahid/Saracen Infantry yet.

I would also make Jinnettes available to all factions (so long as that faction owns one of the Iberian provinces in which they can be trained). Given that they were partially inspired by Moorish soldiers and tactics, I don't see why Jinnettes couldn't be trained by Muslim factions as well.