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Foot
07-11-2009, 07:07
Greetings Europa Barbarorum fans.



https://img192.imageshack.us/img192/5318/northafricabanner.png





Today we are proud to present the independent people of North Africa. Sometimes they will appear as allies, but more often than not the tribes of North Africa will be a most fearsome enemy. Featuring the light cavalry and skirmishers that characterise the armies of native North Africans, their mode of war will be to wear down the enemy with volley after volley of light javelins and throwing spears, before engaging to attack with their spears and swords.

When the sun beats upon your brow, and you see the dust storms approaching, you will know the fear of so many before you - the fear that only the horsemen of North Africa can bring.



https://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3637/northafricandivider.png


The People





In Europa Barbarorum II we will introduce a new type of building, one that will represent the dominant native culture in that province. In some cases you may find two or more of these buildings in a province, however the majority of provinces will feature only one. This building acts as a simple but effective way of controlling and limiting recruitment, placement of government buildings and other core features of the Europa Barbarorum II mechanics.

Recruitment will largely be the same across all populace buildings that represent the same culture or people. So the Numidian populace building will offer the player the oppurtunity to recruit Numidian units, the number and frequency of which will be modified by faction, government, and other buildings. The complexity of the recruitment system will necessitate that a lot of these modifiers will be invisible to the player, however it will be to the populace buildings that you would turn to get a basic idea of what will be available.

The populace buildings will also effect the governing options open to the player in each province. A faction such as Massylia will have be able govern Numidian provinces with a more secure, centralised, and native form of government than if they sought to control provinces in Iberia, Sicily or beyond. Of course, there will be other buildings that will effect government control options, and some factions may be less restricted than others, but it will be to the populace buildings that the player will turn for a quick overview of what will be available to him, once the province is conquered.

Working in partnership with the Province building, featured in a previous preview, the Populace building will offer a the game a level of detail that is better able to work with the complex mechanics in Europa Barbarorum II. But by working together with the Province building, which will modifiy the effects of the Populace building depending on the region it is in, a more complex form of the province's identity will be formed. Working with both level of details (the micro and the macro) together, the Province building and the Populace building will supply a gameplay that is both streamlined yet satisfying, complex and yet easy to grasp.



__Maures_____________________________
https://img38.imageshack.us/img38/1333/tribalmaures.png

These people have long inhabited the western coasts of North Africa. Though they are Berbers they are the darkest coloured of the Berbers. The Maures are often associated with other tribes that dwell just below the Atlas mountains. These are the Nigrete and the Pharusii. The Maures existed as an indepent kingdom for a long time before their last king gave his country to Rome upon his death. The Maures later came under the dominion of the Massylian kings at which time raids were launched upon the Africans down the coast and the Canary Islands were explored. The Africans down the coast were negroid and were often traded with by the Carthaginians. The Canary Islands were believed to be uninhabited at the time but later evidence proves it was inhabited by stone age Berbers who had migrated there around 1000 BC.



__Numidians__________________________
https://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6942/tribalnumidians.png

The Numidae, meaning 'nomads', were a group of Berber people living in western North Africa in modern day Tunisia and Algeria. They lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle as hunters and herders and were often at odds with the more 'civilized' groups who settled on the coasts. The Numidians were generally divided into their two major factions, the Massylii who controlled the eastern half of Numidia, and the Massaesylii who controlled the western half and the coastline. Born to the saddle and the nomadic lifestyle the Numidians are expert riders and there are few better with a javelin.



__Gaetlians___________________________
https://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2896/tribalgaetlians.png

The Gaetulii were a group of Berber natives who dwelt south of the Atlas mountains in various oases. They are unusual in being one of the few Berber peoples to be referred to by a designation other than simply 'Libyan' by the Greeks. The Gaetulii consisted of many tribes and are the closest ancestors to modern Berbers. Experts of Saharan lifestyle these men are renowned among the authors of antiquity for their bravery and loyalty and many of them were recruited into the Roman legions.



__Libyans____________________________
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6558/triballibyans.png

The word 'Libya' means Africa, and so the majority of Africans came to be known as 'Libyans' to the Greeks. The major distinction that the Greeks made was when it came to colour. They generally referred to all negroid African populations as 'Ethiopians' and all others as 'Libyans'. The Libyans, whom we today call Berbers, dwelt primarily along the North African Coast from the western edges of Egypt to the Atlantic coast. Normally major distinctions were made between these populations by the Greeks and other ancients such as the Numidians, Gaetulians, and Maures. Even the native Egyptians were seen as a seperate population. Thus the term 'Libyan' went from being a general description of all Africans to a specific description of smaller Berber tribes. Some of the most well known of these tribes are the Garamantines who dwelt in the fazan and hunted the troglodytes from four horse chariots, the Maxyans from whom Carthage rented their lands according to the legends, the Maceans who dwelt along the coast near Lepki and wore their hair in a 'mohawk' style, and the Nasamones who dwelt in and around Augila. Herodotus recorded many fascinating stories about these peoples of which some have been proven true, but the majority remain exaggerated myth.



https://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3637/northafricandivider.png


The Soldiers





We are proud to present just some of the many North African units that will eventually appear in Europa Barbarorum II. All the great peoples of North Africa will be represented on the battlefield, from the West African tribes on the western borders of our map, to the diverse Libyan tribes on the coast of North Africa.

