Quote Originally Posted by bovi View Post
The "sack enemy camp" thing won't work, as the ransom mechanic requires assent from the losing faction to pay it.

"Excuse me, now that we've beaten you, would you like me to steal the stuff in your camp, or would you prefer that I kill you?"
"Um, we'd really like to live you know, but sorry, our leaders say we are not to let you take our stuff. You should go ahead and kill us instead."
"That's too bad. If only we could have killed you first and then taken the stuff lying around... But that's crazy talk. Taste pain."
"Urk."
"Alright, let's go people! Nothing to loot here!"
I think you're right, but to torture the point it could be:

Winner's options-loot baggage OR pursue survivors
IF sack camp, losers options: sacrifice rearguard OR abandon baggage.

But I agree its clunky, especially if the whole army is captured (maybe the rearguard was quaker ballistae?).

Conscription, so long as it is limited to certain units (esp. mercenaries) is historically attested and would be a desirable element IMHO.