I would make much more sense if troops were issued with reasonably good equipment from the start, and then improved mainly in their skills, leading to higher pay.
This is especially true for the "recruits", which are ridiculously under-equipped at present. At the very least, they should have the same shield and weapons as they will later in the upgrade tree. But from the moment they branch out into different types - infantry, archers or cavalry - then they should get basically the same gear - perhaps with minor additions - at all tiers.
On a side note, top-tier infantry should not be as heavily armoured as it is now - historically, there were not many infantry troops armoured like heavy knights, mainly because infantry has to march with all that **** and becomes exhausted, whereas knights get to ride their horses instead. For example, I'd let legionnary armour be the top Empire infantry armour (for Legionary and Menavlion alike).
This is especially true for the "recruits", which are ridiculously under-equipped at present. At the very least, they should have the same shield and weapons as they will later in the upgrade tree. But from the moment they branch out into different types - infantry, archers or cavalry - then they should get basically the same gear - perhaps with minor additions - at all tiers.
On a side note, top-tier infantry should not be as heavily armoured as it is now - historically, there were not many infantry troops armoured like heavy knights, mainly because infantry has to march with all that **** and becomes exhausted, whereas knights get to ride their horses instead. For example, I'd let legionnary armour be the top Empire infantry armour (for Legionary and Menavlion alike).