For now we are proud to show you the soldiers who will represent the Garamantine and Maure tribes of North Africa on the Europa Barbarorum II battlefields.


Dorkim Garamantim
(Garamantine Infantry)


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https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4591/gi1.jpghttps://img35.imageshack.us/img35/3899/gi2l.jpg





The Garamantine warriors are masters of hit and run tactics. Striking in raids from their oasis strongholds they attack towns, outposts, watchtowers, and nomadic tribes. They fight first with throwing spears and javelins but can close or hold when necessary with their spears and leather shields. They wear ostrich feathers tied to their heads and paint their bodies to make them appear more fearsome and impressive and wear a cow skin cloak for protection both on the battlefield and against the natural environment.

History: The Garamantines were a group of Berber tribes living in North central Africa on the fringe of the Sahara desert that herded cattle and irrigated farmland. They conducted raids against towns to the North and against the nomadic Saharan people known to the Greeks as the Troglodytai. The Garamantines reached dominance in the second and third century AD and are often referred to as one of the first great Berber nations. They fought on foot, from horseback and from chariots. Much of the evidence for their equipment comes from their own rock art and Egyptian paintings of Libyan soldiers. According to their own later rock art, the Garamantes changed little in appearance from those Libyan tribes which raided dynastic Egypt long before the Greeks and Romans were major world powers.

Herodotos refers to the Garamantes as a fierce and aggressive tribe that would hunt down the Troglodytai but also says that they are a people who know little of war. Herodotos made the Garamantines famous for his fanciful tale of the cattle they raised which supposedly had horns so long they had to graze backwards. The last Roman triumph celebrated by a general not related to the Imperator, or the Imperator himself, was against the Garamantes in the first century BC by Lucius Cornelius Balbus.



Parasim Garamantim
(Garamantine Cavalry)


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https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6943/gc1f.jpghttps://img3.imageshack.us/img3/8039/gc2l.jpg





The Garamantine warriors are masters of hit and run tactics. Striking in raids from their oasis strongholds they attack towns, outposts, watchtowers, and nomadic tribes. Their cavalry fight first with throwing spears and javelins but can close or chase when necessary with their spears and leather shields. They wear ostrich feathers tied to their heads and paint their bodies to make them appear more fearsome and impressive and wear a cow skin cloak for protection both on the battlefield and against the natural environment.

These men, despite their daring disposition, are light cavalry and should not be expected to break the enemy in a frontal charge. Rather, these men are best used to encircle the enemy and to chase down those who attempt to flee the battlefield.

History: The Garamantines were a group of Berber tribes living in North central Africa on the fringe of the Sahara desert that herded cattle and irrigated farmland. They conducted raids against towns to the North and against the nomadic Saharan people known to the Greeks as the Troglodytai. The Garamantines reached dominance in the second and third century AD and are often referred to as one of the first great Berber nations. They fought on foot, from horseback and from chariots. Much of the evidence for their equipment comes from their own rock art and Egyptian paintings of Libyan soldiers. According to their own later rock art, the Garamantes changed little in appearance from those Libyan tribes which raided dynastic Egypt long before the Greeks and Romans were major world powers.

Herodotos refers to the Garamantes as a fierce and aggressive tribe that would hunt down the Troglodytai but also says that they are a people who know little of war. Herodotos made the Garamantines famous for his fanciful tale of the cattle they raised which supposedly had horns so long they had to graze backwards. The last Roman triumph celebrated by a general not related to the Imperator, or the Imperator himself, was against the Garamantes in the first century BC by Lucius Cornelius Balbus.



Merkabim Garamantim
(Garamantine Chariots)


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https://img341.imageshack.us/img341/2885/gch1.jpg (https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3950/55901437.jpg)https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/2245/gch2.jpg (https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/5161/67452801.jpg)





The Garamantine nobles and chieftains ride in large chariots across the desert from which they throw spears and javelins at their enemies. These men are the most wealthy and highest ranking among the tribes of the Garamantes and thus wear more elaborate clothing, such as pants. They also carry Berber swords, though these are difficult to wield from the back of a moving chariot. Beware of the zealous nature of these men as they will try to engage the enemy, even in close quarters, for they are used to hunting down the cowardly Troglodytai Ethiopians of the Sahara, and not accustomed to facing disciplined soldiers. Use them with care and they will ride down your foes for you!

History: The chariots used by the Garamantes are described in Herodotus as being four horsed. While this style did exist in North Africa, the Carthaginians using four horse chariots for example, it was somewhat impractical. The rock art of the Garamantines depicts their chariots as being driven by two horses, which seems a more realistic number. As Herodotus is known for his embellishment, the archaeological evidence was favoured.

The Garamantines were a group of Berber tribes living in North central Africa on the fringe of the Sahara desert that herded cattle and irrigated farmland. They conducted raids against towns to the North and against the nomadic Saharan people known to the Greeks as the Troglodytai. The Garamantines reached dominance in the second and third century AD and are often referred to as one of the first great Berber nations. They fought on foot, from horseback and from chariots. Much of the evidence for their equipment comes from their own rock art and Egyptian paintings of Libyan soldiers. According to their own later rock art, the Garamantes changed little in appearance from those Libyan tribes which raided dynastic Egypt long before the Greeks and Romans were major world powers.

