Empire: Total War just got its third update and some downloadable content. This latest patch includes AI adjustments, balance changes, and a whole mess of fixes. There are also some free goodies.

14 Free Units have been included in this patch, adding a large amount of diversity to the playable factions and the armies the player will face. These units replace 'generic' equivalents giving each faction a unique identity on the battlefield.

Of course, if you want the really good new units, you get to pay $3.50 on Steam for the "Elite Units of the West" downloadable content. These fourteen units are added to various nations above and beyond their normal forces.

For instance, if you're playing the United States and you build a Naval College, now you can recruit US Marines (pictured). Which might be realistic, but I like to think of it as the developers engaging in a little inter-service rivalry humor. It reminds me of this joke.

Q: What does M.A.R.I.N.E. stand for?
A: My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment.

Go find a Marine and tell him or her that one. I understand they love that joke.

Anyway, $3.50 doesn't sound like a lot for a few new units. But on principle, I'd rather not get nickel and dimed until the developer has restored some good will in the form of a stable game with a passable AI. It might have been better to wait for a bit after the patch before holding out the equivalent of a tip jar.