kennel issues

[Nescio]

Let's have a look at the dog kennel (Briton special structure):

Looking at it critically, there are a couple of issues:

• its cost: 50 wood, 50 stone, 200 metal. Wood I can see, but I don't understand the stone or high metal costs. (For comparison, a large tower costs 100 wood and 100 stone)
• its height: assuming a male is about 1.7 m, this structure is about 3 to 4 m high
• why does it have a door?
• why is there a Gaul faction emblem above the door?
• why is there a human shield against the wall?

To me, the kennel structure looks like a tiny house more suitable for a single human warrior than for keeping dogs. Moreover, I'm not sure dog houses such as this actually existed in Antiquity; my guess is dogs were simply kept inside or outside (human) houses, but not in special structures such as this. If anyone has any references for ancient dog kennels, I'm certainly interested in seeing them.

Perhaps it would be best to disable the kennel structure in 0 A.D. and make war dogs trainable at Briton houses or barracks.

[Genava55]

38 minutes ago, Nescio said:

why is there a Gaul faction emblem above the door?

Anyway, this kind of triskelion with spiraling branches is far more common and developed in the British Isles, especially during the Roman period.

39 minutes ago, Nescio said:

To me, the kennel structure looks like a tiny house more suitable for a single human warrior than for keeping dogs. Moreover, I'm not sure dog houses such as this actually existed in Antiquity; my guess is dogs were simply kept inside or outside (human) houses, but not in special structures such as this. If anyone has any references for ancient dog kennels, I'm certainly interested in seeing them. 

Perhaps it would be best to disable the kennel structure in 0 A.D. and make war dogs trainable at Briton houses or barracks.

Good question. I know Egyptian built some kennel in mud bricks but I don't think it was the case in Europe's prehistory. I agree with your suggestion for the houses. It could be a powerful asset for the Britons as well.

[Thorfinn the Shallow Minded]

I think that there should be some limits to house based production though.  That could easily become exploitable unless there is some restrictions.  I'd say that stables would be the best call for them even if it is not the most historically accurate option for where dogs would be trained.

[Nescio]

Stables exist but are not enabled (yet); but if they were, then those would also be an option for training war dogs, yes.

Dogs cost 100 food (female citizens only 50), are vulnerable (90 health but only 1/2/1 armour), and can't attack ships, siege engines, or structures. Their only advantage is that they require 0 population.

Currently there is a limit of 5 kennels per player, 10 dogs per kennel, thus a maximum of 50. If kennels are removed, then perhaps dogs should be limited to e.g. 2 per house (no maximum) or a maximum of 30 (independent of number of houses).

[wowgetoffyourcellphone]

Surely the kennel is a gameplay convention similar to the fact that all civs have a "barracks" even if the concept of a barracks is an anachronism. I agree about the cost though. I've said before that costs in this game are super weird.

[Thorfinn the Shallow Minded]

Clearly the metal is for making the dog tags.