Phalanx weakness and high unit costs

[Brandon2828]

Hi I just installed XGM it seems great so far except for 2 things


1. phalanxes from the front got nerfed pretty hard, I did some custom battle testing and roman legionaires charged straight through my wall of spears and engaged in hand to hand. This should not happen. I would just like to know what file value I modify to change this.

2. The recruitment and upkeep costs of most units seems much too high. I'd also like to know how to modify this, thanks.

[Spartan198]

I don't know about increasing the phalanx lethiality, but the bolded numbers below are recruitment and upkeep costs:

type barb peltast gaul
dictionary barb_peltast_gaul ; Skirmisher Warband
category infantry
class missile
voice_type Light_1
soldier barb_peltast_gaul, 40, 0, 0.8
attributes sea_faring, hide_improved_forest, hide_long_grass, can_swim
formation 1.6, 2, 3.2, 4, 4, square
stat_health 2, 0
stat_pri 7, 4, javelin, 60, 8, thrown, blade, piercing, spear, 25 ,1.0 ; Ranged
stat_pri_attr thrown ap
stat_sec 7, 4, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, spear, 25 ,0.85 ; Spear
stat_sec_attr light_spear, spear_bonus_4
stat_pri_armour 2, 5, 3, flesh
stat_sec_armour 0, 0, flesh
stat_heat 2
stat_ground 2, -2, 3, 2
stat_mental 8, low, untrained
stat_charge_dist 60 ; Skirmish Cavalry
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 360, 180, 25, 50, 360
ownership gauls, slavs

[RedFox]

The values marked in red are what make all the difference. In the soldier line, 1.4 gives the unit a greater mass, 0.25 allows the Phalangites to cluster closer together and in the formation line, 1, 1, makes the phalanx formation tighter, presenting a much solid wall of pikes against the enemy. 1, 1 is in the original RTW, just so you know...

type             greek phalanx hoplite
dictionary       greek_phalanx_hoplite      ; Hoplite Phalanx
category         infantry
class            spearmen
voice_type       Light_1
soldier          greek_phalanx_hoplite, 60, 0, 1.4, 0.25
attributes       sea_faring, very_hardy, hide_forest
formation        1, 1, 1.1, 1.1, 5, square, phalanx
stat_health      1, 0
stat_pri         10, 1, no, 0, 0, melee, blade, piercing, spear, 10 ,0.56
stat_pri_attr    spear, spear_bonus_4
stat_sec         7, 6, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, sword, 10 ,0.66
stat_sec_attr    no
stat_pri_armour  7, 15, 4, leather
stat_sec_armour  0, 0, flesh
stat_heat        3
stat_ground      -3, 0, -5, 0
stat_mental      14, normal, trained
stat_charge_dist 2
stat_fire_delay  200000
stat_food        60, 300
stat_cost        1, 940, 440, 60, 120, 940
ownership        germans, slave

[silentsam74]

and in the formation line, 1, 1, makes the phalanx formation tighter, presenting a much solid wall of pikes against the enemy. 1, 1 is in the original RTW, just so you know...

So, what would be the effect of lowering just the first number? Should they both be the same?

[RedFox]

The first value determines the space between soldiers side to side, the second value determines the space between soldiers front to back. It's all written in the beginning of the EDU. The rest is self-explanatory.

[GoldShield Guard]

I think you should not change any of these values, what makes XGM different is exactly this, that the phalanx is not unbeatable, especially the levy one. This is one of the major elements of XGM, as you can see in the readme, and if you change this, you will make greek troops very overpowered.

[RedFox]

You can always lower the attack and lethality of the phalanx, this is what other mods do to balance pikemen. The phalanx was more of something to keep the enemy in check, not to win battles - cavalry and supportive infantry did that. In my opinion, lowering the pike stats enough to make the battle draw out very long, is enough to balance the unit. And even with a close formation, enough enemies pushing against the phalanx will be able to break it.

stat_pri         7, 1, no, 0, 0, melee, blade, piercing, spear, 10 ,0.34
stat_pri_attr    spear, spear_bonus_4