[undead dolphin hacker]

If you wanted to keep Pythium, they could be similar to Ermor in low-level units (like Velites, Legionaries (sp?)) but lack the intensely high-morale, heavy infantry that I envision defining IA Ermor.

Lemme make a quick Pythium list so I don't keep rambling:

IA Pythium::

PROS:
-Bronze nation with low-end "cheap" units second only to Ermor's.
-Extremely cheap scouts and assassins, both of which with respectable leadership values (default 15 or 20).
-Cheap provincial defense (peasants pissed off with Ermor aren't hard to find or train.)
-A strong, average-priced, though somewhat inaccurate ranged unit. (Possibly with Stealth?)
-At least one fast, but lightly-armored, ground troop with Stealth.
-Most Pythium troops are quicker than their Ermor counterparts (on par with other IA races--maybe a smidgen slower).

CONS:
-"Military" leaders are neither strong nor cheap, Leadership values don't start very high (25-30?).
-Magic is roughly half as powerful as Ermor's (all the powerful mages figured they'd stay in the well-established Ermor).
-Like Ermor, few Holy units and middling priests (Pythium disagrees with Ermor more on a political level than religious).
-"Basic" tactics aren't very effective for Pythium at all--from a statistical standpoint, Pythium's military is pretty weak.
-Morale is middling to weak, depending on the unit.

"WOULD BE COOL" FEATURES:

-Pythium assassins and scouts can "Levy Malcontents" in any province with NEGATIVE or NEUTRAL dominion--this ability is much like Mictlan's "Levy Slaves", except the produced unit is more powerful, (after all, they're taking volunteer fighters, not enslaving them), and Stealthy (it'd be no better than "Create Unrest" if they immediately attacked. By using "Levy Malcontents," unrest in the province is increased on a level equal to another Scout/Assassin's "Create Unrest" mission. ADDENDUM--if possible from a mod standpoint, it'd be cool if higher Unrest = more levied Malcontents.

-Pythium attempts to "Create Unrest" in a province are 150% more effective than the normal value.

-Pythium armies which are "Sneaking" are only 50% as big as they actually are when it comes to determining whether a provincial defense or patrolling army detects them.

-Pythium armies which are "Sneaking" are 25% harder to detect than average sneaking forces.

COMMENTS:

My vision of IA Pythium is a struggling rebel faction. Ermor has not fallen, if anything, it's reached the height of its power. When Ermor and Pythium are both in a game together, it is assumed that the rebel Pythium faction has just been detected by Ermorian inquisitors, and is thus an identified threat. Pythium keeps Ermor's "cheapo" units--the average grunt at this time is no better and no more loyal than the average mercenary--but loses what makes IA Ermor IA Ermor--the badass heavy infantry.

Instead, Pythium gets weaker, but more versatile, units. March them against most races in man-on-man combat, and you'll lose. Pythium is extremely weak when one plays "chicken" with your opponent's army. IA Pythium is, obviously, a rogueish nation. Use those powerful, if innacurate, (though what ranged unit isn't in the Ice Age?), ranged units for raids and surprise assassinations. Buy up cheap Scouts and Assassins, cause unrestful havoc in the enemy's back yard, then make armies out of 'em if they don't respond fast enough. Fight head-on when you have to, but win through stealth, strategy, and tactics--not sheer force.

[EDIT: Because I spel gud.]

[ January 20, 2004, 01:22: Message edited by: undead dolphin hacker ]