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The Mercenary Post is a unit recruitment building.

Description[]

The mercenary post is a recruitment building that allows the recruitment of specialist mercenary units. These units are available for only gold, needing no equipment from the armoury. Generally they are more expensive than units from the barracks, but they are instantly available.

Units normally gather in front of the post, but rally points for individual units as well as the post itself can be set to override it. Rally points are indicated by green or gray flags.

Information[]

300px-Estradiot engraving

An Albanian stradiot

Mercenaries are hired soldiers who usually take no affiliation with any organization or government. They fight by their contracts, which they need to fulfill in order to earn money. Mercenaries are often hired by wealthy landlords, band leaders and individuals alike, with purposes ranging from personal security to manhunts and as an attempt to display power.

From the Ancient Ages, mercenaries were employed by empires, who wanted to assemble their armies from multiple nations. In times when conquests and oppression was abundant, instability in regular armies would quickly lead to rebels and the collapse of the main defense. People who operated independently from any nation, army and culture and were solely interested making their combat skills worthwhile, were easy to recruit and use to any military purpose by anyone. Not needing to provide the most necessary equipments and the need of only paying hard cash, the convenience of mercenaries were favoured among many political figures.

Michałowski Reiter

A German Black Rider

In Medieval Ages, the vast numbers of empires and country inequalities between them was a deciding factor when it came to fighting wars. Numerous areas, which were important trade hubs in the continent, had to rely on their wealth when defending themselves, as they were either too small or lacked a war industry. A great example of this is the Netherlands, which used Swiss pikeman mercenaries to defend from outside threats.

There were also specialized units for mercenary purposes, such as Albanian stradiots, Finnish hackapells and German Black Riders. They were independently acting groups, serving as a unit to their recruiters until dissolved or merged into regular armies several centuries later.

The mercenary post allows the recruitment of Arabian units. Arabs have a wide range of unconventional military and siege tactics, who cost only gold and peasants to hire, no weapons or armour. In contrast, they are usually require more gold compared to their Crusader counterparts.

Freshly recruited troops gather at the designated training grounds, unless an assembly point is set. A rally point can be placed to a custom location per troop after pressing the corresponding number key (1-7), which can be reset to the post itself.

The mercenary post is built of wood and therefore is more susceptible to fire and it can spread flames around the perimeter, with the potential to momentarily light up the entire training ground.

List of available units[]

Unit Price Description
Arabian bowman 75 gold A basic ranged unit that fires arrows from long range. Can ignite pitch ditches on command.
Slave 5 gold A very cheap unarmored unit that carries a torch, capable of setting buildings on fire. The only Arabic unit able to dig and fill moat.
Slinger 12 gold A weak ranged unit that uses a slingshot to hurl stones at targets in short range.
Assassin 60 gold A melee infiltration specialist, who can climb walls with a grappling hook and becomes stealthed in medium to long range.
Horse Archer 80 gold An agile mounted archer, who fires arrows at long range, even when on the move.
Arabian swordsman 80 gold An expensive, durable armored unit who fights with a scimitar in melee.
Fire thrower 100 gold A very expensive short-ranged unit, who lobs pots of Greek Fire on an area, lighting it up.

The mercenary post allows the recruitment of various specialist units. Mercenaries cost only gold and a peasant to hire, they need neither weapons, nor armour to equip.

Freshly recruited troops gather at the designated training grounds, unless an assembly point is set. A rally point can be placed to a custom location per troop by selecting it in the barracks' menu.

Unlike the barracks, the mercenary post is built of wood, which makes it more susceptible to fire and it can spread flames around the perimeter.

List of available units[]

Unit Price Description
Pictish Boat Warrior 40 gold An amphibious melee unit that carries a small boat on his back, which he can use to move on water.
Axe Thrower 100 gold An expensive unarmored unit who throws powerful axes at short range.
Outlaw 60 gold

A fragile ambush unit that can throw a javelin at medium range. He is also shown as a tree on the minimap.

Horse Archer 80 gold

2 honour

An agile mounted archer, who fires arrows at long range with a high rate of fire. Can shoot while moving.
Hobilar

40 gold

2 honor

Light cavalry that traverses the battlefield quickly and strikes at targets with a spear.
Berserker 80 gold A very fast raider that is quick to move around and has great offensive capabilities with a war axe.
Assassin

100 gold

200 honour

An expensive infiltrator specialist, who is stealthed outside close proximity of units. He can also quickly climb walls with his grappling hook.
Thief

10 gold

50 honor

A fragile specialist unit in a farmer's camouflage. Can steal gold from enemy treasuries.

