unfortunately, whenever there are more than one individuals in a category with different stats, there will be a "best" every single time
are you basically saying you want all units of the same type to have the exact same skills/gear level and the only difference being visual/cosmetic??
there will always be meta strategies developed based on whatever balanced they make to the game, and it will be the most efficient set up. that's how people and games work. the only way against that is to make everything the same. and faction = reskin
Well yeah, let there be that one best unit, if only because they are somehow rarer/more expensive to attain.
But beyond that, let units actually have their own roles to play, even if it doesn't necessarily make them the 'best' at their role. Something like Empire Archers having somewhat average bows, but make up for it by being really well armoured. Or Sturgian Archers running one less quiver, mainly because they have shields that turn them into effective frontline infantry. Fians can still remain the best in the role, but suffer from being relatively rare and expensive. That sort of thing.
That way, you can actually have a variety of units around, of which none will feel completely useless. So no, don't everyone being the same. But alas, the tactical layer of the game is really simple atm, so its harder to make this sort of thing really 'work'.
Oh I agree there's probably tweaking to be done. For example, I'm guessing Pikemen will get a longer pike, and Sergeants may end up with a smaller unbraceable polearm to more clearly define their roles. But some of the game mechanics that these units operate under aren't fully resolved yet either so with time (e.g. bracing)...
Pikemen suck ass because they wear ugly, weakass helmets. They also cannot compete with the likes of an Oathsworn, who is basically superior in every single way. Better armour, a shield, braceable polearms with anti cav hooks and javelins.
Why would you ever want a pikeman? Seriously, there's a lot to be done for the units, and I don't know if the devs will care to address it well enough.
Catafrack: Best at getting shot more before dyinng when you want a guy to get in the way (infantry too slow) he's your guy.
Bannerknight: best at closing in and.... well if you have enough somebody's getting a poke..... they are good at closing the distance.
Drunkoozy:...... the other non-noble one with javelins is better.... **** this guy, dismount him or something. WTF TW lol
Aserai Feris builer: When you want to kill a few somethings and then lose a t6 unit.... they're the fastest... they get some cheap shots... but they don't last... so they're bad.... dying is bad...
Khan's guard: Do you just want to kill em? Kill em at range, kill em up close, kill em in a siege, doesn't matter they kill everything and are just better. Did a different dev program these? They can HIT THINGS from horse back, Everything else is just garbage flopping around like a bag of ****s by comparison. This is how other t6 units should be, TW, no nerfs just make other units not suck, make them THIS GOOD.
Fians: Do you want to kill every one but you got no warhorses or are on the wrong side of the world? It's okay bro we fians have go you covered.
We don't move so fast and wont make you go so fast but we still everything for you.
This basically. Khan's Guard and nothing else is really needed.
I think its going to be a tall order to make every noble into a heavily armoured horse shock archer cavalry... unless you mean make them all as good at killing.
What I really hate that its not that hard to do. Something like:
Cataphract: Almost unkillable, too thick to stop.
Banner Knight: Just give us back Swadian Knights. Seriously.
Druzhinnik Champ: Give them glaives/two handed axes and make them the best cavalry 'brawler'
Vanguard Faris: Give back the seeker missle jereeds
Khan's Guard: Maybe knock down their polearm skills? Or even give them a sword instead of two quivers, so that they don't completely overshadow everything?
Fian Champ: This is about right I think.