So I have digged a little bit and here are the changes that, I think, have lead to the current situation.
The combination of the above 3 changes may result in some unexpected high availability of elite troops (depending on how quick headmen get 200+ power).
- 200+ power headman notables provide elite troops.
- Notables at villages which are bounded by a castle now gain more power each day compared to others.
- Notables provide elite troops instantly
Svelok is correct.Elites don't depend on notable power anymore- they used to. But in more recent versions it's purely based on being a notable in a village which is attached to a castle.
Notables giving these troops will increase in 1.5.10 (2 next patch). All rural notables at villages bounded by castle will give these noble troops. Currently only rural notables and headman with 200+ power are giving them but this will change. Currently about 20% of village notables are giving noble troops this will be around 33% with new rule.
Also these notables can give noble troops from even first slots. Currently there are mostly tier-1 common recruits at first slots. This is not guarenteed but will be evaluated.
I will suggest adding 1 notable to castles for giving noble troops but it has less chance to be accepted. Anyway even this is not accepted these rare troops will be more common.
I'm wondering if the "Party Template" (leading to more specialization/variation per lords) was really implemented with 1.8.0.
There is a "Party Template" xml file but that's still the same than before, really basic one.
On the other side, AI prioritizing cavalry type troops was confirmed a while ago.
Patch 1.5.7 : LINK
And I don't believe party templates have actually been enabled yet, although the code for it exists in 1.8, as "preferred formations" (eg skirmisher, infantry, horse archers). But it depends on lords having that formation flagged in their XML, which hasn't happened yet.
So they don't say party templates here, just preferred troops types when upgrading. Comparing party compositions from 1.7.0 to 1.8.0 there seems to be parties focusing on a specific troop type now.Clan and Party
- Hero party leaders now have preferred troop types when upgrading.
1.7.0 - You'll notice there is typically a relatively even number of woodsmen and warriors. Also there aren't any parties with like 40+ of a single troop type.
1.8.0 - pretty clear specializations going on
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