aja5191
03-07-2007, 00:54
https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/854/romaresen3hd8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Roma Surrectum : Official Preview
Unique Greek City Hoplites
In this preview, as promised in the last, we showcase the "Unique Greek City Hoplites". These are units that can be recruited in the campaign by any Greek faction (and the Free People) - as long as they hold the appropriate city.
Here is a list of all the "Unique Greek City Hoplites" :
1. Athenian Hoplite
2. Bosporan Hoplite
3. Byzantium Hoplite
4. Corinthian Hoplite
5. Cretan Hoplite
6. Cypriot Hoplite
7. Cyrenaican Hoplite
8. Ephesian Hoplite
9. Pergamum Hoplite
10. Rhodian Hoplite
11. Syracusan Hoplite
12. Tarentine Hoplite
13. Athenian Marine
14. Syracusan Marine
The last two are archer units, but they follow the same scheme of recruitment as the Hoplites
Generic Description (Will feature at the beginning of all these Hoplite unit descriptions)
These hoplites are mainly draw from the well-to-do citizens of a city, and are bound together through blood, culture and a common patriotic feeling for their home city. These citizen-soldiers were the primary force used by the Greek states for centuries; and could claim to be the best heavy armoured infantry in the world for much of that time – presenting a wall of metal and a hedge of spears that could pose a threat to even a numerically superior foe. However, the hoplite form of warfare is now outdated, and the Macedonian Phalanx is now the most powerful infantry type amongst the great Hellenic powers. Advances have been made in hoplite warfare though, such as the reforms of Iphikrates, and the development of the Thureophoroi and Thorakitai style units.
Many of these men have adapted accordingly, wearing lighter armour, more suitable helmets, and having longer spears; but others have changed little and still fight in the classical fashion. Regardless of the equipment and tactics used, these are loyal citizens, chosen men who will fight courageously in defence of hearth and home.
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*Click on the Images to Enlarge*
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Athenian Hoplite
https://img226.imageshack.us/img226/2204/rometwbi200702180642519aa9.th.jpg (https://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180642519aa9.jpg)
These hoplites are from the great city of Athens. Twice men such as these threw back the might of the Persian Empire. The most powerful Greek City in history, the forces of Athens campaigned in Persia, Thrace, Egypt, Italy, and –fatally– Sicily.
But that time has passed. It is a desirable thing to be well descended, but the glory belongs to the ancestors. But these men are still a force to be valued – they are proud citizens, fighting not only for their city’s honour but for there families and homes; and are keen to live up to Athens noble history.
Their shield displays the head of medusa, which Athena herself bears upon her aegis, the ghastly token given to her by Perseus; who she guided in killing the Gorgon.
Bosporan Kingdom
https://img93.imageshack.us/img93/8391/rometwbi200702200007265lo1.th.jpg (https://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200007265lo1.jpg)
The Bosporan Kingdom saw the fusion of various races united by the influence of Greek Culture and Language. These Hoplites, though made up of men mostly of Greek descent, also contain Thracians and Scythians; fierce fighters in their own right who will do as well as any Greek in the heat of battle.
These men are fierce soldiers, and have been battled hardened in constant wars with the barbarian tribes of the north; and have been toughened by the harsh climate of the steppes. They are more flexible than the average Hoplite, but perhaps less able to deal with the more heavily armed alternatives; and certainly no match for the Phalangite based armies of the Successor states to the South.
Byzantine Hoplite
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/8008/rometwbi200702200011253tl7.th.jpg (https://img353.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200011253tl7.jpg)
Byzas set sail from his home city of Megara with instructions form the Delphic Oracle to found his new city “opposite the blind”. The hidden meaning of this command only became clear when he came upon the Greek city of Chalcedon on the Asiatic side of the Bosporus. He realised that they were the blind, for an obviously better site lay less than a mile away on the European side. Here Byzas founded his city and named it after himself. The city prospered through trade, exploiting its commanding position over the sole entrance in to the Black Sea.
In 339BC the Byzantines won an important victory in battle underneath a waxing moon. The victory was attributed to Artemis and they adopter her symbol, the crescent moon, as their own. This can be seen depicted on the unit’s shield.
Corinthian Hoplite
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2354/rometwbi200702210456397bc8.th.jpg (https://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702210456397bc8.jpg)
Corinth’s wealth once rivalled that of Athens, being based mainly on control over the isthmus; and many pottery and craft advances were first begun in Corinth, only to be improved upon by the Athenians. Corinth was a major participant in the Persian Wars, contributing 50 ships and 5,000 hoplites. In the destructive Peloponnesian Wars that followed, Corinth fought against Athens as a member of the Peloponnesian League; but then later turned against Sparta in the so-called ‘Corinthian War’ along with Thebes and Argos – no doubt backed by Persia, scared of the Spartan Hegemony.
On their shields is the image of Pegasus, the famous winged horse who aided Bellerophon against the Amazons and the feared Chimera. Bellerophon was a native of Corinth, grandson of the city’s founder Sisyphus.
Cretan Hoplite
https://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4953/rometwbi200702180602445yw5.th.jpg (https://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180602445yw5.jpg)
Not particularly known for their hoplite heritage, Cretans are more renowned for their fine ranged units; but as one would expect from an island with a close connection to Sparta both in terms of military and government, Cretans can prove good fighters.
They carry the emblem of a bulls head, synonymous with Crete and its legendary King Minos.
Cypriot Hoplite
https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5839/rometwbi200702180614445ga2.th.jpg (https://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180614445ga2.jpg)
Cyprus spent much of its history under the rule of various powers; Assyria, Egypt, Persia, Ptolemaic Egypt, and then Rome. It was one of the ‘melting pots’ of the ancient world, with various cultures and races mixed, producing a unique identity.
Not renowned for their military exploits (which usually involved being defeated and conquered), these are still eager fighters and not to be underestimated; but they do not even come close to the troops that Athens and Sparta can field.
