Franks (Civ Rework)

FRANKS

I honestly don’t mind the Franks as they are but I do see a lot of talk about nerfing them. I wanted to add a unique spin ore of a nerf/buff to them. There is two options I put fourth. But the all together I want to see what ppl think.

Cavalry Civ

•Castles cost -25%, start with -100stone

This is likely a unnecessary nerf but I feel it just makes the first castle abit harder to come by or booming is abit harder. This would be the nerf I’d apply to the current Franks if they needed one.

•Knights get 20% more hp

A straight up nerf to their scout rush and late game Hussar.

•Farm Upgrades are free

•Berries last 15% longer

Berries have the slowest gather rate so it more total food but at delayed rate.

•Ecuyers available in Feudal Age. (A feudal versus of the Knight-line)

Squires(Ecuyers) was a knights apprenticeship not to be confused with the infantry tech.

Unique Unit Throwing Axeman (55food, 25gold)

Ecuyers (60food, 75gold) Same stats as a scout with +1 attack & +2 melee armour Upgrade into Knights upon reaching castle age at no cost similar to the Serjant unit does.

Unique Tech

•Saxons (Throwing Axeman +1 range)

•Chivalry (Stables production increases 40%)

Team Bonus Knights +2 LOS

Summary

Option 1

Starting with less stone doesn’t take away their identity as the #1 Knight rush Civ but hurts their late castle age ability to boom after a Knight rush. This I think is the nerf the current Franks need but with the other nerfs I’d say it could be left out. Maybe the berry change as it’s not as drastic.

Option 2

Nerfing their scout rush but adding the ability to make knights in feudal age.

This offers a more powerful but way more expensive feudal rush. The risk of losing the knights may cause the Franks to be defensive.

The real power of early knights comes in when you hit Castle Age and may have 2-3 knights straight up. If they have taken to much damage tho it certainly Weakens that FC Knight rush.

It also adds more predictability to what the Franks are goin to play. Most people already know they are playing knights but for newbies they will easier be able to tell also.

Slower food income from berries makes more sense especially when paired with a farm Bonus as your berrys won’t be finished til you hit Castle age meaning you put them straight onto heavy plow farms. Switching this berry bonus is surprising at how much it changes the Civ. I have tested it in Senior editor and it makes for a fairly different feudal age but nicer castle age.

Ultimately you can still play the Franks the same way as they currently are by just ignoring the Ecuyers until you are upping to CA so it doesn’t really change the famous BO’s but offers a extra flair that could prove to be costly if missed used. It’s kind of a temptation to have early knights but may not get the return your hoping or you could just blast your opponent out the water specially if they leave the Franks unchecked and let the knights at your villager. If the open tent response is to mass extra spears then the Franks will be forces to change into a different unit sooner. And they lack a lot of options out side their knights.

Note* I’d also add an extra armour class to the Ecuyers that it take +2 damage from spears making them still trade similar as a scout.