Six down- four to go to!!: 4 faction slots left

Knew I was missing someone:

Make that seven down and three to go.

Wondering if a wandering mod could change the title :sweetheart:

With todays preview, we finally reach a point where more than half of the Occultus factions have been previewed (See list below).

An excellent visual representation by CanOmer at the TWC:

Attachment 1564

Now only three faction slots are free, and no culture slots.The previewed factions in order of appearance are:

1. Pergamon

2.Mamla'ha biMassylim

3.The Boii

4.The Lugiones

5. Taksashila (Mauryan Satrapy)

6. Bosporan Kingdom(Announced but not previewed)

7. The Nabataean Kingdom or Malkûtâ Nabâta |The sheer perfidy of the EB team- if you peruse the post you will notice Nabatea's status as Nabataea (denied by team)|

Ps. not counting the Pritanoi as they already exist in EB as the Casse.

If asked to predict the remaining three factions, my choices would be in order of probability

1. A Celto-Iberian faction
Though not yet confirmed by the EB team, based on the comprehensive way they were presented in EB, and on random comments by EB members (innuendo-Moros' 9,955 posts ), IMHO they might as well be declared.

The strongest point in their favor is that of all proto-factions represented in the original EB, they are the only one with an completely developed troop and trait list, their only competitors being the Helvetii.

2. A celto-thracian faction

3. A Syracrusan faction

Thats it, on the basis of the existing culture slots and the amount of archival information available, I cannot think of any more factions that are likely(note the emphasis on likely) to be worthy of inclusion.

Pps. I am not including pseudo-nationalist sentiments here, and would prefer that this thread be free of them. :2thumbsup:

What do you think are the most likely contenders ??

Should this be merged with the 'New Factions' thread?

Could have posted there, but just wanted to celebrate the fact that 2/3rd s of the occultus factions have been revealed and that on a more personal note my name just got referenced: check the Takashila preview(History Section)

PS. That thread is also getting a bit crowded with quite a few of the options either plain out rejected or previewed

PPS. an excellent list given by Future Filmmaker also at the TWC:

(Iberia)
Callaeci
Arevaci

(Cisalpine Gaul)
Insubre

(Gaul)
Pictones
Nervii
Eburones
Treverii
Sequani (denied by team)
Helvetii (denied by team)
Massalia (denied by team)

(Germanic)
Veneti
Cimbri
Suiones
Bastarnae
Marcomanni
Chatti
Cherusci
Quadi

(Baltic)
Venedi

Nabataea (denied by team)

(Nubia)
Aksum (denied by team)
Kush
Meroë

(Mauritania)
Mauri

(Asia Minor)
Bithynia
Galatia (denied by team)

(Arabia)
Minaeans
Hadramaut
Qedarites

(Georgia)
Kolkhis (denied by team)
Iberia (denied by team)

(Illyria)
Scordisci
Delmetae
Ardiaei
Taulanti
Dardani

(Hellenic)
Syrakousai

At the risk of sounding like a broken record:

1. The Belgae (I would give my left leg for them to be a faction)

2. Galatia

3. Caucasian Iberia

4. Not really sure, my brain tells me Bithnyia or Tylis (Populous Romanus your charms have worked on me) but my heart would like to see the Bastarnae or the Bituriges-Cubi although the latter may be too familiar to the Arverni and Aedui to qualify as a faction.

Haven't you missed the Bosporan Kingdom out?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brennus

2. Galatia

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With Pergamon already in-game this is extemely unlikely, Anatolia will be crowded that way with 1 to 2 rebel provinces at the start. I think empty spots elsewhere will be filled first.

I'm a horrible guesser! I want to see some new Occultus sigs around so we can continue the guessing game!

Should this be merged with the 'New Factions' thread?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brennus

Haven't you missed the Bosporan Kingdom out?

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Thats what i was thinking

Yep, the Bosporians were announced but have yet to be previewed.

I hope the OP is right about a celtiberian faction because EB the game (as opposed to EB the history lesson) needs a faction around there.

