@wowgetoffyourcellphone @Nescio
I have a few questions about how you would like quick visual identification of the units.
What do you think about the shield shape evolving according to the experience (basic, advanced, elite)? Initially I made suggestion with the shape changing accordingly but I think now it is not necessarily a good idea.
I am thinking to propose something more restrictive on the shield shape for each unit. For example a Gallic Spearman using only oval and tall shields, Gallic Skirmisher using only square and medium shields and Gallic Swordsman using hexagonal and tall shields.
Maybe we could simply use shield bosses, capes, helmets and adornments to distinguish the experienced units. For the Britons, shield decoration and tattooes can be an additional way to distinguish the experienced units.
Finally, about the roster I am thinking about the early phase and how to not break the balance by adding swordsmen too early.
For the moment the Romans have the particularity of having early swordsmen. Maybe we could give to the Gauls an early sword cavalry to make the faction more unique to play and without early slinger or early light cavalry :
Village phase:
Gallic Woman
Gallic Fishing Boat
Gallic Spearman
Gallic Javelinist
Gallic Cavalry Swordsman
While the Britons could have a more classical roster with more diversity and even the war dog early:
Village phase:
Britonnic Woman
Britonnic Fishing Boat
Britonnic Spearman
Britonnic Slinger
Britonnic Cavalry Javelinist
Britonnic War Dog
I think the early game is where the things can be messed up by making a faction too strong but it is as well an important feature of the Gauls to be strong in the early game (probably a reference to their historical spread early). In the town phase, the roster for the Gauls could be more diverse without overpowered units:
Town phase:
Gallic Healer
Gallic Merchant Ship
Gallic Trader
Gallic Slinger
Gallic Naked Spearman
Gallic Cavalry Javelinist
Gallic War Barge
The naked spearman fanatic is not really that strong I think and at this point the Gallic roster is more stable, the naked spearman is there instead of a spear cavalry. While in the Britons, the town phase could include a cavalry spearman. Although, I am really in favor of adding a naked swordsman to Britons (a reference to the Caledonians and the Picts), I don't want to break the balance because a swordsman moving that fast could be quite strong. Maybe it should be kept for the city phase and instead the Celtic Chariot should be include more early. The role of the chariot could be more suited to the second phase and I really hope it could be used as battle-taxi for another unit. Thus something like this:
Town phase:
Britonnic Healer
Britonnic Merchant Ship
Britonnic Trader
Britonnic Cavalry Spearman
Britonnic Chariot
Britonnic War Barge
Then in the third phase, it should be more acceptable to give better units since both factions are lacking siege engines (excepted the ram). Unlocking archer and infantry swordsman for the Gauls could make them more resilient to the late phase. Their champion unit should be a cavalryman for the late phase. While the Britons could have their Caledonian/Pictish naked swordsman for the late game and even a swordsman champion in addition of a javelinist champion.
City phase:
Gallic Swordsman
Gallic Archer
Gallic Cavalry Spearman Champion
Gallic Battering Ram
(maybe a regional champion unit? like an Alpine Axeman)
City phase:
Britonnic/Ivernic Javelinist Champion
Britonnic/Caledonian Naked Swordsman
Britonnic Swordsman Champion
Britonnic Battering Ram