Egyptian merc question

[Brandy Blue]

My thanks to the Unknown Guy for information about Muslim standing armies and the use of mercinaries. Unfortunately the "Mercinaries and what you can do with them" thread took a different turn before I could ask follow up questions. So I am posting here.

As pointed out in the "Mercinaries ... etc." thread, the Byzantines used mercinaries as part of their standing army, and the game represents this by allowing the Byzantine player to raise Varangians and Bulgarian brigands as regular units instead of hiring them at an inn. After all, as Martok pointed out, they were part of the regular army for practical purposes.

Then the Unknown Guy told me that the Fatimids used lots of mercs in their standing army too. So can anyone satisfy my curiosity and tell me which regular Egyptian units (if any) represent those mercs. I really should do my own research, I guess, but if anyone happens to know anyway it would save me a lot of time.

Also, did the Almoads have a standing army with a significant number of mercinaries? If so, which units would represent them?

[Martok]

Somewhat to my shame, I'm unable to answer the question myself. For as much as the Eggies are one of my favorite factions to play, I confess I know little about their actual history, particularly in regards to their military structure & organization.

To be honest, Brandy Blue, you might have better luck asking this question in the Monastery. (Or if you like, I can move this thread there instead.) Either way, I'm rather curious myself now as to what the answer is.

[Brandy Blue]

Thanks for the offer to help, Martok, but I would rather you did not move the thread. I rephrased the question and posted it in the monestary. If you think it is not appropriate to have it posted here as well, go ahead and delete this thread.

[Martok]

Nah, we'll leave it up. It's very possible that some of our fellow denizens here in the Main Hall might be able to shed some light on this question.

[caravel]

The "Egyptians" in the game are a generic faction roughly covering the Fatimids, Ayyubids and Mamluks. Many of the units are ahistorical and their faction assignment is rather questionable. If you're talking mercenaries, I'm definitely no expert but a more obvious example would be the Bedouin tribesmen represented in the game by the "Bedouin Camel Warriors", these were in no shape or form a standing army of any kind.

With regards to actual mercenaries in the game, they are better off modded out IMHO, as the AI cannot make use of them and they do imbalance and cheapen gameplay somewhat. Mercenaries are better represented by the normal system of recruitment.

[Sensei Warrior]

Brandy How are you doing with getting an answer? Any luck in the Monastary? I am woefully ignorant on the subject at hand, but feel partially responsible. I think I was the one who steered the topic off in a different direction before you had the chance to chime in.

I just figured I'd pop in and see how you were coming along.