February Preview!

[Novellus]

Hooray!

Hmm....I think Alin was pulling my leg when he said that the miniature pictures of the Oxybelai were "just crosses". And he said that the next preview wouldn't be until April 1st. I have a feeling that he's a part of the EB Official Disinformation team.

By the way, I am guessing that the Hoplitai do not have swords due to engine limitations like in the RTW engine?

[antisocialmunky]

Yippee. Here's to the Gaza campaign for the next preview! Hey, I can dream can't I?

PS. Those Hoplitae must have really great dental plans. :-D

[a completely inoffensive name]

Yes! Seeing those awesome new units pumped me up! Why is it that every time I start to wander from the EB2 forums, a new preview is released? (Rhetorical question)

[Tux]

Hmm....I think Alin was pulling my leg when he said that the miniature pictures of the Oxybelai were "just crosses". And he said that the next preview wouldn't be until April 1st. I have a feeling that he's a part of the EB Official Disinformation team.

Hehe I would have ruin the surprise or better said surprises if i would said something else.

[machinor]

Great preview! Those units look fantastic, especially the Peltastai Makedonikoi (I think it's quite interesting, that the Ptolemaioi will have them too in EB2)!!

Those Hoplitai got me thinking though... how distinguishable will each factions units be with all this variation? I mean, sure, the Peltastai Makedonikoi seem to have some kind of recurring colors but the Hoplitai...? I couldn't distinguish the Macedonian from the Ptolemaioi ones. Please don't get this wrong! I love the variation in the panoplia which gives the overall visual experience a whole new level. But still, I'm a bit concerned.

Keep it up!

[mlc82]

*faints*

[penguinking]

Amazing! All three units are absolutely gorgeous.

[Mjolnir]

Sweet.

[delablake]

All hail the EB team!

[Subedei]

Oh gods! Awesome work gentlemen! The beauty, the possibilities, the joy! Really loooooooking forward to this release...now off to play Hay in EBI to stop thinking about EBII....

[Martelus Flavius]

Those Hoplitai got me thinking though... how distinguishable will each factions units be with all this variation? I mean, sure, the Peltastai Makedonikoi seem to have some kind of recurring colors but the Hoplitai...? I couldn't distinguish the Macedonian from the Ptolemaioi ones. Please don't get this wrong! I love the variation in the panoplia which gives the overall visual experience a whole new level. But still, I'm a bit concerned.

Well actually Hoplitai have none recurring colors, they are not equipped by state! Their regional appartenance appears on the shield, each symbol corresponding to a region or city, but certain are simply used in the whole hellenic world...

Actually the better way to distinguish yours from the ennemies ones is : Ennemy's direction facing Hoplite are yours, and those whose slaughter your soldiers are not yours!!!

Regards

Martel

[Matinius Brutus]

Everything is so beautiful! And the voicemod commands sound awsome!!! Actually they are the ones that made me realise how complex and time-consuming this is. Thanx EB team!

[Sarkiss]

now that is quality worthy of EB.
thanks

[ray243]

Well actually Hoplitai have none recurring colors, they are not equipped by state! Their regional appartenance appears on the shield, each symbol corresponding to a region or city, but certain are simply used in the whole hellenic world...

Actually the better way to distinguish yours from the ennemies ones is : Ennemy's direction facing Hoplite are yours, and those whose slaughter your soldiers are not yours!!!

Regards

Martel

Then how did the Hoplites distinguish friends from foe? The ancient problem of 'friendly fire'.

[Ibrahim]

You mean Hellenistic.

yes.

[JMRC]

Those Hoplitai got me thinking though... how distinguishable will each factions units be with all this variation? [...] I couldn't distinguish the Macedonian from the Ptolemaioi ones. [...]

Then how did the Hoplites distinguish friends from foe? The ancient problem of 'friendly fire'.

Let me complement what Martelus Flavius already explained: this "battlefield confusion" is exactly the kind of feeling that we want players to have. In fact, I will encourage players to enhance that feeling by removing the green markers and the factional flags hovering above the units. This basically turns the battlefield into a gigantic "mess" when units break through the enemy ranks and attack from the rear. Then, not even the overall heading of the units will be enough to distinguish them. Just like a "real" commander of those days, ordering a retreat from the melee may not be an easy task and probably will be costly in terms of casualties. Of course, you can turn the green markers and the flags and everything will be easier...

The interested players will learn to distinguish the factions by the shield designs and (in some cases) by the different coloring of linothoraxes.

However, there will be some cases where factions share the same unit and skin (normally in low class units, where a peasant and his "equipment" would be common throughout a large geographical area). In those cases, the confusion will be enormous, yes.