Widely accepted as the birthplace of Aphrodite, these men bear the turtle on their shields as a symbolic reference to the Goddess of Love. The turtle also featured on many Cypriot coins.
Cyrenaican Hoplite
https://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7029/rometwbi200702180618197nr1.th.jpg (https://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180618197nr1.jpg)
Cyrene was originally established by colonist from Thera in 630BC. Controlling the fertile coast, they were blessed by a unique climate that allowed multiple harvests a year. Their most important crop was Silphium, a medicinal herb that grew only in that region and brought great wealth; shown by the depiction on many coins minted in Cyrene.
The image depicts Triton, a son of Poseidon and messenger of the seas; who was said to abode near Libya.
Ephesian Hoplite
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7248/rometwbi200702200018530uy9.th.jpg (https://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200018530uy9.jpg)
Ephesus was famous throughout the Greek World for its Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, which took 120 years to build. It was destroyed in 356BC by an individual purposely burning it to the ground; his motive was fame, so that he might be known throughout the world. The Temple burnt down on the same evening as the birth of Alexander the Great, some say that the Goddess was too busy looking over the birth of Alexander to watch over her own temple. The Temple's reconstruction was begun in 323BC.
Artemis, along with her twin brother Apollo, was widely worshipped throughout Asia Minor. Many of the city’s coins display a Bee, a symbol associated with both Gods. It is this symbol that these men adorn their shields with.
Pergamum Hoplite
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7145/rometwbi200702180621537to5.th.jpg (https://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180621537to5.jpg)
Pergamum, a powerful and rich Greek City-Kingdom, fought in the style of the Successor states – using the Macedonian Phalanx tactics. However not all were trained in this style, and not all could afford to be equipped as such. These men fight in a more old fashioned style of warfare, though they have adopted a longer spear and lighter armour. Though not on par with the Macedonian Phalanx, they can still hold a line in battle and are more than able to deal with less heavily armed opponents, such as the warriors of Galatia.
Their shield depicts Athena, who was widely worshipped in Pergamum, and who often appears on their coinage. Pergamum, though a relatively new Greek City, supported many older cities of the Greek mainland, giving offerings to temples and games; especially to the temple of Athena at Athens.
Rhodian Hoplite
https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5534/rometwbi200702200020527cs0.th.jpg (https://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200020527cs0.jpg)
The cities of the island of Rhodes united to form a unified political identity 408BC. The actual city of Rhodes was built as the new capital of the island. However the island fell to Mausolus of Halicarnassus and subsequently to the Persians in 340BC.
However, eight years later Alexander the Great would throw down the Persian Empire. Following his death, his successors vied for control of the strategically important island. Rhodes allied itself with Egypt, provoking Demetrius “The Besieger” to invade the island. Demetrius constructed various siege engines, including a 1000 manned Battering Ram and a gigantic siege tower. Named Helepolis (Taker of Cities), it was iron clad, had mechanical shutters, and contained various workable catapults and ballistae within it; a remarkable feat of engineering.
These siege engines along with many other military supplies were abandoned by Demetrius when he settled for a peace treaty. The Rhodians sold these and used the money to create a statue of their patron deity, the sun god Helios - the Colossus of Rhodes and one of the Wonders of the World.
The island of Rhodes was said to be a result of the union of Helios and the nymph Rhode. Helios is depicted on many Rhodian coins and these hoplites bear the image of the God as a symbol of their city.
Syracusan Hoplite
https://img226.imageshack.us/img226/980/rometwbi200702180632367fh4.th.jpg (https://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180632367fh4.jpg)
While the city states of Greece were faced with the threat of the mighty Persian Empire; Syracuse itself was faced with the threat of a powerful, rich and expanding Empire of its own – Carthage. Many times the armies of Carthage and the numerous nations of her empire descended upon the Sicilian Greeks, but failed to ever take Syracuse itself.
Athens, though it too held command over an empire and a great fleet, failed to defeat the Syracusans; to their ultimate downfall and against the prophetic warning of Pericles. Soon after the Peloponnesian War, in 401BC 3,000 Syracusan hoplites joined Cyrus the Younger’s ‘Army of the Ten Thousand’, the famous Persian Expedition recorded by Xenophon.
As one would expect from an illustrious city that can boast such a rich military past, Syracuse can produce fine soldiers, and have a great source of manpower and resources in Sicily. On their shield is shown the image of Arethusa, who fled to the island of Ortygia to escape the advances of the river god Alpheus.
Tarentine Hoplite
https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5633/rometwbi200702180638115yt2.th.jpg (https://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180638115yt2.jpg)
Though at one point the dominant power in Magna Graecia, who viewed itself as the benefactor of all the Greek States in Italy; Tarentum was weakened by constant and costly wars. An agreement between Carthage and the Etruscans also served to greatly reduce the influence of the city.
In 333BC, facing conflicts with the Bruttii, Samnites and Lucanians; Tarentum invited the King of Epirus, Alexander Molossus to aid them. Despite initial success, the King was betrayed and killed. Gradually weakening as the years passed, they would call upon the aid of Agothecles of Syracuse in 304 BC, and later in 282BC again called for the aid of an Epriot King - Pyrrhus of Epirus; marking the beginning of the Pyrrhic Wars.
These Hoplites show Taras, a son of Poseidon and the mythological founder of the city, riding upon a dolphin; an image to be found on the coins of the city.
Athenian Marine
https://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8731/rometwbi200702200106317kp1.th.jpg (https://img294.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200106317kp1.jpg)
Athens has a rich naval heritage. At Salamis the Athenian Navy was the main contributor of ships to the Greek cause; and it was this victory that ultimately made the Persians abandon their invasion; and from which Athens was able to forge her empire.
Though only a shadow of her former self Athens can still produce fine naval units such as these marines. Fighting primarily with a bow, they are heavily armoured to make them more suited in the close combat that naval engagements often require. This makes them a flexible force, and they can also serve as light infantry if need be. However, they maintain a weakness to cavalry and it should be remembered that these are slower than other ranged units – making them less able to skirmish as effectively as other ranged units might.
