Rome Balance Patch 1.0
REQUIRES ‘REMASTER BALANCE’ CAMPAIGN SETTING TO BE ENABLED
This mod is a minor balance patch that addresses some of the weaker units in campaign to make them more useful, and changes some already useful units so that they function how much players imagine they do. It does not overhaul how battles are played as a whole.
Changelist:
Greek generals bodyguard (greeks, seleucids, macedon, thrace):
Attack 11->13, Charge 6->8.
Buffed because: This unit is just a worse version of the Roman and Carthaginian generals bodyguards, having the same stats except for lacking 4 shield. This gives them the same power level as other generals bodyguard as they have the same total stats, but gives them a new niche as the most offensive of the bodyguards.
Falxmen (Dacia, Thrace):
Attack 13->10, Gained trait: Armour Piercing.
Changed because: I assumed falxmen were AP until I checked. Almost everyone I’ve asked also assumed they were AP. They have giant two-handed weapons. Historically, the Romans were forced to change their armour mid-campaign because of how effective the falx was. So they should have AP. Attack reduced by 3 to compensate, as they’re already a decent unit. Also gives these factions a way to counter armour later in the game.
Egyptian general’s cavalry (Egypt):
Armour 6->9.
Buffed because: Most factions get an improvement to their generals bodyguard after the Marian reforms. Egypt instead gets a much worse one- not only is it worse than their original bodyguard, it’s also worse than the starting bodyguards of other factions. This helps bring their bodyguard up into a similar power level as other late bodyguards, although it’s still easily the worst of the bunch.
Desert Axemen (Egypt):
Attack 10->8, Gained trait: Armour Piercing.
Changed because: Desert cavalry are desert axemen on a horse and have armour piercing, so the foot version should too. Attack reduced a little to compensate. They’re not quite as good as falxmen so attack reduced by less.
Basic Horse Archers (Scythian horse archer, Armenian/Parthian Horse Archers, Camel Archers, etc):
Ammunition per soldier: 40->30
Nerfed because: Elite foot archers have 30 shots per soldier. Basic foot archers have 30 shots per soldier. Elite horse archers have 30 shots per soldier. Basic horse archers have 40 shots per soldier. Should be 30. Especially considering how basic horse archers usually cost almost half the upkeep of basic foot archers.
Iberian Infantry (Carthage, Spain):
Upkeep 170->130, Gain trait: Fast Moving
Buffed because: Iberian infantry got buffed in remaster, but they’re still just not any good. They’re meant to be a cheap and spammable unit with their recruitment cost of 260, but their high upkeep of 170 (same as hastati and principes) makes them expensive in large numbers. Upkeep therefore reduced to 130 so they can actually be the cheap units they’re meant to be. Fast moving trait added because, as with falxmen’s ap, it just makes sense for them to have and a lot of people seemed surprised to find out they don’t have it.
Cappadocian Cavalry (Pontus):
Armour 14->18
Buffed because: Cappadocians do not have the armour piercing secondary weapon of cataphracts, but in exchange they gain a shield value of 4. However, they have 4 less armour than cataphracts, so they end up just being worse. This gives them the same armour as cataphracts.
Bastarnae (Thrace):
Attack 14->15, Gained trait: Warcry, upkeep 130->150
Buffed because: Bastarnae are supposed to be Thrace’s elite glass-cannon shock troops, but they just don’t inflict the damage they need to. 14 attack by itself isn’t enough for this kind of unit (compare to chosen swordsmen, who have 13 attack and warcry), and 2hp doesn’t make up for 6 defense (they have the same defense skill as archers). However, while their recruit cost is very high, their upkeep is lower than almost any other unit. This boosts their offensive power substantially so they can hit as they’re meant to, but increases upkeep a little.
Warband (Gaul, Britain, Dacia)
Upkeep 200->150
Buffed because: They’re a weak but cheap early game spear unit for barbarian factions. They also have higher upkeep than hastati and hoplites, despite being a worse unit and barbarian factions generally having worse early economies. This puts their upkeep at a position that better represents their power. They aren’t actually that bad a unit overall, so stats aren’t changed.
Axemen (Germania, Scythia)
Attack 11->12, Defense Skill 4->3, Shield 2->4 (Total defense 9->10)
Buffed because: Axemen are equivalent to swordsmen (10 attack, 12 defense), but simply worse, have 20 total attack+defense compared to the 22 of swordsmen. Also, every other barbarian unit with the shield model of axemen (I.e. swordsmen, chosen swordsmen, spear warband, etc) have shield 5, while axemen have 2, Axemen stats made 12/10 to mirror swordsmen, shield raised to put them closer in line with other similar. They’re slightly cheaper and have 1 more charge than swordsmen, but swordsmen’s higher defense helps versus cavalry charges and ranged units, so it balances out.
Numidian Javelinmen (Numidia):
Missile Attack 6-9, Defense Skill 2->4, Recruit cost 180->240, Upkeep 170->180.
Buffed because: Numidian cavalry are an improved version of militia cavalry, having 3 more missile attack and 2 more defense skill, but a little more cost. Numidian javelinmen look like they should also be a unique unit due to their name and being recruited from a barracks rather than the usual archery range, but have the same stats as peltasts. This gives them the same buffs over peltasts that numidian cav have over militia cav, but then increases cost correspondingly.
Desert Infantry (Numidia):
Upkeep 200->150
Buffed because: Similar to warband, they’re a decent unit but that just has a strangely high upkeep. Their defense is 3 lower than libyan spearmen (not a very good unit), but their upkeep is 30 higher. This puts it at a more reasonable level.
Scutarii (Spain):
Morale 4->6
Buffed because: They just break far too easily, especially considering they need a minor city to recruit. Other barbarian units have much higher morale- swordsmen (large town barracks) have 8 morale, while chosen swords (minor city) have 12. Scutarii have 4. Given that they’re a similar unit to hastati who have 6 morale (but better resistance to morale shocks), I’ve put their morale at 6 for now. Could potentially increase to 8.
