About KH...

[Nightmare]

Didn't you read the post directly above yours? He posted 7 hours before you did so I don't think you were typing at the same time..... Admittedly the grammar is atrocious but the points are valid.

I read the post you are referring to. What makes you think I didn't? I was just clarifying to the other guy that I did not question whether it was valid for Macadonia to be as powerful as they seem to be, rather I was questioning something else. If I didn't clarify it, it would be "on record" that I think the Maks are OP or have some balance issue (I don't think that), and the next thing that happens is some troll comes crashing in here berating me on that and whatever else.

While tedious, I find that spelling out one's points is something that often needs to be done over and over again, both on forums and in real life. I heard a saying in a management class once - something to the effect of "tell the person what you're gonna tell him, then tell him it, then tell him what you just told him."

Thirdly; if Iphikratous Hoplitai (Greek Hoplite Phalanx), is as good as you can recruit then you have at most a Level 3 Native MIC. At level 4 you will get Thorakitai Hoplitai (Greek Heavy Hoplite Phalanx), Epilektoi Hoplitai (Hellenic Distinguished Hoplites), good old Thorakitai (Hellenic Heavy Spearmen) and, after the "March of Time", Koinon Hellenon Phalangitai (Greek Phalanx). Level 5 (in Sparta) will give you Spartiatai Hoplitai (Spartan Hoplites) and not just Spartan FMs.

I can recruit everything you listed except the pike phalanx unit. Thanks for the overview of sword units and faction unique units - helpful.