Syracusan Marine
https://img457.imageshack.us/img457/6896/rometwbi200702200057465rp6.th.jpg
After the annihilation of the Sicilian Expedition, and the eventual defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War, Syracuse became a strong naval power, rivalling that of Carthage. Such naval innovations as the Corvus were down to the Syracusans, and they proved themselves excellent sea-men.
They are armed primarily with a bow, but being more heavily armoured; they are more able to hold their own in close combat than other ranged units; learning their fighting skills from the confined fighting associated in naval warfare where attempts are made at boarding the enemies ships.
However, these should not be expected to fight in a main battle – they are naval units after all – but instead should fill the role of archers. Their heavy armour makes them less vulnerable to counter attack, but this also makes them slower than other ranged units; so may suffer in a prolonged skirmish, and should definitely be kept out of the way of cavalry.
The below Units have not been done for the "Unique Greek City Hoplite" idea, but as they are Greek Units, this seems a good place to put them:
Sicilian Hoplite (Only recruitable by Syracuse in Sicily)
https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3374/rometwbi200702180627319qy3.th.jpg (https://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180627319qy3.jpg)
The Sicilian hoplites are drawn from amongst the allied cities of Syracuse in Sicily. They fight for Syracuse and for Sicily and are proud to do so; valuing the past and present protection that Syracuse had offered against foreign invaders. Among the ranks of these men are not only Greeks, but also some of the native Sicilians who have adopted Greek culture, such as the Sicel tribes.
They bear the Triskelion, a symbol associated with the island that was once called ‘Trinacria’; and a symbol that was often printed on the coins of the famous Agothecles.
New Cretan Archer Skin
https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4936/rometwbi200702200053114kr2.th.jpg (https://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200053114kr2.jpg)
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Improvements to the Traits & Ancillaries system
Previously untouched by Roma Surrectum, the traits and ancillary system is set to undergo a huge boost. In the future we will look to integrate several features which will add a lot of depth. However, most excitingly; Repman (of BareBonesWars fame) has generously offered Roma Surrectum the use of his Roman/Greek/Barbarian leadership system.
This is outlined below. The following information was taken from a thread Repman posted on the system:
ROMAN / GREEK / BARBARIAN LEADERSHIP SYSTEM
Roman Leadership System
Graphical Overview:
https://img467.imageshack.us/img467/3404/rslbz6.th.png (https://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rslbz6.png)
Here an example of an tribune promoted to Legate after two turns stay in city. He now leads the first Legion. (In game image taken from BBW, NOT Roma Surrectum)
https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/889/rometw20060616211621346nz.th.jpg (https://img512.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometw20060616211621346nz.jpg)
Faction Leader (Princeps Senatus)
- Leader of the Roman Senate.
Faction Heir (Future Princeps Senatus)
- Future Leader of the Roman Senate.
Consul (Consul)
- During the times of the Republic of Rome, 2 Consuls were elected as the chief magistrates, the highest elected public office. Each was a magistrate in their own right, but had veto power over the official actions of the other.
- During times of war, Consuls served as the Roman commanders-in-chief of all Roman military forces.
- Upon advancement to Consul, a Roman character will receive an increase of +3 to Command due to his command staff assisting him with his military duties. He will also receive an increase of +3 to Personal Security and a +60 to Siege Engineering. He will continue to receive these bonuses while holding the military rank of General. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from active service and receive an increase of +4 to Influence. At a later date, he will be available for return to military service as a Consul.
- An individual most serve a minimum of 5 years as a General to be eligible for the position of Consul
- As was the historical situation, only two Consul positions will be available. One advantage the player will have over what often was the historical reality, is that both Consuls will be in complete agreement at all times, never veto'ing the official actions of the other.
- One Consul position is available immediately. I have currently made the second Consul position available after the Republic of Rome controls more than 20 provinces. I did this for play balance, but may remove this restriction.
Governor of Latium (Praetor Urbanus)
- Governor of Latium, resides in Roma.
- The Governor of Latium must have served a minimum of 5 years as a General (Praetor).
- An individual serving as the Governor of Latium will receive an increase of +1 to Management and +1 to Law. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from his service as the Governor of Latium and will receive an increase of +2 to Influence.
- The Governor of Latium will be assigned a Quaestor (a character ancillary), who represents the governor's second-in-command, assisting with the financial details of governing the province of Latium. This character ancillary will confer a +5% to Tax Collection and +1 to Management.
Provincial Governor (Rector Provinciae)
- Governor of one of the Roman provinces outside of Latium.
- A Legate may serve as a temporary Provincial Governor (Legatus Propraetor). A Legate must have served 6 years as a Legate. A Legate will serve a term of one year as a temporary Provincial Governor (Legatus Propraetor).
- A General may serve as a temporary Provincial Governor (Propraetor). A General will serve a term of one year as a temporary Provincial Governor (Propraetor).
- A Provincial Governor must have served a term of 1 year as a General (Praetor).
- An individual serving as a Provincial Governor, whether permanent or temporary, will receive an increase of +1 to Management and +1 to Law. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from his service as Provincial Governor and will receive an increase of +1 to Influence.
- The number of Provincial Governors will be determined by the number of provinces control by the Republic of Rome. For every 10 provinces, there will be one Provincial Governor.
- A Provincial Governor will be assigned a Quaestor (a character ancillary), who represents the governor's second-in-command, assisting with the financial details of governing the province. This character ancillary will confer a +5% to Tax Collection and +1 to Management.
General (Praetor)
- Served as the senior Roman officer in command of Roman military forces on campaign in a region.
- Upon advancement to General, a Roman character will receive an increase of +3 to Command due to his general's staff assisting him with his military duties. He will also receive an increase of +2 to Personal Security and a +40 to Siege Engineering. He will continue to receive these bonuses while holding the military rank of General. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from active military service and receive an increase of +3 to Influence. At a later date, he will be available for return to military service as a Praetor.
