New FAUST v1.3 (Unit Stat Guide with pics) is here

[brandybarrel]

The FAUST v1.3 downloads (new links):

for the Kingdoms expansion (8MB, 40 pages):
FileFront MediaFire

for the Grand Campaign with Kingdoms Stats (5MB, 25 pages):
Unit stats based on the Retrofit mod by Unspoken Knight (CA)
(applicable to other mods or updates which incorporate similar data files)
FileFront MediaFire

for the Grand Campaign (5MB, 25 pages):
FileFront MediaFire

You need Adobe Reader (free download) to read the PDF files.

So Whats's new?

1. new unit card style with unit PICTURES and stats
2. mount speeds for cavalry now illustrated
3. improved icons for highlighting unit special abilities
4. unique mercenary guide for each campaign
5. all playable, nonplayable, and unlockable factions included
and more...

Each page contains:

Unique faction information for choosing a side to play:
1. Campaign objectives (Short and Long)
2. Religion, Culture, or faction specific requirements
3. Faction Strengths (subjectively rated) Kingdoms only
4. Mini map

Important stats for comparing unit strengths and abilities:
1. Recruitment: (Class, Size - normal, Cost, Upkeep)
2. Attack: (Primary with Charge/missile Range, Secondary with Charge) including Damage Types
3. Defence: (Total: Armor + Skill + Shield) including Special Formations
4. Unit Morale and Hit Points

Appendices:
A. Mercenary Units (following each campaign for Kingdoms)
B. Navy and Artillery (revamped)
C. Unit Defence; missiles (range, accuracy); units (speed, mass)


Unit stats are objectively based on the export_descr_unit.txt file for M2TW and the Kingdoms expansion, Update 1.3.
Note that unit animations may influence the stats and cannot be represented or is beyond the scope of the FAUST.
See final page for other data files referenced.


Special thanks to CA/SEGA
(SenseiTW, Wikiman, Jack Lusted, Unspoken Knight)

Happy hunting to you all...

brandybarrel

[_Tristan_]

Thanks again for that great work of reference...

One little omission I've detected :

Zacatecos Raiders "can hide anywhere" is not mentioned...

Congratulations...

[Henry707]

Thanks very much for such a great guide - really useful & can see a lot of hard work there!!!

Henry

[SeekerDK]

Superb work (once again)!

New icons and layout works extremely well and the addition of mount speed is a lifesaver.

I previously preferred the FAUST from the FUSIL, as i found it more reader-friendly, but this combination of the 2 is very pleasant to the eye. Excellent work in both data collection and layout, simply stunning.

Some suggestions for a future release.

Armor upgrades - As listed in FAUST 1.2, was very nice to have :)

Unit training tech level and Era:
What, where and when can you train the unit in question.
Tech level:
Suggest a 2 Char combo of T1 (town lvl1), W (Woodsmans guild lvl2), C3 (Castle lvl3), B4 (Barracks lvl4 - Perhaps distinguishing between CB and TB) ect. Perhaps as a post-fix to the name?

Era:
"Gun" is pretty much self explanatory in the Faction sections, but would be nice to have it pinned out in the Artillery section.

Thou minor issue, I believe it to be the final tweaks need to take the work from superb to perfection (next to implementing information about animation issues, but that is really more discussions then stats, and thus irrelevant in the FAUST, IMHO).

[Eusebius86]

Amazing work, as always...

[brandybarrel]

Thanks everyone.

@SeekerDK
Thank you for taking the time to make a detailed critique. I share your opinion on how the FAUST can be improved. Some limitations were due to “aesthetic” space (adding more rows in the case of including armor upgrade values) and time involved (cross-referencing other data files to find recruiting building). Good ideas, I would have liked to include them otherwise.

By the way, the Kingdoms game disk contains a Building and Unit Planner for each campaign. This can also assist you with getting the “big picture” on unit recruitment.

Cheers,

[Prodigal]

Excellent stuff, thanks very much BB

[SeekerDK]

As I see it, you've added some recruitment data to the Kingdoms FAUST, if it doesn't refer to the Building and Unit Planner, you might want to add a legend on the last page (might be nice to have in any case).

(the rest of this text is directed at the Grand Campaign FAUST)

I can see how the recruitment data collection could be a pain, if the information is not directly extractable. But if you could find a compatible data format (excel, CSV/TSV, database - don't know how/if you store your data in any format like this) it could make it easy to add contributions to your base data, and thus you could ask a very willing community to collect the data manually for you?

As for the armor upgrades, it could perhaps be written in superscript/subscript as a postfix to the total defense with out interfering with either hit points or defense specifications (perhaps only by dropping the "L" used in 1.2 and shrinking the font)? If the data is easily extractable, I would think it a shame, not to include it.

Some minor, aesthetic suggestions:
Adding an index to the first page that refers (I believe it should be pretty simple to add click-able internal link in a PDF?)
In 1.3 Timurids are listed before Mongols. Makes more sense the other way around.

Please don't take this as critic of your work!
I've found it extremely useful and have used the 1.2 extensively. It is merely suggestions at a doc i already love.

[brandybarrel]

SeekerDK, by all means your comments are welcome and I’m quite surprised you took the time to see how you can squeeze in the armor upgrades.

Excel is indeed the workhorse for the FAUST.

Placing the armor upgrades above Total Defence is probably the best as you have suggested. I felt that the more important values: Defence (armor+skill+shield) deserved priority and wanted to keep it simple. It would have been tougher on the eyes otherwise. Another reason for the omission is that superscripts require more micromanagement (mouse clicks, etc.), cause cell height differences, and other unwanted cell data warnings (if the “L” was omitted). Although I like them, they were a hassle to implement. As a matter of fact, the FAUST is superscript free.

Source data for the FAUST was exclusively taken from the unpacked game files listed on the last page. Recruitment data was taken either from the export_descr_buildings.txt or the descr_mercenaries.txt. Culture level was a unique and important feature to the Britannia campaign and so I have included the figures. Other unique units from other campaigns also got special attention with regards to recruitment.

Thanks again for your input.

[MrsCabbage]

brandybarrel why don't you sell this to the makers of the game?

I mean it is beautifully formated - better than most of the official literature. But most importantly it really adds to the gaming experience and at the moment only a small amount of people are gaining access to it.

[Privateerkev]

Good work on the Faust's!

I have dl'd them and enjoy reading them.

I can tell a lot of work went into this and thank you.

[Gaius Terentius Varro]

Excellent work, thank you for your hard work

[econ21]

Fantastic stuff! Thanks!

BTW, where did you put the Kwazarimans (sp)? - they used to be with Egypt, but I can't find them now.

[brandybarrel]

Hi econ21,

The Kwarizmian Cavalry are mercenary units and can be found on the merc page of the FAUST for Kingdoms (Crusades). They are only available in the ME region after the mongol invasion warning.

(The FAUST faction pages now only list units recruitable from buildings during the campaign game.)