Some basic VI questions

[EatYerGreens]

Valour also increases the morale of a unit - usually by 2 points of morale for every 1 point of valour.

For a full understanding of why some units gained valour at the end of a battle, while others didn't, take a look at the battle logs afterwards.

(If you havn't done so already, you'll need to enable the battle logfiles by ticking the box in the game options menu).

The unit's valour is actually an average of all its members individual valour scores. Retraining a valoured cadre will top it up with fresh 0-valour troops and thus lower its average, although the previous members retain their valour record, as will be seen if they go into battle again.

Because of this averaging business it turns out that, a lot of the time, the valour gained in battle is mostly a side-effect of suffering a high percentage of casualties.

It is probably better to merge valoured veteran cadres together, to maintain their high average, than to retrain them. The benefits of the improved valour are at least as good, or better, than those of the improved equipment.

[Derfasciti]

Thanks for the info, and I've forgotten exactly how to retrain units.

[Deus ret.]

EatYerGreens explained most relevant points. It should be added, though, that there's a difference between a unit's own valour level and additional points bestowed upon it by the general's command rating. The +1att / +1def bonus is granted for every point of valour, but the valour bonus received from the general doesn't add to morale. So, a unit with 2 own valour and 2 additional from thge general will have a bonus of +4 att and def and +4 morale from its own valour level.

Thanks for the info, and I've forgotten exactly how to retrain units.

Simple: Open the recruitment panel in the province where the unit to be retrained (it has to be there, of course) and drag it in the recruitment queue. Note that unlike RTW retraining takes a full turn per unit in MTW, so you might be better off recruiting a new one.

[caravel]

Fyrdmen are in fact equal to Feudal Sergeants, so when it comes to Fyrdmen vs Spearmen there is no competition - the men of the Fyrd are superior in every way.

Armoured Spearmen have better armour and defence though lower base morale and melee stats, when compared to Fyrdmen, but are not available to the English anyway.

[EatYerGreens]

Well, I was actually suggesting merging of broken veteran units in preference to using retraining to get them back to full strength but what you can actualy do is merge first, to get one back to full strength (plus a few leftover men) and then send it home for retraining where, in fact, they will just be re-equipped, without harm to their valour average.

The downside to retraining is that it can be a long round-trip (years) to get to the province which has the required training/upgrading facilities and then back to the frontline. Additionally, some units can only be trained in one specific province (e.g. Gallowglass/Highland Clansmen) and a naval blockade just delays the trips even further. They may be of more practical use by staying where they are and making do without the equipment upgrades.