EB2 Sneak-Peeks

**JMRC** · 07-24-2013, 23:06

The illyrian units in action:

**Brennus** · 07-27-2013, 23:52

Sadly its not eye candy. But I thought I would share an example of one of the Celtic province descriptions with everyone so you can get a feel of the research which we are putting in. This is Boiotergion, the capital province of the Boii:

BOIOTERGION

Introduction

Eternal giants, immortal bastions of time, encircle Boiotergion. These ancient guardians are the lithic souls which the traveller must surpass in order to gain entry to the heart of Boiotergion, the eternal realm of the mighty Boioi. A people whose name has resonated with fear in the voice of the Romani and Hellenes, a people of ancient pedigree, people of bravery and virtue unquestioned among the Keltoi. Upon the fertile, barely filled, plains of Boiotergion this ancient people reside. With plough and cattle, from whom they take their legendary title, the live in comfort and sophistication. There’s is a land of fertile fields, mighty rivers, a land which in which the crafts of Lugus bless the hands of both smith and warrior. Boiotergion, a rider astride the amber horse, taps into the flow of the magical Baltic stone as it meanders from the northern lands of the Lugiones onward towards the great Middle Sea and the markets which abound in it. In this land the traveller will find magic too. The ancient forts of kin long passed still stand as residence of the almighty gods; sights of pilgrimage for Keltoi from distant lands. In times not so long ago passed, times which are still spoken with proud tongues and in boastful tones, the warriors of Boiotergion struck out from behind their mountain walls; south into Italia they struck, dead Romani they left. East into the lands of the Hellenes, a Makedonian king, son of mighty Ptolemy, his head they took. Across the Bosporous, a mighty kingdom of the Galatai they founded. North they went, Germanoi fled, Scythians traded. The Boioi soul is an ancient one, like the land in which it is raised, the Boioi heart is mighty, filled with courage. Boiotergion, the traveller visits, ancient and powerful, a people bent on conquest and glory.

Geography

Boiotergion corresponds with the historical region of Bohemia, the western half of the modern Czech Republic. The area is ringed by the Krkonoše mountains and is drained by the Elbe and Vitava rivers. Although the region is landlocked, waters from the region flow into the North, Baltic and Black Sea, thereby providing improved connections with these areas; connections which were active in the Iron Age. The temperate European climate of the region provides ample rainfall, primarily in the summer months, which support a variety of deciduous and conifer forests, as well a rich grasslands and fertile soils. During the Iron Age the region supported a variety of temperate European species, including wolves, bear, red deer, wild pig, raptors and pine martins, many of which continue to inhabit the national parks of the Czech Republic today.

People, Society and Culture

Boiotergion was an important cultural and political centre during the Hallstatt period of the Iron Age. Beginning in the 5th century BC the first traces of the La Tène culture, the culture of the Celts par excellence, began to develop in the region. At Hallstatt cemeteries such as Královice and Manětín the final layers of use contain early La Tène burials. The emergence of La Tène burials in the regions heralded the end of the earlier Hallstatt flat tombs and the tumulus tombs of south and west Bohemia. In their place increasing numbers of flat-tombs of the La Tène type emerged, inside of which a variety of objects, including unique fibulae and luxury engraved or repoussé bronzes, were deposited. The early La Tène elite of Boiotergion (La Tène A) continued to occupy the same hillforts as their Hallstatt predecessors, indicating that either they were a continuation of the ruling elite or were actively impersonating the preceding Hallstatt elite in an effort to assure their place within the social hierarchy of the region. All this changed during the first half of the fourth century BC (La Tène B). During this period the Hallstatt hillforts fell out of use or were deliberately destroyed. The ancient hillfort of Závist, for example, appears to have met a particularly violent end although, as described below, it was subsequently reoccupied in the 2nd century BC.

In addition to the abandonment of hillforts the La Tène flat-tomb now began to spread across the region. These tombs, like those in contemporary Champagne and Marne in Gaul display a clear division of the sexes. All male tombs contained a sword, lance, shield and armour, whilst all female tombs were interred with a rich collection of bronze bracelets, belts, torques, anklets and fibulae. Those graves in the south of Boiotergion appear to have been occupied by richer individuals; the grave goods displaying Italic, Etruscan and Greek influences. Those graves in the north, by contrast, do not display these influences and, in some cases, the ornaments are of a simpler form than those in the south. In both cases the dead were positioned lying down, aligned north-south. Typically these sites contained twenty to forty members. Considering the length of time which these graves were in use for, this would suggest a kin group of ten or so members was the norm for the region during the early La Tène period. In southern Boiotergion cremation rites were also practiced, with the associated grave goods, such as swords, being broken or bent before being interred.

