Idea for a trait-- Language Barrier

[Zaknafien]

well Greek was the international language of the day, and if you are going to be a professional mercenary unit, odds are some of your number, or your boss, at least, will speak Greek.

[bovi]

I do not think the language would be much of a problem. I'm not sure whether it was a later invention, but I'd think trumpets or other instruments would be able to give signals that every man would be able to memorize the meaning of. Even with only voice, at least the basic commands would be drilled into the soldiers so they'd know when to charge, retreat, shoot, flank or halt even if there's a foreigner shouting it and waving his sword at the enemy. The language barrier is a lot worse today, using telecommunication with no common visual reference or body language involved (although most people are certainly more acquianted with foreign languages these days).

But a heterogenic army (non-faction troops) might have morale problems, for instance as they are fighting far from their home for a foreign cause they care nothing about or even dislike, or mercenaries who may not be keen to fight on when the one who pays them kicks the bucket.

[Caratacos]

Trumpets and the like would definitely make things easier, however i was thinking about when a general is in the thick of battle (with his other officers, trumpeters or whatever possibly dead). To be multi-lingual would definitely be an advantage. I'm sure there would have been many ancient battles that were decided (at least in part) because of simple communication errors.

[Zaknafien]

Maybe, but the general would likely not be anywhere near the foreign contingents in the thick of battle, unless they were a strategic reserve, in which case im sure he would have a way to communicate with them. the truth is, battle in antiquity was not big on command and control of forces arrayed, plans were layed out before battle was joined in the case of pitched encounters, and changes to those plans after fighting had started was rare, and difficult to pull off, to say the least. the commander himself wouldnt vocally give commands anyway since theres no way his voice would carry so far to reach the varied units of a battle-line, riders, runners, sub-commanders, and trumpets and banners would be used in the most advanced, organized armies to signal the basics--retreat, advance, withdraw, charrge, and so on.

[Olaf The Great]

What about penalties when your economy goes into the red and you have mercenaries?

[blacksnail]

I don't think it's possible to check for that, Olaf.

[GodEmperorLeto]

Instead of making penalties for multi-lingual armies, why not simply add bonuses? +1 command when commanding ... mercenaries.

Oh. Wait, isn't there already a trait like that?