scouts in early age

[Gandalf Parker]

Ive never been big on that. Why would scouts be less available in early age? It seems to me that a scout is about the simplest unit for a province to be able to provide. Knights, longbowman, chariots, and maybe elephants I could see as a later developments. But scouts?

As far as using them...
As in every absolute answer in this game it could be followed by a tiny print disclaimer at the bottom "NOTE: Tested in (solo or mp) with xxxxx mods, on a ##/player prov ratio, and only if not starting next to xxxxxxxx nation"

But having said that, Ive never been big on the "dont get scouts" thing. The efficiency of use has been laid out in unarguable spreadsheeted displays. I cant argue the math. But PLAYING the game for fun, for me, tends to want scout reports. What I do is try to make a mage, or a commander if I need one. But if I am building up an army to go out then sometimes and I put everything into units with just enough left over to get a scout then I will get one. I never want to waste that. A scout might be my last choice (in some cases), but its never a non-choice.

I might mention that the lack of scounts in early age is one of the reasons I love playing Pangaea or Arcos in that age.