Dynamic Hoplites

[Wilbo]

Hello!

I recently tried Europa Barbarorum and was amazed by two things - the map and the incredible running hoplites! The first time I faced them in EB, it shocked me to the core when they suddenly charged - I literally jumped in horror!

I now wish to move back to standard Rome: Total War but can't let go of the Hoplites - it makes playing the Greek nations quite literally amazing! So, is there a way to keep / add change to Rome, without impacting the rest of the game?

Thanks in advance!

[Randal]

Now I don't know how to do that and it probably would involve quite some modding since EB had to make an over-hand spear-fighting animation, but there are other mods that have this too.

You could try to find one that keeps a more "vanilla" feel to the game, yet adds the spear-armed Hoplites.

[Blxz]

Just find the unit and mod in into the vanilla game. I think there will be a bit of work involved but ask around on the modding subforum and someone will hopefully be able to help you.

[Ludens]

If he only wants the running, and not the overhand spear, I think it can be done relatively easily by editing the export_descr_unit.txt (EDU). Simply find all hoplite entries (including the mercenary hoplites) and change the following:

1) Remove the phalanx_formation attribute to allow your hoplites to run.
2) Get rid of the secondary weapon. This is actually optional: non-phalanx units with both sword and spear are possible, but don't work very well.
3) You probably need to change the primary weapon to a shorter spear. I am not sure how to do this, but I guess you could simply copy the trairii primary weapon (IIRC the triarii don't have a secondary weapon either, so you can use the triarii entry as an example of how to change the hoplite entries).

Don't forget to make a back-up of the EDU, and check out Aradan's EDU modding guide.

Moving to R:TW modding questions.