Occultus and the hidden Factions (Discussion)

If you've been going through The EB forums, you'll find a few EB members with an Occultus sig on them. They seem to show a design for one of the new factions. I have made this thread to discuss what they could be. The EB team will probably will not give us a fresh stele if we get it right.

Here are some of the Occultus sigs.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/...secret5sk0.jpg
https://img12.imageshack.us/img12/9154/logosecret7.jpg
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/...ecret2d5cf.jpg
https://img190.imageshack.us/img190/...2occultus2.jpg

Actual code from the new EB Website; which may help you understand EB better:

Code:

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if(! ($testmode || isFlagTrue($ps,'complete'))) {
        redirect('occultus_error','url');
        return false;
}

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Good luck with that. The new faction sigs are very well obscured: if you actually get one right I'll give you a lollipop.

All is cloudy

Hmmm... in Oudysseos' Occultus signature picture you can notice something which look like someones shoulders, and you can see armour on them. Bosphorans? A Steppe faction?

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Originally Posted by lenin96

Bosphorans? A Steppe faction?

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Nope, I wouldn't say so, or well maybe right!

But if you observe better you can see a red backgroud with golden emblem... Isn't Red the color of a imperialist faction? And what about its golden emblem?

And it is not, as we were not perfidious enough to redraw allready known faction emblem and cover them with the occultus label! (But as said we are not like that!)

Well you'll excuse me but I have a very passionating lake sediment to study...

Regards

Martelvs

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Originally Posted by lenin96

Hmmm... in Oudysseos' Occultus signature picture you can notice something which look like someones shoulders, and you can see armour on them. Bosphorans? A Steppe faction?

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I'm thinking it looks more like scales a dragon maybe?, definatley something serpentine..

Edit: the bosphorian kingdom tended to depict gryphons on thier coins so it could be that.

could you add the known occultus sigs to your first post? that would be rather practical for anyone who is keen on de-occulting them^^

I agree that definately looks like reptile scales and the shape could be a snake.

Ps: we know we won't find them out too easily but were keen to guess, like John Cleese in the cheese shop :P

Also i just realised I've been calling it the Bosphorian Kingdom instead of the Bosporan Kingdom, my bad.

Why does the factions have to remain a secret, It's driving me crazy and made me order M2TW: Gold Edition!

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Originally Posted by Skullheadhq

Why does the factions have to remain a secret, It's driving me crazy and made me order M2TW: Gold Edition!

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It is likely that the answer to your question lies in your statement!

Regards

Martel

Thanks to EB Creative Assembly gets through this economic crisis:laugh4:

Alsatia wasn't Cheez-Wizzery mentioned as a possible outcome if you did this? You are a brave man.

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Originally Posted by oudysseos

Good luck with that. The new faction sigs are very well obscured: if you actually get one right I'll give you a lollipop.

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I heard that you guys have produced over 100 new occultus sigs, each a micro-shade lighter and less obscured than the last, which you are introducing as the faction release dates approach, perfectly designed so they become legible the exact day the next stele arrives.

Now I think there is a clue in Martelus Flavius post: he says he is studying lake sediment. This is so unlikely that I consider it a taunt, if not an outright clue. Let us probe further...

Now a pool is a small lake. What is the Latin word for pool? Lacuna. Now lacuna can also mean a gap. What do they sell at the Gap? Pants. And pants have pockets. What else has pockets? A snooker table. And what colour is the chalk on a snookier cue? Blue, like the sky. And what do we find in the sky? Star signs...and following on from the clue about the lake, its probably Pisces (or Acquarius, or Capricorn or even Libra but lets not get carried away, I think its clear he means Pisces).

So I feel theres a clear indication the occultus faction was founded by a leader whose star sign was (probably) Pisces, or otherwise was some kind of goat-bodied sea creature. I think we all know who that is, I mean I don't have to spell it out for you do I?

Hahaha. You're funny.

There's no secret it will be a nomadic faction - there's no great use of scales West of the Steppes, never mind scale sleeves.

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Originally Posted by Christopher Burgoyne

There's no secret it will be a nomadic faction - there's no great use of scales West of the Steppes, never mind scale sleeves.

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Have you read the Calawre description on the loading screens? Has a bit to say about scales IIRC...

These are bronze or leather scales from a sleeveless coat of armour, rather different from the clearly iron made scale sleeves shown in the reminiscence.

