Why the limits on artillery?

[Zom]

I like to build my legions with a couple of scorpions, but I have found that they have limited availability. I do not understand why this would be so. Can anyone explain?

[Krixux]

1 because the AI will use more artillery as well (and the AI is not to good at anything actually...)
2 In most battles artillery, while ( if ) present didn't really made the victory difference , except siege
3 Camillian, Polybian even Marian Armies didn't use artillery in open field battles, and while perhaps are exceptions, the evidence suggests the total absence of such "grand" weapons , I repeat with the exception of siege
4 The most famous in use of scorpions for instance were the Imperial Legions, thus past the last reform in DeI after 210 turns (iirc), and by then the player can field insane elites, making scorpions an unnecessary asset to kill an already handicapped (CA hardcoded) AI...

[Blasphemer.]

1 because the AI will use more artillery as well (and the AI is not to good at anything actually...)
2 In most battles artillery, while ( if ) present didn't really made the victory difference , except siege
3 Camillian, Polybian even Marian Armies didn't use artillery in open field battles, and while perhaps are exceptions, the evidence suggests the total absence of such "grand" weapons , I repeat with the exception of siege
4 The most famous in use of scorpions for instance were the Imperial Legions, thus past the last reform in DeI after 210 turns (iirc), and by then the player can field insane elites, making scorpions an unnecessary asset to kill an already handicapped (CA hardcoded) AI...

Yes AI is not good at artillery thats for sure, but I strongly disagree with you about artillery don't make victory difference. I think it can be make huge difference if you use them correctly. I can get 500 kill with 2 scorpion units on medium unit size.

[Korvyr]

Meh, historical accuracy prevents this from being implemented in DEI.

Onagers weren't even made yet, Ballistae were used very rarely during sieges.

Also using siege weapon really bugs out the AI, you can make the AI attack you in a siege battle simply by shooting them with Ballistaes =/

[Zom]

1 because the AI will use more artillery as well (and the AI is not to good at anything actually...)
2 In most battles artillery, while ( if ) present didn't really made the victory difference , except siege
3 Camillian, Polybian even Marian Armies didn't use artillery in open field battles, and while perhaps are exceptions, the evidence suggests the total absence of such "grand" weapons , I repeat with the exception of siege
4 The most famous in use of scorpions for instance were the Imperial Legions, thus past the last reform in DeI after 210 turns (iirc), and by then the player can field insane elites, making scorpions an unnecessary asset to kill an already handicapped (CA hardcoded) AI...

Thank you for the detailed reply. While I do not accept the "they could have, but didn't" reasons, the gameplay reasons are convincing. Sad, but convincing. Thanks again for your reply.

[Cambion]

Imperial Forces used scorpions regulary and to devastating effect, even in very difficult terrain, like Germania. Every bit like modern fire support teams. There is a battlefield in northern Westfalia where hundreds of scorpion bolt points were found, fired during what at best amounts to a large skirmish following a germanic ambush. That means the legions could transport their light arty easily and set it up fast enough to make a difference against fast moving troops. Extremely impressive. Of course thats scorpions, nothing heavier.
Sadly I have to agree that it is illusionary to implement this into Rome II. Both for BAI and faction balancing reasons.

Edit.
Actually there is something that could be implemented. Scorpions should be able to move as fast as legionaries on the campaign map. Maybe making them available only after reforms. In fact there is a point to be made (after the removal of the forcrd march feature) that artillery shouldnt slow down armies at all, since they have to move with their train anyway. But just scorpions would be fine. Could be a fitting special roman feature.

[Krixux]

Imperial Forces used scorpions regulary and to devastating effect, even in very difficult terrain, like Germania. Every bit like modern fire support teams. There is a battlefield in northern Westfalia where hundreds of scorpion bolt points were found, fired during what at best amounts to a large skirmish following a germanic ambush. That means the legions could transport their light arty easily and set it up fast enough to make a difference against fast moving troops. Extremely impressive. Of course thats scorpions, nothing heavier.
Sadly I have to agree that it is illusionary to implement this into Rome II. Both for BAI and faction balancing reasons.

Edit.
Actually there is something that could be implemented. Scorpions should be able to move as fast as legionaries on the campaign map. Maybe making them available only after reforms. In fact there is a point to be made (after the removal of the forcrd march feature) that artillery shouldnt slow down armies at all, since they have to move with their train anyway. But just scorpions would be fine. Could be a fitting special roman feature.

Agree 100%

and

"Scorpions should be able to move as fast as legionaries on the campaign map. Maybe making them available only after reforms"
-I think that shouln'd be a modding problem.

"In fact there is a point to be made (after the removal of the forcrd march feature) that artillery shouldnt slow down armies at all, since they have to move with their train anyway. But just scorpions would be fine"
-1 per Army though

"Could be a fitting special roman feature and other coltures"

-definitely: Greek cultures, Oriental yes, African maybe, North EU, no no
(imho)