I'm hoping the Gauls get a better deal in this one as well.


Ultimately I know some compromise will have to be made. Most players probably aren't too fussed on accuracy and are just buying what they think looks like a cool strategy game. I know that was me way back when RTW came out. I didn't even appreciate many of the little things they got right (like having Hastati and Triarii and not just starting off the bat with legionaries in Lorica Segmentata). It wasn't until after I gained an interest in history (partly due to the game) and got into mods like IBFD and later Europa Barbarorum that I really began to appreciate how silly troops of guys throwing heads or attack dogs were.

Not only are many players unconcerned, but I don't doubt that they knew full well which that some units in the game were on the silly side but put them anyway to add character to factions, or because they were cool. I think I recall them saying as much way back about the decision to give Egypt anachronistic units. I know this worked for at least some players. My father and best friend thought the war hounds (or whatever they call the dogs) were among the coolest units...

All that aside, I hope the Gauls get some more attention this coming game. I remember them feeling very generic, like they were designed just as a barrier to expansion by the Romans. By contrast the Carthaginians and Allemanii, who could easily have suffered from the same thing, at least had varied and interesting unit rosters. I'd like to see the Gauls at least get that much, and feel like a real faction. Greater historical accuracy would then be icing on the cake.