The bottom one got me thinking about the Bosporan Kingdom. There seems to be a helmet of sorts at the bottom of the sig, but the writing reminds me of Babylonia.

The writing is just the normal EB writing take a look at your romani sig and you'll see it. It always seemed more celtic or germanic in style to me.

Lol. You are really funny (@ Ciclops). And your reasoning reminded me those complicated mice catcher machines (from Tom and Jerry).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Christopher Burgoyne

These are bronze or leather scales from a sleeveless coat of armour, rather different from the clearly iron made scale sleeves shown in the reminiscence.

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Iron? Scale? Sleeves? No, personally I think it's a bronze, silver recovered, horse head armour.

Well sorry, but a wonderful micaschist awaits me!

Regards

Martelvs

PS : Oh, and thanks cycolps! You learned me things that were unknown to my mind! Excellent deductive reasoning, except that I was actually counting varves of this sediment... Chronology.

It's probably pointless to speculate on this, but…

It would probably be easier to try to deduce the content of the sigs by who they are attached to, rather than what they look like. This is assuming, of course, that there is any correlation between the two. For example, gamegeek2, who has the second sig Alsatia posted, if researching Nabataea for ATB, and seems to have some knowledge of Arabic. This might, or might not suggest that his/her Occultus is an Arabic faction. I haven't bothered to pour through their posts or anything, so they might have other areas of expertise.

Another potential clue might be the color of the sig. Assuming they keep EB1's color scheme, it's highly unlikely that a red faction, like the other sig, the one with 'scales', would be anywhere near Rome or the Saka Rauka, from purely a map aesthetics perspective.

I´ve got the feeling that the second occultus signature (the green one), might be something related to a germanic, or at least barbarian faction. The green seems to suggest something with woods (other barbarians sigs also have woods in the background) and the "occultus" letters clearly are written in a rhunic-like style. So my bet is for a new germanic related faction:beam:

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Iron? Scale? Sleeves? No, personally I think it's a bronze, silver recovered, horse head armour.

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So near to the hand, you cannot deceive anyone, unless they have "invisible" arms :laugh4:.

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Originally Posted by Bucefalo

I´ve got the feeling that the second occultus signature (the green one), might be something related to a germanic, or at least barbarian faction. The green seems to suggest something with woods (other barbarians sigs also have woods in the background) and the "occultus" letters clearly are written in a rhunic-like style. So my bet is for a new germanic related faction:beam:

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I say it's Epeiros...

Honestly you fans are seeing too much into this: those Occultus signatures are all about factions that have existed for ages in the mod ... nothing new there. :shrug:

Rule number 1 - Do not trust an EB team member to talk about Occultus.

Rule number 2 - Amass as many guesses on the occultus factions as possible so that at least one of them has to be right, thus enabling at least one person to get a free lollipop from oudysseos.

Rule number 3 - There is NO rule number 3.

Rule number 4 - A man shall believe in only two things: free speech and free beer.

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Originally Posted by bobbin

The writing is just the normal EB writing take a look at your romani sig and you'll see it. It always seemed more celtic or germanic in style to me.

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:wall::wall::wall:

My quess is that they are a Keltoi faction, either the Boii or a Gallo-Thracian faction.

Cheers.

Maruyan - the green is the jungle of India....

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Originally Posted by Christopher Burgoyne

Rule number 1 - Do not trust an EB team member to talk about Occultus.

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Originally Posted by machinor

Rule number 2 - Amass as many guesses on the occultus factions as possible so that at least one of them has to be right, thus enabling at least one person to get a free lollipop from oudysseos.

Rule number 3 - There is NO rule number 3.

Rule number 4 - A man shall believe in only two things: free speech and free beer.

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The first rule of Occultus is you don't talk about Occultus. The second rule of Occultus is you don't talk about Occultus.

As for rule number three, I believe it is written on the underside of the hatch built by elephant-mounted Mauryan Satrap FMs.

And rule number 4? I think you have your priorities wrong. Free speech is a fundamental element of our society, but lets not muddy the waters here, free beer is far more important. Just so long as its not that fruity Leffe stuff.

Yep, free beer and free sex owns freedom of speech.

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Originally Posted by Christopher Burgoyne

free sex

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Dammit... I knew I forgot something.

Why so secretive, like its the Watergate files. Sheesh.

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Originally Posted by tls5669

Why so secretive, like its the Watergate files. Sheesh.

