[Peter Ebbesen]

Originally posted by Zen:
I must be missing something here, but why is the PD value of T'ien Ch'i so eagerly desired? Their PD is among the weakest out there (Right up with Pythium and Pangaea). Even if the ratio was upped to whatever frequency you'd like it would have little impact on MP games, and a minor impact on SP (Only reason to really use PD in SP is to stop CoTW, CoTWild and to funnel the Computer to attack where you want them to).

Ah, but you are missing my point. Obviously, I cannot speak for the point of view of the other debators in this thread, but from my point of view it is not about modifying it to be something that is of immense use and very valuable in SP or MP - that would be screwing around with the balance in a major way - it is about changing conscription to be something that is both a) visible, b) of some (though minimal) usefullness, and c) in line with what a feature like "conscription" actually suggests.

The problem with the current implementation is that if fails all three. You don't notice it is going on, you gain nothing from it really, and the effects do not seem to fit with conscription in the first place. As such, it is a feature better done entirely without - or changed to something that fulfills at least one or two of the points.

[Off topic, apart from the reasons you list, there is another reason to use a moderate 20-30 level of PD in SP in strategic provinces. PD can be extremely useful in SP as meatshields when backed up by archers/mages/priests defending armies in hotspots, as you lose nothing whatsoever if all the meatshields die in the defense so long as you hold the province. It cuts down on infantry replacement cost. Obviously of most importance if the AI is intent on overrunning you and has a substantial manpower advantage. This is the opposite of using PD to funnel the AI, really, as it is used where you expect the AI to attack rather than use it to turn it away.]

If you are going to adjust something as far as conscription and the actual definition of the word, it would be to have more soldiers placed in PD per point. You still have to pay for their armor and armaments, you just have a readier supply of warm bodies.

Another excellent suggestion that I wholeheartedly support. You could even throw in a bonus low-level commander at 10 and 20, for something that would *feel* substantially different.

[ February 15, 2004, 23:23: Message edited by: Peter Ebbesen ]