- An individual most serve a minimum of 5 years as a General to be eligible for the position of Provincial Governor.
- The number of Generals will be determined by the number of provinces controlled by the Republic of Rome. For every 10 provinces, there will be one General.
Legate (Legatus Legionis)
- Served as commanding officer of a Roman Legion.
- Upon advancement to Legate, a Roman character will receive an increase of +3 to Command due to the legion's staff and experienced centurions assisting him with his military duties. He will also receive an increase of +1 to Personal Security and a +20 to Siege Engineering. He will continue to receive these bonuses while holding the military rank of Legate. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from active military service and receive an increase of +2 to Influence. At a later date, he will be available for return to military service as a Legate.
- A Legate can be appointed by the Roman Senate to serve as a temporary Provincial Governor (Legatus Propraetor) in the absence of a Praetor.
- An individual most serve a minimum of 10 years as a Legate to be eligible for the military rank of Praetor.
Tribune (Tribunus Militum)
- Upon advancement to Tribune, a Roman character will receive an increase of +1 to Command due to the experienced centurions assisting him with the accomplishment of his military duties. He will continue to receive these bonuses while holding the military rank of Tribune. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from active military service and receive an increase of +1 to Influence. After retiring from active service, he may return to military service as a Tribune by simply fulfilling the requirements for entering service in the Roman Army.
- An individual most serve a minimum of 10 years as a Tribune to be eligible for the military rank of Legate.
Student (Discipulus)
- A character that is acquired via the "Coming of Age" event, being only 16 years old, will begin his formal education and personal combat training as a Student. After spending 4 years as a student, he will be eligible to enter military service as a Tribune.
- During his 4 years of formal education and personal combat training, to make the best use of this time, a character should travel to Roma, or the nearest city, and take up residence until he is 20 years old. A city with a Scriptorium, or higher level of educational building, would be an ideal residence for a Student, so he can take advantage of the increased chances of acquiring useful character traits and ancillaries.
- An alternative, would be to accompany an older relative who is currently serving in the Roman Army. He will not benefit from any increased command bonuses, but may gain military skills, though he will have a higher chance of acquiring the less savoury traits of military life. His best choice would be formal schooling in the nearest city.
- In extreme circumstances, he can still lead military forces, but due to his lack of experience, he will not gain any command bonuses.
Remarks
* All new characters acquired via through adoption, captains joining your faction, and marrying into your family via your daughters, will start with 4 years of military service in the rank of Tribune.
* All new characters acquired via the "Coming of Age" event will spend a period of 4 years receiving an education and basic hand-to-hand combat training. Once they have finished training and reached the age of 20, they will be eligible for their first military assignment as Tribune. They will still be available to lead troops, but will not receive the benefit of holding the military rank of Tribune.
* I have an idea for including a new character ancillary for my Roman rank of Legate, several unique character ancillaries named "Roman I Legion", "Roman II Legion", etc., to give an in-game way of tracking/simulating the Roman legions. Each would be unique and would not duplicate each other. When they are given to a legion's commander, the trait/ancillary system will check that a particular "legion" ancillary is not already in use. If it is, the next one available will be used. I have not worked everything out yet, but the concept is working in my current beta version. Neat thing too, is since ancillaries can be transferred between characters, if you wish to appoint a new legion commander for an existing legion, you can transfer the "legion" ancillary to the new commander and have the old commander depart for his new duties. The new legion commander will be given his rank, the level being dependent on his previous experience. I may also be able to include unique names, which would honour their past victories over conquered factions, etc. I have decided that whether these "legio" ancillaries will confer a +1 to troop morale, or just provide a means to track your legions via the Roman numbering system for legions. I am currently using a +1 troop morale bonus in my current beta version. I have currently settled on 3 Legions always being available, 4 Legions available with more than 2 cities controlled, then one additional Legion per every 3 additional cities controlled by the Romans, with a maximum of 40 Legions being available total. I created these limits to restrict the number of legions that could be formed. Originally I wanted the Legion banner and accompanying Legate rank to be available only for a full strength legion, thereby preventing the formation of tons of small one unit legions. With the number of legions available restricted, I figured they would be used more historically.
* The above (as is all of this explanation) are the words of Repman. However, with the multiple legions of Roma Surrectum a possibility being looked in to is to develop this idea; so I thought I'd include the above to highlight the future potential this could have *
Greek / Barbarian Leadership System
Both Similar to the Romans:
Roman..............................Greek................Barbarian
student (discupulus)...........Ephebus...........Knave
tribune..............................Dekarchos...........Horde Leader
legate...............................Lochagos...........Clan Leader
general...........................Polemarchos.........Chieftain
consul.............................Strategos.............Warlord. (Dux)
faction leader, heir..................Basileus.............Warrior King (Rex, Filius Rex)
For the ancillaries:
roman legion I..................Greek Lochos I.........................Clan Army I
roman field army I.............Greek Mora I............................Tribe Army I
roman consular army I........Greek Strategos Army I.............Dux Army I
Greek Graphical Overview:
https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/88/greekleadershipac1.th.jpg (https://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greekleadershipac1.jpg)
Barbarian Graphical Overview
https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5259/barbarleadershipaz7.th.jpg (https://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=barbarleadershipaz7.jpg)
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That’s it people, hope you enjoyed our 2nd Official Preview.....you can expect the above Hoplites and the improved Big Map in Patch9. Yep, Patch 9 - new & improved, under budget, and ahead of schedule !
Speaking of which: Patch 9 will have an internal release this weekend. Of course, I'd like to say it will be released soon after that (and it probably will be); but we cannot promise anything as further changes may be made and other features improved.
Credits:
Tone, for re-skinning the above units
Spirit of Rob for use of several of his models for the Hoplites
Webbird for the Archer models
IceTourque for use of his Big Map, and Webbird for his additions to it
Northern Ranger for enhancements to the Big Map
Repman for use of his Barbarian/Greek/Roman leadership system
SquidSK for making the addition of the above system possible
Roma Surrectum : Official Preview
Unique Greek City Hoplites
In this preview, as promised in the last, we showcase the "Unique Greek City Hoplites". These are units that can be recruited in the campaign by any Greek faction (and the Free People) - as long as they hold the appropriate city.
