diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/archetype.c b/src/common/gamecode/archetype.c
index be70742d1..197d933d5 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/archetype.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/archetype.c
@@ -62,14 +62,21 @@ get_archetype(const char * name)
 void
 init_archetypes(void)
 {
+  char zName[64];
   const struct locale * lang = locales;
   for (;lang;lang=nextlocale(lang)) {
     variant var;
     archetype * arch = archetypes;
     struct tnode * tokens = get_translations(lang, UT_ARCHETYPES);
     for (;arch;arch=arch->next) {
+      const char * s;
       var.v = arch;
-      addtoken(tokens, LOC(lang, arch->name), var);
+
+      s = locale_getstring(lang, arch->name);
+      if (s!=NULL) addtoken(tokens, s, var);
+      sprintf(zName, "%s_p", arch->name);
+      s = locale_getstring(lang, zName);
+      if (s!=NULL) addtoken(tokens, s, var);
     }
   }
 }
@@ -82,38 +89,42 @@ parse_archetypes(xmlDocPtr doc)
   xmlNodeSetPtr nodes = result->nodesetval;
 
   xmlChar * property;
-  if (nodes && nodes->nodeNr>0) {
-    xmlNodePtr node = nodes->nodeTab[0];
-    archetype * arch = calloc(1, sizeof(archetype));
-    xmlXPathObjectPtr sub;
+  if (nodes) {
+    int i;
+    for (i=0;i!=nodes->nodeNr;++i) {
+      xmlNodePtr node = nodes->nodeTab[i];
+      archetype * arch = calloc(1, sizeof(archetype));
+      xmlXPathObjectPtr sub;
 
-    property = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "name");
-    assert(property!=NULL);
-    arch->name = strdup((const char *)property);
-    xmlFree(property);
-
-    property = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "equip");
-    if (property!=NULL) {
-      arch->equip = get_equipment((const char*)property);
+      property = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "name");
+      assert(property!=NULL);
+      arch->name = strdup((const char *)property);
       xmlFree(property);
-    } else {
-      arch->equip = get_equipment(arch->name);
-    }
 
-    property = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "building");
-    if (property!=NULL) {
-      arch->btype = bt_find((const char*)property);
-      xmlFree(property);
-    }
+      property = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "equip");
+      if (property!=NULL) {
+        arch->equip = get_equipment((const char*)property);
+        xmlFree(property);
+      } else {
+        arch->equip = get_equipment(arch->name);
+      }
 
-    arch->size = xml_ivalue(node, "cost", 0);
+      property = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "building");
+      if (property!=NULL) {
+        arch->btype = bt_find((const char*)property);
+        xmlFree(property);
+      }
 
-    xpath->node = node;
-    sub = xmlXPathEvalExpression(BAD_CAST "construction", xpath);
-    if (sub->nodesetval) {
-      xml_readconstruction(xpath, sub->nodesetval, &arch->ctype);
+      arch->size = xml_ivalue(node, "cost", 0);
+
+      xpath->node = node;
+      sub = xmlXPathEvalExpression(BAD_CAST "construction", xpath);
+      if (sub->nodesetval) {
+        xml_readconstruction(xpath, sub->nodesetval, &arch->ctype);
+      }
+      xmlXPathFreeObject(sub);
+      register_archetype(arch);
     }
-    xmlXPathFreeObject(sub);
   }
   xmlXPathFreeObject(result);
 
diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/economy.c b/src/common/gamecode/economy.c
index 28989c151..7a11bd998 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/economy.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/economy.c
@@ -1058,14 +1058,13 @@ maintain_buildings(region * r, boolean crash)
 static int
 recruit_archetype(unit * u, order * ord)
 {
-  int n, id;
+  int n;
   const char * s;
 
   init_tokens(ord);
   skip_token();
   n = geti();
   s = getstrtoken();
-  id = getid();
   if (n>0 && s && s[0]) {
     const archetype * arch = find_archetype(s, u->faction->locale);
     attrib * a = NULL;
@@ -1104,12 +1103,14 @@ recruit_archetype(unit * u, order * ord)
 
