Mercs way overpriced.

[Extraordinarily Mature Slav]

Mercenaries are ridiculously priced. I've seen mercs for 300 gold that only provide 700 troops. These are absolutely awful deals that prevent anyone from affording them, not only affording but even using them. How is 700 troops going beyond playing as a count. These prices are absolutely ridiculous and need to be reworked.

[BrowneHawk]

Not sure if mercs are supposed to be affordable for lowly counts. With the income you have at kingdom and empire status you can afford them. Had a claim war for my throne where I had to spends thousands. Was like 50k vs 50k troops. Still had money left over.

As a count you need to rely on making solid alliances and a good military ruler to bolster forces.

[Kimlin]

I think merc prices depends on the region and the culture. I’ve seen 2000+ mercs go for 500 and for 1500. It’s much more cost effective to build your Maa and keep a stock of hardy knights.

[Alkateia]

I don't think mercs are meant to be accessible to counts or maybe even dukes most of the time, they're a king or emperor's very expensive asset and I think they're meant to be used in moderation to help turn the tide of a war in your favor. At least that's how it should be if you're not a norse ruler who maxed the pillage dynasty legacy and stacked 10k+ in gold by killing as many armies and capturing as many important characters as you can before going feudal (Northern Lords is a balanced flavor pack).
Personally, I only use mercs as a last resort to help me win wars that specifically threaten my primary title.

[wei270]

ok think of this way, if you are a county, your own troops is like 1k, you get 700 dudes that is 70 to 50% increase in your army size for just 300 gold.

[Abaçı]

I'd not call them expensive, for that money you sign a 3 year contract. What's wrong about mercs or rather wars in general is that even declaring war on a small duchy can take several months of your time unless they live literally next to you and you blitz into their force before they can start moving around. Travel times are ridiculously long and so is a single battle taking many days. Making a single "tick" being 1 hours like HoI wouldn't do with CK which takes several hundred years instead of a decade but I think paradox could've divided a single day into 4 parts of 6 hours or at least 2 parts of 12 and adjust travel and battle accordingly.

[corisai]

Originally posted by Abaçı:

Travel times are ridiculously long and so is a single battle taking many days. Making a single "tick" being 1 hours like HoI wouldn't do with CK which takes several hundred years instead of a decade but I think paradox could've divided a single day into 4 parts of 6 hours or at least 2 parts of 12 and adjust travel and battle accordingly.

Do you realize that HOI using cars and trucks to travel, while CK3 is limited to foots & horses that much slower? O_O
Even sea travel was very limited as early medieval ships was dangerous to seal.

[Abaçı]

Originally posted by corisai:

Originally posted by Abaçı:

Travel times are ridiculously long and so is a single battle taking many days. Making a single "tick" being 1 hours like HoI wouldn't do with CK which takes several hundred years instead of a decade but I think paradox could've divided a single day into 4 parts of 6 hours or at least 2 parts of 12 and adjust travel and battle accordingly.

Do you realize that HOI using cars and trucks to travel, while CK3 is limited to foots & horses that much slower? O_O
Even sea travel was very limited as early medieval ships was dangerous to seal.

Do you realize that I may not be talking about means of travel? Even if it was open to misunderstanding by itself, being mentioned along with battles being long should've ringed some bells that this wasn't what I was talking about.

[corisai]

Originally posted by Abaçı:

Do you realize that I may not be talking about means of travel? Even if it was open to misunderstanding by itself, being mentioned along with battles being long should've ringed some bells that this wasn't what I was talking about.

Sigh.

When armies in same province =//= they're near each other. Game model time to locate & catch each other (while weaker side would try to delay battle & find a good area to defend). You know - there was no recon drones, cruise missiles or aircraft at 1243 :)

After battle your army would need some time to threat wounded (remember - there is no hospitals or logistics in medieval times).

Everything is working more or less fine - trying to simulate a bit real life.