Here is a list of all the "Unique Greek City Hoplites" :
1. Athenian Hoplite
2. Bosporan Hoplite
3. Byzantium Hoplite
4. Corinthian Hoplite
5. Cretan Hoplite
6. Cypriot Hoplite
7. Cyrenaican Hoplite
8. Ephesian Hoplite
9. Pergamum Hoplite
10. Rhodian Hoplite
11. Syracusan Hoplite
12. Tarentine Hoplite
13. Athenian Marine
14. Syracusan Marine
The last two are archer units, but they follow the same scheme of recruitment as the Hoplites
Generic Description (Will feature at the beginning of all these Hoplite unit descriptions)
These hoplites are mainly draw from the well-to-do citizens of a city, and are bound together through blood, culture and a common patriotic feeling for their home city. These citizen-soldiers were the primary force used by the Greek states for centuries; and could claim to be the best heavy armoured infantry in the world for much of that time – presenting a wall of metal and a hedge of spears that could pose a threat to even a numerically superior foe. However, the hoplite form of warfare is now outdated, and the Macedonian Phalanx is now the most powerful infantry type amongst the great Hellenic powers. Advances have been made in hoplite warfare though, such as the reforms of Iphikrates, and the development of the Thureophoroi and Thorakitai style units.
Many of these men have adapted accordingly, wearing lighter armour, more suitable helmets, and having longer spears; but others have changed little and still fight in the classical fashion. Regardless of the equipment and tactics used, these are loyal citizens, chosen men who will fight courageously in defence of hearth and home.
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*Click on the Images to Enlarge*
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Athenian Hoplite
https://img226.imageshack.us/img226/2204/rometwbi200702180642519aa9.th.jpg (https://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180642519aa9.jpg)
These hoplites are from the great city of Athens. Twice men such as these threw back the might of the Persian Empire. The most powerful Greek City in history, the forces of Athens campaigned in Persia, Thrace, Egypt, Italy, and –fatally– Sicily.
But that time has passed. It is a desirable thing to be well descended, but the glory belongs to the ancestors. But these men are still a force to be valued – they are proud citizens, fighting not only for their city’s honour but for there families and homes; and are keen to live up to Athens noble history.
Their shield displays the head of medusa, which Athena herself bears upon her aegis, the ghastly token given to her by Perseus; who she guided in killing the Gorgon.
Bosporan Kingdom
https://img93.imageshack.us/img93/8391/rometwbi200702200007265lo1.th.jpg (https://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200007265lo1.jpg)
The Bosporan Kingdom saw the fusion of various races united by the influence of Greek Culture and Language. These Hoplites, though made up of men mostly of Greek descent, also contain Thracians and Scythians; fierce fighters in their own right who will do as well as any Greek in the heat of battle.
These men are fierce soldiers, and have been battled hardened in constant wars with the barbarian tribes of the north; and have been toughened by the harsh climate of the steppes. They are more flexible than the average Hoplite, but perhaps less able to deal with the more heavily armed alternatives; and certainly no match for the Phalangite based armies of the Successor states to the South.
Byzantine Hoplite
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/8008/rometwbi200702200011253tl7.th.jpg (https://img353.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200011253tl7.jpg)
Byzas set sail from his home city of Megara with instructions form the Delphic Oracle to found his new city “opposite the blind”. The hidden meaning of this command only became clear when he came upon the Greek city of Chalcedon on the Asiatic side of the Bosporus. He realised that they were the blind, for an obviously better site lay less than a mile away on the European side. Here Byzas founded his city and named it after himself. The city prospered through trade, exploiting its commanding position over the sole entrance in to the Black Sea.
In 339BC the Byzantines won an important victory in battle underneath a waxing moon. The victory was attributed to Artemis and they adopter her symbol, the crescent moon, as their own. This can be seen depicted on the unit’s shield.
Corinthian Hoplite
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2354/rometwbi200702210456397bc8.th.jpg (https://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702210456397bc8.jpg)
Corinth’s wealth once rivalled that of Athens, being based mainly on control over the isthmus; and many pottery and craft advances were first begun in Corinth, only to be improved upon by the Athenians. Corinth was a major participant in the Persian Wars, contributing 50 ships and 5,000 hoplites. In the destructive Peloponnesian Wars that followed, Corinth fought against Athens as a member of the Peloponnesian League; but then later turned against Sparta in the so-called ‘Corinthian War’ along with Thebes and Argos – no doubt backed by Persia, scared of the Spartan Hegemony.
On their shields is the image of Pegasus, the famous winged horse who aided Bellerophon against the Amazons and the feared Chimera. Bellerophon was a native of Corinth, grandson of the city’s founder Sisyphus.
Cretan Hoplite
https://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4953/rometwbi200702180602445yw5.th.jpg (https://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180602445yw5.jpg)
Not particularly known for their hoplite heritage, Cretans are more renowned for their fine ranged units; but as one would expect from an island with a close connection to Sparta both in terms of military and government, Cretans can prove good fighters.
They carry the emblem of a bulls head, synonymous with Crete and its legendary King Minos.
Cypriot Hoplite
https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5839/rometwbi200702180614445ga2.th.jpg (https://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180614445ga2.jpg)
Cyprus spent much of its history under the rule of various powers; Assyria, Egypt, Persia, Ptolemaic Egypt, and then Rome. It was one of the ‘melting pots’ of the ancient world, with various cultures and races mixed, producing a unique identity.
Not renowned for their military exploits (which usually involved being defeated and conquered), these are still eager fighters and not to be underestimated; but they do not even come close to the troops that Athens and Sparta can field.
Widely accepted as the birthplace of Aphrodite, these men bear the turtle on their shields as a symbolic reference to the Goddess of Love. The turtle also featured on many Cypriot coins.