I don't think Syracuse will be in, since team members have said they were historically insignificant in the timeframe. I'd quite like them since they're fun -- old school Greek military between Roman/Carthaginian/Epirote militaries -- but I don't think it'll happen. Still, with any luck I can fake them by migrating the KH using cheat codes, as I did in EB1.

I wonder if we'll get the Yuezhi, now the map has been extended east.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stratigos vasilios

I'm a horrible guesser! I want to see some new Occultus sigs around so we can continue the guessing game!

Should this be merged with the 'New Factions' thread?

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We're working on them :beam:

Arevakoi, Ardiaioi, Syrakusai...
Last one could be anything: script-purposed slot, Atropatene or Caucasian Iberia, any Aquitanian tribe or a migrating Belgae tribe...

4 slots

probably one or two factions near the caspian sea and one or two factions between Gaul and the lusotanii.
that leaves 0-2 factions for the rest of the map. I'd say one of them is celtic. the other one, I don't know I don't think they would make the last one celtic aswell. that is when there is only one faction in iberia and one near the caspian...
Syracuse is not that much off imho, let's see about that.

I'm craveing for a new occultus sig now that Takshila has been revealed :)

I think the announcement of Takshashila only shows we can't really take the words of the DEVs here too seriously, as many of them stated before that there wouldn't be an Indian faction due to limitations.

So far, I'm very happy with the factions that have been announced so far. I can't wait to try Pergamon or the Bosporan Greeks.

While I think Syracuse was undoubtedly a very influential Greek state in it's time, I think it's unlikely it will make it. As others have pointed out before, it would quickly get steam-rolled by either the Carthaginians or the Romans. There simply aren't enough settlement slots in Sicily to properly represent Syracuse as a faction on it's own.

I'm actually hoping for a second Numidian faction. The Mamla'ha BiMassylim (the Eastern Numidians) will have it incredibly hard to be able to withstand Carthage. However, a faction located further west in North Africa like the Mauretani or Masaesylian (West Numidians) would have a fairly good position to start up from, and good time to conquer some nearby regions before it collides with Carthage. Also, a Mauretani or Masaesylian alliance with the Massylians might help to prolong their existence.

I think there could be a good chance for the Atropatene. They could be given similar units to Parthia, as they were a Persian dynasty and were remainders of the Persian Empire that ruled independently from the Seleucids. Their state lasted until 3rd century AD, when their state were absorbed by the Parthians. It would be fun, albeit quite hard, to try and reconquer former lands of the Achaemenid Empire and to try and re-establish a new Persian Empire.

I'm guessing that the last two other factions will probably be the Celt-iberians and the Belgae, and I say that with little enthusiasm as I rarely ever play as barbarians. :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hekk

I think the announcement of Takshashila only shows we can't really take the words of the DEVs here too seriously, as many of them stated before that there wouldn't be an Indian faction due to limitations.

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I think they said their wouldn't be a Mauryan Empire faction... but instead they've given us a Mauryan Satrap Kingdom. So they technically didn't lie, I think.

there´s always the historical encompass of time that exactly in 273bc the indians where in civil war and not until 267b.c. will tashakila have to choose to return to being a satrapy or probably fend of a kind of mongol or timur the lame kind of invasion springing from the east altough if thats scripted we know they´ll stop around gedrosia so we can actually have to play a migration campaign and bring the gypsies into europe 1500 years before they arrived in europe ... OH YEAHHHHH just a litle bit of history repeatinggggggggggggggggggg

as for the factions since they brought in an indian satrapy maybe a meroe kingdom might be nice ethiopians showing the blackpower (just a litle bit of history repeating ? )

arevaci if they don´t make it this time will make lusitanians far more powerfull particulary since it seems conquering new lands for both romans and carthaginians will be hindered by the new found importance of culture (like it can take 20 years before pacifing a region i mean the romans spent 150 years pacifing the lusitanii after having conquered them) while the lusitanii will take a big advantage of the fact that the upkeep will probably be decreased thanks to the new engines qualities wich was the roman greater quality but now with proper micro management one can fight off the romans by manpower

