New factions in BI

[edyzmedieval]

Hey guyz...

From the Wargamer review I've seen that we have new factions like the Byzantium, Sarmatians and Goths.....

Are there any news about them like new troop types???? I damn curious about the troops types at the Sarmatians(their superb heavy cavlary) but most of all, the Byzantines(my fav empire in MTW)....

Any info???

[tibilicus]

Most probably that will come soon. Theres going to be quite a few new units. I personly will play Goths: Time to turn the tables on rome ! ~D

[edyzmedieval]

Personally, I eagerly await the Byzantines!!!

[tibilicus]

Yep they will be another good one. They were awsome in MTW. Can someone also shine some light on why there has been no anouncment on the .com? Oh its ment to be a secret now..........

[cunctator]

The list from the wargammer preview:
http://www.wargamer.com/e3_2005/previews/barbarian_invasion/Default.asp

Western + Eastern roman empire
Celts
Huns
Goths
Germans
Franks
Saxons
Vandals
Sassanids
Alemanni
Romano-Britains
Sarmatians

Also that are more than the ten new factions mentioned by Gamespy.

[Craterus]

There will be 80 new units. So maybe there will be some unique units for each of our new factions.

[Aetius the Last Roman]

I saw the crazy preist-men on the review, they should be fun to use.

I wonder what other new flaming-pig style units will be added.

[scorillo]

anyone knows ?! germans or alemanni are the same as the "vizigoths" ??

[scorillo]

if they are not,where the vizigoths are ?? historicaly they should be in BI :thinking:

[The Stranger]

There will be 80 new units. So maybe there will be some unique units for each of our new factions.

yeah 80 new units but also other units are removed so i don't think there will be alot more units.

[The Stranger]

anyone knows ?! germans or alemanni are the same as the "vizigoths" ??

vizigoths and alemanni are Germanic tribes. visigoths ostrogoths and goths are three tribes out of one. so they put in the goths and left out the subtribes. visigoths were in spain i thought and spain was still roman territory so no visigoths

[cunctator]

yeah 80 new units but also other units are removed so i don't think there will be alot more units.

Why should they remove existing units?


The visigoths settled within the roman borders not earlier than 376ad. After they sacked rome in 410ad the visigoths again become roman foederati and they were allowed to settle in southern france around Tolosa in 418ad. Spain was conquered later by them.

[Trajen the 1st]

Wiat, so no Alans? No Bulgars? Not even the Visigoths + Ostrogoths? This sucks, i hope the expak gets modded soon after its release. I especaly want to see the extended map by Lionskin(the one that RTR uses now)so i can play the entire Sasanid empire. ~;)

[lars573]

Wiat, so no Alans? No Bulgars? Not even the Visigoths + Ostrogoths? This sucks, i hope the expak gets modded soon after its release. I especaly want to see the extended map by Lionskin(the one that RTR uses now)so i can play the entire Sasanid empire. ~;)

Dude the Turkic Bulgars don't happen along until after the Slavs. And they don't, IIRC, show up until after 550 AD. And the Sassanids are in the expansion. As for the Goths there is no practical to point to have 2 indentical Gothic factions. Just having one huge Goth faction is the best choice.

[Ice]

Why should they remove existing units?




They need to remove all pre marian units becase they had not existed for about 500 years. Also, units that say Carthage had would not longer be availble.

[Trajen the 1st]

I thought they wouldint need to since the expak is a new campiagn. They didint remove any units with Viking invasion why should they do so with this?

[bodidley]

vizigoths and alemanni are Germanic tribes. visigoths ostrogoths and goths are three tribes out of one. so they put in the goths and left out the subtribes. visigoths were in spain i thought and spain was still roman territory so no visigoths

The Goths were granted enclaves in Roman territory in exchange for military services.The Goths, Visigoths, and Ostrogoths played a huge role in late Roman history, they adopted fighting techniques in the Roman pattern (but by that time they were better than the average Roman army) and so it would seem inappropriate to lump them under "Alammani", particularly when one makes the considerations of A. Geography and B. they would be really freakin' cool to play ~;)

[Marcus Maxentius]

Weren't the visigoths and ostrogoths called this because one group decided to follow one leader(forgot the name) and the other another? Up to that they were just Goths?

[Franconicus]

The list from the wargammer preview:
http://www.wargamer.com/e3_2005/previews/barbarian_invasion/Default.asp

Western + Eastern roman empire
Celts
Huns
Goths
Germans
Franks
Saxons
Vandals
Sassanids
Alemanni
Romano-Britains
Sarmatians

Also that are more than the ten new factions mentioned by Gamespy.
Franks? Hurayy!

