Should army professionalism be represented?

[Denkt]

Will there be set Cultural bonuses to men at arms like in CK2 with retinues, or are we able to customize them if they appear at all?

• Not as such, but as mentioned in the DD, there are plenty of different Men-at-Arms that are unique to different cultures. Steppe cultures will for example, have access to Horse Archers, while Greeks have access to superior Heavy Cavalry in the form of Cataphracts. Men at arms are not constantly raised, unlike in CK2. They're also very different from levies, while in CK2 they were pretty similar. They're costly to change, but not prohibitively so.

Here is also the warfare DD: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/ck3-dev-diary-3-war.1279641/

 

[viola]

So men-at-arms are not constantly raised, but they're also saying that men-at-arms are very different from levies compared to how retinues and feudal troops were fundamentally the same in CK2. I'm not sure if they clarified the process of how to create a men-at-arms unit, so we would know if it's purely money-related or if they tap from levies too like a sort of manpower.

 

[Antediluvian Monster]

Well, most nobles fought as cavalry making almost all infantry and ranged units in the armies either mercs or levies. Most men-at-arms also served as heavy armored cavalry.

I don't think it's that clear cut. In the Edwardian era the English started using contracted soldiers more, which were specifically distinct from levies raised under feudal obligation (and they could serve along them). These men would be recruited in groups of varying size and serve for a set duration for set amount of pay. Mercenary is not quite the correct term either IMO, as these were local men raised by local lords using the local government apparatus. They were rather seasonal salaried soldiers.

 

[Denkt]

I'm not sure if they clarified the process of how to create a men-at-arms unit, so we would know if it's purely money-related or if they tap from levies too like a sort of manpower.

It is not just gold limit but it don't say how the limitation work.

You can only own a certain number of Men-at-Arms regiments at any given time, so choose carefully which troops you decide to recruit!

but they're also saying that men-at-arms are very different from levies compared to how retinues and feudal troops were fundamentally the same in CK2.

We know that men at arms counter each other and have different terrain advantages, we don't know anything about levies other than they have poor combat performance per Soldier compared to men at arms.

 

[Limbojack]

In the Edwardian era the English started using contracted soldiers more

I consider contracted soldiers to be mercenaries despite there being some differences between them and the men organized into mercenary companies, but I get your point.