Full plate harnesses don't exist in the rough 600s-1100s period that Bannerlord is set in so there's no real need for half swording. It wouldn't be impractical, and I wouldn't really care if they added it, seeing as there are two handed swords in game already.
Fist weapons, along with 'brawler' characters would just look stupid in the battlefield. You might kick or punch on occasion, but no one is going to run around the battlefield with metal fists. That's complete nonsense. If they add them, then it should be for use in towns and cities as concealable weapons.
I guess we could use with new crossbows. Not sure about how many new bows could be added though. At some point, a bow is just a bow and if there is no meaningful difference then what's the point?
Along that train of thought, no to 3x quivers. They wouldn't really excel in sieges anyway, at least not as defenders. Archers on walls refill their arrows.
Lmao at flipping the axe to the blunt side. The axe head won't necessarily cut through metal, but the sheer blunt weight of it is quite substantial. There's no reason to flip it, just wack them with the axe.
No skirmishers for Vlandia. I don't even like that their Voulgiers have throwing axes. Vlandia is meant to represent a feudal medieval army with strong shock cavalry and levies trained in the use of spear or crossbow. They aren't mercenaries or whatever anymore, they've become a legitimate kingdom. And I think the inability to field good skirmish cavalry or actual skirmisher infantry is a sensible enough weakness to have anyway. Mounted crossbows wouldn't really work very well, considering crossbows can't be reloaded on horseback. At best, a dragoon style mounted infantry could be fun.
Sturgia has the worst archers of any faction lol, not that I mind. All factions should have a weakness, although I think Sturgian archers should at least get a shield to fulfil a distinct niche. Tanky archers already belong to the Empire. Sturgia's cavalry is already their best bet against the Khuzaits, its just that they don't bring enough of it. And they already have light cavalry in the form of that Horse Raider you mentioned.
The Empire already has a strong army with very very few weaknesses. Diverse range of troops and the heaviest armour in general. Legionaries set on hold fire already function as a pretty good anti cavalry unit. In fact their shorter spears are better for avoiding collision issues. The Elite Menavliatons are your pikeman unit- only they don't suck at being anti cavalry at all. No to slingers, I'd rather see that on Battania if anything. Their Bucellarii are the ****test horse archer indeed. They don't even have the signature Imperial heavy armour to compensate. Give them heavier armour.
Are you aware that the Celtic Welsh made use of longbows? In fact, they pretty much introduced longbows to the English. Also lol at Battania having the best foot infantry, for a troop tree that makes such heavy use of them they are... meh. Widllings and Oathsworn have the same weapons. Oathsworn in particular have some goofed up athletics/riding, and don't quite cut it as strong line infantry, although apparently they can dismount cavalry now so maybe they're better. I think your idea of a super heavy infantry is completely goofy and out of character for Battania. What they really need is a common archer. Ideally naked, covered in woad paint and packing falxes to serve as a glass cannon.
The Aserai are underrated and don't get enough respect. I would probably give them new troops anyway, because why not.
Overall, I wouldn't mind expanded troop trees in general. Just not in the way you've made them.
Very valid points.
Lets start with weapons. For the Cestus, I don't disagree that it would be... impractical. It'd be fun as hell to run around punching people death, but mostly impractical. More likely than not having to adjust other settings just to get it practical, though I still like the idea of bandits having a chance to spawn with them.
For the bladed weapons, I still think it would make sense, as good scale and plated armour can still be as effective, if not better than crappy made full plate (there's still a huge difference between the two, but, still) so wanting to smash all the armour inwards into the human body is not at all impractical, especially if it's a high end weapon, which would make you want to maintain it.
For the two handed axe, while true the weight would probably do the job, You still wouldn't want to damage the bladed head, if possible.
Now maintenance is not in the game, and I press X to doubt it'll ever be, but adding the function could add a little more life to your troops AI.
For troops, a Mounted Crossbow is not unreal if in the elite tree as their skill would be high enough for the perk to reload on horseback, though the dragoon style Mounted Infantry would fit them way better, and sounds dope to boot.
Sturgian Archers, while not the best have better sustain than Imperial Archers, so they aren't the worst. At the very least they can do their job, though a buff may do well.
For the Empire, I'm not saying their current tree in not diverse, I'm mostly saying for an empire, they have less variety then one should expect.
For Battania, while the names or different for the Infantries weapons, they are mostly the same, I won't deny that.
And no, I didn't actually know that the English got their bows from the Celtic, thank you for that.
I think, however, if you were to add a basically glass cannon archer for them, it could go either great or bad. their current archers are basically artillery right now, so adding a common like of that would either make them op or ****. Hard to say without an example, though I do like the idea.
And you are correct, the Aserai are underrated.
Most of the current problems stem from battle AI currently just not being as good as it should, making stupid decisions more than not.