How Does Unit Scale Affect Gameplay?

[KingQewb]

Rome is one of my favourite games, but I've only recently started messing around with unit scale.

Playing on huge unit scale, when phalanxes "decompress" to fight, they will sometimes do so with such force that it will knock enemies into the air like an elephant would. I've noticed other things, like General Cavalry units being somewhat less effective, since they're more likely to be surrounded by lighter infantry, and cannot route them on their own.

I'm interested to know how people feel about the effect of unit scale on the mechanics of battles, and particularly the popular opinion on whether larger unit scales make the game harder, easier, or the same.

[A Disappointed Horse]

Yeah, high unit scale does make precise unit movements more difficult, for fairly obvious reasons. More soliders = clumsier movement and less room to do so

My main problem with it is how it adds to the already overpowered nature of pikemen. If you have a high unit scale, and lots of units, then you can drag them out into a colossal pike-wall that is so large that it is impossible to flank. Forcing enemies to run straight into you.

Really, it depends on the faction and who you're fighting on how it affects you.

[A Disappointed Horse]

Although huge unit scale on Alexander is hilarious. Do a custom battle, fill your army with 'Alexander' units (which are like 250 cavalry per unit on huge) and reanact the battle of Pellenor Fields. XD

[HazardHawk]

I think you can set unit limit to 260 or 280 in the preferences.txt in preferences folder.

The Effect is it takes more population to recruit which keeps your population from growing too fast and being unhappy before you have time to build appropriate buildings.