Possible Factions

[Ludens]

For instance, Syracuse is a big favorite in this poll, but I was under the impression that they were not expansionist enough to make it as an EB faction. Maybe I'm misremembering though, so please correct me if I'm wrong.

The team has not positively denied that Syracuse will be in, but the main argument against them is that we know very little about their military post-Alexander (Archimedes' death-ray does not count). Syracuse had been a major bulwark against Carthage under earlier tyrants, and the workshops of Dionysus the Elder were hubs of military innovation. However, Dionysus' son was unable to maintain power and the city was wrecked by a series of coups. It was still a regional power by EB's time-frame, but it couldn't hope to take on Carthage as an (almost) equal.

Also, the faction inclusion criteria I know are for EB1. For EB2 the team may have expanded them, or simply decided to include some factions that were tenuous by EB1 standards.

[WinsingtonIII]

The team has not positively denied that Syracuse will be in, but the main argument against them is that we know very little about their military post-Alexander (Archimedes' death-ray does not count). Syracuse had been a major bulwark against Carthage under earlier tyrants, and the workshops of Dionysus the Elder were hubs of military innovation. However, Dionysus' son was unable to maintain power and the city was wrecked by a series of coups. It was still a regional power by EB's time-frame, but it couldn't hope to take on Carthage as an (almost) equal.

Also, the faction inclusion criteria I know are for EB1. For EB2 the team may have expanded them, or simply decided to include some factions that were tenuous by EB1 standards.

Interesting, I was not aware that that was the main reason Syracuse might not make it, for some reason I thought I remembered a team member stating that it was not expansionist enough, but looking back it may have not been a member who said that.

And you're of course right that the criteria could change, and very well might if they cannot find 8 factions who live up to EB1 faction standards.

This was made quite a while ago and their are a few that I would certainly remove (or redefine), quite a few have been ruled out at various times by team members but you could still make a strong list of possible factions.
Earlier in the thread Moros stated that 5 factions on the list were in EBII

(i crossed out the ones that have either been ruled out or that were in my opinion weak choices.)

From the list I would pick,
Bosporan Kingdom (obviously)
Massaesylians
Boii
Kartli
A Belgae tribe (just putting the Nervi was bit silly i admit, so I'd redefine it as any Belgae tribe)
Arevaci (or other celtiberian tribe)
the final two are a bit tough but the Scordiscii, Kappadoika, Galatia/Bythinia, Atropatene, Helvetii, and some sort of Kamboja tribe would all be strong candidates

This new list does get rid of some of the weaker candidates, and I definitely agree with your personal top picks (in fact I voted for most of the top 6 you chose). It certainly would be strange if the EB team included the Massylians but left out their major rivals the Massaesylians, the Boii were powerful and help fill an area that was prone to become a power vacuum in EB1, and a Belgae and Celtiberian tribe would fill two other areas that are generally power vacuums as well, plus they all seem to fit what I know of the faction requirements.

The area where I was having trouble was with those final two faction slots as well, but I think any of those final factions you listed could work, I would probably pick Galatia as the seventh (if that happens Asia Minor is going to be a mad house... six factions in one area...), but for the eighth I'm not sure. A Kamboja tribe could be interesting and provide some added resistance to the Baktrians in India though. Of course, there should probably be another Germanic tribe to balance out the Sweboz, but from what I've heard, information on Germanic tribes is fairly scant and making the Sweboz for EB1 was difficult enough. The Helvetti could at least curb their southern expansion though. I'm still hoping that the Nabateans will make it in, but I'm fairly sure that you're right in saying that they probably won't.

[B-Wing]

...the Boii were powerful and help fill an area that was prone to become a power vacuum in EB1, and a Belgae and Celtiberian tribe would fill two other areas that are generally power vacuums as well, plus they all seem to fit what I know of the faction requirements.

I'd like to support this notion. If we're pretty well agreed that all the historically expansionist factions of the starting time period are already represented in EB1, then I say new faction decisions should be based upon filling gaps in the campaign map.

To that end, I think the regions most needing factions in EB2 are (in terms of modern political geography) northeast Spain, southwest France, Austria, and perhaps Poland. There are a number of Celtiberian tribes that could flesh out northeastern Spain. The Boii would give central Europe some much needed excitement, and a Belgic tribe would really spice up northern Europe.

Of course, there should probably be another Germanic tribe to balance out the Sweboz, but from what I've heard, information on Germanic tribes is fairly scant and making the Sweboz for EB1 was difficult enough.

Perhaps the Lugii would be a good choice? Currently, eastern Europe seems like a bunch of wasted space, but I can't really suggest another faction that might take advantage of all that.

I'm still hoping that the Nabateans will make it in, but I'm fairly sure that you're right in saying that they probably won't.

I'd really, really like to see another faction in that part of the middle east as well. Palmyra would suit me fine.

[WinsingtonIII]

Perhaps the Lugii would be a good choice? Currently, eastern Europe seems like a bunch of wasted space, but I can't really suggest another faction that might take advantage of all that.

Yeah, I've definitely thought that the Lugii would be great to both balance out the Sweboz and to fill the current power vacuum in Eastern Europe. However, I'm not sure how much information there is on them at the start of the EB time frame, but that seems to be a problem all the Germanic tribes run into.

I'd really, really like to see another faction in that part of the middle east as well. Palmyra would suit me fine.

Yeah, either Palmyra or Nabatea would be great, plus they are both another Arabic faction, albeit a Northern Arabic faction instead of a Southern one, but I think the EB team has made it very clear that there is simply not enough provinces/info to warrant a second Southern Arabian faction. A Northern one is more likely, but unfortunately I still have this feeling neither of them will make it. I don't have any proof of that, but it's just what it seems like to me.

[Ibrahim]

Yeah, I've definitely thought that the Lugii would be great to both balance out the Sweboz and to fill the current power vacuum in Eastern Europe. However, I'm not sure how much information there is on them at the start of the EB time frame, but that seems to be a problem all the Germanic tribes run into.




Yeah, either Palmyra or Nabatea would be great, plus they are both another Arabic faction, albeit a Northern Arabic faction instead of a Southern one, but I think the EB team has made it very clear that there is simply not enough provinces/info to warrant a second Southern Arabian faction. A Northern one is more likely, but unfortunately I still have this feeling neither of them will make it. I don't have any proof of that, but it's just what it seems like to me.

as long as I'm around, there will be at least be a northern arabian one. you'll see.

[WinsingtonIII]

as long as I'm around, there will be at least be a northern arabian one. you'll see.

Haha I certainly hope that you're right, it gets really tedious switching off between fighting the AS and the Ptolies when you're in that region, especially since their armies tend to be quite similar.

[Moros]

as long as I'm around, there will be at least be a northern arabian one. you'll see.

So it was you who put that dead horse in my bed!?

[Ibrahim]

So it was you who put that dead horse in my bed!?

yes, it was I.