If the range of archers was not so fixed it could get more interesting. Currently all "top archers" seem to have about the same max range and it does not change during the progression of the game. It would be nice to see a tech tree where if you devote enough resource into it (or capture technology) you could end up with a significant range advantage or disadvantage. You'd stay clear of enemies where you are outranged, and prey on those where you hold that advantage. This could apply to wall breakers too.
The other option should be to starve the enemy into submission. There seems to be a possibilty here. When you begin the seige, it tells you how many days of food they have stored. Yet I fail to see how you can camp there for month and not be attacked elsewhere. Perhaps when I get further into WB (w/ dimplomacy) I'll find the ability to instruct a subordinate lord to do this, but I am yet to see it. You'd think with a town surrounded by a larger enemy and facing starvation that a simple white flag could end the seige and none of your soldiers would have to die.
Yet another twist would be townsfolk participation, like when you help villagers defend an attack. Perhaps you could prepare the town for years in advance with propoganda, and when the seige finally comes some or possibly almost all of the residents may join your cause. On a similar note, perhaps you slaughter all of the residents in town A, thereby causing town B to be more likely to submit without a fight out of terror.
And yet another idea would be to make the siege map a little bigger and have many smaller fortifications, other than just the main castle.
A more complete food model could mean there are crops growing in the surrounds of the castle/town and one option would simply be to just burn all of the crops and leave, blockade all incoming caravans, etc and watch hunger take it's toll on viliager and military populations. The enemy morale should be able to get low enough that they too can abandon their post. Then, you bring a large load of food and offer it to the townsfolk as the "first gift of empire" if they join you rather than fight. You'd likely still want to be able to jail (should be execute) the lord and then make up stories about how the war was all his fault to begin with, etc.
lots of possibilities.
Cheers
