Which "Barbarian" faction has the bravest, steadiest, strongest and scariest troops of all? By this I mean, which faction has a roster selection which allows the fielding of the best elites together with large numbers of the best and most cost effective line troops?
Here's how they rank in my book:
1. Sweboz - Ceteris Paribus, the Sweboz roster might be limited in diversity, but it allows by far a decent range of very brave, steady and disciplined troops. Formations are the tightest of all the barbarians, and defensive focus is certainly not neglected - the only problem is a lack of good armour for all top tiers, but they make the difference with being cheap. "Dugundiz" are one of the best and most cost effective Spearmen in the game. Their swordsmen, too, while being slightly more expensive than Celtic Swordsmen and less numerous, are man for man superior and better line troops, while all troops have one of the highest morale ratings in the game
On "Strength" the Sweboz have a decent range of good assault troops, while having perhaps the best "scary" range of troops in the game. Having Wargozez walking around behind the enemy line will assuredly deal a devastating blow to enemy morale. That said the Sweboz lack a good equivalent to the "Gaesatae".
Overall though, Sweboz warriors must be kept inside dense woods, where they get attack bonuses and are better protected from missiles, to which they are extremely vulnerable.
(1 to 5 stars)
Bravery - *****
Steadiness - *****
Strength - ***
Scariness - ****
2. Getai - The troops have perhaps the highest morale in the game. They also get the best assault and skirmisher roster in the game, while their long range missiles are varied and second to no other Western enemy, though they lack the steadiness of the Sweboz on the battlefield. They might have good "phalanx" troops, and access to Hoplitai both in Custom Battle mode or as auxiliaries in the game, but these troops lack the flexibility of the Sweboz Dugundiz. They make for it with a wide range of troops with high lethality and attack though relatively low discipline and formation tightness, which results in perhaps the most fluid and flexible line of the game, but also the most unpredictable and fragile one. Like all "barbarians", the Getai must be wary of missiles, but their high tier troops are better equipped to deal with them than the Sweboz, while their lower tier is cheap and replaceable.
On the "scary" factor the Getai are lacking. The only trick they may resort to are flaming arrows in abundance, but otherwise they have no special "scary" troops that can shake enemy morale during an engagement. They have to kill them all or more before the enemy finally routs.
Bravery - *****
Steadiness - ***
Strength - *****
Scariness - *
3. Gallic Factions (Aedui & Arverni) - Gauls are a bit of a tricky bunch. They have perhaps the strongest barbarian roster, but they also have the lowest morale and discipline of all barbarian factions. They are also lacking in ranged punch, and their assault troops are good but not phenomenal, but they make for it with having Gaesatae, which unfortunately also have a restricted role in their armies; their roster is also less cost effective, but they have the best cavalry of all "barbarian" factions, except maybe the Lusotannan.
Formation tightness and morale are low across the board for line troops, while steadiness is weak - Gallic units tend to waver quickly. Scariness is strong but restricted, while "assault" is nothing phenomenal... Perhaps Teceitos, which they lose in Time of Soldiers, and regionals. They lack good AP infantry, while their later professionals and their top tier units are very good, brave and disciplined but also not cost effective. I remembed it drained my whole economy just to have a single full stack of professionals during an Arverni campaign.
Overall:
Bravery - ***
Steadiness - **
Strength - *****
Scariness - ***
4. Casse - Casse have the weaknesses of Gallic factions while not sharing much of their boni. Their elites are also good, but very expensive and limited - they lack Gaesatae, but make for it with a cadre of assorted "Chanting" and "eagle-bearing" units that inspire their morale. The majority of their line is composed of the lowest tier Celtic troops, the Gaeroas, Botroas and Brythonic regionals, who are all lacking in discipline and are not that great either. Without enough people to keep their morale up, they rout quickly, and their formation tightness also leaves to be desired.
They also lack cavalry, and while there are one or two people who might have found an use for Chariots, their bodyguard is virtually useless. They also lack outstanding assault troops (Teceitos only, again) and have virtually nothing but basic missile units.
Bravery - ****
Steadiness - **
Strength - ***
Scariness - **
Scariness
I haven't played Lusotannan yet so I won't comment on them, but you're welcome.
