Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-98.198.135.23-20170703221902/@comment-32325302-20170713213633

I know nothing of programming, so bear in mind that my reply addresses only the military and storyline aspects, which programming issues could overrule.

Roughly, militaries of semi-medieval times would have discrete units that include:

-Mounted Unit

-Archery Unit

-Foot Units, which might further be broken down into Swordsmen, Pikemen (either or both sometimes also using spears)

It would make sense to me that spawn eggs (and hired units, for that matter) be broken down into the following (each unit having, say, 4 NPCs in it):

-Mounted

-Archery/Crossbowmen (for Dwarves it would be throwing axes)

-Swordsmen (Dwarves might be Battleaxmen instead)

-Pikemen (using longer weapons like battlestaffs, etc.)

AND, one egg that will instead spawn a larger, mixed group: 2 mounted, 2 archery, 3 swordsmen and 3 pikemen, for a total of 10 NPCS in the mixed unit. This egg would be for someone who wants a mixed unit and doesn't want to accumulate all the other eggs (or have 16 NPCs in 4 separate groups, to keep track of).

Frankly, I see the first four types being of greater use acting as defenders set for different positions around a claim/city/etc. (or for players conducting a battlefield war); and the last (mixed) of more use for a traveling unit that goes with you, or one that is set up as a small defending force for a keep/town/etc.

At some point, it would make sense (both militarily and by canon) to have a few units that handle siege weaponry: Gondor, Isengard, and Mordor used it in the books---catapults, battering rams, etc. Possibly even siege towers/ladders with teams of NPCs who use them, though that might be more complicated to create.

Again, issues specific to Minecraft like lag, etc., might make all this moot, I don't know.