Herodotos refers to the Garamantes as a fierce and aggressive tribe that would hunt down the Troglodytai but also says that they are a people who know little of war. Herodotos made the Garamantines famous for his fanciful tale of the cattle they raised which supposedly had horns so long they had to graze backwards. The last Roman triumph celebrated by a general not related to the Imperator, or the Imperator himself, was against the Garamantes in the first century BC by Lucius Cornelius Balbus.



Dorkim Maurim
(Maure Infantry)


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https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7277/mi1.jpg (https://img196.imageshack.us/img196/2411/40437304.jpg)https://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8701/mi2u.jpg (https://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7200/50247392.jpg)
https://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7370/95653441.jpg





Maure infantry are fast moving skirmishing troops typically used by the Carthaginians and Berber chieftains. They are recruited from the most Western provinces of North Africa. A land known by their warriors and their unique fighting style. They are armed with javelins and a sword of North African origin, similar to the Tabouka used these days by the Tuareg people. The Maures are protected by a shield made of elephant hide and by a cloak made of animal fur that they use like it was a breastplate. Under this they wear a simple loose tunic with broad borders.

They should avoid being sucked into hand-to-hand combat, as they do better in the job of harassing the enemy with their javelins. Their tactics are to pelt the enemy with deadly volleys of javelins, and then swiftly retreat when charged.

History: Historically, Maures were very similar to their Numidian neighbors. Greek and Roman historians say they were darker than other North African tribes, to the point to be called 'Western Ethiopians'. They were also great warriors and were one of the troops mentioned by Hannibal in his inscription left in Italy.

The Mauretanians had a unique west African kingdom that existed as early as the fourth century BC. They are first mentioned as a unique nation and people when they render assistance to the Numidian Prince Massinissa to help him reach his country in order to quell a civil war. The Mauretanians may have participated in the Third Punic War, but this seems to be an error of sorts based on later writings denying any real contact with Rome prior to the Jugurthine War.

During the Jugurthine war the Mauretanians sided with Jugurtha against Rome at a critical juncture, prolonging the war. Ironically it would be the actions of their king, Bocchus I, that would end the war when he betrayed Jugurtha over to Sulla and Marius. The Mauretanian kingdom came to an end when its last king, Bogud, willed his Kingdom to Rome upon his death. The Maures as a people were to continue until the Muslim conquest of North Africa, wherein they were noted for their courage and their resilience as one of the last native populations to be conquered.


Parasim Maurim
(Maure Cavalry)


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https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/5600/mc1.jpg (https://img188.imageshack.us/img188/296/82449862.jpg)https://img193.imageshack.us/img193/7113/mc2v.jpg (https://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6316/49449606.jpg)
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9128/55592279.jpg





Maure Cavalry are fast moving skirmishing troops typically used by the Carthaginians and Berber chieftains. They are recruited from the most Western provinces of North Africa. A land known by their warriors and their unique fighting style. They are armed with javelins and a sword of North African origin, similar to the Tabouka used these days by the Tuareg people. The Maures are protected by a small leather shield and by a cloak made of animal fur that they use like it was a breastplate. Under this they wear a simple loose tunic with broad borders. As these men are of a higher status than their infantry counterparts they wear jewelry and their cloaks are made from the skins of more exotic and dangerous animals.

They should avoid being sucked into hand-to-hand combat, as they do better in the job of harassing the enemy with their javelins. Their tactics are to pelt the enemy with deadly volleys of javelins, and then swiftly retreat when charged. Should the opportunity arise they are swift and will easily run down any fleeing enemies.

History: Historically, Maures were very similar to their Numidian neighbors. Greek and Roman historians say they were darker than other North African tribes, to the point to be called 'Western Ethiopians'. They were also great warriors and were one of the troops mentioned by Hannibal in his inscription left in Italy. Maure cavalry participated in the Jugurthine War in vast numbers, outnumbering the legions which engaged them at one point.

The Mauretanians had a unique west African kingdom that existed as early as the fourth century BC. They are first mentioned as a unique nation and people when they render assistance to the Numidian Prince Massinissa to help him reach his country in order to quell a civil war. The Mauretanians may have participated in the Third Punic War, but this seems to be an error of sorts based on later writings denying any real contact with Rome prior to the Jugurthine War.

During the Jugurthine war the Mauretanians sided with Jugurtha against Rome at a critical juncture, prolonging the war. Ironically it would be the actions of their king, Bocchus I, that would end the war when he betrayed Jugurtha over to Sulla and Marius. The Mauretanian kingdom came to an end when its last king, Bogud, willed his Kingdom to Rome upon his death. The Maures as a people were to continue until the Muslim conquest of North Africa, wherein they were noted for their courage and their resilience as one of the last native populations to be conquered.


Elephantes Hulaioi Liboukoi
(Forest Elephants)


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https://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2575/ge1x.jpg (https://img5.imageshack.us/img5/355/30062442.jpg)https://img20.imageshack.us/img20/65/ge2.jpg (https://img5.imageshack.us/img5/5034/90133557.jpg)





https://img25.imageshack.us/img25/6438/ge3.jpgImported from the regions far south of Aigyptos or from the mountain forests of northwestern Africa, forest elephants are an exceptionally valuable resource in combat, used mainly by the Ptolemaioi and Qarthadastim. Towering over most other creatures, they can easily scare men and horses alike, with both their size and smell, though elaborate bells and trappings often add to their intimidation. Such corps are directed by their own mahouts riding behind their heads, often a native of their own country who has spent at least two years training his beast from capture. The mahout is armored to better protect against the obvious assault that generally comes against him, launched to bypass the thick natural armor of his mount.

