Messenger,
Yes, though they aren't too visible, now that I think about it -- I'm using a lot of the Valentine Armories swords (I forget the weapon pack's author), for one thing.
Tuckles,
Perhaps, then, employing conlang'ed names for the various types of soldiers wouldn't be such a good idea...

(FWIW, the words are actually pretty inconsistent with the language as it currently stands -- and it, of course, is still very much in development...
The basic kantis and family are the shirt-analogues, or will be once I manage to get concept art and a modeller or fifty.

I think I may want to learn drawing, though, and do the concept art myself -- to avoid serious IP issues down the road...)
Cirdan,
Ransoming prisoners is an
excellent idea -- I'll have to implement that. (Did I mention that it's really refreshing to be talking with you outside the context of "ASLOW and Orientalism," too?

)
I don't have a high opinion of "satisfying basest instincts" to begin with, and besides that, ASLOW's aiming for a pretty different tone from the 'mainstream' of M&B settings. So, executing prisoners can be pretty solidly ruled out, apart, of course, from the question of what bit bucket prisoners vanish into when you don't take them with you...
You're right on sieges and defender's supplies (I hadn't thought of morale -- I'll have to add that) -- though the attacker's supplies will be an issue too.
("COOK: But we're not 'in a siege,' we're doing the besieging, it's the other side that's 'in a siege,' when will you get this into your head?
MOTHER COURAGE: A fat lot of difference that makes,
we haven't got a thing to eat either. They took everything into the town with them before all this started, and now they've nothing to do but eat and drink, I hear. It's us I'm worried about. Look at the farmers around here, they haven't a thing.")
I could include the rest of the scene, but I don't think that'd qualify as fair use...

Note that sallies, and duels between the commanders (this is your warning: head to Storymod and bone up!), will be a fairly significant part of the battle, too. I agree that static 'breach' scenes will be the best bet -- though I can't help but think that for twenty cities, that's going to be a lot of scene design.
Do I have any volunteers?
