Now, however, it is a much more viable option. If you research Wallenstein's contracts now, it only costs 1000 gold. In return, it makes mercenary shipments 40% cheaper and arrive 50% faster. As a guy who used to LIVE for mercenary shipments, this is a big deal.
Germany has devastating Age 3 merc options. In 1v1, they can be game-enders: (1) 13 Jaegers; (2) 9 Black Riders; (3) 10 Landsknechts; and (4) 8 Hackapells. They each cost 1000 gold. But in the past, the big problem was that they take an ETERNITY to arrive (90 or 100 seconds, someone please correct me). I can't tell you how many times I've been waiting on a merc shipment and my TC gets sieged. It's heartbreaking.
But with the new Wallenstein's Contract option, you can get those mercs on the field CHEAPER and FASTER. I am very excited about this. I have even experimented with a few prototype semi-FFs to accommodate it. To make it work, you need a lot of coin and available shipments. You need to get to Age 3 (1000 coin), then you need 1000 for Wallenstein's Contracts. After that, you need 600 per merc shipment. Finally, you need to make sure you have a shipment to send as soon as you get the required amount. A Trade Post would help with that.
What does everyone else think about this new German option? Has anyone used it in a game yet? I'm going to keep tweaking details and come up with an airtight build. Naked FF is tough because you generally won't have a shipment to spare once you get all the coin. Remember: You need to send the advanced church card sometime in Age 2, which takes away a shipment. That's why TPs will be essential.
I think an old-school 7-10 uhlan semi-FF could really be nasty with Wallenstein thrown in
Btw does it also makes mercs from saloon cheaper?
