Religious zealots joining the cause

[Vicious Love]

Couldn'ta said it better myself, Norfleet. Honestly, this event is ALWAYS more of a hindrance than a boon.
Back on topic, I know I've gotten the militia event in both low and high dominion provinces(Not sure whether it's happened in neutral or hostile dominion, though), with pretty much any combination of scales and nations you'd care to name. It also seems to happen as frequently in undeveloped friendly provinces as in ones with temples.
I'm not sure whether or not all this holds true for flagellants, though.
Either way, no matter how I tweak my national scales, I can't seem to dodge these bullets.

[Gandalf Parker]

Apparently its ALWAYS more of a hinderance than a boon for YOU.

I would say its more problem on a large map than a small one. On a small one it can be a major point in winning the game.

[Norfleet]

The militia tend to be equally worthless troops regardless of the size of the map: They quickly rout before even most of them can be killed off, then scatter into random provinces and chew up your upkeep forever because it will cost even MORE at any given time to try to round them up.

Plus they materialize without a commander, so somebody has to go and round them up.

The flagellants are slightly better....if you had a bless effect. If you don't, they're just as useless as militia, but their higher morale makes them easy to kill off.

[Esben Mose Hansen]

I agree with Norfleet. These volunteers are a real pain in the neck. I suspect this is even true in real life

I find the trick is to recruit a low-cost local commander, bring them to the front and then send along as a missile screen to some battle, preferable with only one nation or two nations to run to.

I wish it would be possible to disband troops. A good solution would be one troop->one point of unrest. I find this realistic, even.

[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Esben Mose Hansen:
I agree with Norfleet. These volunteers are a real pain in the neck. I suspect this is even true in real life

In real life, people who volunteer without being accepted can be declined paychecks.

The event would, of course, be a good thing....if they didn't demand upkeep.

[Esben Mose Hansen]

Volunteers still needs basic equipment, food, shelter, ....

I still think volunteers been expensive, annoying and useless is quite realistic. But undisbandable is strange. In fact, I really like my disband->unrest idea

[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Esben Mose Hansen:
Volunteers still needs basic equipment, food, shelter, ....

That's sort of reflected in their "supply" cost. As for equipment, they seem to come with that.