Berzerker Jay
Ultimately I feel like something's been taken away from the game by limiting the composition of NPC parties to keep down their cavalry units. I like the idea of having lords that prefer and strategize around cavalry -- my own family history stems from a clan that specialized in cavalry famous for sacking Hastings. Especially in a game that's focused around mounted combat, I like the diversity and feel it brings a lot to the game. I digress.
Another alternative solution that doesn't seem to be considered much is the Khuzait faction bonus -- the campaign map speed increase. It really doesn't feel that necessary for a faction that has far more opportunity to take advantage of the mounted troops speed bonus, and that greater opportunity to access that speed bonus is why the additional speed bonus ends up overpowered. I think the game would benefit from looking at other options for a Khuzait faction bonus -- one I thought of might be to reflect the whole 'mongol horde' theme, and give Khuzait increased party size. Because more of their troops are mounted, and they acquire mounted troops at lower-tier than other factions, they should generally always have a higher mounted troops speed bonus. The larger parties, instead, would be fairly intimidating, but also limit the catch-everything and evade-everything advantage Khuzait has enjoyed to this point.
Anyway, just my thought on the changes -- I'd like to even see a Khuzait lord who goes 100% cavalry, and maybe keeps his troop numbers down in order to afford the wages. I want to fight that cavalry!
Another alternative solution that doesn't seem to be considered much is the Khuzait faction bonus -- the campaign map speed increase. It really doesn't feel that necessary for a faction that has far more opportunity to take advantage of the mounted troops speed bonus, and that greater opportunity to access that speed bonus is why the additional speed bonus ends up overpowered. I think the game would benefit from looking at other options for a Khuzait faction bonus -- one I thought of might be to reflect the whole 'mongol horde' theme, and give Khuzait increased party size. Because more of their troops are mounted, and they acquire mounted troops at lower-tier than other factions, they should generally always have a higher mounted troops speed bonus. The larger parties, instead, would be fairly intimidating, but also limit the catch-everything and evade-everything advantage Khuzait has enjoyed to this point.
Anyway, just my thought on the changes -- I'd like to even see a Khuzait lord who goes 100% cavalry, and maybe keeps his troop numbers down in order to afford the wages. I want to fight that cavalry!