Mercenaries/Region specific
Ceitherne - Irish Clansmen (Or ‘warband’) Lightly armed and armoured Irishmen wanting the taste of warfare, these troops are fast, great at ambushes, but they are weak vs ranged troops out in the open (and cavalry), but are cheap and common in the Western Regions of the British Isles and North Western France.
Cymraeg Saethwyr - Welsh Archers, these archers from the Welsh hills and valleys are some of the finest in Europe, carrying the famous ‘longbow’, these archers have a long range while still packing a punch, but these are still common soldiers ‘not of class’ (I.E not of noble birth), weak up close and have little to no armour.
These are available throughout the British Isles, not really available elsewhere in Europe.
Norrøn Axmen - Norse Axemen (Or as you would like to call them 'Vikings’) these are a leftover from the Dark-ages, they have lost Zero of their usefulness as they are armoured in Chainmail, Helmets, shields and the Famous Hand Axe, these skilled warriors are truly fearsome in their own right and should still be feared, they are valuable throughout Northern Europe and very common in Scandinavia, they are cheaper there.
Militias
Militia Axmen - these simple light infantry come from the local farmland or settlements around the place they are summoned (Note these are ’levies’ I.E you call them to service (If you own the area or are the one who is paying the Peasant)
These troops are armed with simple axes and a shield, with little armour (padding, a light helmet if he is lucky), good vs Chain mail (but would still suffer vs Armoured professional troops) and other similar armour, but are still levies
Militia Spearmen - these simple light infantry come from the local farmland or settlements around the place they are summoned (Note these are ’levies’ I.E you call them to service (If you own the area or are the one who is paying the Peasant)
These troops are armed with simple stabbing spears and a shield with a Helmet and padding, good vs light cavalry, but like any lightly armoured troop they will be decimated vs archers (especially Cymraeg Saethwyr and other similar archer)
Militia Skirmishers - these simple light infantry come from the local farmland or settlements around the place they are summoned (Note these are ’levies’ I.E you call them to service (If you own the area or are the one who is paying the Peasant)
These troops are armed with light javelins, a small axe or stabbing spear and a small shield (with padding), great for harassing other light infantry or for quick hit and run attacks (like all the other Militias), but are weak vs Archers (longer range, more ammo) and cavalry (especially Light cavalry)
Watchmen - these troops are not ‘levies’ they are commoners armed with basic weapons, the same level of armour, but are hired (paid in pennies, ale and food) to keep watch over the settlement (Making sure other players do not steal your stock or murder your serfs for example) and provide a basic level of defence to a village.
They are a little better trained but are still no match for Professional soldiers.
Militia Archers - These are unique compared to the other Militias as they only come from Hunters and other professions that use bows, these troops provide basic support for the Militias but are very lightly armed other then there bows (on which are small short bows, suited for Deer hunting) and are not used to fighting other People (let alone archers like Cymraeg Saethwyr )
Militia Cavarly - these simple light Cavarly come from the local farmland or settlements around the place they are summoned (Note these are ’levies’ I.E you call them to service (If you own the area or are the one who is paying the Peasant)
These troops require more resources then the other resources as you need the horses, these make good scouts and good for flanking attacks, no good for indense fighting as they are only armed with spears and shields.
Militia Macemen - these simple light infantry come from the local farmland or settlements around the place they are summoned (Note these are ’levies’ I.E you call them to service (If you own the area or are the one who is paying the Peasant)
These simple light infantry are armed with clubs, maces, anything blunt, great vs unarmoured troops, they also have Shields, Helmets and Padding.
AWESOME!!!
Try to pronounce Cymraeg Saethwyr and Norrøn Axmen really fast, 5 times ;)
So you will be able to hire NPC guards? will NPCs have all advanced hit areas like players? how will it work is it just for guarding my stuff while I am offline or can I hire an entire army of NPCs and seige my enemies with?
What's the idea behind hireable NPC men? what will their main puropose be? what will the limits be, like max NPCs per player, certain types based on your character/faction?
basically.. How will this work ingame?
It will work through a Regional Recruitment system (RRS), this means a Unit is only avaliable in a certain area, so you won't Welsh archers in a Italian Province, they will go to a sort of 'outpost' (You construct them, the first 'tier' would be a simple shelter on which you can bring the local Plebs to your growing settlement)
The NPC's will have the same hitboxes as you, the only max is what you can support, if you have great infrastructure you will be able to maintain a larger number of people.
They can be used for anything (Especially Soldiers) that a Player can do Military wise (Man Siege equipment, siege, fight etc..)