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To torture you guys and give you things to talk about.:tongue2:

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Originally Posted by alin

To torture you guys and give you things to talk about.

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Come on...

bah, I say stop the idle talk, and just bet on which faction is next. of course I mean you guys bet on which faction, not me, as betting is haraam.

besides, I'm currently content, seeing as how I correclt guessed the two new confirmed factions will be in. just hoping all my other guesses come out right :evil:

What are your other guesses?


P.S. There is at least one new faction that I don't think anybody has ever guessed.

The mamertines? :clown:

I'm going with either a Baltic tribe or the Cantabri.

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Originally Posted by Alsatia

Come on...

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Where?

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Originally Posted by Zarax

The mamertines? :clown:

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Very very close.
:clown:

There can´t be any other italian faction besides the Romans, they were all subjugated by the starting timeframe, so no samnites or campanians.. mamertines could be, but very unlikely. Stop teasing us:dizzy2:

As you wish sir!
https://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5161/67452801.jpg

Ligurians?

And Alin, that's just mean...

Hey could there be a new faction in the Alps to block roman expansion? You know like those crazies the Caturiges Warriors.

There's definitely a sword to the right of the bottom one. I'm guessing...another British tribe.

Syrakousai ??

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Originally Posted by alin

Very very close.
:clown:

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Ah, finally the team came to their senses and gave Sardinia multiple settlements and a proper nuragic faction :clown::clown:

Hmm… the Bruttians/Lucanians maybe? EB1 had them as an Eleutheroi.

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Originally Posted by Apraxiteles

Hmm… the Bruttians/Lucanians maybe? EB1 had them as an Eleutheroi.

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Their only settlement, Rhegion, is under the control of a collection of Roman deserters from Campania at gamestart. Dunno if that's a particularly solid basis for a whole 'nother faction.

That is probably the only region where the name "Rebels" is justified.

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Originally Posted by oudysseos

What are your other guesses?


P.S. There is at least one new faction that I don't think anybody has ever guessed.

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bartix?:clown:

look, I mentioned all of them in another thread, the one that was opened by Jo the greek IIRC. I'm too lazy to tell ye them.

and is that other faction you are talking about arabian, like Nabaaea or ma3een? if its not, I don't care, you could put a faction on Marsailles and I wouldn't care..:clown:

Come on people, Bartix is getting old. It's the Abocassix faction.

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Originally Posted by Apraxiteles

Hmm… the Bruttians/Lucanians maybe? EB1 had them as an Eleutheroi.

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My first though too.

I must say its plain mean the way they tease us. :sweatdrop:

Of course like all the other EB tragics 'll be back for more.

Hey maybe EB is just the front end of a Sadistic internet torture club? Give us some candy, and lure us in to be tormented...:help:

I dunno guys...all I can see in the Occultus pic is an unspeakable demon from the cold wastes of the ill-omened plateau Leng, where it is said no healthy men go.

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Originally Posted by oudysseos

P.S. There is at least one new faction that I don't think anybody has ever guessed.

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Scordisci? :quiet:

Boii Galla? ._.a the Keltoi settlements with gaesatae just north of barbaropolis.

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Originally Posted by alin

As you wish sir!
https://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5161/67452801.jpg

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wow that carriage must be quite contaminating! Just look at the smoke behind it.. otherwise it looks quite good, but i wonder if a fair lady could use it without being observed by the populace.. definitely it needs some cover :yes:

If Mamertines are very very close then that means it must be Syrakousai, only thing left in Italy worthy of a faction! :idea2: And someone else said it as well but without reaction so that must mean that there's even more reason to think it is in fact Syrakousai! :sweatdrop:

And a faction no one has guessed as of yet? Mmmm, then its probably not an very obvious one. Lugii, they were close of becoming a faction in EB1 right?

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Originally Posted by Bucefalo

wow that carriage must be quite contaminating! Just look at the smoke behind it.. otherwise it looks quite good, but i wonder if a fair lady could use it without being observed by the populace.. definitely it needs some cover :yes:

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Yeah, it has a 2 exhaust system, TDI but sadly no ABS.:clown:

Well maybe on a rainy(muddy) day it wouldn't be so observable so the lady can get unoticed.:tongue2:

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Originally Posted by Phalanx300

And a faction no one has guessed as of yet? Mmmm, then its probably not an very obvious one. Lugii, they were close of becoming a faction in EB1 right?

