Mercenary Quarters


 * For the Alexander variant, see Stratopedon.

Unlike a conventional Outpost, which is first and foremost also a surveillance system, the Mercenary Quarters has but one task - and that is to recruit mercenaries. Mercenaries recruited at this place usually have a very fast train time, and the building itself is fairly cheap and easy to set up, requiring only Timber and Wealth as its primary cost, and Food thereafter to be created. The main draw with the Mercenary Quarters, especially in Swords of the Prophets, is that it can be built anywhere on the map - enemy territory included. In addition, unlike the Outpost, it can garrison units, so it can do several tasks - the first is that it can replenish your armies in no time. The second is that it also provides shelter - you can garrison units in here, if they are in danger of being killed or keep then in place until the building perishes from Attrition damage. In addition, a Mercenary Quarters does not produce loot when destroyed, so it can sometimes be ideal as a forward recruitment building. Generally:
 * Swords of the Prophets: A vast slew of factions can build Mercenary Quarters but they are usually limited to those who can recruit only Celts, Turks, Arabs, Berbers, Sub-Saharan Africans and Germans into their armies. Japan and Srivijaya can't build Mercenary Quarters.
 * Alexander : The Mercenary Quarters is usually associated with non-Greek factions, but certain major Greek factions, most notably Athens and Macedon, can erect them and receive special mercenaries to join their cause. Greek factions such as Corinth and Lacedaemon must rely more on the Outpost for Mercenary recruitment, even as the Outpost is available to all factions.