While it might seem a little too late to change them at this point in development, I'd like to propose a few changes on military traditions. Hopefully it's still doable with rather simple/fast code changes, but correct me if I'm wrong on this or any of the following points.
I've read that path names are just "nicknamed" after factions or culture groups that they are not ment to exactly represent, but I've failed to see a clear (or deep) historical immersion or gameplay reasoning behind many of the choices. My suggestion is that they should be grouped making more sense, preferably better depicting factional armies or schools of warfare. Additionally, many tradition names seem unrelated to their effect.
For example, let's see the Greek Military Traditions. They are grouped into the “Seleucid Path”, *Greek Path* and *Antigonid Path*. I'd rather have them split into Greek and Hellenistic/Succesor Traditions (each group with their own 3 paths) since Greek City-States where either late to partially adopt Macedonian Warfare or never did. However, for simplicity, ease of change (less altered code and no new artwork) and "what if" plausibility, all "Hellenics" could remain in one tradition group. Since it's the most probable, I'll focus my proposal in this option. Then I would suggest it's 3 paths, with bonuses not concluded and in no strict order, being the following:
"Macedonian Path"
Referencing the succesor states of northern Greece, the Balkans and Anatolia (Primarily Antigonid/Antipatrid Macedon, Antigonid Phrygia but also Epirus, Lysimachid Thrace and possibly Pergamon) this path focuses on traditional Macedonian phalanx warfare with substantial cavalry and auxiliary support.
Low Tier Traditions (Early Era):
"Hellenistic/Seleucid Path"
Representing the succesor states of the east, primarily the Seleucids (possibly Bactrians and also Ptolemaics if they are not in the Arabic/Levantine group, maybe Pontics) this path focuses on a mix of the heavier troops including War Elephants, Heavy Infantry and Heavy Cavalry.
Low Tier Traditions (Early Era):
"Hellenic/Greek Path"
This path focuses in the Greek city states and Federations, while including some vital leftover bonuses from the team's design. It also makes for a varied support path for combinations with the other two, pottentialy being used to represent allied auxiliary tech if you're playing as a succesor state.
Low Tier Traditions (Early Era):
Bonus suggestion:
Removed/Unused Traditions:
Additional possibilities are many but I tried to stay somewhat close to the design philoshopy (at least the parts of it I can understand) and mostly provide an example towards what I consider a better direction. Many new tradition names and bonuses were rather hastly drafted and could use more work. I'm very interested on if there's an inner logic behind choices that seem rather random and on if I could be of more help on this. Thanks for reading.
I've read that path names are just "nicknamed" after factions or culture groups that they are not ment to exactly represent, but I've failed to see a clear (or deep) historical immersion or gameplay reasoning behind many of the choices. My suggestion is that they should be grouped making more sense, preferably better depicting factional armies or schools of warfare. Additionally, many tradition names seem unrelated to their effect.
For example, let's see the Greek Military Traditions. They are grouped into the “Seleucid Path”, *Greek Path* and *Antigonid Path*. I'd rather have them split into Greek and Hellenistic/Succesor Traditions (each group with their own 3 paths) since Greek City-States where either late to partially adopt Macedonian Warfare or never did. However, for simplicity, ease of change (less altered code and no new artwork) and "what if" plausibility, all "Hellenics" could remain in one tradition group. Since it's the most probable, I'll focus my proposal in this option. Then I would suggest it's 3 paths, with bonuses not concluded and in no strict order, being the following:
"Macedonian Path"
Referencing the succesor states of northern Greece, the Balkans and Anatolia (Primarily Antigonid/Antipatrid Macedon, Antigonid Phrygia but also Epirus, Lysimachid Thrace and possibly Pergamon) this path focuses on traditional Macedonian phalanx warfare with substantial cavalry and auxiliary support.
Low Tier Traditions (Early Era):
- Phalanx Drills: Heavy Infantry Starting Experience.
- Companion Cavalry: Heavy Cavalry Offensive (Could be Seleucid instead since Macedonian Heavy Cavalry Tradition was on the decline not too long after the start date. Might also model Epirot, Pergamene, etc heavy/guard cavalry).
- Auxiliary Skirmishers: Light Infantry Offensive or Mercenary Light infantry Upkeep (Thracian/Illyrian/Agrianian Peltasts etc).
- Thracian Cavalry: Unlocks (Light) Cavalry Skirmish (This ability could also be in the Greek path as the Tarantine Bonus).
- Royal Peltasts: Heavy Infantry Morale. (Elite Pikemen doubling as assault troops and skirmishers. They fought to the last man at the battle of Pydna)
- Aspidophoroi: (Heavy?) Cavalry Defensive (Shielded Hybrid Ranged/Melee Cavalry).