[CrUsHeR]

Mercs are cheap.

Let's say you hire a merc company for 800 gold, for a 3 years contract you are paying an effective 22.22g / month.

Now this may sound like a lot of money, since it is about as much as you earn in total after conquering all of Ireland with Murchad in 1066.

But then, please raise your own armies and see what happens with your income.
So for example if you are merely an ally in a war, it is always cheaper to just send some mercs with a good commander. Plus you get to keep your full fighting strength at home.

They also come with a bunch of MAA regiments, and these do profit from any buildings in your domain. So let's say you are focused on Archers and Skirmishers, all the military camps in your domain will buff your mercs of the same type as well.

Only massive downside, there are no mercs with siege weapons. So if you are waging an actual war, there is no way around bringing your own siege MAA to the frontline.

[Abaçı]

Originally posted by corisai:

Originally posted by Abaçı:

Do you realize that I may not be talking about means of travel? Even if it was open to misunderstanding by itself, being mentioned along with battles being long should've ringed some bells that this wasn't what I was talking about.

Sigh.

When armies in same province =//= they're near each other. Game model time to locate & catch each other (while weaker side would try to delay battle & find a good area to defend). You know - there was no recon drones, cruise missiles or aircraft at 1243 :)

After battle your army would need some time to threat wounded (remember - there is no hospitals or logistics in medieval times).

Everything is working more or less fine - trying to simulate a bit real life.

Sigh...

Ok mr know it all, firstly there were no drones or whatever, but there were scouts, outriders etc. and secondly... again not my point. just try for yourself, gather your army on stamford and move them to hastings or try any other combination of routes with known dates or times. Got it? Able to understand now? Or far too above your comprehension?

[Shogun_Potatoe]

Originally posted by CrUsHeR:

Mercs are cheap.

Let's say you hire a merc company for 800 gold, for a 3 years contract you are paying an effective 22.22g / month.

Now this may sound like a lot of money, since it is about as much as you earn in total after conquering all of Ireland with Murchad in 1066.

But then, please raise your own armies and see what happens with your income.
So for example if you are merely an ally in a war, it is always cheaper to just send some mercs with a good commander. Plus you get to keep your full fighting strength at home.

They also come with a bunch of MAA regiments, and these do profit from any buildings in your domain. So let's say you are focused on Archers and Skirmishers, all the military camps in your domain will buff your mercs of the same type as well.

Only massive downside, there are no mercs with siege weapons. So if you are waging an actual war, there is no way around bringing your own siege MAA to the frontline.

I cant beleive it never occurred to me to buy mercs to send to allies instead of my own forces, face plam lmao

[Gorgeous_Joe]

Catholic Mercenaries in CK3 need a rework. You need them at low levels when you can't afford them and you never bother with them at high levels when you have the money.

[Extraordinarily Mature Slav]

Guys, I meant that I am a king, and that I don't have enough money to buy these mercs. Also that 700 troops wouldn't help anyone besides say a count, but for a duke and especially for a king is not worth at all. I guess I will just build MaA instead.

[Extraordinarily Mature Slav]

btw I am a Tribal King in Lithuania which I guess makes sense that mercs would be expensive.

[corisai]

Originally posted by Abaçı:

just try for yourself, gather your army on stamford and move them to hastings or try any other combination of routes with known dates or times. Got it? Able to understand now? Or far too above your comprehension?

Do you take in mind time that your army would need to prepare for this route? Supply and so on - they don't even have a canned food during those times.

I'm sure that scale issues are have place, but IMHO slow pace of game is natural as it's about medieval times - and it's famous for very long wars.

Originally posted by Gorgeous_Joe:

Catholic Mercenaries in CK3 need a rework. You need them at low levels when you can't afford them and you never bother with them at high levels when you have the money.

That would make Pope OP and it's already quite strong with all his money. Don't forget that many players like to play AGAINST catholics ;)