native villages should not be able to train converted natives

[CaptainVW]

And, going back to the original point of the original post, the dude comes from the HOMETOWN of Seasoned Scouts, so he probably knows a thing or two about scouting seasonally, right?

I mean, he knows a lot less when he's 16 years old, fresh out of the tribe, when he initially wanted to join the "God-fearing Europeans" across the valley. But he was convinced to study with his elders for a year or two, and he came out a Specialist, able to help his European colonist friends on an equal basis...

 

[AmazonQueen]

In the original Col the native converts became ordinary colonists at a certain point (I think you had to get a particular FF). I've no problem with 'Indians' being trainable or there being an emancipation goal you can aim for but training them just so you can despecialise them seems an exploit to me.

 

[tour86rocker]

Within the time period of the game they weren't treated as equal by any of the colonies. It isn't racist to want to accurately reflect history.

Well, different empires treated natives differently, and we are being given choices as players. My understanding is that the French tended to assimilate and cooperate more, while we all know that the Spanish razed and pillaged and enslaved. (side note: Perhaps disease should be worked into the game as a random event. I thought it was a clever touch that Indian chiefs periodically cough. Sort of dark humor! I def groaned the first time I noticed it.)

The game gives us the option to treat natives in a civilized manner or to hold them down. If the individual player wants to play an historically accurate game, he or she can refuse to train natives. That option is there.

In a way, the game recognizes that every human is of equal worth. It does this by allowing any colonists unit to eventually reach the highest levels, with education.

The game also allows the player to use native units as outdoor laborers and profit from exploiting them in that way (although they never do die from overwork, which might be another good random event...I basically think there should be random events, the end). The choice is up to the player how he or she will utilize converted natives and it seems like a balanced approach to me.

I see that the Free Colonist's avatar is white-skinned, but it doesn't have to be considered relevant. The way I see it, the Free Colonist unit signifies the status that the player enables a unit to achieve in your society, rather than skin color.

 

[Blackmantle]

Why whould someone wan't to clear a speciality of a convert turned specialist? Just arm them allright without clearing the speciality.

There is no free colonist ---> Veteran Soldier anymore from fighting (and veterans are not all so much extremely better anymore. They just gain faster XP).
Only a slight improvement from colonist to seasoned scout is possible at all. Thats hardly big enough imo to train a convert first then clear. (especially because the indians do train scouts.)

This is not Col 1. Not all mechanics are carried over. In case of military i find this quite a good change.