Two quick questions
 

I know that the troop makeup of independants follows a few patterns. For example, crossbows+light infantry+heavy infantry, or two barbarian chiefs, leading barbarians.

Is there a document that describes these patterns?

And, specifically, if my scouts report militia and light cavalries, what is the third unit type? Heavy cavalries?

Re: Two quick questions
 

Im not sure if anyone has given examples of what you get when your scouts report xxxx,yyyy,zzzz. I guess I just kindof learned over time. In cases when I really needed to know for sure (like whether a rush for the single commander might work) I tested by attacking with a cheap scout. If you position him far to the back of the field, set his instructions for 1 hold and then retreat, then you can often get him back.

Re: Two quick questions
 

Yes, in fact there is. Dom2_DB_Units, the unit database, which just got an updated Version released today. Available from the Magic Site DB thread and Arryn's site. There is one sheet in that which lists all independent poptypes, what number corresponds to which poptype for map file assignment, and it lists the units by name and ID number for all of them too. When I document something, I like to do a thorough job of it, and poptypes most definitely belong into the unit DB. That page has been in there for a long time.


Sometimes the third unit type is not reported if there are very few of them. Remember, the reports are inaccurate to the degree of between 50% and 200% of actual unit numbers.

This particular poptype is one of three possibilities:

• Poptype 51: Militia (30), Light cavalry (24) and Heavy Cavalry (20). This is option would be best for you, these are the most lightly armored Versions of all. The heavy cav is the one Arco has natively and the light cavalry has javelins, not short bows. An altogether useless poptype.
• Poptype 52: M(18), LCav(25) and HCav (19). This is the middle toughness one, prot 16 HCav with broad swords, the militia and LCav have around prot 8 and 5 respectively.
• Poptype 53: M(31), LCav (26) and HCav(21). You do NOT want these guys. The militia is as heavily armored as the better of the two LInf types, the LCav has Ring Mail and the HCav is the Prot 19 monster with morning stars (though by the report it sounds like there are maybe one or two of those.

Anyway, consult the DB, it should give you what you need.

Edi

Re: Two quick questions
 

> In cases when I really needed to know for sure (like whether a rush for the single commander might work) I tested by attacking with a cheap scout.

Yes, this is what I usually do as well, but I cannot spare the two turns (one for recruiting the commander, one for testing the defenses) in this case. If I delay even one turn, I may lose the province to another player, and it is one of Karan's key provinces.

> Dom2_DB_Units, the unit database, which just got an updated Version released today.

Oh yeah? And where is the flashing announcement informing us? Shame on you for keeping something this useful for yourself.

Seriously, though, this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a lot! And I am already anticipating all the other goodies on that Arryn site. It seems to be down, though.

In any case, thanks once again. Great job!

Re: Two quick questions
 

Umm, did you miss the Magic Site DB thread completely? Titled "Edi's Dom2 DB Update - New Stuff" is an announcement, and I specifically state there that the Unit DB has also been updated. The file used to be named "Unit_ID" and even the first Version had the poptypes. I have mentioned it often enough in threads I've participated in. You have not been paying attention, or you managed to miss it completely the firs ttime around.

Works just fine for me. However, I have an idea what your problem may be? Do you use 56k connection? If you do, the problem is your ISP. Before I got a 300 kbps ASDL connection, I had a normal modem connection and two different ISPs. Arryn's site was completely inaccessible from the ISP I used regularly, their system did not even see it, or if it did, it always timed out. The second always worked, without exception. You may be experiencing the same problem. Try to access her site from work or school or wherever, but from some other machine, that could work if you can't do the ISP switch trick at home (feasible with just dial-up, really).

You're welcome! It's nice to see my efforts are appreciated. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Edi