     n = build(u, arch->ctype, 0, n);
     if (n>0) {
-      scale_number(u, n);
+      set_number(u, n);
       equip_unit(u, arch->equip);
+      u->hp = n * unit_max_hp(u);
       if (arch->size) {
         if (a==NULL) a = a_add(&u->building->attribs, a_new(&at_recruit));
         a->data.i += n*arch->size;
       }
+      ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("recruit_archetype", "unit archetype", u, arch->name));
       return n;
     } else switch(n) {
       case ENOMATERIALS:
diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/report.c b/src/common/gamecode/report.c
index 64cf7269e..fbf7ca10d 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/report.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/report.c
@@ -1791,6 +1791,7 @@ report_plaintext(const char * filename, report_context * ctx)
 
   dh = 0;
   if (f->age <= 2) {
+    const char * s;
     if (f->age <= 1) {
       ADDMSG(&f->msgs, msg_message("changepasswd",
         "value", f->passw));
@@ -1798,14 +1799,23 @@ report_plaintext(const char * filename, report_context * ctx)
     RENDER(f, buf, sizeof(buf), ("newbie_password", "password", f->passw));
     rnl(F);
     centre(F, buf, true);
-    rnl(F);
-    centre(F, LOC(f->locale, "newbie_info_1"), true);
-    rnl(F);
-    centre(F, LOC(f->locale, "newbie_info_2"), true);
+    s = locale_getstring(f->locale, "newbie_info_1");
+    if (s) {
+      rnl(F);
+      centre(F, s, true);
+    }
+    s = locale_getstring(f->locale, "newbie_info_2");
+    if (s) {
+      rnl(F);
+      centre(F, s, true);
+    }
     if ((f->options & want(O_COMPUTER)) == 0) {
       f->options |= want(O_COMPUTER);
-      rnl(F);
-      centre(F, LOC(f->locale, "newbie_info_3"), true);
+      s = locale_getstring(f->locale, "newbie_info_3");
+      if (s) {
+        rnl(F);
+        centre(F, s, true);
+      }
     }
   }
   rnl(F);
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/equipment.c b/src/common/kernel/equipment.c
index c9bfda6f7..91ba98843 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/equipment.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/equipment.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ create_equipment(const char * eqname)
       eq->items = NULL;
       eq->spells = NULL;
       eq->subsets = NULL;
+      eq->callback = NULL;
       memset(eq->skills, 0, sizeof(eq->skills));
       *eqp = eq;
       break;
@@ -113,6 +114,12 @@ equipment_setitem(equipment * eq, const item_type * itype, const char * value)
   }
 }
 
+void
+equipment_setcallback(struct equipment * eq, void (*callback)(const struct equipment *, struct unit *))
+{
+  eq->callback = callback;
+}
+
 void
 equip_unit(struct unit * u, const struct equipment * eq)
 {
@@ -163,6 +170,8 @@ equip_unit(struct unit * u, const struct equipment * eq)
         }
       }
     }
+
+    if (eq->callback) eq->callback(eq, u);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/equipment.h b/src/common/kernel/equipment.h
index 1c62651ff..b17cc91b9 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/equipment.h
+++ b/src/common/kernel/equipment.h
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ extern "C" {
     struct spell_list * spells;
     struct subset * subsets;
     struct equipment * next;
+    void (*callback)(const struct equipment *, struct unit *);
   } equipment;
 
 
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ extern "C" {
   extern void equipment_setitem(struct equipment * eq, const struct item_type * itype, const char * value);
   extern void equipment_setskill(struct equipment * eq, skill_t sk, const char * value);
   extern void equipment_addspell(struct equipment * eq, struct spell * sp);
+  extern void equipment_setcallback(struct equipment * eq, void (*callback)(const struct equipment *, struct unit *));
 
