Freelance Guards

Freelance Guards Faction Roving Clans Obtained Era II Category Military Type Army Action Focus Privateers Effects: Unlocks Privateers Armies composed exclusively of mercenaries can carry a neutral flag, preventing other empires (even allies) from knowing which empire owns them Armies of privateers have an increased upkeep -20% on Heroes and Mercenaries market Buyout cost on empire. +2 Fortification Damage per turn on Mercenary.

An Era II technology exclusive to the Roving Clans which grants the ability to convert an army made up of Mercenaries to Privateers, which appear to all other factions as a roaming army. However, Privateers will have an increased upkeep cost, and cannot perform the Bribe, Parley, or Search army actions.

This technology replaces the Mercenary Corps technology that is available to every other faction in Era IV.

ELCP

If you play with Endless Legend Community Patch there is some changes for Mercenary Corps and Freelance Guards:

• Also reduce the market Buyout cost of Mercenaries and Heroes by 20%.
  • This feature is mostly overlooked, mainly because mercenaries are too expensive in the important midgame portion of the game.
  • The added bonuses makes the tech a bit more lucrative, even if you dont plan to use it immediatly.

• Also grant +2 Fortification Damage per turn to all Mercenaries.
  • This is done to promote pillage play and mercenary usage across all factions.

Lore

The idea of turning troops not needed for caravan defense into flagless mercenaries is logical. After all, they are needed to protect the Clans' long-term commercial interests.