Quick noob question
 

Do the number of troops in independant provinces fluctuate or do they just appear to fluctuate due to inaccurate scouting? Do troop numbers in independant provinces ever fluctuate?

...was just wondering if I was actually advantaging myself by attacking indy provinces on turns where scouting shows them to have low numbers after turns where they appear to have high numbers.

Re: Quick noob question
 

Mostly scouting randomness, but random events happen in indy provs and can add troops in...all indy troops are essentially the same nation, so a barbarian attack on an indy province will just add extra troops in on top of what was there already.

Re: Quick noob question
 

Also, there are 'some' provinces that there are indi commanders with a "Soul Contract" or the other kind of contract, the one that attracts devils, and over time, they can become very, very dangerous, try fighting an indi province like that on turn 50, 50 devils! ouch!

Re: Quick noob question
 

As Micah said. Scouting report inaccuracy will report between 50% to 200% of actual numbers, so you can get a rough idea of just how much is there by looking at the reports on consecutive turns.

Re: Quick noob question
 

Thanks

Re: Quick noob question
 

Feel free to send a scout to attack a province, place him in the back, and set his orders to retreat. This will give you an exact count.

I always set the 0 command to retreat because every scout should be given this command in case they are discovered on the border.

Jazzepi

Re: Quick noob question
 

Just a quick caveat to this tip... A retreating unit with out a neighboring, friendly province to retreat to will automatically be killed. So, this suggestion really only works for border provinces unless you're OK with loosing the scout.

Re: Quick noob question
 

A scout who doesn't retreat from battle WILL get killed in battle, regardless of what he is facing. Even if it is mighty 1 PD from Bandar Log.

Re: Quick noob question
 

Actually 1pd of bandar is better than most 1pds out there, iirc. It's with values past 1pd that they suck.

Re: Quick noob question
 

Can we have a lengthy discussion on that matter if I take offense on your statement and wholeheartedly disagree?