   extern void equip_unit(struct unit * u, const struct equipment * eq);
   extern void equip_items(struct item ** items, const struct equipment * eq);
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/faction.c b/src/common/kernel/faction.c
index 8ca8c3d3b..2a7fe5741 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/faction.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/faction.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ addplayer(region *r, faction * f)
   u = createunit(r, f, 1, f->race);
   equip_unit(u, get_equipment("new_faction"));
   equip_unit(u, get_equipment(u->race->_name[0]));
-  give_starting_equipment(u);
+  u->hp = unit_max_hp(u) * u->number;
   fset(u, UFL_ISNEW);
   if (f->race == new_race[RC_DAEMON]) {
     race_t urc;
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/race.c b/src/common/kernel/race.c
index 653defc76..b881a1146 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/race.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/race.c
@@ -225,12 +225,12 @@ unit_max_hp(const unit * u)
 	return h;
 }
 
-void
-give_starting_equipment(struct unit *u)
+static void
+equip_newunits(const struct equipment * eq, struct unit *u)
 {
   struct region *r = u->region;
 
-  switch(old_race(u->race)) {
+  switch (old_race(u->race)) {
   case RC_ELF:
     set_show_item(u->faction, I_FEENSTIEFEL);
     break;
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ give_starting_equipment(struct unit *u)
     set_number(u, 10);
     break;
   case RC_HUMAN:
-    {
+    if (u->building==NULL) {
       const building_type * btype = bt_find("castle");
       if (btype!=NULL) {
         building *b = new_building(btype, r, u->faction->locale);
@@ -264,7 +264,6 @@ give_starting_equipment(struct unit *u)
     rsethorses(r, 250+rng_int()%51+rng_int()%51);
     break;
   }
-  u->hp = unit_max_hp(u) * u->number;
 }
 
 boolean
@@ -449,6 +448,7 @@ register_races(void)
 	 * to generate battle spoils
 	 * race->itemdrop() */
   register_function((pf_generic)default_spoil, "defaultdrops");
+  register_function((pf_generic)equip_newunits, "equip_newunits");
 
 	sprintf(zBuffer, "%s/races.xml", resourcepath());
 }
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/race.h b/src/common/kernel/race.h
index 8ac8ba346..427dc57e9 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/race.h
+++ b/src/common/kernel/race.h
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ extern int read_race_reference(const struct race ** rp, FILE * F);
 
 extern const char * raceprefix(const struct unit *u);
 
-extern void give_starting_equipment(struct unit *u);
+extern void give_starting_equipment(const struct equipment * eq, struct unit *u);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/xmlreader.c b/src/common/kernel/xmlreader.c
index 623e3d800..e123af032 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/xmlreader.c
@@ -1088,6 +1088,28 @@ add_items(equipment * eq, xmlNodeSetPtr nsetItems)
   }
 }
 
+static void
+add_callbacks(equipment * eq, xmlNodeSetPtr nsetItems)
+{
+  if (nsetItems!=NULL && nsetItems->nodeNr>0) {
+    int i;
+    for (i=0;i!=nsetItems->nodeNr;++i) {
+      xmlNodePtr node = nsetItems->nodeTab[i];
+      xmlChar * property;
+      pf_generic fun;
+
+      property = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "name");
+      if (property!=NULL) {
+        fun = get_function((const char*)property);
+        if (fun) {
+          equipment_setcallback(eq, (void (*)(const struct equipment *, struct unit *))fun);
+        }
+        xmlFree(property);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 static void
 add_spells(equipment * eq, xmlNodeSetPtr nsetItems)
 {
@@ -1224,6 +1246,10 @@ parse_equipment(xmlDocPtr doc)
 
         xpath->node = node;
 
+        xpathResult = xmlXPathEvalExpression(BAD_CAST "callback", xpath);
+        add_callbacks(eq, xpathResult->nodesetval);
+        xmlXPathFreeObject(xpathResult);
+
         xpathResult = xmlXPathEvalExpression(BAD_CAST "item", xpath);
         add_items(eq, xpathResult->nodesetval);
         xmlXPathFreeObject(xpathResult);
diff --git a/src/eressea/lua/script.cpp b/src/eressea/lua/script.cpp
index cd487b6f1..1764f629b 100644
--- a/src/eressea/lua/script.cpp
+++ b/src/eressea/lua/script.cpp
@@ -303,6 +303,28 @@ race_setscript(const char * rcname, const luabind::object& f)
   }
 }
 