Elephants are best used as cavalry screens for your army, where their presence can scare away enemy cavalry. They can also be used to ram through an enemy battle line, though they are less useful when faced with loose order or phalanx infantry. Pyrrhos of Epeiros even innovated a tactic of flank screens when he fought the Romans at Heraklea. Beyond their obvious use against enemy infantry or cavalry, they can also be used in siege combat; battering down gates, though they're highly vulnerable to better prepared installations. Their greatest vulnerability is against skirmishers, slingers and archers, who can pepper them with missiles - eventually toppling them by virtue of their cumulative impact. To counter the effect of enemy skirmishers, it is often wise to array your own in opposition, or to maintain constant attacks upon each individual group.

Historically, the use of elephants in war was largely contained to India, but after the battle of Hydaspes that changed. Though Alexandros never cared over much for the animals, his successors were very much in favor of their use, organizing their own elephants into a distinct corps under their own "elephantarchos". The forest elephant was used in battle after the Ptolemaioi dynasty established itself in Egypt. Being cut off from India by their Seleukid rivals, the Ptolemaioi needed another source of elephants and sent expeditions to the Horn of Africa to gather Forest Elephants and later they established 'elephant stations' to make sure the Ptolemaic armies were well supplied.

Qarthadastim also used forest elephants in war and they seem to have begun using them around 300 BC. The forest elephants were captured in the Tunisian mountain forests, but the Carthaginians also imported elephants from the Seleukides and Ptolemaioi, which might indicate the native herds were not enough to supply the Carthaginian elephant corps.

The Forest Elephant was smaller in size and strength compared to the Indian elephant. The battle of Raphia is often used as an example of the Indian elephant's superiority, as Antiochos III elephants routed Ptolemaios IV elephants, yet it's important to remember that Ptolemaios IV elephants were outnumbered at that battle.

A side effect of the Ptolemaic use of elephants caused the kingdom of Meroe to also start to tame and use elephants during the Hellenistic period, a practice they eventually taught to the Ethiopians as well. The forest elephants could be found in north-western and eastern Africa, but after the Romans conquered north-western Africa they hunted the forest elephant there to extinction due to their love for using them in circus and the arenas.

Despite their great usefulness when properly employed, it was not unusual for elephants to cause defeat for those who employed them. If an enemy was clever enough to devise their own means to combat elephants, as was the case at the battle of Gaza when Ptolemaios planted an 'iron spiked minefield' to ward off elephants, or when Caesar properly utilized slingers and Scipio gaps between his infantry cohorts to channel the elephants, they could be defeated and even turned against their masters. Even pigs were used on occasion, released among elephants who were often scared of their comparatively small, darting forms. However, despite the many different weapons and stratagems being devised to fight them and the huge expenses required to maintain them, the elephant was still considered a valuable asset, maintained widely. The Arche Seleukeia even developed a corps of "elephant guards", whose task was simply to defend the beasts in combat.



https://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3637/northafricandivider.png


The Battlefield


https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Watchful.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Watchful-1.jpg)https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Flight.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Flight-1.jpg)https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Order.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Order-1.jpg)
https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Pierced.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Pierced-1.jpg)https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Flight_2.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Flight_2-1.jpg)https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/March.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/March-1.jpg)
https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Silence.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Silence-1.jpg)https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Triumphant.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Triumphant-1.jpg)https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Waiting.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Waiting-1.jpg)
https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Thrown.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Thrown-1.jpg)https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Together.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Together-1.jpg)https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Trampled.jpg (https://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/mkendon/Trampled-1.jpg)


The People of North Africa Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0IWT9QUgg)


https://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3637/northafricandivider.png






We hope you have enjoyed this preview of some of the new units that will be available in North Africa.

Please note that unless stated otherwise, ALL pictures, names, and descriptions shown in our previews are works in progress. We continue to improve on all parts of EB, and we will continue to do so long after our initial release.

Many thanks to Bwian, who was the mastermind behind bringing chariots into the MTW2 engine. His work and his models have been an incredible help. We would also like to offer our thanks to KnightErrant whose work on developing the tools to import/export animations and models has made all of this possible.

Since some areas where these news items are posted cannot handle wide images, we appreciate your restraint from quoting full-size images.

As always, if you have questions or comments, the best place to post them is here, where the EB team is most active:

Europa Barbarorum ORG forum (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=70)

Europa Barbarorum TWC forum (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=31)

We give special thanks to Image Shack (http://www.imageshack.co.us) and Photobucket (https://photobucket.com/) that provides us with a simple, foolproof, and free way to show you all these pictures each week.

Have a great day!







Regards,

The Europa Barbarorum team.

A Very Super Market
07-11-2009, 07:23
Oh my! Hurrah for the team!

Blxz
07-11-2009, 07:34
Great. Even though I find these numidian people and the faction to be as boring as hell its still great to see more progress coming up. Even more so when it comes up when I am actually reading other things in the forum.

Fluvius Camillus
07-11-2009, 07:47
Awesome, I can't wait for the first version of this mod, Foot!

~Fluvius

penguinking
07-11-2009, 07:48
Awesome.

Megas Methuselah
07-11-2009, 07:51
Yes!!! Now lemme read it first!

EDIT: HOLY GOD!!! THATS FRIGGIN EYE CANDY!! SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!

