Tech group versus unit type

[Incompetent]

Two attributes a country can have in EU4 are its tech group and its unit type. Tech group determines tech penalty, exploration spreading and neighbour bonuses. Unit type determines which infantry and cavalry unit types you can use.

Each tech group (except Andean and High American) has an associated default unit type, which usually shares its name. In 1444, most countries have the default unit type for their tech group. However, there are significant exceptions, and more exceptions emerge over the course of the game. In particular, certain decisions (such as forming Mughals) cause a mismatch, and Westernisation changes your tech group to Western, but *not* your unit type.

What I suggest is that there should be a clear indication on the diplomacy screen of which unit type a country has, if it is not what you would expect from the tech group. So for instance Mamluks (Muslim/Muslim) is fine with just the Muslim tech icon, because the groups match, but for Ethiopia (Muslim/Sub-Saharan) there should be some indication of the mismatch on the diplomacy screen for that country.

 

[AmbroStoics]

Slightly off-topic. What I would really like I for westernization to change my units to that of the western type. Or at least to have different units within the eastern (and all other) groups. I would probably shell out a few bucks for a DLC that gives more depth to armies, such as more non-western variety, or nation specific troops (but not only for the ususal France/GB/Prussia/Russia/etc). Show some love to other nations, like Switzerland, Hungary, Bohemia, etc.). I only play European nations, so I can't really suggest anything outside of Europe, but I'm sure others have some requests as well. I envy the different units western nations get. All other groups seem bland in comparison. Sure I usually stick to only 1-2 types even when there are 4 available, but it's nice to have a choice.

As for knowing other nations armies, I think the type of units their armies use should be available if it is reasonable for you to know it. Mabye in the ledger?

 

[Incompetent]

Slightly off-topic. What I would really like I for westernization to change my units to that of the western type.

This used to be how it worked, until the unit types were rebalanced. I doubt they will change it back now. Honestly, you're not losing that much by keeping your existing unit type, unless it's Nomad (and nobody with Nomad units can Westernise anyway, so it's moot). Western units are only noticeably better very late in the game or towards the end of overly long 'unit type gaps', and if you Westernise early enough with certain unit types, you will actually have the advantage over Europeans at some points. I prefer keeping some sort of regional flavour in my army after Westernisation. (It's a pity that Westernised Muslims don't get to keep their cavalry support ratio though...)

There definitely need to be a few more unit types in some of the tech groups though - outside of Western, there are a lot of long gaps between unit upgrades, and often there's no choice of unit type at a given level. There's also the issue that some cavalry units are quite unbalanced in the later techs, because the devs have failed to properly take account of the disparity between cavalry shock modifier and cavalry fire modifier (for example, the various 'Dragoons' are laughably weak for their tech level). More choices of artillery for everyone would also be good (at a minimum, you could have a choice between more 'offensive' and 'defensive' artillery).

 

[TheMeInTeam]

keeping your existing unit type, unless it's Nomad (and nobody with Nomad units can Westernise anyway, so it's moot).

Not true, CNs and released vassals (as well as very unusual events) can create Nomad tech without horde government. This equates to permanently having crap units no matter what, unless you manage one of the rare formables that give new units.

PI's fixation on absurdity wrt horde units and nerfs has caused a lot of problem in that regard, so be careful when playing around Nomad tech that if you're making non-horde Nomads, it's because you want to do so (IE their rebels are garbage even when western so you just feed them nonstop forever).

The differences between units otherwise is pretty trivial though. It'd still be nice to see what people have. In addition to Mughals, the Indian tech Africans have sub-Saharan like Ethiopia. Assam has Chinese units but Indian tech IIRC.