Are Dog's still expendable while the handlers are not?

[DogSoldierSPQR]

One thing I liked in Rome 1 was strategically letting the Dogs go at a critical moment to affect the enemies morale, but mostly used them to catch routing guys. However, the Dogs could get devoured but they would always magically re-appear at full strength the next battle without any requirement of having to replenish manually but the numbers that came back where dependant on how many of the handlers survived the battle.

For those who are not aware, if all of your handlers are alive but all of your Dogs die, your Dogs will come back at full strength in numbers for the next time you need to use them. I believe there was 3 Dogs per handler(bare in mind that my unit preferance was on the highest setting)? So yeah, if one handler died than you would lose 3 dogs and so on and so forth until you manually replenish them in a settlement. I was wondering if this was still the case or not. Will the number of Dogs that return be dependant on how many handlers you lose or do the Dogs just stay dead?

I'm not expecting anyone from the community to know this as nothing has been said about Wardogs except the announcement that they would be in there, but would like to hear your thoughts on this. Do you personally want this feature to return or do you not like seeing Dogs in infinite supply? I personally like this feature.

Would be great to hear from a developer on this. Also, if you do answer, I hope you can also answer another thing that was on my mind; will be seeing this unit return for the Romans? It maybe a little obvious but would be great to clear it up for us who loved using Dogs strategically. Anything would be greatly appreciated.

Judging by Teutoberg battle footage, the Dogs this time around do not seem to be that big in numbers but I don't mind all too much. It did look like one Dog per dude but that could be dependant on your unit size preferance, so if you play on the highest unit size you may just get 3 dogs per handler.

Shame Roma Surrectum 2 never carried the Dogs over into their mod.

[rohirrimelf]

I dont like units that regenerate themselves for free. If all the dogs are death they should be death on the next battle if you dont replenish them. You should pay their upkeep at some reduced cost since the dogs dont need to be fed once they are dead.

[DogSoldierSPQR]

I dont like units that regenerate themselves for free. If all the dogs are death they should be death on the next battle if you dont replenish them. You should pay their upkeep at some reduced cost since the dogs dont need to be fed once they are dead.

"You should pay their upkeep at some reduced cost since the dogs dont need to be fed once they are dead."
LOL Haha
That does make sense. What I used to do in Rome 1 was just get the Wardog unit in really close, let them loose and then make sure the Dog handlers got out safely without suffering any casualties because as long as they maintained their full strength, it would be like no Dog was ever lost since they would re-appear at full health after the battle. Free kills basically. If Dogs are instantly replenishable then there were would be no fear of losing that unit as long as you can get your handlers out in one piece.

[Mamertine]

OP, I think that they will work similar to RTW. My logic was that there were more trained dogs off the battlefield with the other supplies. So when there was a battle, the trainers would take as many as they could hold. If the dogs died, there were reserves. But if a trainer died, there would be less dogs on the firld because there were less trainers to hold onto them. I personally never used them, and as a dog lover wouldn't care if they did come back. But oh well, it is just a game and adds to unit variety so I am not going to rain on anyone's parade.

This time around I would have to see how effective they are. If they are very strong, then I would have no issue with the dogs having to replenish between battles. A good way to think of them in RTW was that they were essentially ammo, like javelins and arrows.

TL;DR - If they are a good and rare unit, make them replenish like other troops. If fodder, like ammo.

[DogSoldierSPQR]

OP, I think that they will work similar to RTW. My logic was that there were more trained dogs off the battlefield with the other supplies. So when there was a battle, the trainers would take as many as they could hold. If the dogs died, there were reserves. But if a trainer died, there would be less dogs on the firld because there were less trainers to hold onto them. I personally never used them, and as a dog lover wouldn't care if they did come back. But oh well, it is just a game and adds to unit variety so I am not going to rain on anyone's parade.

This time around I would have to see how effective they are. If they are very strong, then I would have no issue with the dogs having to replenish between battles. A good way to think of them in RTW was that they were essentially ammo, like javelins and arrows.