Klearchos
07-11-2009, 08:09
Awesome!:2thumbsup:

Azathoth
07-11-2009, 08:17
Ho link ship!

Is this gonna be a regular thing?


>>>We give special thanks to Image Shack and Photobucket that provides us with a simple, foolproof, and free way to show you all these pictures each week.
>>>We give special thanks to Image Shack
>>>Image Shack


lolz

Skullheadhq
07-11-2009, 09:21
AWESOME

a completely inoffensive name
07-11-2009, 10:17
W...T...F...my mind has broken. Looks like my empire will be 10 times more difficult to control then I thought.

BerkeleyBoi
07-11-2009, 10:30
Oh wow, this is so awesome! I really dig the new recruitment system! Awesome awesome AWESOME!

Karo
07-11-2009, 11:17
AWESOME

QFT

Horatius Flaccus
07-11-2009, 11:33
It's pretty good.

OMG! AMAZING! EB FTW!
:clown:

Taliferno
07-11-2009, 11:45
Chariots look awsome!

Bucefalo
07-11-2009, 11:45
Awesome! :beam:

Cadwalader
07-11-2009, 11:46
Damnit, you sexy modding gods! I was looking foreward to spending my cloudy Saturday in endless boredom, but now I'll have to read the preview. :clown:

bobbin
07-11-2009, 12:34
yayayayayayayay!

Phalanx300
07-11-2009, 12:53
Nice preview! Even though I'm not really that much interested in Africa in my battles. :dizzy2:


And what is this video coming soon? Is it for this preview or is it a stand alone video of some kind? :inquisitive:

Foot
07-11-2009, 13:01
And what is this video coming soon? Is it for this preview or is it a stand alone video of some kind? :inquisitive:

Its for this preview. Youtube is just being annoying at the moment.

Foot

Tellos Athenaios
07-11-2009, 13:37
They were (IDK if it is resolved by now) down `for maintenance'. It did provide me with an unexpected but nice opportunity to test my JavaScripting though... :laugh4:

Alsatia
07-11-2009, 13:38
ONG so brilliant!! Units are simply spectacular, I cannot describe them, they look better than the units from Empire and M2TW. Keep it coming!
ALL HAIL EB!!!

Tellos Athenaios
07-11-2009, 13:41
Damnit, you sexy modding gods! I was looking foreward to spending my cloudy Saturday in endless boredom, but now I'll have to read the preview. :clown:

Ah well, just think of how it would've been if you were having a whole Saturday of testing/playing it ahead of you. ~;) Speaking of which...

Phalanx300
07-11-2009, 14:42
ALL HAIL EB!!!

Indeed, be with luck granted by the gods EB! (Using EB to praise EB :sweatdrop:) And perhaps something can in the future be done with the Cherusci unit, their unit description says they had exeptional defenense but its the same as similar Germanic units. You wouldn't want to upset the gods, now do you EB?! :whip:




Its for this preview. Youtube is just being annoying at the moment.

Foot

Ok can't wait :2thumbsup:.




EDIT: In picture four (from battlefield pictures) I see a white shield with an snake in it. If its made to resemble an standard Argive Hoplite shield then two snakes should be in order! :


http://www.xyfos.com/athenea/argos.php

When ran through an transelator the two snakes on a shield stood for the ordinary Argive Hoplite.

EDIT2: I'm wondering, just how many variation is actually possible in an unit? How many different shields for example?

Teleklos Archelaou
07-11-2009, 14:56
And perhaps something can in the future be done with the Cherusci unit, their unit description says they had exeptional defenense but its the same as similar Germanic units. You wouldn't want to upset the gods, now do you EB?! :whip:

:wall: (deep breaths...)

Phalanx300
07-11-2009, 14:59
:wall: (deep breaths...)

We got an berserker here! :skull:

Raiuga
07-11-2009, 15:34
I think my heart can't stand the excitement....
Fading away....

Martelus Flavius
07-11-2009, 15:57
EDIT: In picture four (from battlefield pictures) I see a white shield with an snake in it. If its made to resemble an standard Argive Hoplite shield then two snakes should be in order! :


http://www.xyfos.com/athenea/argos.php

When ran through an transelator the two snakes on a shield stood for the ordinary Argive Hoplite.

EDIT2: I'm wondering, just how many variation is actually possible in an unit? How many different shields for example?

Hello there,

For the Snake on white field, it's not from Argos... But the two other shields present in there should help you to guess! The key to this enigma is 3.14159265...

Variations in a unit? It depends of the unit, but in the case of the hoplite we have :

-> 9 shields
-> 2 Spears
-> 7 Helmets
-> 1 Sword
-> 6 Faces
-> 6 Bodies (Linothorax, Arms and Legs)
-> 2 Greaves (Either one or two greaves)

-> Total possible combinations : 9*2*7*6*6*2= 9072

On the other hand, the unit I'm currently working on has only 5 shields, so the amount of possible combinations greatly change with the unit.

If we increase the number of object, it will mean a decrease of the size of the object map in the skin. So if we do too much variations we will have a crappy appearance due to low resolutions of the individual shields. (In this exemple, but this is true for any 3D object in a unit.)

Regards

Martel

Fabio Scevola
07-11-2009, 16:33
...

A faction such as Massylia will have be able govern Numidian provinces with a more secure, centralised, and native form of government than if they sought to control provinces in Iberia, Sicily or beyond.

...

