While BB is deeply focused in changes most of us don't care too much, I was thinking that adding another layer of complexity - or perhaps quite a few - in the game would be welcomed to make it more interesting, specifically for those who are lvl 50, a.k.a. imminent retirees or bean munchers.
Allow us to make armor for our troops. Not only that, but also shields for the footsoldiers. This could add another 8 buildings right off the bat, or allow us to change, say, the bronze armorsmith into a building that could produce bronze swords or shields, taking up two settlers, much like the epic woodworker's, same reasoning applies for iron, steel and damascene varieties. Do not add such armors or shields to the loot table of any adventure, so that players would actually have an incentive to build them, especially the damascene one. Put restrictions. A recruit can't handle a damascene shield for example, but could handle an iron shield, with a penalty do damage caused: more survivability but less damage. If the shield and armor are of the same quality as the sword the unit uses, don't give out any penalties. If adding a + armor stat would throw your combat mechanics out of whack, have them add a bit more health to the unit only. If that is the case, don't be miserly. A X% boost to hp if using a damascene shield and armor with decreasing steps of, say, 10% for each variety below the scale can be a good way to go about it.
Have said items impact on generals' speed. If going light, with only swords, he could go twice as fast as one loaded with elites who are also sporting shiny damascene shields.
The cost of said items can't be cheap of course, as they will make adventures easier to do, with fewer troops. That would, incidentally, be quite the positive side effect of such items: less ferrying time is more time that can be spent doing adventures themselves, instead of taking an hour or more to gather round all your army to do one Heroic Little Tailor for example. People will still go for the quartermaster, but they won't be so deeply annoyed while they haven't one.
Have us produce ammo for our ranged units. Titanium tipped arrows / bolts to pierce the toughest enemies. What about making magnum-grade powder, allowing cannons to do more damage, but with a penalty to their hp if used that way? Horse-shoes for addtional damage, depending on quality of the metal used?
Just a a few cents to turn the game more interesting at later stages. Ok, perhaps a lot of cents =).