the 3rd faction i´m suspecting is the khwarzians a new kind of step cathraphact faction

and ofc the never ending syracusans master of greater greece the most powerfull city state of the greeks the destroyers of the carthaginian sacred band the defender of all the western mediterranean greeks the birthplace of the greatest greek minds of all times and the pinacle of greek power as a republic the true land of meritocracy where the lowest born greek can achieve the rank of dictator by sheer genius and willpower the last remainder of true greek aristocracy for that and much more syracuse more then any barbaroi petty kingdom may it be tylis the georgians or the atrepanes deserves the last place of honour amongst the great deservers of the world much more then a bunch of flee infester horse riders of the sahara or stinking germano celtic halfbreed´s who´s notion of culture is how to best use menour to build huts

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stratigos vasilios

I think they said their wouldn't be a Mauryan Empire faction... but instead they've given us a Mauryan Satrap Kingdom. So they technically didn't lie, I think.

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Nasty trixie EB Members, yes, I told us they were trixie.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Moros

Nasty trixie EB Members, yes, I told us they were trixie.

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Attachment 1530

:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

Btw, regarding the celtiberian faction.... People have been talking about the Arevaci but what about the Cantabri/Astures (maybe an alliance of both, kinda like KH)? They were the last ones in Iberia to be defeated by 19BC and gave many headaches to the romans so its a bit sad that they are just represented by rebels. But sure, that would be the same for the Arevaci.. This is ofc presuming that we'll get a new faction in hispania, and that the non-celtic ones (like the turdetanians or the edetani) will be represented by cartage and regionals, who knows what the team have in the sleave to us? :shrug:

That's 9956 posts now to sift through for clues and blatant disinformation.

:wink:

Moros should frequent the gameroom more. Moros would pwn at mafia.

I will say it for the last time (because to be honest I am getting sick of it myself) but my logic behind suggesting a Belgic faction is as follows:

1. They are culturally distinct enough from their Gallic cousins that they would not be a clone of the Aedui and Arverni.

2. Caesar informs us that they migrated to Britain (which I aim to prove conclusively in a few years time) as evidenced by the presence of the Atrebates of Britain.

3. Caesar also informs us that Diviciacus of the Suessiones ruled portions of Britain and Gaul (points 2 and 3 qualify them as expansive enough to be factions, more so than Syracuse the KH, Saba, Tylis, the Pritanoi and possibly the Lugii).

4. There is sufficient room on the campaign map for a Belgic faction to exist without immediately coming into conflict with either the Sweboz or Gauls.

5. Victory conditions are very simple based on reading the historical information: Southern Britain, a portion of Gaul and the trans-Rhine area the Belgae are reputed to have migrated from.

6. We have plenty of personal names of Belgic rulers to flesh out a family tree.

7. They are well researched.

I'll shut up about the Belgae now.

Ahahahahahaha Brennus, worst case we'll get a Belgae submod up and running lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by amritochates

Wondering if a wandering mod could change the title :sweetheart:

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Technically a celtiberian faction isn't confirmed, so still 4 slots :P

From my perspective, the four most likely candidates are, in order of likeliness:

(1) Celto-Iberian tribe or confederation - several candidates for this one; viable roster already exists in EB1; campaign map void of neighbors

(2) Belgic tribe or federation - same reasons as Celto-Iberians, minus the campaign map part

(3) northern Arabian faction - based on team comments about new Arabian units and province reshaping in the Palmyra/Nabataea area

(4) western Numidian faction - necessary counterpart to the confirmed Numidian faction

Honestly, I think there are several contenders for #4 whose cases are just as strong/weak, like Syracuse, Kartli, Atropatene, and a Celto-Thracian faction. But having two Numidian factions at the start just seems like a historical requirement to me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by B_Ray

From my perspective, the four most likely candidates are, in order of likeliness:

(2) Belgic tribe or federation - same reasons as Celto-Iberians, minus the campaign map part

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Not sure, but if I'm well remembered the team said that both the Averni and the Auedi are getting less starting provinces so there's more space for a new faction there IMHO ;)

