Hey, any of you guys like that neutral site in the game, the Training Field? Adds some flavour to the campaign map. Well I hope you do, because it’s the only neutral site in the goddamn game. This seems like a huge missed opportunity, even Sid Meier’s Pirates! had neutral sites like Jesuit Missionary Posts and Pirate Havens. Added a lot of flavour to the map. Do we need more? Here’s some examples I came up with-
Fortified River Crossing
Tolls for river crossings were once important sources of Imperial revenue. Since the fall of the Empire, they fell into the hands of whoever could hold them; loyalists, separatists or outlaws. Pay the toll, go around or take the Gatehouse for yourself.
Function-
Can garrison 25 troops in Gatehouse. Passing parties must pay toll to pass. Hostile parties must fight bridge battle to take it (an actual bridge battle, not the B.S ones we currently have). Gatehouse provides no protection.
Apothecary’s Hut
The skill of the Healer is a respected one in Calradia, yet the Civil War called many Medicus and chirurgeons to the front to serve the Emperor, many never returning. These days, country herbalists are the best most can afford.
Function-
Pay to have main character (Small amount of gold), Companions and main (Medium amount of gold), whole party (large amount of gold scaling with size) given healing bonus while waiting at hut.
Ruined Fort
One of the many Legionary bases around Calradia wrecked by vengeful coalition armies following the Battle of Pendraic. These once formidable Castrum used to (depending on your view) secure a territory or oppress a suspect populace, now fallen into ruin.
Function-
Parties may wait here for protection, battlemap provides some defender advantages.
Monastery
When the Calradic Empire fell, the Legions that protected the Holy Sites became a rarer site and could no longer divert protection to these centres of learning and piety. Bandits, invading armies and Iconoclasts alike now threaten the hallowed grounds within.
Function-
Provides XP for intelligence-based skills by waiting here (Daily gold charge).
Sells Books (Are they planned to even be in this game? Let’s pretend they are).
Missions-
Recover relic (recover a sacred relic from a bandit army or hideout).
Protect from bandits (Defend the Monastery from an attacking force).
Escort pilgrims back to their home village.
Or something. These are just for illustrative purposes, stuff like the fortified river crossings would be very tricky to implement for the AI I’d imagine. Thoughts, suggestions, opinions?