[The Stranger]

Why should they remove existing units?


The visigoths settled within the roman borders not earlier than 376ad. After they sacked rome in 410ad the visigoths again become roman foederati and they were allowed to settle in southern france around Tolosa in 418ad. Spain was conquered later by them.

cuz 1. there are no phalanx factions anymore
2. carthage is gone also are a lot of factions. even if they keep some units as auxilia their elite units die with them don't you think

[Es Arkajae]

These 80 new units will also be spread out over the two campaigns, or at least I hope the original campaign gets some lovin in the expansion as well.

[Oaty]

yeah 80 new units but also other units are removed so i don't think there will be alot more units.

Theres 1 thing i can say about expansions. You can play the original game with it's new features Along with the esp pack itself. Now saved games may be incompatable due to it's overhaul but the original is still there.

So more than likely they hadto increase the max or when you choose wich time period you will play it will then load the appropriate skins and other items appropriate to that time period.

Anyways the whole idea of an expansion in most cases is to add features to the original along with adding some new scenarios to play.

So not a single unit will be removed is my guess

[Es Arkajae]

I read that they're 're-skinning' the barbarian factions in the original (so maybe they'll actually look different for a change as well as unsilly), perhaps some extra tinkering will take place there and some factions will lose common units they have now to be replaced by new unique ones.

[Brutus]

I wonder, who are the "Germans" as there are already Franks, Saxons, Goths, Alemanni and Vandals? I think a distinction between Visigoths and Ostrogoths would be more sensible. Or maybe peoples like the Alans, the Suebi or the Lombards?

[The Stranger]

Theres 1 thing i can say about expansions. You can play the original game with it's new features Along with the esp pack itself. Now saved games may be incompatable due to it's overhaul but the original is still there.

So more than likely they hadto increase the max or when you choose wich time period you will play it will then load the appropriate skins and other items appropriate to that time period.

Anyways the whole idea of an expansion in most cases is to add features to the original along with adding some new scenarios to play.

So not a single unit will be removed is my guess

maybe but i don't think phalanx will be available in BI maybe in normal but not BI, and i was talkin about that

[BalkanTourist]

Dude the Turkic Bulgars don't happen along until after the Slavs. And they don't, IIRC, show up until after 550 AD. And the Sassanids are in the expansion. As for the Goths there is no practical to point to have 2 indentical Gothic factions. Just having one huge Goth faction is the best choice.

Dude, the Bulgars are not TURKIC, but of Alano-Sarmatian origin, related to the Iranians. Their original homeland is believed to be Northern Afghanistan. They did, however participate in the Hunic formation that swept across Europe in 4th century. The Slavs originated from Northeastern Poland and Lithuania and spread eastwards, southwards and westwards in the 5th and 6th century.

[Orda Khan]

Weren't the visigoths and ostrogoths called this because one group decided to follow one leader(forgot the name) and the other another? Up to that they were just Goths?

Basically, yes. The Ostrogoths ( East Goths ) remained in their homelands as subjects of the Huns. The Visigoths ( West Goths ) fled the Huns, migrating to Western France and eventually Spain.

Maybe Gepids will feature among the 'German' presence. I do agree that the Alans should have a place within the Expansion, considering they managed to maintain their identity throughout this period of turmoil, which is more than can be said of the Sarmatians who were quickly absorbed by the Huns.


the Bulgars are not TURKIC, but of Alano-Sarmatian origin, related to the Iranians. Their original homeland is believed to be Northern Afghanistan.

There is also suggestion that the Bulgars origin lies within the fragmentary tribal groups that remained after the breakdown of the Hunnic Empire

..........Orda

[avatar]

I am looking forward to playing the Huns. Hopefully they will be as fun to play as the Vikings were in VI.

I also enjoy listening to ya'll debate the origins of the different factions. I am an American, and am fascinated by my "origins." A large percentage of the people that post on the forums are European, and offer me a different point of view than our professors. Thanks. :book:

[scorillo]

i can`t wait to play as the romans to kick some huns butt ! i`ll send them back to their pannonia :charge: :yes: ~:wave:

[The Hun]

I am looking forward to playing the Huns. Hopefully they will be as fun to play as the Vikings were in VI.

Yes the Huns will be much fun I think

[Mega Dux Bob]

The real question is what ludicrous anachronism will be introduced in BI to build upon the "success" of the Egyptians in RTW. :laugh4:

Let's see Barbarians = Vikings as everyone knows so I guess on of the factions will be Vikings.

Still, to be the Sassidins and loot Constantinople! Cool!

[RabidGibbon]

I heard that the "Vikings" faction were actually the Saxons, just misreported
by some over eager reporter.