We hope you have enjoyed this preview of some of the new faction and units.

...


New Faction means that there is another north african new faction (difenret from Numidia), Massylia perhaps???

Foot
07-11-2009, 16:57
New Faction means that there is another north african new faction (difenret from Numidia), Massylia perhaps???

I was tired when I posted it.

Foot

Nirvanish
07-11-2009, 17:01
Lookin good EB2 Team.

RawPower
07-11-2009, 18:40
Outstanding!!

J.R.M
07-11-2009, 19:01
As always.. AWESOME!!!!! :2thumbsup:

i almost had a heart attack when i saw this:skull:

Meneldil
07-11-2009, 19:33
Glad to know you're using KE and Bwian's work. EB wouldn't have been EB without chariots.

The units look great, and so does the population system.

athanaric
07-11-2009, 19:36
Awesome. More chariots for me to kill in the future...

Apraxiteles
07-11-2009, 20:01
Yes! This means more opportunities for chariot vs. elephant battles. There is nothing I've found in EB1 yet that causes as much raw chaos and death.

Sarkiss
07-11-2009, 20:12
Foot (and Co) stop tormenting us!

awesome stuff, as always. the units are very pretty:beam:

penguinking
07-11-2009, 20:19
Will there be more provinces in North Africa?

Bucefalo
07-11-2009, 21:06
Just came to my mind: if there is one "populace" building in each settlement, does that means that there will be like 199 different kind of "populace buildings"? or will some of them be repeated to similar regions?

A Very Super Market
07-11-2009, 22:55
I suppose they would have as many cultures that existed. I don't think there is a building limit, is there?

In EB1, the rebel settlements describe their culture in brackets, so I guess they'll just be using those.

Foot
07-11-2009, 23:42
Video is up.

Foot

Phalanx300
07-11-2009, 23:50
Awesome video! weren't the Hoplites in EB2 going to use the shieldwall formation though? (I liked the 8 men deep ranks though!)

a completely inoffensive name
07-12-2009, 00:08
I have always wondered Foot, what settings are used when you record these preview videos?

Ibrahim
07-12-2009, 00:22
AWESOME

:yes::yes:

what can I say? this has blown my mind beyond all expectation, having just now found it.

BerkeleyBoi
07-12-2009, 08:33
That video was pretty awesome, though I wish you guys let us see more of the battle...

Ludens
07-12-2009, 11:27
Foot (and Co) stop tormenting us!

Do you mean the team should stop giving previews?

Eastern Foot-Rocker
07-12-2009, 11:29
Its a awesome system with the new recruitment buildings. I hope it makes gameplay more challenging. All I can say is: SIEG, SIEG, HURRA! SUPERGEIL!

/Bean\
07-12-2009, 12:20
Nice stuff, guys.

We seem to be getting a sudden increase in previews and stuff. Is work on EBII really getting on, or do you happen to just be finishing and releasing stuff around the same time?

antisocialmunky
07-12-2009, 13:08
Great preview. I take it with this video that the Gaza Campaign isn't such a high priority anymore. Oh well, keep up the good work!

PS: Just watched the video. Lol, whoever put it together has been studying the Micheal Bay school of ridiculous camera movement.

Phalanx300
07-12-2009, 13:24
From Twitter the Gaza campaign is finished but just needs fine tuning and alot of testing. For me the fact that they work on non Gaza units means the Gaza units are already completed. :2thumbsup:

Maion Maroneios
07-12-2009, 13:33
:applause: :bow:

Maion

Alsatia
07-12-2009, 16:11
From Twitter the Gaza campaign is finished but just needs fine tuning and alot of testing. For me the fact that they work on non Gaza units means the Gaza units are already completed. :2thumbsup:


Gaza is done? yess!!!, my first taste of EBII is near! The movie is brillian though the shields are cutting into the horse's neck. But I am fine, everything (almost) is still a WIP.

antisocialmunky
07-12-2009, 16:50
*explodes*

Woohooo. Especially because I jsut tested a 55,000 man battle in MTW @ 10 FPS. Will be awesome to see 1:1 - 1:4 battles. :)

/Bean\
07-12-2009, 17:01
Would you be releasing the Gaza campaign prematurely?

-Praetor-
07-12-2009, 17:28
Would you be releasing the Gaza campaign prematurely?

OMG you're right! We should delay it long enough to comply with our EB timetable... :no:

Phalanx300
07-12-2009, 17:52
Gaza is done? yess!!!, my first taste of EBII is near! The movie is brillian though the shields are cutting into the horse's neck. But I am fine, everything (almost) is still a WIP.

Well not done, but guessing from Twitter I think it can be said that the map and units are done.

Tellos Athenaios
07-12-2009, 19:34
OMG you're right! We should delay it long enough to comply with our EB timetable...

Don't worry. I can take care of that... Or else my Internet connection will. :shrug:

Reno Melitensis
07-12-2009, 21:18
Great one EB team, may Jupiter be praised.:yes: EB II is going to be a great great mod.

Cheers.

/Bean\
07-12-2009, 21:39
I just know from my bad luck EBII is going to come out while I'm at Uni...which would drastically hamper my studies...(of course no mention of I would have to play it less or manage my time well. Good God, no. Wouldn't that be stupid...)

Andy1984
07-13-2009, 07:57
Marvellous preview. Keep up the good work

Chris1959
07-13-2009, 09:17
Visually stunning, no other words for it:2thumbsup:

And did I really see other members of the unit reflected in the elephant towers bronze shield!