Celt-Iberia and the Belgae seem likely choices and I wouldn't bee too surprised if we saw another faction in Thrace or Arabia. Other than that I think there is a chance another nomadic faction will be included.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LusitanianWolf

Not sure, but if I'm well remembered the team said that both the Averni and the Auedi are getting less starting provinces so there's more space for a new faction there IMHO ;)

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it's possible, but I don't see any necessity for this being the case. I'd need evidence for the EB team working on a new Gallic faction.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ibrahim

it's possible, but I don't see any necessity for this being the case. I'd need evidence for the EB team working on a new Gallic faction.

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I think we got plenty of Celtic factions, specialy in that area, just remembering what I heard about gaul not being so crowded at the start. Belgae would be cool but I would personly one more faction in Iberia to make things more interesting to the Lusotannan.. Sorry Brennus :P

But we must remember that the goal of the EB team isnt just to make a balanced game but mainly to teach us about history and lesser known ancient cultures. So they arent putting factions in just for the sake of filling provinces. So, I would expect some more surprises like the Taksashila ;)


Btw, talking about Iberia, someone made a very nice proposal about Caucasian Iberians in the TWcenter (I'm a lurker there, can't get enought EB :P), would be interesting to see them ingame
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=175692

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LusitanianWolf

I think we got plenty of Celtic factions, specialy in that area, just remembering what I heard about gaul not being so crowded at the start. Belgae would be cool but I would personly one more faction in Iberia to make things more interesting to the Lusotannan.. Sorry Brennus :P

But we must remember that the goal of the EB team isnt just to make a balanced game but mainly to teach us about history and lesser known ancient cultures. So they arent putting factions in just for the sake of filling provinces. So, I would expect some more surprises like the Taksashila ;)
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=175692

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I understood that from the beginning: however, there's simply no guarantee there will be a faction there-nice as that would be.

The inevitability of an celto-iberian faction can be judged just by looking at this map posted by Casual Tactician at the TWC:
Attachment 1563

made by this utility:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...30#post9816030

The importance of an faction to balance out both the Gauls as well as the Lusotann are self evident. Moreover the faction also conforms to the twin requirements of historical influence as well as well documented sources.

PS. added a detailed list of probables by Future Filmmaker to the original post(replicated here)

(Iberia)
Callaeci
Arevaci

(Cisalpine Gaul)
Insubre

(Gaul)
Pictones
Nervii
Eburones
Treverii
Sequani (denied by team)
Helvetii (denied by team)
Massalia (denied by team)

(Germanic)
Veneti
Cimbri
Suiones
Bastarnae
Marcomanni
Chatti
Cherusci
Quadi

(Baltic)
Venedi

Nabataea (denied by team)

(Nubia)
Aksum (denied by team)
Kush
Meroë

(Mauritania)
Mauri

(Asia Minor)
Bithynia
Galatia (denied by team)

(Arabia)
Minaeans
Hadramaut
Qedarites

(Georgia)
Kolkhis (denied by team)
Iberia (denied by team)

(Illyria)
Scordisci
Delmetae
Ardiaei
Taulanti
Dardani

(Hellenic)
Syrakousai

Nice map, but Aeduoi and Auernoi will have only one province each, and imo Boioi and Lugoi will have one too...
The Pritanoi will have the central province, but the Isles will have new borders too...

Also in that list I think you can remove the followings: Nervii, Eburones, Treverii, Bastarnae and Quadi; maybe also the Marcomanni, as all these weren't present at the start date...

