Something different

[ElmarkOFear]

It appears most everyone is using the standard 10k army as their florin level per player in most team games. We have discussed a lot of the imbalances at this level, but I have not heard of many trying to play at lower levels such as 5K or 8K. I would be interested to find out if, at these lower levels, a whole new MP experience would emerge, as well as certain tactics which currently cannot be tried (like volume of troops over quality of troops) etc . .

Less florins means more compromise on what units to buy. Powerful units would be fewer, and those units currently not being utilized in 10K games, may now be very useful in mass. I would love to see "volume" and "fatigue" become more prevalent as viable tactics. Do you purchase few, but powerful units? Do you purchase cheap, but many units? Is there a mix of these that would be better? Does this take away some of the power of the Cav and muskets? Or does it add to the power of these units? Does be concerned more about holding your lines to prevent routing become a greater concern? Does army control become more important? Do factions that floundered at 10K now become powerful in their own right? WIll balanced armies finally find their niche?

There are so many unexplored possibilities with playing less than 10K armies.

I am going to begin playing at such reduced levels, so if you want to try it out, feel free to join me and give it a shot. I would love to see a lot of people begin trying these new levels out, to find a level which allows for more variation than the standard 10K game. Who knows? We may find a level which reduces the current imbalances to a minimum. At the very least, we will get to play with those cheap to mid-level units that are being overlooked.

[Stig]

I used to play RTW at low denarii levels ... as that was the only way to make it balanced and fun

If you try 5k you will find yourself with an actually new and fun army.
Sergeant spearmen, cheap dismounted knights, hardly any cav, peasant archers ... I suggest you try it at once, I had 1 or 2 games in MTW2 with it, great fun

[Monarch]

lol, people would probably just field same army minus all the inf

Hehe, but seriously it does sound interesting. But even at 10k sudanese tribes will hold chivralic knights, even for a time, so quantity can hold at 10 IMO. Obviously it won't win in a straight meatgrinder but obviuosly if you've fielding tribesmen, he's fielding knights, then your trick card will be elsewhere (ie. cav).

Might actually make moors a very strong faction at lower florin levels, especially with cheapo desert cav too.

But ye, report back plz

[-Silent-Pariya]

Well if you went lower getting fewer units of strong units *mainly cavalry* would be more prevolent... but it would be fun watching my5 units of uber cav pwn peasant armies in 5k

10k is what everyone plays for a reason... that reason being its the most balanced. That's my opinion.

[ElmarkOFear]

Then obviously you have never tried many lower florin games. You would find that 5 strong cav, don't stand a chance against all those much weaker units, since they overcome their weakness in strength of numbers.

Sure the cav army constantly gets more kills than the opponent's army, but the cav army doesn't win the battle, since it loses through attrition and fatigue.

If you like, if you see me in the lobby, give me a shout and we can do a 1v1 at 5K (any era you wish). You take what you think would be the most overpowered army and I will take the army I think might work well at that level. We can even post the replay here in the new MP forum once it is set up. Will be interesting to test it out against someone I have personally played against in a team game and who has shown the ability to use cav to their fullest power.

I will be on this weekend, so lets try it out. You can use your most uber cav army and moves without having to worry about someone hollering "Unfair!". And better yet, you can come here and gloat about it and it won't hurt my feelings a bit: I have a reputation to keep of being a good "Bad" example of how to play TW. hehe

If I win, I promise not to gloat, and will only use the replay as an example of how lower florin games could possibly reduce the impact of what most consider overpowered units.

Sounds like a fun time! See you this weekend.

BTW: This is also opened to anyone else who would like to test a lower florin game and thinks thier mostly cav army can win more easily than at the normal 10k level.

[Stig]

Elmo is right.
At 5k you can bring 5 cav, and another unit, that's it.
I can bring 8 inf, 4 archers, and maybe some light cav. Only due to the fact I outnumber you I will win.