Tobi72 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 10:06 pm
But nothing is set in stone, as I constantly have to adjust the device file, I can take a closer look at these units again.[/b]
Talking about unit stats, here is my feelings about the last update. A kind of feedback.
Unfortunately... I am less convinced and prefer what was in 0.2.
So, my opinion.
Quick recap of the previous version :
Other than some specialized units that each factions have, there were different families of close combat infantry units that were similar :
- light infantry (hastati, caetrati,...) : fast (4 move), decent against infantry, weak against cavalry. Plenty of utility : able to flank, to exploit a hole after heavier infantry break opponent formation, to urgently replace a damaged unit on the frontline, etc... ;
- heavy infantry (principes, early lybian infantry,...) : slower (3 move) and thus less versatile, but able to hold their ground better and strike hard enough to kill enemy units on the frontline ;
- spearmen (scutarii, hoplites...) : A mix between light infantry, heavy infantry, and pikemen. Not fast but not slow either ; decent against infantry but not to a point we can call them good ; same against cavalry ;... A "jack of all trades ; master of none" family unit. Always good to always take 2 or 3 of them in any scenario to counter any surprise ;
- pikemen (triarii, heavy pikemen,...) : slow (2 move) but high defense value in the open and very strong against cavalry. I prefer fast units, but it's a good unit to create a slow but inexorable line moving forward (and a nightmare for horses

).
It was a good system in my opinion, but I think that version 0.3 blurs these differences too much.
Two examples : pikemen become real tanks (both hard to kill AND fast) and light infantry become useless since heavy infantry now move as fast.
Hastati units complemented well the heavier Principes with their increased speed (as I explained in previous paragraph) ; but now principes are as fast and have better stats everywhere. There is now zero reason to take Hastati when Principes are available.
There is also no longer really a need to place light infantry to prevent the enemy from outflanking a line of pikemen, since the latter are now fast enough to redeploy adequately on their own to counter an unexpected threat. Why take spearmen now that pikemen also become mobile ?
To sum up, I think version 0.2 offered units that interacted well with each other, and provided better synergy. Each class had strengths and weaknesses, something I feel much less in version 0.3.
Some become able to do anything, other become totaly useless.
My opinion was given, and I may be wrong. I would be very interested to read someone else about it.