I doubt anyone will agree with what I've to say but I still think the Recruit could be looked at again. I'm hoping that the Javelin changes will make him less insufferable to play as, though I anticipate that Spatha/Specialist will remain to be the only perk selection worth using. IMO, I think he needs the following:
Strong Arm replaced with Farmer
- Javelin (3) is not subject to any replacement
- Grants a One-handed Pitchfork. Has 180 reach and can be used one-handed, but it's slower than other spears of a similar reach, and its base damage sits at the low 20s
- Used for non-captain modes. The Pila is still available in Captain
Considering how terrible the Pila is at stabbing horses, I've only ever seen it used as an admittedly unreliable source of one-hit kill damage, and throwing it will leave you naked. IMO, the Recruit should still have the worst anti-cav options out of all other peasant units since he also has a quiver of javelins for fighting infantry or dismounted horsemen, but I think it should actually be serviceable for that job. And based on my past experience with BL MP, 180 seems to be the absolute bare minimum required for a one-handed spear to competently stab cavalry (Yeah, I know the Strugian Warrior's spear could also use improvement, but that's for another conversation)
Shield Wall replaced with ?????
Unsure how the Shield perk could be revisited, but if i'm being realistic, a recruit will rarely ever live long enough to see his shield take more than 80 damage. Perhaps an axe perk would make more sense, and things could be handwaved as the conscript having been a lumberjack during his life before conscription. IIRC, "bonus damage to shields" as a perk bonus also applies to both melee and ranged attacks, which could allow an archer/recruit 2v1 to better fight around an enemy's shield. Perhaps the Woodsplitter Axe currently on the Sturgian Brigand could work as a perk axe?
Footwork replaced with Survivalist
Accuracy bonus while moving reduced from 80% to 45%
Grants +5 Armor
You know what i said about the 130 HP shield being useless? This perk makes the stronger shield seem useful in comparison, especially since you're still stuck with 10 armor and the second worst melee weapon in the game. You'll still have the second worst weapon melee weapon in the game, though you'll at least have as much armor as other factions' peasants. The extra armor should at least make the Rapid Throws perk worth using, since you might actually live long enough to make use of the larger quiver's higher total damage. I think the +5 armor could be handwaved as not being actual armor, but rather an increased will to live, similarly to how a Sturgian Berserker's resistance to pain gives acts as an increase in armor rating.