1) Castles should have much higher granary capacity, so that looted villages don't make your garrison vanish. (think 5x approx. of what is now, maybe more, maybe 10x. And consumption only really drains heavier when the castle is sieged, i.e. when it has to use its food stores, instead of subsisting).
Additionally, since castles can have a larger storage, people will be less scared of garrisoning troops in castles.
2) make garrisoning troops in CITIES have NEGATIVE consequences, and a much higher food drain. This will discourage storing troops, and effectively make cities less 'military' oriented (since they will be much less beneficial to act as military centres)....
3) make NOT garrisoning troops in CASTLES have NEGATIVE consequences (increased banditry etc.)
4) people should be able to keep max 50 troops in a city before there are negative consequences. Make those the troops that you have to kill in the keep battle.
5) make cities capturable, and keeps very hard to capture - i.e. you could take over a city in a day, but need 1-2 weeks more to starve out the keep defenders before you can have order etc. and an army / party needs to effectively stay garrisoned for a week or 2 after the conquest. Or you need another day or 2 to build ladders before attacking the keep. something that doesn't make the AI or you go crazy when a city is lost, then fully regarrisoned in an instant.
6) obviously, make cities terrible for recruiting, and castles great for recruiting.
7) obviously give notables a different role than for recruitment (what a stupid mechanic RE: cities)
Additionally, since castles can have a larger storage, people will be less scared of garrisoning troops in castles.
2) make garrisoning troops in CITIES have NEGATIVE consequences, and a much higher food drain. This will discourage storing troops, and effectively make cities less 'military' oriented (since they will be much less beneficial to act as military centres)....
3) make NOT garrisoning troops in CASTLES have NEGATIVE consequences (increased banditry etc.)
4) people should be able to keep max 50 troops in a city before there are negative consequences. Make those the troops that you have to kill in the keep battle.
5) make cities capturable, and keeps very hard to capture - i.e. you could take over a city in a day, but need 1-2 weeks more to starve out the keep defenders before you can have order etc. and an army / party needs to effectively stay garrisoned for a week or 2 after the conquest. Or you need another day or 2 to build ladders before attacking the keep. something that doesn't make the AI or you go crazy when a city is lost, then fully regarrisoned in an instant.
6) obviously, make cities terrible for recruiting, and castles great for recruiting.
7) obviously give notables a different role than for recruitment (what a stupid mechanic RE: cities)