Barbarian faction opinons

[Fluvius Camillus]

Barbarian factions certainly get nice armies, with the noble/hero/elites being really awesome. Especially if you compare the possibilities of RTW barbarians with EB, the team has done a splendid job.

The only barbarians I have really played are the Arverni, which I really liked at first, uniting Gaul. Then I established a sturdy border at the Elbe and the Ebro and destroyed the Romani. Although I could invade Britain and expand in the Mediterrean I don't really get the imperial feel from midgame I get with the Romani, Hellenic and Eastern factions. It's easier to roleplay huge empires with those in my opinion.

Happy campaigning!

~Fluvius

[PureEvil[PIE]]

I totally agree with you about the "imperial feel", it does feel a lot more...realistic and easier roleplaying wise to continue with Carthage and Rome to make huge empires than it does with the barbarian factions.

[Frtigern]

I love variety and that's what barbarians are good at. I love the sight of axes upon Roman heads and limbs. I also love ordering a charge of fanatics to crush enemy lines, I can taste the fear in their ranks. Two handed weapons make for an awesome sight.

[PureEvil[PIE]]

Totally agree with you, who needs shields and armour when you've got your trusty human-sized sword and your brother in arms by your side :>

[Ca Putt]

I really like to play as one of the "barbarian" factions in EB once in a while, a real fan of Sweboz and Getai. A nice thing about Sweboz are the "local" variants of your basic units, something I love roleplaying with. Whereas Getai... Super skirmishers, Hoplitesque Line holders, Super cheap Choppaz and even acces to light lancers and HAs, now that's a great roster!

One thing I really like about these armies is the totally different view on enemy troops: romans eg. With Carthagians or greeks: the thing my soldiers "fear" are regiments of Pedites extraordinari whereas ranged troops are more of a nuisance to keep away from your backside but otherwise perfectly harmless.
With Sweboz or Getai my soldiers (or rather I) think: 'YAY shiny armor, that will look great between the other trophies!' but as soon as ranged troops in form of Sotaroas or Toxotai pop up I'm all 'cautious stay out of range, take cover in forests, don't show them your rightside, NO!!!!! RUNAWAY!!!' or rather 'charge! before they get to fire a second salvo, you're local troops anyway'

[artavazd]

Totally agree with you, who needs shields and armour when you've got your trusty human-sized sword and your brother in arms by your side :>

The ones that could afforded prefered shields and armour :)

[konny]

Although I could invade Britain and expand in the Mediterrean I don't really get the imperial feel from midgame I get with the Romani, Hellenic and Eastern factions. It's easier to roleplay huge empires with those in my opinion.

Absolutly. With the Romans, one of the Successors or the Parthians you have some kind of "mission" to subdue large parts of the maps that's somehow lacking when playing a Barbarian faction. For example, it does feel somewhat odd when creating something like the Ottonian Empire with the Sweboz, try to unite all Celts across the map with the Aedui or hopping over to Africa with the Lusotans.

I have now (re-)started a Casse campaign. This time I did not disband my ship and army but crossed the channel to get my hands on Belgia proper. So far I am enjoying it very much and I am looking foreward to the "Hundred Years Wars" with the Aedui while at the time very slowly expanding in Britain.

[Brennus]

I love the barbarian factions. The Casse and Aedui being my favourite along with AS and Sauromatae. The unit variation which people have been discussing is certainly one of the main attractions with the barbarian fwctions, not to mention some of the units available to barbarian factions like the Belgic Minhalt, Leuce Epos, Cidanh (there is nothing better for dealing with light cav) and Venetic ships. My main drawback when playing as the barbarians is I am not very good at it. I have got close a few times with the Casse and my current Aedui campaign has already seen the sacking of Rome but I always find myself in a Sweboz-Roman vice with an economy insufficient to enable a counter offensive.

[PureEvil[PIE]]

I have got close a few times with the Casse and my current Aedui campaign has already seen the sacking of Rome but I always find myself in a Sweboz-Roman vice with an economy insufficient to enable a counter offensive.

I had this problem with the Aedui, that's the main reason I haven't completed that campaign yet. I was too busy fighting the Arverni and Lusotann I was taken by surprise when I suddenly saw brown armies peering into view :<.

[Brennus]

Sorry to sound rude but how long have you been fighting the Arverni for?

[PureEvil[PIE]]

Not sure in years/seasons, but I did put them down quite early, I was just fighting Lusotann and Romans (towards the most recent of my campaigning with Aedui), I didn't venture far North so I didn't notice the Sweboz getting stronger. How could you sound rude o.o

[Brennus]

Not sure in years/seasons, but I did put them down quite early, I was just fighting Lusotann and Romans (towards the most recent of my campaigning with Aedui), I didn't venture far North so I didn't notice the Sweboz getting stronger. How could you sound rude o.o

I was just worried when you said you were fighting the Lusotanni and Arverni you meant at the same time, either meaning that the Lusotanni had blitzed up to Gaul or you were taking a long time to beat the Arverni. I didn't wan't to cause offence by saying "You should really have the Arverni beat in the first 2 years" and have you say something along the lines of "Serious!?". A little trick for you when playing as the Aedui, once you have beaten the Arverni there is no better time to invade Rome. The Romans are occupied with the Epirots in Tarentum and by hugging the Appenine mountains you can fight your battles defensively, let the legions wear themsevles out climbing to meet you and then smash them with a charge of botroas. This way I managed to sneek into Italy, sack Rome and burn the Capitol. In honour of my namesake I got them to pay me to go away and using a non-agression pact they were more than happy to sign I was able to get back across the Alps with my army in tact.

Venturing north as the Gauls is a very good idea, IMO, it opens up more ports ot trade with the Britons (lots of lovely tin to be had) and gives you access to three of the best troop types available to the Celts: Remi cavalry, Belgic spearmen (impassable) and Belgic swordsmen (unstoppable). It does mean you keep having to watch the Sweboz border but with Belgic troops its possible to break pretty much any German invasion. It's the Romans who you have to be wary of.