Why not russian faction

[BatkoMahno]

Why there is no russian faction at early period?
If there is sa called *People of Novgorod* faction, how come the more known established state of Kiev Russia is not there in early period?
In late period the Kiev Russia is well gone. But I don't know if it wise for the game's sake to have 2 russian factions in *high period* (was that the name of second period?)(italians and sicilians,spaniards and aragonians).
And Yes vikings should be available even in Kiev as they where parts of *Druzhinas* in Duke's army as settled down or hired mercenaries during at least 2 centuries.

Would someone tell me why is that faction excluded?

[LovelyHaji]

Wouldn't it be historically correct to have 2 main russion factions? I don't think Modern Russia emerged from the Muscovy city state till about the 16th/17th century

[BatkoMahno]

I feel a little uncomfortable writing in this thread now as no one is paying interest in this except LovelyHaji. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif
The point is that there should be a at least a faction (playable would be lovely) that represents Kiev Russia. The first russian democracy ('People of Novgorod&#39http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif the merchants of Novgorod eventually declared independence from Kiev and joined the emerging Hanseatic League, a federation of city-states that controlled Baltic and North Sea trade. But they found themselvs fighting against Teutons later while the other Russia was strugling with hordes of Mongoles which put an end to Kiev Russia.

[Galestrum]

yes there should be a kiev faction - and yes kiev rus was prby more important than novgorod, but decisions had to be made apparently.

we could also ask why there are not 5-6 turkish factions instead of just the sultanate of rum? how about the aremnian states? navarre? independent counties of barcelona, toulouse, gascony/acquataine, flanders? burgundy?

how about the pecenegs? cumans? volga-bulgarians? khazars?

the duchies of pomerania and prussia? lithuainia?

kingdoms of scotland, ireland, sweden and norway?

break italy into independent city state factions?

ALL of those (and liekly more)could be factions in the early era

your answer is they likely made an editorial decision, if Kiev Rus was chosen im sure someone would wonder where novgorod was http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

I myself have modded the early set up and gave novogorod kiev as a province and made it their "capitol" to reflect kiev's prominence

[Galestrum]

and of course vikings should be in kiev, who do you think ruled and made it into a great city - vikings http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[LovelyHaji]

i think the developers had to try and balance history, gameplay, and the desire of gamers to play their home countries. You'll just have to be happy with Novgorod

[Katasaki Hirojima]

Except that...you can't play as Novogorad in the Early game...

[Hakonarson]

By the time the game starts the Russians are no longer "Vikings" in any real sense of the word - the Druzhina's were almost exclusively cavalry, and by 1150 were totaly cavalry - and not bow armed either

Bow armed Russian heavy cavalry came AFTER the Mongol conquest adn was learned from their new masters. Before they they were javelin/spear armed, equipped with a shield and mail armour. Not nearly as heavily armed and armoured as Western Knights, but more mobile and suited for fighting the horse nomads that were their endemic enemies.

Rus Druzhina had been mounted infantry for many decades before the game, and gradually evolved into cavalry over the 11th century.

Bow armed nomads were used of course.

The majority of Russian infantry was always spearmen - either Smerdy or Polk - quite efficient but unspectacular - certainly not as imperssive as the earlier Rus infantry had been (up to say the middle-late 11th century).

BTW the main weapon of Rus infantry was a 12 foot spear - this was the weapon Vikings used on shipboard.