i forgot the illiryans the aulletes are probably one of the most deserving one´s including their queen teuta and her pirate rable since we can assume the arevaci or a kelto iberian faction will be in i suspect syracuse is a no go but the kwarzhians still seem a very viable and very reliable choice

but assuming the team wishes to surprise us then meroe or a an ethiopian faction make for a pretty darn strong case particulary if what i suspect that the steppes are going to be cleaned out of setlements and there will be alot of level 0 permanent stone forts (making up room for 5-6 new regions)

furthermore the team didn´t released a culture slot for the indians they are represented as persians so if they do the smart thing and join the west and east hellenic cultures into 1 trans hellenic super culture they have the necessary culture slot to put in the ethiopians/sudanese culture

there´s at least 30 deserving people for a culture including 5 others then the lusitanii in iberia 5-6 in gaul the gallo thracians the basternae noricians kwarzhians the mauritanians the other numidian group the garamantines 2-3 arabian tribes including the nabatu or the palmyreans there should also be 2 other steppes group worth mentioning so they have alot to pick from (almost forgot a few other germanic tribes like the chattii)

Up the Bellovaci!

Nice map, but Aeduoi and Auernoi will have only one province each, and imo Boioi and Lugoi will have one too...
The Pritanoi will have the central province, but the Isles will have new borders too...

Well the map for EB 2 is still a WIP: the map displayed in my post is a fan-made project that transposes the previewed factions onto the old map. So naturally inconsistencies will be there.

Another option that I had not considered is that the Yuezhi might be brought back; in fact they were in the first public release EB.81 and were only dropped in the later versions- so I would classify them as a strong contender.

From EB members on the TWC

Replying to a speculating map

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bobbin

That map is all kinds of wrong
Attachment 1568

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So I gess this is the official (?) one

About the Yuezhi

Quote:

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Originally Posted by XSamatan

You have to ask yourself if the Yuezhi existed in 272BC on our campaign map as we won't have emerging factions.

XSamatan

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by LusitanianWolf

From EB members on the TWC

Replying to a speculating map

So I gess this is the official (?) one

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It's still the old map and insofar wrong. The provinces are not complety decided yet.

With the map being extended eastward to accomodate the Mauryan Satrapy it does raise the possibility of the Yuezhi returning as a faction, however I doubt this as it would require the map to extend as far east as the modern day Xinjiang Province.

Only 3 pixels were added, we didn't accommodate the map east wards because of this faction. We could increase the map about 1.3 times in scale, so we did that. The few pixels that were left were added both in the west and East. It's not that a noticeable change really, the increase of scale however, is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Moros

Only 3 pixels were added, we didn't accommodate the map east wards because of this faction. We could increase the map about 1.3 times in scale, so we did that. The few pixels that were left were added both in the west and East. It's not that a noticeable change really, the increase of scale however, is.

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so the distances we will have to cover will be bigger ? that might be problematic for those of us taking it slow and trusting the good old roads to crush the rebels and be back home in time for harvest ...

also a few conquering campaigns might be made dificult like the old trick of using the lusitani fm to besiege baikor and then having the rest of the army joining him (if you try it going with the all army they stop next to the wall but don´t besiege) or the famous epirote long spring where you take pellas and thessaly in the very 1st turn using the ellephants to break the walls

also the gaulish civil war might become a big mess with the current system you can destroy the other gaulish empire in a few turns (oh right the aedui and the arvernuoi are no longer neighbours)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by moonburn

so the distances we will have to cover will be bigger ? that might be problematic for those of us taking it slow and trusting the good old roads to crush the rebels and be back home in time for harvest ...

also a few conquering campaigns might be made dificult like the old trick of using the lusitani fm to besiege baikor and then having the rest of the army joining him (if you try it going with the all army they stop next to the wall but don´t besiege) or the famous epirote long spring where you take pellas and thessaly in the very 1st turn using the ellephants to break the walls

also the gaulish civil war might become a big mess with the current system you can destroy the other gaulish empire in a few turns (oh right the aedui and the arvernuoi are no longer neighbours)

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Most importantly for me is that hopefully it'll mean more field battles than sieges

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SneakyNinja

Most importantly for me is that hopefully it'll mean more field battles than sieges

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word

Also, the amount of movement you get is easily modified, so just because the scale of the map is bigger, it doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be moving less distance each turn.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brennus

...1. The Belgae (I would give my left leg for them to be a faction)...

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Prepare to hop baby, I think a Belgae-ish faction is a lock.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brennus

...2. Galatia...