Cyrenaican Hoplite
https://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7029/rometwbi200702180618197nr1.th.jpg (https://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180618197nr1.jpg)
Cyrene was originally established by colonist from Thera in 630BC. Controlling the fertile coast, they were blessed by a unique climate that allowed multiple harvests a year. Their most important crop was Silphium, a medicinal herb that grew only in that region and brought great wealth; shown by the depiction on many coins minted in Cyrene.
The image depicts Triton, a son of Poseidon and messenger of the seas; who was said to abode near Libya.
Ephesian Hoplite
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7248/rometwbi200702200018530uy9.th.jpg (https://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200018530uy9.jpg)
Ephesus was famous throughout the Greek World for its Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, which took 120 years to build. It was destroyed in 356BC by an individual purposely burning it to the ground; his motive was fame, so that he might be known throughout the world. The Temple burnt down on the same evening as the birth of Alexander the Great, some say that the Goddess was too busy looking over the birth of Alexander to watch over her own temple. The Temple's reconstruction was begun in 323BC.
Artemis, along with her twin brother Apollo, was widely worshipped throughout Asia Minor. Many of the city’s coins display a Bee, a symbol associated with both Gods. It is this symbol that these men adorn their shields with.
Pergamum Hoplite
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7145/rometwbi200702180621537to5.th.jpg (https://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180621537to5.jpg)
Pergamum, a powerful and rich Greek City-Kingdom, fought in the style of the Successor states – using the Macedonian Phalanx tactics. However not all were trained in this style, and not all could afford to be equipped as such. These men fight in a more old fashioned style of warfare, though they have adopted a longer spear and lighter armour. Though not on par with the Macedonian Phalanx, they can still hold a line in battle and are more than able to deal with less heavily armed opponents, such as the warriors of Galatia.
Their shield depicts Athena, who was widely worshipped in Pergamum, and who often appears on their coinage. Pergamum, though a relatively new Greek City, supported many older cities of the Greek mainland, giving offerings to temples and games; especially to the temple of Athena at Athens.
Rhodian Hoplite
https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5534/rometwbi200702200020527cs0.th.jpg (https://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200020527cs0.jpg)
The cities of the island of Rhodes united to form a unified political identity 408BC. The actual city of Rhodes was built as the new capital of the island. However the island fell to Mausolus of Halicarnassus and subsequently to the Persians in 340BC.
However, eight years later Alexander the Great would throw down the Persian Empire. Following his death, his successors vied for control of the strategically important island. Rhodes allied itself with Egypt, provoking Demetrius “The Besieger” to invade the island. Demetrius constructed various siege engines, including a 1000 manned Battering Ram and a gigantic siege tower. Named Helepolis (Taker of Cities), it was iron clad, had mechanical shutters, and contained various workable catapults and ballistae within it; a remarkable feat of engineering.
These siege engines along with many other military supplies were abandoned by Demetrius when he settled for a peace treaty. The Rhodians sold these and used the money to create a statue of their patron deity, the sun god Helios - the Colossus of Rhodes and one of the Wonders of the World.
The island of Rhodes was said to be a result of the union of Helios and the nymph Rhode. Helios is depicted on many Rhodian coins and these hoplites bear the image of the God as a symbol of their city.
Syracusan Hoplite
https://img226.imageshack.us/img226/980/rometwbi200702180632367fh4.th.jpg (https://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180632367fh4.jpg)
While the city states of Greece were faced with the threat of the mighty Persian Empire; Syracuse itself was faced with the threat of a powerful, rich and expanding Empire of its own – Carthage. Many times the armies of Carthage and the numerous nations of her empire descended upon the Sicilian Greeks, but failed to ever take Syracuse itself.
Athens, though it too held command over an empire and a great fleet, failed to defeat the Syracusans; to their ultimate downfall and against the prophetic warning of Pericles. Soon after the Peloponnesian War, in 401BC 3,000 Syracusan hoplites joined Cyrus the Younger’s ‘Army of the Ten Thousand’, the famous Persian Expedition recorded by Xenophon.
As one would expect from an illustrious city that can boast such a rich military past, Syracuse can produce fine soldiers, and have a great source of manpower and resources in Sicily. On their shield is shown the image of Arethusa, who fled to the island of Ortygia to escape the advances of the river god Alpheus.
Tarentine Hoplite
https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5633/rometwbi200702180638115yt2.th.jpg (https://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180638115yt2.jpg)
Though at one point the dominant power in Magna Graecia, who viewed itself as the benefactor of all the Greek States in Italy; Tarentum was weakened by constant and costly wars. An agreement between Carthage and the Etruscans also served to greatly reduce the influence of the city.
In 333BC, facing conflicts with the Bruttii, Samnites and Lucanians; Tarentum invited the King of Epirus, Alexander Molossus to aid them. Despite initial success, the King was betrayed and killed. Gradually weakening as the years passed, they would call upon the aid of Agothecles of Syracuse in 304 BC, and later in 282BC again called for the aid of an Epriot King - Pyrrhus of Epirus; marking the beginning of the Pyrrhic Wars.
These Hoplites show Taras, a son of Poseidon and the mythological founder of the city, riding upon a dolphin; an image to be found on the coins of the city.
Athenian Marine
https://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8731/rometwbi200702200106317kp1.th.jpg (https://img294.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200106317kp1.jpg)
Athens has a rich naval heritage. At Salamis the Athenian Navy was the main contributor of ships to the Greek cause; and it was this victory that ultimately made the Persians abandon their invasion; and from which Athens was able to forge her empire.
Though only a shadow of her former self Athens can still produce fine naval units such as these marines. Fighting primarily with a bow, they are heavily armoured to make them more suited in the close combat that naval engagements often require. This makes them a flexible force, and they can also serve as light infantry if need be. However, they maintain a weakness to cavalry and it should be remembered that these are slower than other ranged units – making them less able to skirmish as effectively as other ranged units might.
