Interesting!
I agree it would cause disruption in existing servers, but I personally wouldn't mind seeing some new war aspects!
I think I'd have to get something close to twice the military capability of the base five combined to make it worth painting a big red target on me, but if they do right, it's a potentially game changing implementation that will add a whole lot more depth and fun to L&K!!
I agree with the idea of new units, hopefully they are as well, commensurately more devastating...! Maybe have some specific siege units like ballistae, catapults, sappers... That, say, are reflected by like 1% damage increase per unit, for all troops involved in battle, and vice versa for defense...
The units of course would require greater personnel as well as resource and training time, so personal choice of balance must be found between specialty units and traditional units...
As to the self develop vs fight argument, it's still always up to each gamer how much time will be devoted to any given aspect of the game...
It would be nice to have an easier way for alliances to reclaim inactives tho, particularly with these Fortress' on the horizon!!
It would also be nice to have troop and resource mobility enhancements, some how...
And why do we have to lose the beholden castles? We're going to pay for the new developments, why not just like cut the beholden castles' development in half, to be rebuilt, and then give any beholden castles extra perks for troop and resource transfers, am maybe share in new researches so long as they remain beholden.
Just a thought...!!