I've been playing Franks against AI for months and also testing them out in scenario editors, trying to make good use of their free farm upgrade. I've always told myself, "man, they are missing something and they just need this eeny weeny little bonus to make them more competitive". Faster foraging? Yep, perfect!
Right now the only problem I see with Franks is that they are completely outclassed by the Teutons. Franks are better in Arena, and can handle Mongols and Mayans better than the Teutons, but seriously, that's it! Faster foraging is one thing that will help get them out of the shadow.
For instance:
1) Before, Teutons had a better feudal age than Franks, no questions asked, with bloodlines, superior towers, and cheaper farms. They can also get to feudal faster with the TC LoS bonus. Now with the forage bonus, and with LoS bonus removed from the Teutons, Franks can now reach feudal age faster than the Teutons.
2) Fast castling - Frank's defining characteristics is their knights. However, "free bloodlines" is not a lasting bonus, and moreover, they have early no economic bonuses. Teutons can actually pull off the fast castling + knight rush better than the Franks because of cheaper farms, AND theirs is more resistant to monks.
3) Imperial age - I don't know the finalized list of changes, but one thing I do know is that they have 50% faster stables. Teutons, on the other hand, has siege units more resistant to melee. Before, Frankish and Teutonic paladins are barely that much different, but now, Frankish cavalry is definitely superior, as it should be.
Franks still blow on water maps (nobody gathers berries in dark age when there's fish available), and thankfully so.
Right now the only problem I see with Franks is that they are completely outclassed by the Teutons. Franks are better in Arena, and can handle Mongols and Mayans better than the Teutons, but seriously, that's it! Faster foraging is one thing that will help get them out of the shadow.
For instance:
1) Before, Teutons had a better feudal age than Franks, no questions asked, with bloodlines, superior towers, and cheaper farms. They can also get to feudal faster with the TC LoS bonus. Now with the forage bonus, and with LoS bonus removed from the Teutons, Franks can now reach feudal age faster than the Teutons.
2) Fast castling - Frank's defining characteristics is their knights. However, "free bloodlines" is not a lasting bonus, and moreover, they have early no economic bonuses. Teutons can actually pull off the fast castling + knight rush better than the Franks because of cheaper farms, AND theirs is more resistant to monks.
3) Imperial age - I don't know the finalized list of changes, but one thing I do know is that they have 50% faster stables. Teutons, on the other hand, has siege units more resistant to melee. Before, Frankish and Teutonic paladins are barely that much different, but now, Frankish cavalry is definitely superior, as it should be.
Franks still blow on water maps (nobody gathers berries in dark age when there's fish available), and thankfully so.