Talk:Couriers/@comment-1643434-20151126100908

the change to Couriers was definitely strange at first, in my eyes, and it certainly doesn't make sense along with the name and offhandedly still seems weaker than El Dorado or Garland Wars. But in context of the Inca's amazing tech tree (they get lots of stuff the Mayans and Aztecs don't get, and a little extra) and strong economy, this will at very least make the Incas very strong in the pocket position seeing as their "dream team" of post-imp unique units will be incredibly strong. It's basically reinforced the Incas as a "counter civ" which is a defensive civ which has access to a very strong tech tree (which allows them to theoretically have a cost-effective counter to any strategy) and high defenses to stall til the late-game but don't have any bonuses to rushing strategies (outside of an extra sheep) or a "core unit" that is strong against everything (like the byzantines)

It's a very plain upgrade but it really stacks up well compared to the other two:

vs. El Dorado, it certainly doesn't make their Eagle Warriors quite as strong 1v1. But if you're facing a lot of piercing damage, there's not much of a difference. This keeps their EW on par with the Mayan's when used for countering, but leaves them a little wanting as a core unit, highlighting the weakness of the Incas. However, the Incas will come out on top if they vary up their army composition with Kamayuks or Slingers when they're applicable to get a lot of usefulness out of this upgrade. also... it's cheaper!

I wont repeat myself for the Aztecs, but this applies to them as well: the Incan's upgrade is extremely cheap at 200 gold. It's hardly any more expensive than the appropriate blacksmith upgrade and will go a long way in keeping your expensive, specialized unique units alive. a fully-upgraded block of Kamayuks is very close to being unanswerable outside of Siege Workshop units to anything, due to being able to shrug off most ranged attacks and being able to defeat all but the absolute strongest of infantry in equal numbers due to always ahving the first hit and spending a lot less time running around looking for a hit and a lot more time poking things.

vs. Garland Wars... well, on paper it looks like the Incas have nothing going for them. But unelss the Aztec player doesn't successfully get a large advantage early on (which certainly isn't impossible) the Incas might be able to use Slingers and Skirmishers (without minimum range!) to certainly push back on the aztec's army and win through a slow push with these units, and some siege before they can get to the imperial age and get this very expensive upgrade. If you're the Incas and you're vs. a civ with cavalry... well it's personal opinion but post-imp Inca Halb > post-imp Aztec Pike. the aztec pike might win 1v1 but the inca halberd has slightly higher HP and a way higher damage bonus vs. cavalry, again highlighting this civ's nature as a civ with lots of theoretical options (like the Japanese) in contrast to a civ which has one strat and does it very well (Hunnic Cav. Archer rush, Spanish Conquistador Rush, Mayan Archer Spam)