Syracusan Marine
https://img457.imageshack.us/img457/6896/rometwbi200702200057465rp6.th.jpg
After the annihilation of the Sicilian Expedition, and the eventual defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War, Syracuse became a strong naval power, rivalling that of Carthage. Such naval innovations as the Corvus were down to the Syracusans, and they proved themselves excellent sea-men.
They are armed primarily with a bow, but being more heavily armoured; they are more able to hold their own in close combat than other ranged units; learning their fighting skills from the confined fighting associated in naval warfare where attempts are made at boarding the enemies ships.
However, these should not be expected to fight in a main battle – they are naval units after all – but instead should fill the role of archers. Their heavy armour makes them less vulnerable to counter attack, but this also makes them slower than other ranged units; so may suffer in a prolonged skirmish, and should definitely be kept out of the way of cavalry.
The below Units have not been done for the "Unique Greek City Hoplite" idea, but as they are Greek Units, this seems a good place to put them:
Sicilian Hoplite (Only recruitable by Syracuse in Sicily)
https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3374/rometwbi200702180627319qy3.th.jpg (https://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702180627319qy3.jpg)
The Sicilian hoplites are drawn from amongst the allied cities of Syracuse in Sicily. They fight for Syracuse and for Sicily and are proud to do so; valuing the past and present protection that Syracuse had offered against foreign invaders. Among the ranks of these men are not only Greeks, but also some of the native Sicilians who have adopted Greek culture, such as the Sicel tribes.
They bear the Triskelion, a symbol associated with the island that was once called ‘Trinacria’; and a symbol that was often printed on the coins of the famous Agothecles.
New Cretan Archer Skin
https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4936/rometwbi200702200053114kr2.th.jpg (https://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometwbi200702200053114kr2.jpg)
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Improvements to the Traits & Ancillaries system
Previously untouched by Roma Surrectum, the traits and ancillary system is set to undergo a huge boost. In the future we will look to integrate several features which will add a lot of depth. However, most excitingly; Repman (of BareBonesWars fame) has generously offered Roma Surrectum the use of his Roman/Greek/Barbarian leadership system.
This is outlined below. The following information was taken from a thread Repman posted on the system:
ROMAN / GREEK / BARBARIAN LEADERSHIP SYSTEM
Roman Leadership System
Graphical Overview:
https://img467.imageshack.us/img467/3404/rslbz6.th.png (https://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rslbz6.png)
Here an example of an tribune promoted to Legate after two turns stay in city. He now leads the first Legion. (In game image taken from BBW, NOT Roma Surrectum)
https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/889/rometw20060616211621346nz.th.jpg (https://img512.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rometw20060616211621346nz.jpg)
Faction Leader (Princeps Senatus)
- Leader of the Roman Senate.
Faction Heir (Future Princeps Senatus)
- Future Leader of the Roman Senate.
Consul (Consul)
- During the times of the Republic of Rome, 2 Consuls were elected as the chief magistrates, the highest elected public office. Each was a magistrate in their own right, but had veto power over the official actions of the other.
- During times of war, Consuls served as the Roman commanders-in-chief of all Roman military forces.
- Upon advancement to Consul, a Roman character will receive an increase of +3 to Command due to his command staff assisting him with his military duties. He will also receive an increase of +3 to Personal Security and a +60 to Siege Engineering. He will continue to receive these bonuses while holding the military rank of General. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from active service and receive an increase of +4 to Influence. At a later date, he will be available for return to military service as a Consul.
- An individual most serve a minimum of 5 years as a General to be eligible for the position of Consul
- As was the historical situation, only two Consul positions will be available. One advantage the player will have over what often was the historical reality, is that both Consuls will be in complete agreement at all times, never veto'ing the official actions of the other.
- One Consul position is available immediately. I have currently made the second Consul position available after the Republic of Rome controls more than 20 provinces. I did this for play balance, but may remove this restriction.
Governor of Latium (Praetor Urbanus)
- Governor of Latium, resides in Roma.
- The Governor of Latium must have served a minimum of 5 years as a General (Praetor).
- An individual serving as the Governor of Latium will receive an increase of +1 to Management and +1 to Law. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from his service as the Governor of Latium and will receive an increase of +2 to Influence.
- The Governor of Latium will be assigned a Quaestor (a character ancillary), who represents the governor's second-in-command, assisting with the financial details of governing the province of Latium. This character ancillary will confer a +5% to Tax Collection and +1 to Management.
Provincial Governor (Rector Provinciae)
- Governor of one of the Roman provinces outside of Latium.
- A Legate may serve as a temporary Provincial Governor (Legatus Propraetor). A Legate must have served 6 years as a Legate. A Legate will serve a term of one year as a temporary Provincial Governor (Legatus Propraetor).
- A General may serve as a temporary Provincial Governor (Propraetor). A General will serve a term of one year as a temporary Provincial Governor (Propraetor).
- A Provincial Governor must have served a term of 1 year as a General (Praetor).
- An individual serving as a Provincial Governor, whether permanent or temporary, will receive an increase of +1 to Management and +1 to Law. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from his service as Provincial Governor and will receive an increase of +1 to Influence.
- The number of Provincial Governors will be determined by the number of provinces control by the Republic of Rome. For every 10 provinces, there will be one Provincial Governor.
- A Provincial Governor will be assigned a Quaestor (a character ancillary), who represents the governor's second-in-command, assisting with the financial details of governing the province. This character ancillary will confer a +5% to Tax Collection and +1 to Management.
General (Praetor)
- Served as the senior Roman officer in command of Roman military forces on campaign in a region.
- Upon advancement to General, a Roman character will receive an increase of +3 to Command due to his general's staff assisting him with his military duties. He will also receive an increase of +2 to Personal Security and a +40 to Siege Engineering. He will continue to receive these bonuses while holding the military rank of General. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from active military service and receive an increase of +3 to Influence. At a later date, he will be available for return to military service as a Praetor.
- An individual most serve a minimum of 5 years as a General to be eligible for the position of Provincial Governor.