The mercenary post allows to recruit Arabian units with a wide range of unconventional tools and tactics. Mercenaries cost only gold and a peasant to hire, they need neither weapons nor armour to equip. Most units are much more expensive than their European counterparts, however.

Freshly recruited troops gather at the designated training grounds, unless an assembly point is set. A rally point can be placed to a custom location per troop by selecting it in the mercenary post's menu.

The mercenary post is built of wood, but costs gold to build. It is hard to destroy, as well as it can spread flames as it may catch fire.

List of mercenaries[]

Unit Price Description
Arabian Bowman 18 gold A basic ranged unit that fires arrows from long range. Can ignite pitch ditches on command.
Slave 5 gold A very cheap unarmored unit that carries a torch, capable of setting buildings on fire.
Slave Driver 80 gold An expensive support unit that can be used in conjunction with slaves, providing them a defense aura.
Arabian Swordsman 60 gold An expensive, durable armored unit who fights with a scimitar in melee.
Oil Pot Thrower 40 gold Short-ranged unit that can lobs incendiary pots of Greek Fire in an area.
Assassin 60 gold Stealth melee unit, can climb walls.
Horse Archer 30 gold An agile but fragile mounted archer, who fires arrows at long range, even when on the move.
Healer 80 gold A fragile support unit who can restore a single unit's health nearby.
Whirling Dervish 120 gold

A light infantry unit that can rush in an area and whirl around with double sabers, dealing area damage.

Sassanid Knight 300 gold A very expensive cavalry unit that can charge units with a powerful blow. Cannot damage buildings.

In Stronghold Warlords, the mercenary post is known as the Military Academy.

The military academy in Stronghold Warlords allows the recruitment of specialist units. These units have a wide range of unconventional military and siege tactics, who cost only gold and peasants to hire, no weapons or armour. In contrast, they usually require more gold compared to their regular counterparts.

Freshly recruited troops gather at the designated training grounds, unless an assembly point is set. A rally point can be placed to a custom location per troop by selecting it in the academy's menu.

Although it costs gold to build, the military academy is built of stone, making it very resistant to bombardment. Like the barracks, it can be used to fortify a very narrow chunk of the castle in the place of walls.

List of available units[]

Unit Price Description
Warrior monk 30 gold An agile Japanese monk equipped with a heavy mace, who is quick to move around. Can knock units over with a spin attack.
Horse archer 40 gold A mounted Mongolian archer, who can move around fast on his horse and fire arrows even on the move.
Ninja 100 gold A fragile infiltrator, who is stealthed at long range and can quickly jump over walls. Can throw a number of shurikens to severely wound enemy units.
Fire lancer 100 gold A fragile ranged unit equipped with a fire lance that can be discharged in bursts to burn enemy units. Can also ignite gunpowder traps.
Samurai 250 gold A very slow but extremely durable frontline warrior equipped with a sword. He can rush at a target from medium range, instantly killing it.
Samurai lancer 200 gold A fragile support unit that synergizes well with cavalry, boosting their damage output.
General 500 gold A high-ranking officer that is outfitted in full body armour and carries a broadsword into battle. He can increase friendly troops' attack power in a large area around him.

In Stronghold Legends, each faction has its unique-themed building that can spawn fantasy units.

The Round Table is used to call down Arthur's loyal knights, Merlin and the Green Dragon, available for the Good faction. While expensive to build, it grants a huge variety of units for various purposes.

Freshly hired knights instantly appear at their designated place around the Table and can be instructed to move to a new assembly point via the Table's menu.

Units available at the Table are all unique, meaning that only one of each can be present on the map. To compensate for it, each of them has a recharging special ability that can be used with various utility, with an almost instant effect.

The Arthurian knights are all powerful versions of the knight and can mount horses the same way. They arrive mounted at the Table and their coat-of-arms is removed as long as they are in play.

The green dragon spawns from an egg, which needs some time to prepare. After that, the dragon can be summoned at any time and the dragon can be used until it dies or its lifespan ends.

