Highwaymen are 4 pop, and can be reduced to 2 pop. 2 ruyters vs 1 highwayman isn’t that different (more hp for ruyters, more attack for highwaymen)
Edit: nevermind, you can get these guys to 1 pop. Yeah, that’s definitely not good, given how strong ruyter spam already is. And these are twice as good as ruyters.
I literally just created an account to point this out, but…
The cavalry version of this unit is not even the part that will really crack open the game if this goes live. Instead, the dismounted version is far stronger an addition to the Dutch comp. I am a bit curious if it was even intended, as Buckrider pop reduction does not seem to apply to the infantry, but Dance Halls still does, and either way, it is 1 pop when it matters, which is training before a fight.
Meanwhile, the stats are comparable or better than a standard musketeer with a charged attack and fast rate of fire. And the cost to train these guys becomes equal to a Ruyter, just all in coin instead of food/coin. So this gives Dutch a very powerful option in age2, both getting a ruyter who just needs folk heroes to shadowtech and also become a top tier musketeer. Which ironically will make the highlanders less appealing.
The Dutch concept is awesome. Hope we get it to a point it is nice and clean before it goes live!
No. In team games (even 2v2s) dutch tend to just to age 4 and spam ruyters. This gives them a unit that has between 50-100% better attack than ruyters, able to switch to a musketeer, coin only cost (as dutch, this is nothing), shadow techs, all for the same pop. This is a ruyters on crack and will be oppressive in team games if the pop cost is not adjusted.
The shadow upgrades only happens in fourth for all outlaws (something that would have to be changed, having to be like the American ones), since in fifth you have to age with a politician.
To say that there are two cards, 3 since you are adding the cavalry combat card that affects both equally. The upgrades you get are proportional to the invested shipments.
1 pop makes them better than ruyters however 2 pop is too much they are not even as strong as 2 pop dragoons. They should make buckriders an age 4 card and buff Highwaymen so they are worth 2 pop. The unit is completely useless at 2 pop as is and it seems evident they intended for this to synergize with the new Dutch State army card.
They should do about 20% - 30% more damage and HP but nerf the charged attack by 20% too with the card. Highwaymen should be closer aligned with dragoons when sending this card to compensate. Increase their cost to 150 - 175 coin too
It is impressive how concerning this card started to where it is now. For all their eventual coin flow, current buckrider card just doesn’t seem to have a chance to shine, at all, age 2, especially in time for pressure or rushes where something like a musk or a dragoon would be wonderful to have.
I think the devs should give us an idea what this card is meant to do. Is it JUST for flavor? If so, neat reference, at least. Would be nice to hear that for certain.
That said, it -feels- like an attempt to start what seems like an intentional Dutch raw coin-eco strat, flowing into DSA card. If so, this card either needs to better earn its 500c cost, or be set back to free. Without theaters, itself a whole other card shipment with otherwise no tempo boost, I’d be shocked if this unit could be used in a way where getting it early would cause issues.
I think the original concern was fair, but now it just doesn’t seem to fit into anything Dutch wants to do within a timeframe it would be good to do it.