+static void
+lua_equipmentcallback(const struct equipment * eq, unit * u)
+{
+  char fname[64];
+  snprintf(fname, sizeof(fname), "equip_%s", eq->name);
+
+  lua_State * L = (lua_State *)global.vm_state;
+  if (is_function(L, fname)) {
+    try {
+      call_function<int>(L, fname, u);
+    }
+    catch (error& e) {
+      lua_State* L = e.state();
+      const char* error = lua_tostring(L, -1);
+      log_error(("An exception occured while %s tried to call '%s': %s.\n",
+        unitname(u), fname, error));
+      lua_pop(L, 1);
+      std::terminate();
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 void
 bind_script(lua_State * L)
 {
@@ -311,6 +333,7 @@ bind_script(lua_State * L)
   register_function((pf_generic)&lua_useitem, "lua_useitem");
   register_function((pf_generic)&lua_getresource, "lua_getresource");
   register_function((pf_generic)&lua_changeresource, "lua_changeresource");
+  register_function((pf_generic)&lua_equipmentcallback, "lua_equip");
 
   module(L)[
     def("overload", &overload),
diff --git a/src/eressea/server.cpp b/src/eressea/server.cpp
index e657991c3..8555fd1cd 100644
--- a/src/eressea/server.cpp
+++ b/src/eressea/server.cpp
@@ -223,7 +223,6 @@ game_init(void)
   register_ships();
   register_itemfunctions();
   register_spells();
-  register_archetypes();
 #ifdef DUNGEON_MODULE
   register_dungeon();
 #endif
@@ -239,6 +238,7 @@ game_init(void)
 
   register_itemtypes();
   register_xmlreader();
+  register_archetypes();
   enable_xml_gamecode();
 
   init_data(xmlfile);
diff --git a/src/res/equipment.xml b/src/res/equipment.xml
index 4962a3c6e..929d7ba2d 100644
--- a/src/res/equipment.xml
+++ b/src/res/equipment.xml
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@
 
   <set name="elf">
     <item name="fairyboot" amount="1"/>
+    <callback name="equip_newunits"/>
   </set>
 
   <set name="uruk">
@@ -149,6 +150,11 @@
 
   <set name="goblin">
     <item name="roi" amount="1"/>
+    <callback name="equip_newunits"/>
+  </set>
+
+  <set name="human">
+    <callback name="equip_newunits"/>
   </set>
 
   <set name="troll">
@@ -181,10 +187,16 @@
 
   <set name="cat">
     <item name="roi" amount="1"/>
+    <callback name="equip_newunits"/>
   </set>
 
   <set name="aquarian">
     <skill name="sailing" level="1"/>
+    <callback name="equip_newunits"/>
+  </set>
+
+  <set name="centaur">
+    <callback name="equip_newunits"/>
   </set>
 
   <!-- equipment-sets for random encounters -->
diff --git a/src/res/rts.xml b/src/res/rts.xml
index b11cbeb34..337a17e32 100644
--- a/src/res/rts.xml
+++ b/src/res/rts.xml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
   <xi:include href="prefixes.xml"/>
   <xi:include href="ships.xml"/>
   <xi:include href="rts/buildings.xml"/>
+  <xi:include href="rts/strings.xml"/>
   <xi:include href="rts/units.xml"/>
   <xi:include href="rts/calendar.xml"/>
   <xi:include href="equipment.xml"/>
diff --git a/src/res/rts/equipment.xml b/src/res/rts/equipment.xml
index 10ae844fc..a9c17616e 100644
--- a/src/res/rts/equipment.xml
+++ b/src/res/rts/equipment.xml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
     <item name="money" amount="4200"/>
     <item name="log" amount="30"/>
     <item name="stone" amount="30"/>
+    <callback name="lua_equip"/>
   </set>
 