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...have been ruled out as an independent faction, and mentioned as a possibility as a Bithyno-Galatian koinon but not in the first release. Interesting point here, as it suggests strongly that not all the slots will be used.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brennus

...3. Caucasian Iberia...

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Apparently they tick all the boxes, and have not been denied, so as likely as the other big candidate:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brennus

...4. Not really sure...

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And of course none of us are really sure.

I know you make some good suggestions but there has been some smart map redesign done to free up provinces for Indiia and Arabia: we know hat that meant in the case of Taksashila, so some sort of desert mob are quite likely.

My own guesses for the last four spots are a Belgic tribe, an Hispanic tribe (Keltiberian prolly) and Caucasian Iberia. I think the last spot will be left blank and either the team will run a poll or modders will be invited to complete the last faction for EB2.1.

Well here's my opinion for the four factions:

1-A Belgae faction. I think that this is getting pretty obvious. There's no confirmation yet but with all the hype...

2-A Celtiberian faction, just to make Lusotana nigh-impossible lol

3-I think Scythians may be possible but it may make the place too crowded with BK and Sarmatians, else may be Nabatea; I don't think we need an Ethiopian faction, Saba had already all the regional options and had Ethiopia as a Homeland region, and the culture slots are full...

4-I think they might use this slot for the Yuezhi (Just like the MTW 2 Mongols and Timurids), or they might save it for scripted events, since I think I remember them saying they took out the Seleukid breakup, anabasis, shahanshah etc. because they required a faction slot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cyclops

Prepare to hop baby, I think a Belgae-ish faction is a lock.



...have been ruled out as an independent faction, and mentioned as a possibility as a Bithyno-Galatian koinon but not in the first release. Interesting point here, as it suggests strongly that not all the slots will be used.



Apparently they tick all the boxes, and have not been denied, so as likely as the other big candidate:



And of course none of us are really sure.

I know you make some good suggestions but there has been some smart map redesign done to free up provinces for Indiia and Arabia: we know hat that meant in the case of Taksashila, so some sort of desert mob are quite likely.

My own guesses for the last four spots are a Belgic tribe, an Hispanic tribe (Keltiberian prolly) and Caucasian Iberia. I think the last spot will be left blank and either the team will run a poll or modders will be invited to complete the last faction for EB2.1.

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It's been said before but I guess it can't hurt to say it again, not all of the factions slots will be used in the first release. We certainly won't be opening the last slot(s) to a public vote though, they will be chosen the same way the rest of the factions were, by the team.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arkeolog4

3-I think Scythians may be possible but it may make the place too crowded with BK and Sarmatians, else may be Nabatea; I don't think we need an Ethiopian faction, Saba had already all the regional options and had Ethiopia as a Homeland region, and the culture slots are full...

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I would so love a Scythio-Hellenic faction in Olbia to complement the Helleno-Scythian faction in Pantikapaion. That would be fascinating. But I don't think it really existed until a hundred years or more after the start date. :(

It looks like the Yuezhi are out -- the map didn't grow far enough to include them at the start date after all, and they've said "no emerging factions" several times.

so rather just 1-3 factions left hmmm, well my bet still is with
1. a faction for eastern Iberia
2. a Caucausian faction(Iberia or Atropatene)
3. a faction between the Gauls and sweboz(so Belgae)+

I'm quite "sure" about the first two but I think no 3 could also be another arabian faction.

How do you mod movement in M2TW? I've not been able to find the descr_char file that contains the information. Is my folder weird or is it stored in another text file?

You probably haven't unpacked your game, to do that you need to open the tools folder in the main M2TW folder and run the unpacker, remember to look at the readme as it contains some important instructions to make sure your game will work after you run the tool.

The response for a Belgic faction seems quite overwhelming, could someone direct me to a post outlining the reasoning behind their probable inclusion, possibly something on the lines of the Caucasian Iberia Post ??

Speaking of which An Caucasian Iberia or a Media Atropantene faction now seems inevitable. Can't wait to see their preview: a must for any one seeking to recreate the Achaemenid Empire.

