what is your milleage

[Pocus]

Alex, I'm trying very hard to not play super combatting pretenders (I took a rainbow mage in the report I posted).

Alas, I know that you are quite right, its so easy to take one and start to take provinces from turn 1.

I dont know for sure how MP will play, but I have a strong and bad feeling.

I think the fix which could change the problem is a major increase in cost of all combat pretenders. The Natajara stayed at 0 for example. Thus Arco will mostly play Nata. I would goes as far to rise his cost to 150, and doing the same to many HP-heavy pretenders.
Then perhaps people would try something else.

[MStavros]

The ONLY way to fix this supercombattant abuse, if the pretenders cannot move out from their home province.
Yes, that should work. I cannot think about anything else to solve this problem.

[Pocus]

you are 'solving' the pretender issue by killing a valid strategy in the game, valid in the sense that with a correct tweak, it would remains balanced and interesting.

I would prefer a more positive change, which still allows this strategy, but toned down.

And Last but not least, you are not changing the issue dealing with super commanders (Devils, Golems), etc. In fact you are worsening it because players unable to recruit these wont even have their pretender to counter the threat.

[apoger]

In Dom I the balance to super combatants was mages. Unfortunately mages had the stuffing beat out of them in Dom II. More expensive, plus many spells that were used for super combatants are much weaker.

I liked this system. Players should have MORE options, not less. If there is an issue, put in a counter rather than removing the issue.

I can think of many ways to do it, but the question is IW willing to make changes?

[MStavros]

I don't agree. Anyways I've made a topic about this, reply there if you want.