Bribing enemy units/balance

[Xietor]

One way that could be used to balance a few races that are considered underpowered, may be to allow their spy units the option of bribing enemy units or a commander.

In the MA, one nation that would certainly fit is T'ien Ch'i.
Obviously a failed bribe would turn into an assassination attempt, and high morale units/commanders would have a great chance of resisting.

But it would make a unique twist if you were about to attack a square of Tien chi, and you ended up not having a commander and 7 of the 30 crossbowmen he was leading.

I guess there would have to be a combat in that square with the troops you bribed. Even if they were slaughtered, you weakened the attacker and he wasted a turn fighting his own troops.

Or maybe the bribed troops would "escape" to the nearest friendly square if one was next to it, and they would join the pd if the enemy attacked that province.

[Shovah32]

Sounds basically like seduction that costs gold. Would that roughly sum it up?

[Arralen]

But it targets a commander and (one of ?) his squad(s) at once, if I understood correctly?

And what does " I guess there would have to be a combat in that square with the troops you bribed .. and he wasted a turn fighting his own troops" mean?
"Squares" are only there in battles - should those bribed troops only switch sides in a battle?

Or does he mean "provinces" when he says "squares"?

Even then - why should there be any turn "wasted" because of fighting own troops?

[Jazzepi]

I would think it would be simpler to have the commander be marked as a "traitor" in the database as a special hidden sort of trait (much like ambidexterity) and then the next time that commander attacks a province controlled by the bribing nation they switch sides. Maybe even some of the troops under their command have to make a morale check or switch with him.

Jazzepi

[Xietor]

Yeah, it would be a simiar to seduction except:

1. it would cost gold:

2. it would target the commander AND his men.

3. There would be 2 possibles outcomes of a successful bribe

a. The bribed commander and whatever troops also took the loot, would have a combat in the same province they were bribed in or

b. if a connecting province was owned by the briber, they could "escape" to that now friendly province before the combat phase begins.

An interesting twist would be to have 3 bribe options:

1. cheap skate option, you pay under market price(and market price would consider the units exp stars), where your chances would be poor, ie you may get 4 crossbowmen out of 30 and the commander is insulted by your offer and attacks

2. a reasonable bribe, this has a decent chance to get the average commander and some of his men:

3. An offer only a fool would refuse: this would cost you a mint, but your chances of getting the commander and almost all of his 30 crossbows is very good.

There would be exceptions, prophets would be burning with religious fervor, and incapable of deserting for something as mundane as money.