 </equipment>
diff --git a/src/res/rts/strings.xml b/src/res/rts/strings.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..20348358a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/res/rts/strings.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
+<strings>
+  <!-- OPTION [x] -->
+  <string name="knight">
+    <text locale="en">knight</text>
+    <text locale="de">Ritter</text>
+  </string>
+  <string name="knight_p">
+    <text locale="en">knights</text>
+  </string>
+  <string name="craftsman">
+    <text locale="en">craftsman</text>
+    <text locale="de">Handwerker</text>
+  </string>
+  <string name="craftsman_p">
+    <text locale="en">craftsmen</text>
+  </string>
+  <string name="swordsman">
+    <text locale="en">swordsman</text>
+    <text locale="de">Schwertkämpfer</text>
+  </string>
+  <string name="swordsman_p">
+    <text locale="en">swordsmen</text>
+  </string>
+  <string name="pikeman">
+    <text locale="en">swordsman</text>
+    <text locale="de">Pikenier</text>
+  </string>
+  <string name="pikeman_p">
+    <text locale="en">pikemen</text>
+    <text locale="de">Pikeniere</text>
+  </string>
+
+  <string name="barracks">
+    <text locale="en">Barracks</text>
+    <text locale="de">Kaserne</text>
+  </string>
+
+</strings>
diff --git a/src/res/rts/units.xml b/src/res/rts/units.xml
index 07dbf62b1..3d18bc8b4 100644
--- a/src/res/rts/units.xml
+++ b/src/res/rts/units.xml
@@ -2,26 +2,26 @@
 <archetypes>
 
   <archetype name="swordsman" building="barracks" cost="10">
-    <construction>
+    <construction reqsize="1">
       <requirement type="money" quantity="100"/>
     </construction>
   </archetype>
 
   <archetype name="pikeman" building="barracks" cost="10">
-    <construction>
+    <construction reqsize="1"><!-- 1 requirement makes 1 recruit -->
       <requirement type="money" quantity="100"/>
     </construction>
   </archetype>
 
   <archetype name="knight" building="barracks" cost="100">
-    <construction>
+    <construction reqsize="1">
       <requirement type="money" quantity="1000"/>
       <requirement type="laen" quantity="1"/>
     </construction>
   </archetype>
 
   <archetype name="craftsman" building="castle" cost="10">
-    <construction>
+    <construction reqsize="1">
       <requirement type="money" quantity="100"/>
     </construction>
   </archetype>
diff --git a/src/res/vinyambar/de/strings-classic.xml b/src/res/vinyambar/de/strings-classic.xml
index 2aebdb22a..4e22735df 100644
--- a/src/res/vinyambar/de/strings-classic.xml
+++ b/src/res/vinyambar/de/strings-classic.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 		<text locale="de">Weitere Informationen über das Spiel findest Du unter htpp://www.vinyambar.de/</text>
 	</string>
 	<string name="newbie_info_3">
-		<text locale="de">Mit der ersten Auswertung bekommst du einen Computerreport, den du mit vielen der Tools auf http://www.eressea-pbem.de/download.html benutzen kannst. Wenn du ihn nicht bekommen möchtest, gib einer deiner Einheiten den Befehl OPTION COMPUTER NICHT.</text>
+		<text locale="de">Mit der ersten Auswertung bekommst du einen Computerreport, den du mit vielen der Tools auf http://www.eressea.de/ benutzen kannst. Wenn du ihn nicht bekommen möchtest, gib einer deiner Einheiten den Befehl OPTION COMPUTER NICHT.</text>
 	</string>
 	<string name="defaultorder">
 		<text locale="de">ARBEITE</text>
diff --git a/src/scripts/rts-run.lua b/src/scripts/rts-run.lua
index 6c4c666bb..8d5fde91e 100644
--- a/src/scripts/rts-run.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/rts-run.lua
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ function run_scripts()
   end
 end
 
+function equip_new_faction(u)
+  b = add_building(u.region, "castle")
+  b.size = 10
+  u.building = b
+end
+
 function process(orders)
   file = "" .. get_turn()
   if read_game(file)~=0 then