Merc. Questions

[Barkhorn1x]

So the merc. mechanics in SS 6.4 are obviously very different than vanilla or other mods.

Questions:
- Mercs seem to be quite rare - not necessarily a bad thing - is there anyway to increase frequency?
- Retraining to replace losses - any tips/tricks here? As I have a couple of units that I cannot retrain?

Thanks.

[Lazy-Hamish]

if you have bgr sub mod, then it is a much harder game, mercanaries are much rarer, but then again their upkeep is ridiculous so you don't really want them unless it's an emergency, not sure how to increase the rate, but if you do you'll be bankrupt so quickly.

think if you want to retrain you need a general in the settlement, and the time between being able to retrain units is increased i think to make it generally harder to keep large armies in your cities and on the field

[Nyarla]

some factions have units in the starting armies that are not yet available. you'll have to wait until some events happen that enable new units

[Head of the Heavy Chargers]

U need to be in the area where they are available. Then u can retrain them rather slowly.

It would be a lot better if every faction could build a mercenary office like Byzantines and recruit local or areal mercs that way.

Kwarezm for example can recruit afghan javelinmen and turkomans and they are mercs.

IMO mercs are wasted in this mod. I did mod my own mercs to be more useful in EDU, but I rarely use them. I don't know in which file I can edit their availability.

[Gogolometro]

In 1100 are almost none. In 1120 are some. In 1300 you can make a stack only from excellent mercenaries.

[Barkhorn1x]

U need to be in the area where they are available. Then u can retrain them rather slowly.

OMG - I just figured out the import of this sentence. You cannot retrain them in one fell swoop. You have to let them sit like General Bodyguard units.



Now, is there an indicator of some sort that tells you that the unit is in their "home" region? I for one cannot remember that level of detail.

[Barkhorn1x]

Thanks for the info. all.

[Ichon]

BGR doesn't affect availability of mercenaries but does affect the prices.

Some factions like CS and Genoa start with mercenaries which aren't available in 1100 and won't be for some time or in CS case until a Crusade is called. Otherwise mercenaries gradually become available. Mostly due that their pools must fill first and I guess to make the early game tougher since if you could hire half a stack of mercenaries on the first turn it is quite easier to blitz which its already easy to do in 1100.

[Jean=A=Luc]

I find that there are quite a lot of mercenaries available in 6.4 (early campaign, no BGR). Though peoples' perceptions of what is "a lot" may vary.

[Jean=A=Luc]

No, you retrain them like regular units. Mercs have replenishment rates and recruitment pools as well.

[Barkhorn1x]

No, you retrain them like regular units. Mercs have replenishment rates and recruitment pools as well.

Oh, OK, thanks for setting me straight.

[Ichon]

He wants to know how you can tell how many turns it will take for pool to refill. I'm not sure if there is a way. Many of the mercs have more than 1 AOR so you can recruit Mercenary Franks in Germany and retrain them in Rhodes or Hungary for example but some mercs have only a couple AOR. I guess you just learn the map better- after a campaign or 2 where you use alot of mercs it becomes pretty easy to remember which ones are from where. How often do you ship them across the world anyway? Maybe a Crusade but then I usually disband them once Crusade is over.

[Jean=A=Luc]

You could take a look in the descr_mercenaries file to see the mercs' recruitment pools/replenishment rates but there's no way to determine the "replenishment status" in-game.

Considering the upkeep mercenaries are typically supposed to be hired, used and disbanded unless you really have a lot of cash to throw away.