- The number of Generals will be determined by the number of provinces controlled by the Republic of Rome. For every 10 provinces, there will be one General.
Legate (Legatus Legionis)
- Served as commanding officer of a Roman Legion.
- Upon advancement to Legate, a Roman character will receive an increase of +3 to Command due to the legion's staff and experienced centurions assisting him with his military duties. He will also receive an increase of +1 to Personal Security and a +20 to Siege Engineering. He will continue to receive these bonuses while holding the military rank of Legate. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from active military service and receive an increase of +2 to Influence. At a later date, he will be available for return to military service as a Legate.
- A Legate can be appointed by the Roman Senate to serve as a temporary Provincial Governor (Legatus Propraetor) in the absence of a Praetor.
- An individual most serve a minimum of 10 years as a Legate to be eligible for the military rank of Praetor.
Tribune (Tribunus Militum)
- Upon advancement to Tribune, a Roman character will receive an increase of +1 to Command due to the experienced centurions assisting him with the accomplishment of his military duties. He will continue to receive these bonuses while holding the military rank of Tribune. Upon retiring from active service, he will lose the bonuses from active military service and receive an increase of +1 to Influence. After retiring from active service, he may return to military service as a Tribune by simply fulfilling the requirements for entering service in the Roman Army.
- An individual most serve a minimum of 10 years as a Tribune to be eligible for the military rank of Legate.
Student (Discipulus)
- A character that is acquired via the "Coming of Age" event, being only 16 years old, will begin his formal education and personal combat training as a Student. After spending 4 years as a student, he will be eligible to enter military service as a Tribune.
- During his 4 years of formal education and personal combat training, to make the best use of this time, a character should travel to Roma, or the nearest city, and take up residence until he is 20 years old. A city with a Scriptorium, or higher level of educational building, would be an ideal residence for a Student, so he can take advantage of the increased chances of acquiring useful character traits and ancillaries.
- An alternative, would be to accompany an older relative who is currently serving in the Roman Army. He will not benefit from any increased command bonuses, but may gain military skills, though he will have a higher chance of acquiring the less savoury traits of military life. His best choice would be formal schooling in the nearest city.
- In extreme circumstances, he can still lead military forces, but due to his lack of experience, he will not gain any command bonuses.
Remarks
* All new characters acquired via through adoption, captains joining your faction, and marrying into your family via your daughters, will start with 4 years of military service in the rank of Tribune.
* All new characters acquired via the "Coming of Age" event will spend a period of 4 years receiving an education and basic hand-to-hand combat training. Once they have finished training and reached the age of 20, they will be eligible for their first military assignment as Tribune. They will still be available to lead troops, but will not receive the benefit of holding the military rank of Tribune.
* I have an idea for including a new character ancillary for my Roman rank of Legate, several unique character ancillaries named "Roman I Legion", "Roman II Legion", etc., to give an in-game way of tracking/simulating the Roman legions. Each would be unique and would not duplicate each other. When they are given to a legion's commander, the trait/ancillary system will check that a particular "legion" ancillary is not already in use. If it is, the next one available will be used. I have not worked everything out yet, but the concept is working in my current beta version. Neat thing too, is since ancillaries can be transferred between characters, if you wish to appoint a new legion commander for an existing legion, you can transfer the "legion" ancillary to the new commander and have the old commander depart for his new duties. The new legion commander will be given his rank, the level being dependent on his previous experience. I may also be able to include unique names, which would honour their past victories over conquered factions, etc. I have decided that whether these "legio" ancillaries will confer a +1 to troop morale, or just provide a means to track your legions via the Roman numbering system for legions. I am currently using a +1 troop morale bonus in my current beta version. I have currently settled on 3 Legions always being available, 4 Legions available with more than 2 cities controlled, then one additional Legion per every 3 additional cities controlled by the Romans, with a maximum of 40 Legions being available total. I created these limits to restrict the number of legions that could be formed. Originally I wanted the Legion banner and accompanying Legate rank to be available only for a full strength legion, thereby preventing the formation of tons of small one unit legions. With the number of legions available restricted, I figured they would be used more historically.
* The above (as is all of this explanation) are the words of Repman. However, with the multiple legions of Roma Surrectum a possibility being looked in to is to develop this idea; so I thought I'd include the above to highlight the future potential this could have *
Greek / Barbarian Leadership System
Both Similar to the Romans:
Roman..............................Greek................Barbarian
student (discupulus)...........Ephebus...........Knave
tribune..............................Dekarchos...........Horde Leader
legate...............................Lochagos...........Clan Leader
general...........................Polemarchos.........Chieftain
consul.............................Strategos.............Warlord. (Dux)
faction leader, heir..................Basileus.............Warrior King (Rex, Filius Rex)
For the ancillaries:
roman legion I..................Greek Lochos I.........................Clan Army I
roman field army I.............Greek Mora I............................Tribe Army I
roman consular army I........Greek Strategos Army I.............Dux Army I
Greek Graphical Overview:
https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/88/greekleadershipac1.th.jpg (https://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greekleadershipac1.jpg)
Barbarian Graphical Overview
https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5259/barbarleadershipaz7.th.jpg (https://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=barbarleadershipaz7.jpg)
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That’s it people, hope you enjoyed our 2nd Official Preview.....you can expect the above Hoplites and the improved Big Map in Patch9. Yep, Patch 9 - new & improved, under budget, and ahead of schedule !
Speaking of which: Patch 9 will have an internal release this weekend. Of course, I'd like to say it will be released soon after that (and it probably will be); but we cannot promise anything as further changes may be made and other features improved.
Credits:
Tone, for re-skinning the above units
Spirit of Rob for use of several of his models for the Hoplites
Webbird for the Archer models
IceTourque for use of his Big Map, and Webbird for his additions to it
Northern Ranger for enhancements to the Big Map
Repman for use of his Barbarian/Greek/Roman leadership system
SquidSK for making the addition of the above system possible