[Septimius Severus]

Originally Posted by ano

I agree that mercs concept is fine and promising, just want to make it more effective. I know that Septimius worries the most about thematic aspects while I mainly worry about balance and gameplay issues. And from this perspective I think that current merc concept needs a bit more love to be effective.
To increase overall effectiveness and strength -> population and resources may be added.
To increase services effectiveness -> wide spectre of gems (namely income of 1 gem of each type) could be given

That may not be enough, just current thoughts.

Also, while merc cap is untouchable, people may eventually just capture everything instead of that cap. Merc position is no better than position of AI because concentrated attack from any of the human teams will just slay them in a few turns while, I believe, we want them to stay in the game as long as possible.

Good insight into the Merc Ano. You've been doing your homework I see.

They will have a pop bonus. That much I had decided at the onset. Because I can't fit any more sites into their cap (that would give the resources they might require (the ones that are there are dearly needed), and because their cap unlike R'leyhs can draw resources from the water provinces surrounding their cap, the resource bonus was generally ruled out. The only magic site that gives a high number of gems in a good number of paths, that I can think of is the Throne of the World, which didn't fit in with the magic location allignment. I'll do a bit more checking though.

Your are correct, the merc was not intended to hang around the whole game. They will be strong initially, but will lose strength eventually and their cap is worth a vp which is intended to be up for grabs. I'm giving them sufficient initial strength and special "top secret bonuses" Shhh, to keep them alive for some time and make sure the AI doesn't finish em. At the same time not making them undefeatable.

The cap penalty is intended to act as a deterent until their are at least two teams left. At which point the threat of allying against your team becomes a moot issue. They should outlast the AI, and their cap will be around at least till their are two teams left. If ya want em alive longer, if you find they are useful, simple solution, don't kill em off. That may be the best deterent of all.