I’ve had a thorough look at your origin post and I have come to the conclusion is yes, you’re right.
While Outlaws are a way to fill in a gap regardless of cards and Dance Hall cards could benifit from a small buff to give it a little more tempo. I’ve come to like your original idea. The church cards could be a way to adjust some of the gaps in the civs ‘army units’ and fill in with auxilaries.
This is only for the European civilizations, not the the native american or asians civs
British: Missing Skirmisher (longbows are not the same), Halberdier (But their Pikeman can be upgraded to guard level); Their church card sucks
Since their lack of Skirmisher is supplemented with two shipments of Jeagers and Cherokee Rifleman…The Roger’s Rangers at the church upgrade is superfluous and Thin Red line is more of a demerit…Slow speed is okay for musketeers but for everything else it’s bad…limit it to Grenadiers and Musket units and Rename Roger’s Rangers to 95th rifles that renames the skirmishers to Greenjackets and allow Greenjackets to be trained at Baracks, Galleon and Fort.
French: Missing Grenadier; Their church card might need tweaking but otherwise good
French have a full roster of standard units except for Grenadier which they can through the advanced church. Code Napolean’s demerit is too much change it to 20% and it would be fair.
Dutch: Missing Musketeer; Their church card is satisfactory
Not much to say about Dutch, with Ruyters they may not need musketeers but if they so wish they have a good roster of mercenaries to chose from (and pleanty of gold income). Their Church card has good choices (including alot of musketeers) and Coffee trade is a fair tradeoff.
German: Missing Musketeer; Grenadier Their church card is satisfactory
The german’s church card is good except wallenstein’s contracts is so expensive that you’d have already shipped your mercenaries before you could afford it.
But since germany does rely on mercenaries (since their royal guard skirmishers are actually the weakest RG, and WW are slow). Enable german mercenary contracts to be sent infinite times.
Spanish: Missing Grenadiers; Their church card sucks
Spanish may lack grenadiers but I don’t think they need them, Corselet might be better than thin red line but it’s still bad…Rodelero’s and Pikemen need their speed, It’s also unoriginal. How about changing it completely it’s just not worth it. And the other upgrades aren’t worth shipping the card…Halberdeir? I already have pikes and rods. Harquebusiers? I’d rarther ship stradiots than send the church card just for them.
Portugal: Missing Grenadiers; Their church doesn’t suck
You can live without grens as for the church
It’s interesting that they get Royal Guard Crossbowman and a lot of them, the mill bonus is a fair trade off and Black Riders are cool.
I don’t feel the need to make any changes here
Ottoman: Missing Archiac Units; Church card only has 2 techs compared to three of europeans.
The advanced Mosque card is missing a 3rd tech, this could be: ‘Jihad: Allows you to train Pikeman and Crossbowman from the barracks, fort and galleon’
Russia: Missing Pikeman and pop efficient skirms; Church card is good
The russian church card is good, but their mercenaries shipments are all over the place and generally not useful to russian players.
They need Iron Troops or Jeagers (or the new cannoneers) in age III for their auxilaries.