Sidewise promotions/upgrades

[CaptainPatch]

So, each civ has a Unique Unit. Many/most/all of these are replacements for regular units. Theoretically, all UUs are better than the regular units they replaced.

So, as an example, there are several UUs that are replacements for the Knight, which is the upgrade of the Chariot. Given that they have the origin from Chariot in common, might it not be feasible to take a Knight given to you by a Militaristic City State and convert it to your civ's UU (assuming that your UU is a replacement for the Knight)? If it were possible, the cost wouldn't be as much as Upgrading from Chariot to Knight/UU; maybe half that cost.

It seems to me that it should be doable, given that the bulk of their training is similar. And of course, the conversion would be limited to YOUR UU only.

 

[householder]

I am currently playing as Alexander, and have been gifted a horseman. I was thinking, "It would be really nice if I could upgrade it to Companion Cavalry."

But, after a bit of reflection, I had second thoughts. Troops recruited from allies are unlikely to be elite units, fighting for their homeland, but would have a lower morale, different language, different organization and different training. Overcoming all of that to make them elite would be time consuming, difficult and perhaps undesirable. Troops from allies wouldn't be considered as loyal, and might be distrusted. There is a long history of European powers giving their colonial recruits lesser equipment, to ensure that their best weapons were not turned on them. And the US has typically given its allies in Iraq and Afghanistan lesser equipment as well, probably for the same reason. Plus, the difficulties in training Iraqi and Afghan soldiers in US tactics have been well reported.

 

[Arachnofiend]

This is a place where gameplay trumps realism, I think. It's generally just annoying to get a generic unit when you have your own UU that replaces it; not much to do with it other than delete it. At the very least I'd like it if, say, you're playing Arabia and you have Camel Archers unlocked, instead of CS's giving you worthless knights they just provided you with pikes (or xbows if available). Obviously the exception would be when that CS is offering another UU of the same class.

 

[Callonia]

I am currently playing as Alexander, and have been gifted a horseman. I was thinking, "It would be really nice if I could upgrade it to Companion Cavalry."

But, after a bit of reflection, I had second thoughts. Troops recruited from allies are unlikely to be elite units, fighting for their homeland, but would have a lower morale, different language, different organization and different training. Overcoming all of that to make them elite would be time consuming, difficult and perhaps undesirable. Troops from allies wouldn't be considered as loyal, and might be distrusted. There is a long history of European powers giving their colonial recruits lesser equipment, to ensure that their best weapons were not turned on them. And the US has typically given its allies in Iraq and Afghanistan lesser equipment as well, probably for the same reason. Plus, the difficulties in training Iraqi and Afghan soldiers in US tactics have been well reported.

Eh? I would like to read up on about difficulties on training the iraqi/afghan soldiers in US tactics please I'm curious!

 

[CaptainPatch]

Troops recruited from allies are unlikely to be elite units, fighting for their homeland, but would have a lower morale, different language, different organization and different training.

What about the Janissaries?

That example aside, I think that the elite argument would only apply is a civ had both Knights AND their UU. It doesn't follow that ALL of a given type would be elite.

 

[householder]

Eh? I would like to read up on about difficulties on training the iraqi/afghan soldiers in US tactics please I'm curious!

I don't have any in-depth knowledge. But there have been multiple news stories during the past ten years.

 

[householder]

What about the Janissaries?

Good point.

That example aside, I think that the elite argument would only apply is a civ had both Knights AND their UU. It doesn't follow that ALL of a given type would be elite.

I guess I think of UU as elite units, but perhaps that is wrong.

 

[Callonia]

I don't have any in-depth knowledge. But there have been multiple news stories during the past ten years.

Who would've thunk that not watching tv much for last ten years would backfire on me like this xD Thank you anyways