List of available units[]

Unit Price Description
Sir Lancelot 500 gold, 125 honor An all-round specialist, who can boost units' damage output in a large area.
Sir Bedivere 500 gold, 125 honor A siege specialist, who can blow into his sacred horn to remove an area of walls.
Sir Percival 500 gold, 200 honor An all-round specialist, who can strike at a large area, creating a huge explosion that deals heavy damage.
Sir Galahad 500 gold, 150 honor A defensive specialist, who can call down a Heavenly Angel, applying a healing effect with limited duration in an area.
Sir Gareth 500 gold, 100 honor A niche specialist, who can uncover and destroy traps in a given area.
Sir Gawain 500 gold, 100 honor A defensive specialist, who can create a canopy shield that blocks ranged projectiles under it.
Merlin 200 honor An agile sorcerer, who attacks with blasts of lightning. He can also call down an implosion at an area, severely damaging units.
Green Dragon 1000 gold, 250 honor The ultimate Good unit with limited lifespan. It can fly across terrain and blow fire at a large area. Its egg must be prepared and only one can be present at a time.

The Ice Tower is used to create fantasy ice units and the Ice queen, available for the Ice faction. While expensive to build, it grants a huge variety of units for various purposes, which cost only gold and peasants to hire.

Freshly recruited troops come out almost instantly from the tower and gather in front of it, unless an assembly point is set. A rally point can be placed to a custom location per troop by selecting it in the tower's menu.

The ice dragon spawns from an egg, which needs some time to prepare. After that, the dragon can be summoned at any time and the dragon can be used until it dies or its lifespan ends.

List of available units[]

Unit Price Description
Shield Maiden 40 gold

10 honor

A durable frontline unit that fights with a trident, effective at blocking chokepoints and holding up units in melee.
Polar bear 100 gold

20 honor

An armored battle bear that moves considerably slowly. Can attack stone buildings.
Frost giant 200 gold

100 honor

A towering humanoid with the height of a basic tower. Carries a large spiked club into battle that he can use to bash groups of units and stone structures alike.
White witch 25 gold

10 honor

A flying archer that rains down arrows from a large distance.
White wolf 25 gold

5 honor

A cheap agile unit that can be used to quickly traverse the battlefield and intercept units, or target buildings.
Dwarf 80 gold

5 honor

A durable frontline unit that emits poisonous gas when attacked in melee. Can attack stone buildings.
Ice Queen 500 gold

200 honor

A mean sorceress, who can shoot freezing blasts from a white staff. Can call down a heavy frostbite at a target. Only one can be present at a time.
Ice dragon 1000 gold

250 honor

The ultimate Ice unit with limited lifespan. It can fly across terrain and blow ice, freezing enemies in its track. Its egg must be prepared and only one can be present at a time.

The tower is used to create evil fantasy units and the Sorcerer, available for the Evil faction. While expensive to build, it grants a huge variety of units for various purposes, which cost only gold and peasants to hire.

Freshly recruited troops come out almost instantly from the tower and gather in front of it, unless an assembly point is set. A rally point can be placed to a custom location per troop by selecting it in the tower's menu.

The black dragon spawns from an egg, which needs some time to prepare. After that, the dragon can be summoned at any time and the dragon can be used until it dies or its lifespan ends.

List of available units[]

Unit Price Description
Hellhound 15 gold, 4 honor A very fast critter that can intercept enemy units or target buildings.
Demon 5 gold, 4 honor A fragile fiery creature that leaves a fiery trail behind. Can climb walls, easily infiltrating an enclosed position.
Werewolf 50 gold, 10 honor A massive and agile beast with excellent combat power. It can also be catapulted by the werewolf launcher at long range.
Vampiric creeper 200 gold, 75 honor A mysterious specialist, whose hide shields it well from projectiles. It can leap on walls and convert unarmored regular units to its side.
Bat 150 gold, 10 honor A large flier that can suicide into enemy targets on the ground or walls, blasting them off with heavy damage.
Saxon warrior 30 gold, 8 honor A durable mercenary unit that slices everything in its way with his axe.
Sorcerer 400 gold, 100 honor An elite evil unit that can blast an area with fire. Can also call down fiery meteors in an area. Only one can be present at a time.
Black dragon 750 gold, 250 honor The ultimate Evil unit with limited lifespan. It can fly across terrain and blow fire at a large area. Its egg must be prepared and only one can be present at a time.

Trivia[]

  • In Stronghold Crusader, the assassin and the fire thrower moves much faster (ignoring terrain) until having reached their rally point, allowing for various micromanagement opportunities.

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