How to balance faster paced RTW?
A couple weeks ago I asked if you guys ever used (frequently) late-game units. Your answers where variegated, but not few of you agreed with me that they were rare to use because campaigns ended before you could enjoy these units. That's why I began modding in my little spare time.
In fact, in these last days I found some time to work on it: I made progression a little faster in order to get those units faster. I also balanced some units and buildings to pursue this objective but I'm not sure things are okay, so I wanted your opinions. Here are the changes so far:
M.1) All 2-turn-cost-recruitment units now takes only one turn, but their recruitment cost and upkeep is doubled. There is one exception: ever heard of Deceres? I never heard! I found them while modding. They were originally recruited from the scipii's last tier naval temple (that also made me think that maybe I am very right to do this mod). Anyway they took 3 turns to recruit. They now take one, but recruitment cost and upkeep is triplicated.
M.2) Buildings don't require more than 5 turns to be completed (Tier 5 takes max 5 turns, tier 4 takes max 4 turns, tier 3 max takes 3 turns). Also, recruiting some units is a lot easier. Here are the changes for the factions I touched:
- Britannia:
- Added Tier 2 archery and stables
- Warband woad briton from tier 2 barracks
- head hurlers from tier 2 archery
- light chariots from tier 2 archery
- heavy chariots from tier 2 stables
- druids from tier 2 temple
- Spain:
- carthaginian infantry from tier 1 barracks
- naked fanatics from tier 2 barracks
- bull Warriors from tier 3 barracks
- balearic slingers (I made slingers have balearic slingers stast, but we will talk about that in M.3) from tier 2 archery
- Gaul
- naked fanatics from tier 2 barracks
- druids from tier 2 temple
- Germania
- screeching women from tier 1 barracks
- naked fanatics from tier 2 barracks
- night riders from tier 3 barracks
- berserker from tier 3 barracks (requires shrine of Donar)
- gothic cavalry from tier 2 stables (requires shrine of Wotan)
- Dacia
- naked fanatics from tier 2 barracks
- Rome
- hastati from tier 1 barracks
- auxillia from tier 1 barracks
- principes from tier 2 barracks
- legionary cohort i from tier 2 barracks
- legionary cohort ii from tier 3 barracks
- triarii from tier 3 barracks
- arcani from tier 4 barracks
- Carthage:
- carthaginian sacred band infantry da tier 5 barracks (Should I change it with tier 4 requiring shrine of Baal?)
- Scythia:
- warband axe scythian from tier 1 barracks (no exp bonus)
- barb horse archers scythian from tier 2 barracks
- barb noble horse archers scythian from tier 3 barracks
- barb scythian noblewomen scythian from tier 3 barracks (should require shrine of Api?)
- barb head hunting maidens scythian from tier 2 stables (should require shrine of Api?)
- Thrace
- Should I add tier 3 stables with heavy cav?
M.3) Units rebalanced and some little changes to some rosters. Nerf to Germania, Scythia, Seleucid, Rome; Buff to Spain, Numidia and Armenia. (I am considering a buff to Thrace and Dacia)
- Germania:
- Spear warband: They are now the same as other barbarian warriors (no more phalanx, but warcry)
- Berserker: Morale 16 -> 13, Attack 19 -> 17, Defence Skill 5 -> 3
- Scythia:
- Horse Archers: Ammo 40 -> 30 Recruitment cost 540 -> 680 Upkeep 110 -> 140
- Head Hunting Maidens: Morale 10 -> 9
- Seleucid:
- Removed small elephants and cataphracts elephant (they now have only war elephants)
- Rome
Urban cohort: Morale 12 -> 11 Melee Attack 14 -> 12 Ranged Attack 18 -> 16 Defence Skill 7 -> 8
Praetorian Cohort: Melee Attack 12 -> 14 Ranged Attack 16 -> 18
- Spain
- Slingers are now Balearic Slingers
- Scutarii; Morale 4 -> 6, Discipline: impetuous -> normal
- Numidia:
- Numidian Legionaries: Morale 8 -> 10 Melee Attack: 7 -> 9 Ranged Attack 11 -> 13 Armour 7 -> 10 Defence Skill 4 -> 5 Charge 2 -> 3 (Numidian, Armenian and Roman legionaries have now same stats but Numidian and Armenian have 2 points less in defence)
- Added all elephants (not the oliphants of course)
- Considering a buff to camels
- Armenia:
- Armenian Legionaries : Morale 8 -> 10 Melee Attack: 7 -> 9 Ranged Attack 11 -> 13 Armour 7 -> 10 Defence Skill 4 -> 5 Charge 2 -> 3 (Same reason)
Other changes I think I will make: Every faction starts with capital at maximum tier (only governor's palace, barracks, stables and archer), and neighbour cities progressively one tier lower. Spain will have Numantia and Corduba but Carthage will have Carthago Nova. Numidia will have Leptis Magna and Cyrene but will lose Dimmidi. Egypt will lose Cyprus. Little changes to AI (using feral personalities ex: comfortable_caesar ecc.)
And that's all! I don't think I did a great job, but for 90% of things I am happy with them. I want all of your opinions, so please say what you want and suggest me things, especially if you think they are crucial; just remember, this mod is made to have late game units faster so give tips keeping this in mind and the consequences it can have especially with the changes I want to make, in order to not break the game in favor of some factions. Thank you for reading and for your help!