So the other day, in another topic related to the Italians, it came out that a lot would have liked a general buff of this unit.
In my opinion, all together this unit isn’t that bad, the problem is that it doesn’t have a purpose, since it doesn’t shine in any context.
The anti-gunpowder role is rare, and even when you are against gunpowder, there are cheaper way to counter it (like skirms for HC and hussars for BBC).
I water maps like islands can be used for landings, maybe by sneaking a vill and building some barracks, and here they have the advantages of not requiring upgrades (except for blacksmith ones), but even here, it’s enaugh that the enemy is a bit prepared with some archer or some knights (castle age units are enough) and it becomes a waste of resources.
So is left only the option of a fast imp into condos, well, there is a small chance that it may works if you are able to surprise your opponent, but onestly, in my opinion, both Italians and their allies have better options than the condos.
So, one way to buff them, would be to give them back at least some of their old stats, like for example 1 base pierce armor (making them a weaker version of an huskarl/eagles).
But the my idea is the following: unlock the access to condos for Italians and their allies in castle age.
So I know that at first it could seem OP, condos have 80HP and 1MA (which is more than a champion) and it’s fast (but less than a eagle or an huskarl), but they also have only 9 attack, which is the same of a long swordman (a castle age unit) and no bonus damage (except for gunpowder and +2 vs buildings, which is half of a LS).
In my opinion, this small change could really incentive people to use the condos, especially in team games, when the Italians are allied with a good infantry civ, that way they would have the possibility to use in castle age a unit just a bit more powerful than a LS, which can be combined with other civs bonus, without the need to wait to build a castle and go for their more powerful UU.