I can only think of the hours I used to spend painting figures to wargame with.

The upside of the time it will take to complete EBII is I can save up for a computer to do it justice, any advice of best configuration?

SwissBarbar
07-13-2009, 09:46
Cool :yes:

Cartaphilus
07-13-2009, 23:27
INCREDIBLE WORK!!!

EBII will be a masterpiece for sure.

BeeSting
07-14-2009, 01:48
Three things seem inaccurate from this review:

1. Where's the driver in the chariot?
2. Forest elephants were too small to mount a tower.
3. horses of antiquity were not as large.

Teleklos Archelaou
07-14-2009, 03:05
1. Where's the driver in the chariot?

He is in the front of the chariot.

A Very Super Market
07-14-2009, 04:00
He's a bit hard to see. If you aren't looking carefully, you might think the guy on the right has a really wide stance. And if you do see him, it looks like he's riding the driver.

Tellos Athenaios
07-14-2009, 04:35
3. horses of antiquity were not as large.

Depends, depends. But in general you are quite right, and AFAIK these are in fact Vanilla MTW2-K horses because our own haven't been created yet... You know the drill: unless stated otherwise all is WIP.

APX
07-14-2009, 05:50
2. Forest elephants were too small to mount a tower.


Same thing I was thinking. Shouldn't forest elephants be small? I'm nothing close to being a good historian, but I always believed the elephants used by Africans and Hannibal were smaller than regular elephants.

Cyclops
07-14-2009, 06:32
I am yet again gobsmacked by the quality of this mod.

There is so much excellent detail that even the criticisms are (generally) raised to a higher tone than on pretty much any site I have ever seen. Great to see honest opinions given and taken.

I wish more strength to the power of your arms.

Taliferno
07-14-2009, 08:35
Same thing I was thinking. Shouldn't forest elephants be small? I'm nothing close to being a good historian, but I always believed the elephants used by Africans and Hannibal were smaller than regular elephants.

They were smaller than eastern elephants but I'm not to sure how much smaller. In any case I believe that there is depictions of west african elephants with towers on them.

Tux
07-14-2009, 10:40
Three things seem inaccurate from this review:

1. Where's the driver in the chariot?
Yeah he's in the front and to add some ropes for him to be more visible would be too complicated with the current engine.


3. horses of antiquity were not as large.
As it states in the preview all you see is WIP, if you would have checked the twiter discusions you would have seen that a new animation skeleton was done for ponies which wasn't used here.

Leão magno
07-14-2009, 21:36
Impressive and awesome as usual!!!!!

Moros
07-14-2009, 22:24
3. horses of antiquity were not as large.
We'll have many different horses in EBII. Small Ponies for the Celts, Arabs for the Arabians,... So don't worry about that. We don't have them yet, but there's just a lot still to make for EBII.

Christianus
07-15-2009, 09:15
After all this complicated and beautiful work; lets hope EBII aint gonna be obsolete like one might feel with RTR 7.0 Cause it takes to many years to finish, and the engine becomes obsolete.

Meneldil
07-15-2009, 09:37
Since EBII will blow away ETW (which is currently mostly unmoddable), I doubt it will feel obsolete.
Heck, I just reinstalled RTW+BI to play some RTW mods (Arthurian TW mostly). The difference between RTW and M2TW is hardly noticable if the mod is a blast.

bobbin
07-15-2009, 16:02
We'll have many different horses in EBII. Small Ponies for the Celts, Arabs for the Arabians,... So don't worry about that. We don't have them yet, but there's just a lot still to make for EBII.

Woo! Cataphracts are going to be even more impressive with their huge Nisean mounts. :2thumbsup:

Apraxiteles
07-15-2009, 19:58
I'm curious, will the population buildings have any influence on the ethnicity of recruited generals, or even family members somehow? It would be nifty to have a client ruler or mercenary general who actually is one of his own people.

Megas Methuselah
07-15-2009, 22:15
I'm curious, will the population buildings have any influence on the ethnicity of recruited generals, or even family members somehow? It would be nifty to have a client ruler or mercenary general who actually is one of his own people.

That would be neat. I think an expansion/overhaul of the ethnicity traits system would be cool.

Ca Putt
07-16-2009, 11:36
I agree, I always feel silly when my governors in Italy turn out to be Pontians :/ .

Wasntmenl
07-17-2009, 18:16
Awesome update love to see that the afrikan people get so much attention. Hope this also will be the case with the other factions. I'm most suprised by the speed of this update since it normally takes longer before we get an update.

Keep up the good work guys :2thumbsup:

Ibrahim
07-18-2009, 03:27
They were smaller than eastern elephants but I'm not to sure how much smaller. In any case I believe that there is depictions of west african elephants with towers on them.

its not that small-the males are up to 8ft in height, or about the size of a smallish Asian elephant. I estimate 3-5 tons tops-more than enough to carry the howdah and 3-4 idiots on board (mahout included). though I imagine that only the largest and most aggressive elephants would be used, so expect some surprisingly big (8ft) forest elephants.

JMRC
07-19-2009, 13:39
2. Forest elephants were too small to mount a tower.

There's no evidence that african forest elephants couldn't carry a one-man tower. There's proof that the african bush elephant was not used in war, which means that carthaginian elephants were mostly north-african forest elephants (now extinct). There are references to african elephants in Hannibal's army with towers, and they were north-african forest elephants.