The 'types' are mostly local, like Hobilars would be found on the Scottish-English Border for example.
There are a set of Generic ones on which you can train (I.E Takeen out of your Pleb population)you can train these anywhere.
Here are a few as a Example, These Generic ones are not quite professional but are not Militias
Armoured Swordsmen - these Trained warriors are peasents trained (takes 2 days real life) to be real warriors (Not like the Militias) but doing so they cannot be put to work on other things, these troops are armed with Swords, Kite or other similar shield, Chainmail and a helmet, these are your line troops, easily able to kill Militias but struggle vs Professional troops like Men-at-arms or Knights.
Armoured Spearmen - these Trained warriors are peasents trained (takes 2 days real life) to be real warriors (Not like the Militias) but doing so they cannot be put to work on other things, these troops are armed with a spear, Kite or other similar shield, Chainmail and a helmet, these are your line troops, easily able to kill Militias but struggle vs Professional troops like Men-at-arms but can pose a threat to knights on horseback and other cavalry.
Pikemen - these Trained warriors are peasents trained (takes 2 days real life) to be real warriors (Not like the Militias) but doing so they cannot be put to work on other things, these troops are armed with a pike (Very long spear), Chainmail with iron plates and a helmet, these are great for a line troop, can kill knights if in favourable ground and brutal vs Light cav and infantry, they are weak vs ranged troops and flanking attacks.
also here is one more Regional troop,
Hobilar - similar to the Militia Cavarly but more trained and better armed, these troops are light horsemen hireable/trainable in Northern England, Southern Scotland they are fast and unarmoured as they are the response to the Scottish Raid, armed with a Spear, Shield and Helmet with padded or Leather armour they can kill militias head-on.
Hope this helped.
Could not fit this into one post sorry.
Pretty much a Yes to your first question, you could set them to guard your settlement while you are away.
looks very good, however, vikings main problem was that they were ill equipped for sieges, as well as the fact that if they found easier pickings, they would just leave who they were in service to. how will you address this?
Most likely add a 'loyalty' system, lower the loyalty, the more chance of them leaving you at the end of the day.
Also, every troop (and weapon) has a Strength and weakness.
I must create a Nordic army!
Then you have to travel all the way to Scandinavia.
:D
Just for you Golden,
Here are three more units,
Balestrieri Genovesi - Genoan Crossbowmen, These trained Crossbowmen are some of the finest in Europe, they are armed in Typical Italian Fashion (Chainmail, Helmet, Shortsword) they are also armed with a Good quality crossbow on which can cause servere Wounds even if you are wearing armour, they are recruitable/Trainable in the Ligurian Region.
Jinets - These Light Cavarly similarily Armoured to that of the Hobilar, but they are armed with Javelines and a shield and sword rather than a Spear, they are avaliable in the French-Spanish Border.
Polskie ładowarki - These Medium Cavarly are specifically trained and armed to charge, wearing Leather or sometimes chainmail with a round or Kiteshield armed with Lances and a sword or similar weapon, great for charging the rear or flanks (or even head-on if it is Light Infantry) they will not cope well if stuck in a Enemy formation, Avaliable in the Baltic-Poland region.
oh god i dont even want to think of fighting jinets... dear lord
Imagine if you and your mates are unarmoured and are in open ground and you had to face Cymraeg Saethwyr or Balestrieri Genovesi
Or even if you are in a formation, have no spears or large shields and you had to withstand Polskie ładowarki or Mounted Spearmen.
Thanks for the answers sounds intressting.
Thanks, we always answer where we can.
Also, here are a few to water your mouth over,
Houseless Knights - These Troops are unique, they are knights without a house (I.E they have no lord) and you could scoop them up if you provide them with a Lord (Like yourself) they are armed like any other knight (although much less wealthy) They are very professional soldiers, able to be Infantry or Cavalry depending on what you equip them to be.
These are avaliable everywhere (Although somewhat Rare everywhere)
These also occur when a Player Faction that has knights or a NPC faction crumbles (no longer exists) and are scattered around the area.
Brigands - Normal troops who have turned to the life of Banditry, they can be any troop that are not 'noble' they occur when a Player faction or NPC Faction crumbles or if their loyalty to you (Your faction) collapses, like if they flee from battle
Found anywhere.
Bandits - Common folk turned to the life of the bandit, wearing little armour, Armed with usually a Ranged common weapon and a melee weapon (Like a club or hatchet) they attack anyone who comes along a route (if they catch them of course) can be leathal to Trading caravans.
Found in woods mainly.