Hubristic Queries from a total N00b

[Dulce_et_Decorum_Est]

I was wondering about a possible modification to make it more worthwhile to establish protectorates in Rome; Total War.

Since most ancient peoples, least of all the Romans, were willing to use subjugated peoples as mercenaries, might it be possible to copy the producable units lists from all factions into those of all civilized factions, but only make them producable once you've converted the appropriate faction into a protectorate (and have an appropriately high level multi-culturalish building in place, like a very high level trade building or something)?

It would certainly give you more incentive to create protectorates, especially of smaller kingdoms like Pontus and Armenia that have little land but excellent unit lineups.

Is this remotely possible? Has anyone already done it?

[Dulce_et_Decorum_Est]

OK, I tried doing it as a hidden resource, and that didn't work at all.

Any ideas?

[makanyane]

I think your only hope would be to use scripting as I don't think there is any way to link normal recruitment (via. export_descr_buildings.txt or descr_mercenaries.txt) to diplomatic stance.

Scripting does have conditions that can check diplomatic stance - though whether or not their is a valid one for protectorates I don't know. If there is you could make it spawn an army / armies for your faction while they have protectorate. Afraid I wouldn't know how to do it but if you're very interested you could start researching scripting:
http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=46738
http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=57014

You'd also need to make sure your faction has ownership of the units in export_descr_unit.txt and texture lines for them in descr_model_battle.txt but that's likely to be least of your problems! Good luck...