The other 2 issues have been answered already.

Maeran
07-20-2009, 03:10
With this talk of different sized horses- does this mean that different sized men is also possible?

Cyclops
07-20-2009, 03:48
There's no evidence that african forest elephants couldn't carry a one-man tower. There's proof that the african bush elephant was not used in war, which means that carthaginian elephants were mostly north-african forest elephants (now extinct). There are references to african elephants in Hannibal's army with towers, and they were north-african forest elephants.

The other 2 issues have been answered already.

I am interested in this point.

I love the Bush Elephants on the Carthi roster, I am shipping 2 of them to India in my current campaign.

I have read in the past (sources escape me) that Bush elephants are too wild to be tamed, unlike Inidan (and the now extinct Forest) Elephants.

Is the Bush elephant the same as the current Elephants one sees in sub saharan Africa?

A Very Super Market
07-20-2009, 03:51
Yes. They were the biggest species of Elephant, and lived fairly far South, so I'm guessing they were usually too much trouble to get ahold of.

JMRC
07-20-2009, 10:58
I am interested in this point.
I love the Bush Elephants on the Carthi roster, I am shipping 2 of them to India in my current campaign.

I have read in the past (sources escape me) that Bush elephants are too wild to be tamed, unlike Inidan (and the now extinct Forest) Elephants.

Is the Bush elephant the same as the current Elephants one sees in sub saharan Africa?

Yes it is. The forest elephant is not extinct; it's the north-african forest elephant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_African_Elephant) (the one used by Numidia and Carthage) that became extinct due to the roman's hunt for circus spectacles. These elephants had 2,5 meters of height at the shoulder.

Read this book: War Elephants, by John M. Kistler

EDIT: this article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_elephant) is also interesting about numidian/carthaginian elephants with towers, since it names the sources.

Tux
07-20-2009, 11:25
With this talk of different sized horses- does this mean that different sized men is also possible?
Yes it is but at a certain the degree, all soldiers in a unit are scaled at the same degree as it was in EB1 but we're tyring to look for the best way to do this as it's not the same like in RTW.

Belisarius II
07-21-2009, 00:28
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/images/smilies/gc/gc-skull.gif I can already imagine how long this is going to take to download... Great work guys https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/images/smilies/gc/gc-2thumbsup.gif

waihin
07-21-2009, 20:59
huzzah this is so great

Skullheadhq
07-23-2009, 15:54
Luckeley I've got a fast Internet Connection so I can handle all sizes, so make it as BIG as you guys want

Belisarius II
07-25-2009, 00:36
So I'm assuming that we are going to get these 'regions' previews for quite a while.

pezhetairoi
07-29-2009, 03:58
Now why is it that the Parasim Maurim and Parasim Garamantim horses look like they're carved from stone? :)

A Very Super Market
07-29-2009, 08:27
Because they're early models.

Tux
07-29-2009, 10:28
You know this is a game and not an film animation or something, right? Also you know this is not an FPS and it's a strategy game so poly count must not be too high.

They may suffer some changes but an too high increase of the poly count is not an option.

Megas Methuselah
07-30-2009, 09:12
You know this is a game and not an film animation or something, right? Also you know this is not an FPS and it's a strategy game so poly count must not be too high.

They may suffer some changes but an too high increase of the poly count is not an option.

It's also a WIP. :rolleyes:

Verrix Vercingetorix
07-30-2009, 12:52
Is the the yellow-red of the Merkabim Garamantim's harness final or will you change this as it really stands out against the rest of the chariot.

JMRC
07-30-2009, 14:12
Some changes are still going to be made there and the yellow saddle cloth should be removed.

Ibn-Khaldun
08-08-2009, 21:43
Just saw this preview and I must say that EB-team have done an amazing job so far! :2thumbsup:

I don't even regret buying Kingdoms anymore! :laugh4:

tls5669
08-12-2009, 23:04
Another group of people for the mighty Carthaginian's to assimilate.

Ibrahim
08-13-2009, 06:05
Another group of people for the mighty Carthaginian's to assimilate.

last time a berber people were in a game, its usually the coastal factions that got into a load of hot water (just ask Rome in IJ or IBFD):clown:

I hope to be the first player of the lakhmids to conquer the berbers:yes:

Dunadd
09-07-2009, 17:55
There's proof that the african bush elephant was not used in war, which means that carthaginian elephants were mostly north-african forest elephants (now extinct). There are references to african elephants in Hannibal's army with towers, and they were north-african forest elephants.

Interesting stuff on whether African bush elephants can be trained here. It seems they can - though i dont know if there's any evidence of them being trained for war in ancient times.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-1775,00.html

And some stuff from BBC Nature - it seems scientists are divided on whether Hannibal's elephants were African Bush elephants, African forest elephants or a separate species of North African forest elephants that are now extinct.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/species/African_Forest_Elephant

Zradha Pahlavan
10-02-2009, 16:38
Wow, this is looking freak'in awesome. I really like how the Garamantines have been expanded, and I already love their chariots.
I assume that there will be Numidians also.

-Praetor-
10-02-2009, 17:07
Wow, this is looking freak'in awesome. I really like how the Garamantines have been expanded, and I already love their chariots.
I assume that there will be Numidians also.

That's right. Go to this thread. (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=117430)You'll find a pleasant surprise there, if you haven't seen it already.