[Orda Khan]

Huns are included, Vandals are included, Goths are included, Franks are included ........that's good enough for me

......Orda

[bodidley]

I wonder if they'll give any Frankish units throwing axes before engaging hand-to-hand (like pilas, except axes ~D )

[kingwill]

dunno if the dates will be wrong but it would be pretty cool for the arabs to come and rip through the sassanids.

[CrayolaCrayon]

This expansion sounds really good. Does anyone know when abouts it will come out?

[Intrepid Sidekick]

I wonder if they'll give any Frankish units throwing axes before engaging hand-to-hand (like pilas, except axes ~D )

Yes there are the Francisca Heerban.

[Orda Khan]

Yes there are the Francisca Heerban.

Oh sweet!!
Do the Hun units show signs of cranial deformation? ~;)

........Orda

[bodidley]

Not so much disfiguration as reconfiguration ~;) Some of the Hunic skins in the screenshots seem to be suffering from an unfortunate and severe case of eunich-face however ~:confused:


Yes there are the Francisca Heerban.

Shweet. Don't know if it'll be enough to convince me to dish out another $35 to CA though.

[Oaty]

Oh sweet!!
Do the Hun units show signs of cranial deformation? ~;)

........Orda

Are you talking about the slit cheek at birth or something else?

[Viking]

I just wonder if any of the factions in BI will have elephants.
Anyone knows that?

[Spartiate]

The Sassanids made extensive use of elephants they obtained from their Kushan and Indian vassals. Elephants were used to attack the enemy line and to guard the rear and baggage trains.I would imagine that CA will include them as they already have the skins.One unit i am looking forward to is the Sassanid Noble Cavalry that used both lance and bow.Sounds a little bit like the MTW Siphahi of the Porte.I hope these units will be included.

[Orda Khan]

Are you talking about the slit cheek at birth or something else?

The Huns bound the heads of the young which elongated the skull into a dome shape

.......Orda

[bodidley]

The Sassanids made extensive use of elephants they obtained from their Kushan and Indian vassals. Elephants were used to attack the enemy line and to guard the rear and baggage trains.I would imagine that CA will include them as they already have the skins.

Indian elephants are significantly smaller than african elephants, and CA might have to make new skins because the Parthian skins might not fit with the faction.

[tibilicus]

Yes i dont think indian Elephants have that big a tusks either do they? Wow its safari total war !

[Soviet_AK-47]

The Huns will be fun...and so will the Byzantines and the Sassanids (those 3 have cool names.). I look forward to playing mainly as those three, or even the Western Roman Empire to stay alive.

[Samurai Waki]

I want to see how BI actually pans out, I'm not going to be too overly excited, but... I do want to see Romans get the crap beat out of em' for once...

As far the Goths go, I'd like to see the Goths start out as maybe a vassal state of the Byzantine Empire, as was historically correct, I mean they won the land from the Byzantines at the battle of Adrianople, but were soon starved. The Byzantines offered the Goths food in exchange of slaving their children, or pressing young men into military service. After the brutal campaigns against the Sassanids, a young Ostrogothic Commander named Alaric saw how the Byzantines used his superior warriors as cannon-fodder. After the Campaigns, Alaric grouped most of his people together and headed west, with barbarians and other non-romans joining the newly formed visigoths. After sacking Rome, they headed south and destroyed pretty much everything in their path. At the boot of Italy Alaric died from extenuous circumstances and his body was hid. The Visigoths moved North and into Spain and North Africa, and actually helped preserve Roman Culture opposed to destroying it like the Longobards... Maybe a Trigger could happen where Alaric rises to power, and you're supposed to sack Rome and go west. As soon as you settle in someplace else like Spain or north africa specifically, you lose control of your Eastern Provinces. Because the Visigoths had no jurisdiction over their original provinces.
The Huns will also be interesting, as they actually appear in a similar way as the Mongols in MTW. I wonder if you don't play as the Huns if their will be a trigger that kills their leader in a certain year and lowers their stats.

[amazon77]

The battle of Adrianople was against the romans, not the Byzantines.

[cunctator]

The battle of Adrianople was against the romans, not the Byzantines.

The goths were fighting against the eastern roman emperor ( also the parts of the empire were not finally divided 378ad) there and the eastern roman empire was later called Byzantine Empire by western scholars. So it could be seen as correct to call the eastern romans byzantines, also traditionally the reign of emperor Heraclios 610-641ad is date when the eastern roman empire become the "Byzantine" empire.

[hotingzilla]

should be ad 378?

The expak should complete the circle RTW-MTW. It's just like how SW: Epi 3 and 4.