- Phalangite Chainmail/Reforms: Heavy Infantry Defensive and/or Train Time/Upkeep (Late Macedon Fielded Large numbers of Pikemen, with modernised armor kits).
- Kestros Slingers: Archer Offensive (Late Macedonian Dart-Slingers)
"Hellenistic/Seleucid Path"
Representing the succesor states of the east, primarily the Seleucids (possibly Bactrians and also Ptolemaics if they are not in the Arabic/Levantine group, maybe Pontics) this path focuses on a mix of the heavier troops including War Elephants, Heavy Infantry and Heavy Cavalry.
Low Tier Traditions (Early Era):
- Agema: Heavy Cavalry Discipline (The term Agema was used for many elite troops, including Eastern Noble Cavalry in Seleucid Service).
- The Silver Shields: Heavy Infantry Discipline (The defunct Silver Shields were soon re-introduced as a Seleucid Phalangite Elite guard of 10000 Troops).
- Naval Arm's Race: Ship Defensive (Could fit with several succesors and some city states).
- Military Colonies/Katoikoi: Allows Military Colonies (Universal but majorly Seleucid practice).
- Armored Elephants: War Elephant Defensive (If the Carthaginians/Africans have two Elephant related traditions, the Succesors and especially Seleucids with almost 200 years of having large elephant corps deserve at least one. Could add one extra for Indian Elephants and/or Elephant breeding).
- Kataphraktoi: Heavy Cavalry Offensive (While heavily armored their main strength was in the charge, not in prolonged melee. Plus EU: Rome reference).
- Thorakitai: Heavy Infantry Defensive or Some Terrain Bonus (Late Seleucid and Achaian troops in somewhat Roman Fashion, more flexible than pikemen or hoplites).
- Deep Coffers: Mercenary Upkeep (Especially if this group includes the Ptolemaics).
"Hellenic/Greek Path"
This path focuses in the Greek city states and Federations, while including some vital leftover bonuses from the team's design. It also makes for a varied support path for combinations with the other two, pottentialy being used to represent allied auxiliary tech if you're playing as a succesor state.
Low Tier Traditions (Early Era):
- Naval Tradition: Ship Offensive (Maritime City-states).
- Arms for Hire: Mercenary Recruit Cost Modifier (Many city-states increasingly relied on mercenaries, while many Greeks served as such in Succesor armies).
- Siege Craft: Improved Siege Ability (Could as well be on the Macedonian Path).
- The Victor's Spoils: Allows Raid City (Could fit in any path but here's Aetolian and Cretan raiders/ Pirates).
- City State Fortifications: Fort Defence (Could also be Macedonian as "Fetters of Hellas").
- The Tarentine Advance: Light Cavalry Defensive (Could possibly be earlier tier).
- Specialist Infantry: Archer Discipline (Cretan Archers & Rhodian Slingers)
- Thureophoroi: Light Infantry Defensive (While they widely spread as support troops across the hellenistic world, they became the mainstay of many Greek armies).
Bonus suggestion:
- Each AI controlled state could have a tendency (high chance) of adopting it's most fitting historical path).
Removed/Unused Traditions:
- The Hipparchos: Cavalry Morale (It's just the greek title for cavalry commander and I could think of more suitable cavalry bonuses).
- Centuries of War: Heavy Infantry Maintenance Cost (City states didn't field huge numbers of armored citizen levies anymore. Could be used as a succesor bonus representing settler pikemen, but still they often had Greek/Macedonian manpower issues, so I'd rather not lead them to mass heavy foot armies. With the possible exception of late Macedon).
- The Sarissa: Heavy Infantry Morale (Already in widespread use to be an unlockable bonus, immersion breaking as succesors).
- Veterans of the Great Campaign: Unit Starting Experience (Would they still be alive centuries later? Bonus could possibly apply as a drill bonus to heavy or speciallised troops).
- Proud Shipwrights: Ship Construction Cost (Could fit in if something else is considered less valid).
- The Nobility Ride: Light Cavalry Offense (The nobles wouldn't be light cavalry, plus two+ light cavalry traditions already seem more than enough).
- Peltasts: Light Infantry Offense (Too anachronistic to have them first introduced 100+ years late).
- Mastery of the Mountains: Light Infantry Mountain Bonus (Would fit best in the Greek path for Aetolians etc).
- Combined Arms: Light Infantry Discipline (Would make more sense as a universal troop bonus, if possible applicable only to varied armies).
Additional possibilities are many but I tried to stay somewhat close to the design philoshopy (at least the parts of it I can understand) and mostly provide an example towards what I consider a better direction. Many new tradition names and bonuses were rather hastly drafted and could use more work. I'm very interested on if there's an inner logic behind choices that seem rather random and on if I could be of more help on this. Thanks for reading.
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