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Yes, they were one of the contenders for the final faction slot that went to the Saba. They have been mentioned a couple of times by me, though. There was one candidate amongst the contenders that I'd never heard or seen mentioned on the forum, and I am guessing that's the one that oudysseos is referring to.

I wouldn't put too much faith in Alin's comment, though. He's teasing us, so I doubt the obvious interpretation (Syracuse) is the correct one.

Damn and I tried so hard to be believable and trusted, well at least the next preview will be released soon and that should tease you some more.

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Originally Posted by Azathoth

I dunno guys...all I can see in the Occultus pic is an unspeakable demon from the cold wastes of the ill-omened plateau Leng, where it is said no healthy men go.

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...well occasionally a dreamer will find a path, whether riding a friendly yak or rumoured shantak-bird (for some whisper those hippcephalic monstrosities abide in that fell place) to that hideous plateau and prehistoric monastary where dwells the silken masked priest....

...ahem, what I meant to say is I don't really understand. What is this Leng of which you speak?

:smash:

On the other hand, the figure in the Occultus might be vaguely cone-shaped.

But when I look too hard I get a sensation of immense uneasiness and familiarity...

A more realistic guess would be an Arabian faction. A Baltic faction? An Iberian faction!

Definitely one of those.

Oh wait! Maybe a different Sarmatian faction (red and scales) and another Gallic faction (green)?

The above one is red and seems like a tiger paw or tail at the bottum? Is probably going to be an steppe/eastern one from the limited looks of it.

The bottum one is green and ... well yeah thats it so perhaps an barbarian faction, my gues is for the Boii! :2thumbsup:

after taking the time to read this thread, i would just like to say 'huh?'

thank you.

Scale red, scale..... eng..... maybe Bosphorou?

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Originally Posted by Azathoth

...

On the other hand, the figure in the Occultus might be vaguely cone-shaped.

But when I look too hard I get a sensation of immense uneasiness and familiarity...

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I noticed a five pointed soapstone fragment. Just to the left of the slime coated headless remains.

Regardless, whatever an EB Member who isn't Foot says about new factions, it's just secrets and lies.

Secrets and lies.

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Originally Posted by oudysseos

What are your other guesses?


P.S. There is at least one new faction that I don't think anybody has ever guessed.

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Taezali! Gedrosia! Meroe!
:wiseguy:

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I noticed a five pointed soapstone fragment. Just to the left of the slime coated headless remains.

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But if one of THOSE are going to be a factional unit, it would pretty much break the game balance!

All other units would have such a massive morale penalty that they would flee as soon as the battle started, even Gaesatae.

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Originally Posted by Elmetiacos

Taezali! Gedrosia! Meroe!
:wiseguy:

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Meroeitic Kush would be a great addition. It would provide a much-needed check on the Ptolemaoi, and help prevent them from swallowing the Seleukids and getting out of control.

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Originally Posted by Azathoth

But if one of THOSE are going to be a factional unit, it would pretty much break the game balance!

All other units would have such a massive morale penalty that they would flee as soon as the battle started, even Gaesatae.

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"Hey boy, ever hear tell of a shaggoth?"

I used to make my own campaigns on the excellent Warlords 2 from SGI (I think it was). Made an Italia campaign (not too bad), a Peloponessian campaign (not so good), a Middle earth campaign (where Gondor always attacked Rohan :shame:) and a Dreamland campaign complete with Shantaks, deep ones, shoggoths, dholes (the dholes had the same stats as the Balrog in the ME campaign, 20% stronger than Shoggoths even), moon beasts, nightgaunts, nameless jungle guardians (well what else was I supposed to call them?), zebra cavalry, yak cavalry, ghasts, gugs, ghouls, zoogs, cats, Saturnian cats, almost-humans, hunting beasts, red-footed wamps, ah the roster practically wrote itself.

Anyway anyone questioning Occultus team members too closely will be drawn screaming into the sky by nameless paws.

Lol I'm not that old. I wasn't even born when Warlords 2 came out. Sounds interesting (and free) though, might check it out.

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Originally Posted by Elmetiacos

Meroe!
:wiseguy:

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Oh God not this again.

Heh, your avatar is very suited for saying that.

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P.S. There is at least one new faction that I don't think anybody has ever guessed.

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Japan. With kenzai.

Uranus, with Bartix motherships.

I second the bartix.