TL;DR - If they are a good and rare unit, make them replenish like other troops. If fodder, like ammo.

From what I can gather of what Al Bickham said, they were "not tough" and "were good for running down routing troops". This one was one of the reasons i used them for.
Since Al did say that they weren't tough, that leads me to think that they will follow the same system from Rome 1. If you just send them into a unit which is in formation and defending, the Dogs will get ripped apart. If that is the case, and they literally are weak this time around, they should be replenishable depending on the number of handlers that survived.

[osros]

From what I can gather of what Al Bickham said, they were "not tough" and "were good for running down routing troops". This one was one of the reasons i used them for.
Since Al did say that they weren't tough, that leads me to think that they will follow the same system from Rome 1. If you just send them into a unit which is in formation and defending, the Dogs will get ripped apart. If that is the case, and they literally are weak this time around, they should be replenishable depending on the number of handlers that survived.

If they are weak would we want to waste a unit stack on them? I don't know, maybe fun to try out once in a while. I would think they would be useful to use as a disruption of the unit and then follow-up with another attacking unit while they are busy playing with the dogs.

[DogSoldierSPQR]

If they are weak would we want to waste a unit stack on them? I don't know, maybe fun to try out once in a while. I would think they would be useful to use as a disruption of the unit and then follow-up with another attacking unit while they are busy playing with the dogs.

Yeah, they are definitely a disruption unit. Judging from Teutoberg gameplay, they came and went by the time the camera came back to the Romans who were attacked by them. I see your point on whether they are worth a unit slot. Really is a good point. If anything, would most likely be useful in just catching routing troops but I'd still use them for that because it would look better than just seeing your regular cavalry doing the catching.

@rohirrimelf: Yeah, I have the feeling the morale impact these dogs will have will be pretty significant, indeed. If their attacking stats are low, something has got to give and they have to have something that will make them useful in one way or another.

[Raikou]

Yeah, they are definitely a disruption unit. Judging from Teutoberg gameplay, they came and went by the time the camera came back to the Romans who were attacked by them. I see your point on whether they are worth a unit slot. Really is a good point. If anything, would most likely be useful in just catching routing troops but I'd still use them for that because it would look better than just seeing your regular cavalry doing the catching.

@rohirrimelf: Yeah, I have the feeling the morale impact these dogs will have will be pretty significant, indeed. If their attacking stats are low, something has got to give and they have to have something that will make them useful in one way or another.

I'm guessing the suebi use the hounds alot? I'll take pleasure in using hounds to run down those filthy Romans trying to take my lands !!!

[SinerAthin]

OP, I think that they will work similar to RTW. My logic was that there were more trained dogs off the battlefield with the other supplies. So when there was a battle, the trainers would take as many as they could hold. If the dogs died, there were reserves. But if a trainer died, there would be less dogs on the firld because there were less trainers to hold onto them.

Yeah, that's actually what I always imagined as well

I'd not be concerned about replenishing dog, especially when each turn consists of an entire year.

[Vaðarholmr]

Please stay on topic.

PM me if you have any questions.

[bangell99]

I wonder if they've done some proper motion-captured animations for them. If so I can imagine they look pretty awesome in combat.

[DogSoldierSPQR]

I wonder if they've done some proper motion-captured animations for them. If so I can imagine they look pretty awesome in combat.

Confirmed, friend. There are numerous animations when it comes to Dogs interacting with Humans. Like full on takedowns etc.
I really do hope CA has went the full way and implemented some beautiful routing-kill animations on fleeing troops, which would be pointless leaving out so we can basically expect it to be in there too.
It would have to be hand-made animations but from what I've seen, they look NICE!

[rohirrimelf]

I hope the hounds will lower the morale in an erea. If they are only good for chasing down routing units ill rather use my light cavalery.

[Raikou]

Just think of it as a huge kennel of puppies to train every year