[ray243]

Let me complement what Martelus Flavius already explained: this "battlefield confusion" is exactly the kind of feeling that we want players to have. In fact, I will encourage players to enhance that feeling by removing the green markers and the factional flags hovering above the units. This basically turns the battlefield into a gigantic "mess" when units break through the enemy ranks and attack from the rear. Then, not even the overall heading of the units will be enough to distinguish them. Just like a "real" commander of those days, ordering a retreat from the melee may not be an easy task and probably will be costly in terms of casualties. Of course, you can turn the green markers and the flags and everything will be easier...

The interested players will learn to distinguish the factions by the shield designs and (in some cases) by the different coloring of linothoraxes.

However, there will be some cases where factions share the same unit and skin (normally in low class units, where a peasant and his "equipment" would be common throughout a large geographical area). In those cases, the confusion will be enormous, yes.

I mean historically, how does a hoplite separate a friend from foe then?

[Ibrahim]

I mean historically, how does a hoplite separate a friend from foe then?

they just said.

[runner3434]

I am fixed on it now, no banners and general cam only, that way i will have the hardest possible EB2 expeirence, something that might just make up for the ai.

Thanks

[JMRC]

I mean historically, how does a hoplite separate a friend from foe then?

Imagine yourself in a long hoplite formation, with your well-known farming neighbors in front and behind you, heavy helmets which prevent most of your hearing and a lot of the visual field; there's another line several meters ahead, with shield designs that you know belong to the rival city-state.

Then the guys behind you start pushing, so you push the guy in front; all the way until the actual clash. Then, a bloody mess of arms, metal clashing, shouting, screaming. You just look ahead and you see the metal mass of the front guy's helmet. And you pray to keep seeing it until the enemy line breaks and runs. That should take a couple of hours, probably less if under a scorching afternoon. If you get to be the first in the rank you'll keep behind the shieldwall and hit everyone that faces you.

If the shieldwall is broken and you have to turn back to run, pray that the guys behind you also turn and run, otherwise you'll feel a spearhead or worse hitting your back.

I hope this answers your question.

[Gaias]

Sweet Gebus! Those are some fantastic looking units.

Can't wait to see them covered in their own blood when my good roman steel runs them through.

[Baldamundo]

Let me complement what Martelus Flavius already explained: this "battlefield confusion" is exactly the kind of feeling that we want players to have. In fact, I will encourage players to enhance that feeling by removing the green markers and the factional flags hovering above the units. This basically turns the battlefield into a gigantic "mess" when units break through the enemy ranks and attack from the rear. Then, not even the overall heading of the units will be enough to distinguish them. Just like a "real" commander of those days, ordering a retreat from the melee may not be an easy task and probably will be costly in terms of casualties. Of course, you can turn the green markers and the flags and everything will be easier...

The interested players will learn to distinguish the factions by the shield designs and (in some cases) by the different coloring of linothoraxes.

However, there will be some cases where factions share the same unit and skin (normally in low class units, where a peasant and his "equipment" would be common throughout a large geographical area). In those cases, the confusion will be enormous, yes.

You really are evil, aren't you?

[theoldbelgian]

ok this is great great great great etc

I am only confused with the A on the makedons shield or was sparta not the only ones who used it

I am very certain that I am completely wrong because the gods cannot make mistakes
[searches for a virgin to slaughter on the holy altar of EB]

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Sparta used the lambda (and "A" without a "cross"). An "A" doesn't represent Sparta.

[theoldbelgian]

ah ok

I never had a course greek (some basic latin but not greek)
see I was right that I was wrong

[Ludens]

EDIT: will there be a hellenic or hellenic inspired faction, based on the Occultus?

What do you mean with "based on the Occultus"? Occultus just means hidden. In the past, the EB team used the term for factions that had yet to be revealed.

[Ibrahim]

What do you mean with "based on the Occultus"? Occultus just means hidden. In the past, the EB team used the term for factions that had yet to be revealed.

I know what it means-moros explained this in detail. I was guessing that it (the mystery faction) was a hellenistic faction or influenced from hellenistic factions, though I could be wrong, and that it is just a faction that just happened to have used hellenistic style soldiers (thureophoroi).

[antisocialmunky]

Well, if its not the Pergamum Hoplite, that would be sweet. The Western Greek colonies would be sweet.

[V.T. Marvin]

I am only confused with the A on the makedons shield or was sparta not the only ones who used it?


[searches for a virgin to slaughter on the holy altar of EB]

As MAA already explained, the sign on Spartan shield is actually L - for Lakedaimon (i.e. Sparta).

All sorts of abbreviations were used throughout the hellenic world and usually refered to deities. Therefore A, could stand Athena, Aftrodita or Artemis, depending on which one was the most favourite deity of the owner.
To disambiguate between various possible interpretations other forms were used regularly, like ATHA for Athena...

[-Praetor-]

Therefore A, could stand Athena, Aftrodita or Artemis, depending on which one was the most favourite deity of the owner.

Or Argos, Anfiction, Akraiphia, Aigys, Askra... basically any polis that starts with an A could be the reference of that shield...