How do you mod movement in M2TW? I've not been able to find the descr_char file that contains the information. Is my folder weird or is it stored in another text file?

You could also try this:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=178562

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bobbin

... the last slot(s) ....

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Wait wut? SLOTS? So maybe the faction list is complete?

I'm guessing there will be one more faction at least, but maybe thats it. ITS GETTING CLOSER.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bobbin

... We certainly won't be opening the last slot(s) to a public vote though, they will be chosen the same way the rest of the factions were, by the team.

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Well I can't argue with that, the decision making process so far has been beautifully explained and no-one can really argue with it...it was just a passing thought...

It'd a brilliant reality TV show though: EB's Next Top Modder! Skinning with the Stars! MasterBigAbChef!

Apparently I'm one of the few people who does not like the idea of a Georgian faction. I'm afraid they would just war with Armenia from the start and neither faction would ever grow enough to have the sort of historical impact that one of them accomplished (in the game's time frame).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by amritochates

Speaking of which An Caucasian Iberia or a Media Atropantene faction now seems inevitable. Can't wait to see their preview: a must for any one seeking to recreate the Achaemenid Empire.


http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=178562

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I've read a few other posts saying Atropatene is a lock but I'm just curious why? I confess I know very little about that region but were they active enough, and significant enough to warrant a faction slot?

A Celto-Iberian faction is a must IMO to stop the Lusotanns quickly owning the entire Spanish peninsula. The Eleutheroi just cannot stop them without respawning scripted stacks, and Carthage isn't aggressive enough in that region, at least in the early game.

I hated AI Lusotann beating the crap out of AI Rome in practically every EB 1.2 game, wherever I was playing a faction nowhere near western Europe.

You can not make assumptions based on the AI-Behavior of EB I for EB II. They work differently.

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Originally Posted by Kival

You can not make assumptions based on the AI-Behavior of EB I for EB II. They work differently.

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Oh, sure, if the Eleutheroi can actually recruit troops like a faction does, that would be great! A workable alternative.

If they can't, however, then my opinion still stands. Without recruitment or auto-spawning stacks the Eleutheroi are too weak to stop any faction for long.

There are many more things that will effect how the Lusotannan will preform, their units are different, the provinces in Iberia are different, faction behaviours are different, Carthage might be more active, etc... Kival is very correct in saying you cannot base EBII performance on EB.

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Originally Posted by amritochates

The response for a Belgic faction seems quite overwhelming, could someone direct me to a post outlining the reasoning behind their probable inclusion, possibly something on the lines of the Caucasian Iberia Post ??

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Earlier in this thread I outlined the main reasons (I think) support the inclusion of the Belgae as a faction.

Being Belgian I probably am somewhat biased, but I think Belgae make sense as a faction. Although Caesar was known to be self-aggrandizing in his writings, painting his opponents as valiant or having huge numerical advantages, in the end: "Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae, propterea quod a cultu atque humanitate Provinciae longissime absunt, minimeque ad eos mercatores saepe commeant, atque ea quae ad effeminandos animos pertinent important ; proximique sunt Germanis qui trans Rhenum incolunt, quibuscum continenter bellum gerunt".

Is it true that EB 2 will have re-emerging factions? or its just not possible?

I think it was discussed for some of the factions and not denied yet. So some of the factions might have a chance of reemergence.

Ty for your reply.

I hope this feature will be implemented, i for one think its very interesting yet i understand that the EB team will choose the most accurate option.

I thought I read something once about re-emering factions only happening for a handful of factions. Others when their dead, stay dead. I hope a team member clears this up for us.

We know how it goes. EBII never specifically denied a Mauryan Satrapy. There WILL be reemerging factions.:yes:

Skyracruse is my guess :2thumbsup:yeah i'm horrible at paint

Its "Europa" Barbarorum then my guess is that another N-W European or Spanish faction will be there and not something from the east (no offence). My guess is a Belgian or another Germanic nation is coming up next in the previews.

