Unit Size Upgrades?

from Elemental Forums


I know this topic has been done to death on the forum, but I couldn't find any actual response either up/down. Appreciate any feedback.

Probably the only real frustration I've had with FE (man, I love this game) is the inability to increase unit size as you unlock the higher techs.

Some early units, such as your first warg/horse cavalry can last to mid-game easily – running around getting exp and getting armor and weapon upgrades. But they’re still party (3) or group (4) size at best – at least mine usually are. However they are likely lvl 12 with massive hp. Starting over with squad (5) newbies, especially as they are like lvl 3-4 depending on your fortress upgrades, seems, erm, wasteful of potentially really good units. Mid game is also harder to lvl the newbies. Not to mention that for me there’s a kind of psychological “investment” in a unit that has helped keep my sov or favorite champ out of trouble since the early game. I don’t mind if they die gloriously in battle – that’s what they’re for. However, being ignominiously deleted just ‘cause they’re only 3-unit-sized is frustrating. Being able to upgrade unit size, even at a penalty of some sort, would seem to be a logical extension of the armor/weapon upgrades.

Could someone please advise whether a final determination on this issue has been made by Stardock or if it is still “in limbo” awaiting a further expansion (or alternatively “ain’t agonna happen” so suck it up). Thanks!

11,061 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

There's no limbo. I've said it time and again, people just don't want to accept it.

It's precisely because those units are usually level 12+ with massive HP that they don't want you to be able to upgrade them... as that would just make those units all the more invincible afterwards. If you want better units, you have to train them from scratch and gain those exp again. This is part of the balancing needed to make sure you don't just mow over everything in your path, because the AI doesn't have the same ability to keep their units alive as long and trained to level 12+, as a result, they'll never be able to fight on equal terms with your monster lv12+ units. That's why the group size mechanic exists, it allows them to field a bigger group of less experienced units so that they can put up a fight. It's not meant for you to upgrade your default units to godly status.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Kalin, reply 1
There's no limbo. I've said it time and again, people just don't want to accept it.

It's precisely because those units are usually level 12+ with massive HP that they don't want you to be able to upgrade them... as that would just make those units all the more invincible afterwards. If you want better units, you have to train them from scratch and gain those exp again. This is part of the balancing needed to make sure you don't just mow over everything in your path, because the AI doesn't have the same ability to keep their units alive as long and trained to level 12+, as a result, they'll never be able to fight on equal terms with your monster lv12+ units. That's why the group size mechanic exists, it allows them to field a bigger group of less experienced units so that they can put up a fight. It's not meant for you to upgrade your default units to godly status.

 

Well put, Sir. I couldn't have said it better myself. 

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top


@ Kalin: Certainly makes sense when you put it that way. Sooo, I'll just put that idea in the "suck it up" category and go on to kill stuff with my noobs :)

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

I think there should be unit size upgrades. 

-That way, there is no incentive to wait to build armies due to the late-game research techs that increase group size.

-It should reduce xp and levels accordingly, to reflect new troops.

-It should cost a lot, in gildar, and materials alike.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Kalin, reply 1
There's no limbo. I've said it time and again, people just don't want to accept it.

It's precisely because those units are usually level 12+ with massive HP that they don't want you to be able to upgrade them... as that would just make those units all the more invincible afterwards. If you want better units, you have to train them from scratch and gain those exp again. This is part of the balancing needed to make sure you don't just mow over everything in your path, because the AI doesn't have the same ability to keep their units alive as long and trained to level 12+, as a result, they'll never be able to fight on equal terms with your monster lv12+ units. That's why the group size mechanic exists, it allows them to field a bigger group of less experienced units so that they can put up a fight. It's not meant for you to upgrade your default units to godly status.

They could up the unit size but take a level penalty hit similar to Total Wars reinforcing a hurt unit.  So basically you avrage out the level of the two groups your combining.  So the higher level group would take a level hit but would not go down to the level of the lowest unit.