Factions balance

[Cheetah]

I think that's besides the point really. The fact that I CAN select longbows as the french

and there goes roughly 1/3 of your budget ... (at 10k) as 4 dismounted french archer costs more than 2800 florins.

demonstrates how similar the factions are.

Does the fact that you can pick peasant archers with almost all western faction makes them all similar? I dont think so.

The best possible army available at any florin level for France is practically identical to the best possible army at any florin level for England, or Austria, or Venice...etc.

With due respect to your oppinion but I have a very different experience. No way that you can play the same army lets say with Russia, Hungary, or Byzantines that you can play with France, or with France that you can play with Milan or Venice, etc. If there is a difference compared to MTW it is the fact that factions have a lot more varied unit rosters and lot more flexibility.