I think creating your own troops could really increase the flavor of the game. And I don't mean only for the player, but for the AI as well. Random new clans could emerge and they would choose the equipment for their own troops, either at random, or with certain goals/patterns in mind. And based on culture, both the AI and the player would get recruits from the villages of the said culture and transform them into their own unique troops. This way we would have new clans emerge (tier 1, 2) which would grind their way up just like the player is doing, which would be really cool. And if you really don't like a clan (for example I don't like the ones that are very strong/have lots of cavalry), then if you manage to execute every member that would completely destroy that clan, and eventually it will be replace by another. More clans will emerge and the world will be shaped to a desirable/fun/immersive world for the player. The playthroughs between players will vary more and it allows you to shape your world a little bit more. It can be balanced in ways that stronger equipment would make the upgrade cost of troops and wages higher, and cavalry troops will cost even higher and they could also consume more food, a lot can be done anyhow. That way the clans that choose high armor/strong weapons will have less troops (and faster movement speed I suppose), while those who go for low quality will have more troops (and slower party speed), each with their respective weaknesses. And If a clan gets strong enough (maybe tier 3+) they can even besiege and take settlements from the main factions (clans that remain neutral), or even join the faction of their preference, just like the player can. I think it would bring a lot more life to the game, it can get really in-depth/complex and I would love to see such directions being taken. What do you guys think?