But to be honest I am happy with every faction the EB have in mind and published so far. They are all great and exciting to me. Would be fun something related to the Batavii being published/mentioned within a Germanic tribe.

Wasn't Syracuse denied already?

Unfortunately, yes. Such a pity that Syracuse had that long lived ruler and then were pretty much absorbed into Rome afterwards. I suspect that in an alternate history with a more aggressive ruler and more time they could have easily moved out and asserted hegemony of at least the island of Sicily if not an even greater area. Possibly many of the greek cities and towns in the western mediterranean. We will never get the chance to see that.

How many more occultus sigs are there? Can a team member(or anyone really!) post them in here please?

There is only one kicking about right now, its my sig.

Haha that looks insanely difficult, perhaps we can have a hint? How generous do you feel Bobbin? :laugh:

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Originally Posted by stratigos vasilios

Haha that looks insanely difficult, perhaps we can have a hint? How generous do you feel Bobbin? :laugh:

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Its horribly black and muddy kinda like everything from Doom 3. So I'd imagine that the last faction is Hell.

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Originally Posted by antisocialmunky

Its horribly black and muddy kinda like everything from Doom 3. So I'd imagine that the last faction is Hell.

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well, since you brought it up, I'll quote myself from the twitter discussion:

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Originally Posted by Ibrahim

Hell?

I can just see that one:
faction leader: Satan
FH: Cerberus
Head general: the Gate Keeper, who will banish you to the "blagole"* :clown:

unless you mean as in south of the mediterranean, in which case we could be looking at Arabianz or some other group.

*Spoony reference.

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I would be tempted to suggest the font style could indicate the cultural identity of the occultus faction but I tried that last time and suggested the Mauryans were actually Celts... Oops.

By the font I would say a faction from the Iberian peninsula.

Also posted this in the "New Factions" thread:

I just noticed bobbins occultus symbol has a bird of some kind in it. I have highlighted it for people:

Attachment 3095

If you can't see it too well check out bobbins homepage, its much clearer there.

Does anyone know much apology ornithology? From what I can see it looks like some kind of raptor, and what little I do know leads me to suggest its from warmer climes.

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Originally Posted by Brennus

Also posted this in the "New Factions" thread:

I just noticed bobbins occultus symbol has a bird of some kind in it. I have highlighted it for people:

Attachment 3095

If you can't see it too well check out bobbins homepage, its much clearer there.

Does anyone know much apology ornithology? From what I can see it looks like some kind of raptor, and what little I do know leads me to suggest its from warmer climes.

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Reminds me of the persian symbol from alexander expansion

I agree, I was going to suggest it's Atropatene based on that logic as the eagle was the Achaemenid banner in battle although I will have to look up Iranian wildlife to be sure.

Welcome to the forum by the way!

If I see this correctly, and if it´s a bird, I think the beack looks like a vulture´s.
Weren´t they part of Zoroastrianism, consuming the dead exposed on a dakhma?
If they were influenced by this religion in this period (I´m far from being an expert)
this could also be hint on Media Atropatene.

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Originally Posted by Brennus

I agree, I was going to suggest it's Atropatene based on that logic as the eagle was the Achaemenid banner in battle although I will have to look up Iranian wildlife to be sure.

Welcome to the forum by the way!

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What do you mean, look up Iranian wildlife? At that time, eagles existed anywhere on the planet (except for the arctic zones). Iran, specifically, boasts the largest subspecies of the Golden Eagle.

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Originally Posted by athanaric

What do you mean, look up Iranian wildlife? At that time, eagles existed anywhere on the planet (except for the arctic zones). Iran, specifically, boasts the largest subspecies of the Golden Eagle.

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I am assuming the Occultus faction is Atropatene and therefore I assumed a species of raptor native to Iran would fit the illustration.

Hee hee.

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Originally Posted by bobbin

Hee hee.

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:sleeping::sick:

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Originally Posted by bobbin

Hee hee.

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Atleast give us some clues a detective need some clues

The sad thing is, Taksashila was not the impossible faction we were never going to guess, it's this next one! Whatever it may be!