Boiotergion appears to have been divided into three sub-regions, with the inhabitants of each region specialising in a particular economic activity; agriculture, animal husbandry or mining (zinc, copper, gold and iron ore all being present in the region). Settlements during this period tended to occupy favourable upland areas and had a constant supply of water, thereby facilitating the raising of crops and livestock, and were usually positioned at regular intervals of 2 to 3 kilometres apart from each other. The dwellings within these settlements were either in the form of above ground pylon structures which measured approximately 10 by 5 metres, or else were huts with a single room, typically 6-4 metres by 4-2 metres, aligned east-west to take advantage of the rising sun. Household waste was disposed of in cylindrical or conical pits. It is interesting to note that these dwellings appear to have been arranged in a precise order. Arguably most interesting is that, in addition to the evidence for a variety of production activities including raising crops (predominantly barely but also some wheat), livestock and producing leather, there is also evidence that metal artefacts were already being produced in series. Furthermore, geographic analysis of find spots of artefacts indicates that specialised centres of production likely existed, sited specifically to serve the needs of a wider area.

Boiotergion shared in a phenomenon that appears to have occurred across all of the La Tène world during La Tène B; a major reduction in trade compared with the preceding La Tène A period. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Boiotergion continued to trade with their neighbours and those further afield. With their neighbours the inhabitants of Boiotergion exchanged swords and pottery (Bohemian stamped pottery travelled quite far, with examples being recovered from the lower Rhine). Shells (Cypreascassis rufa) and coral were also imported from the Mediterranean regions and were used to adorn jewellery, in particular fibulae. The river routes to the Black Sea may also have facilitated trade with the Iranian speaking pastoralists of the Pontic Steppe at this time; certainly Celtic artefacts have been recovered from a number of Scythian kurgans and the elite of Boiotergion later imported large steppe horses via connections with the Hungarian plain.

During La Tène C the inhabitants of Boiotergion, along with many of their central European neighbours, began to construct rectangular enclosures known as viereckschanzen (German for four sided space). The exact purpose of these enclosures is still debated. Some view them as religious centres, others as artisanal centres. Some of these enclosures have been found to contain burials others, however, do not. At one viereckschanzen in Boiotergion, Mšecké Šehrovice, a stone head was recovered. This stone head is possibly a depiction of a warrior or god. It strongly conforms to the image of a Celtic man, as described by classical authors such as Strabo, with swept back hair, large moustache and torque. The inhabitants of Mšecke Žehrovice also specialised in the production of sapropelite bracelets and iron. Sapropelite is a type of schist, and the examples produced at Mšecke Žehrovice can be found across Bohemia and even as far away as Switzerland and Luxembourg, the lands of the Eleuuetoi and Treueroi, respectively.

The inhabitants of Boiotergion, who by this stage we can describe with some confidence as the historical Boioi began constructing oppida at an earlier stage than their Gallic cousins. Some of these oppida, such as Závist (which is the earliest of the Boioi oppida to have been occupied), re-occupied earlier Halstatt and La Tène A hillforts, whilst others were new constructions. In total 12 (thus far identified) oppida were constructed by the Boioi, excluding Závist. The number of people inhabiting the Boii oppida remained modest by contrast with those of the Aedoui, Aruernoi and Bituriges. The Boioi, like their western cousins, interspersed the interior of their oppida with small farmsteads. Indeed the Boioi seem to have been very pragmatic in the placement of their oppida; constructing them in their more southerly, less fertile regions, thus leaving their northern areas free for more concerted agriculture whilst the oppida at České Lhoticé and Staré Hradisko were situated so as to, quite literally, tap into the amber trade moving down from the Baltic. At the Boioi oppidum of Stradonice 80-100,000 objects were recovered. In addition to producing large amounts of pottery the inhabitants of Stradonice also specialised in production of iron, locks, jewellery and fibulae, with over 1,300 examples of fibulae having been found at Stradonice; one of the largest collections to have been recovered from any Celtic site.
Along with the largest settlement of the Boioi, Závist, Stradonice was a major production centre of gold coinage. Boioi coinage from Závist and Stradonice was based on that from Aedui territory, and although Celtic coinage was not used for interregional trading (although it may have been used for diplomatic gifts) it demonstrates that relations existed between the two peoples. The Boioi oppidum of Třísov also played a key role in late Iron Age trade. Třísov, along with a handful of other oppida outside the lands of the Boioi, was one of the few places which produced graphite clay pots. These pots were subsequently traded as far apart as Romania, southern Poland, central Germany and Switzerland. The final oppidum to be constructed by the Boioi was located at modern day Bratislava, a location which appears to have been designed to further secure control of the amber route leading into Italy. It is from Bratislava that large numbers of silver coins bearing the name BIATEC have been recovered. After the founding of Bratislava the Boioi ceased to construct oppida.

One final point to make is the unique status of the oppidum at Závist, which appears to have been one of the longest lived centres of Celtic ritual activity. As early as the Halstatt D era Závist was home to an unenclosed nemeton. At the beginning of the 6th century BC the nemeton was augmented by a series of large, timber built dwelling which were linked not only chronologically, but also by their role within sanctuary. In the first half of the 5th century the sanctuary and its structures appears to have been deliberately set on fire, a practice which has also been recorded at the Irish Iron Age sacred site of Emain Macha, whilst dismantling with intention to rebuilding has been found at the Belgic site of Gournay-sur-Aronde, thus Závist is not unique in this practice. Following the burning the nemeton was rebuilt with an impressive wooden building taking its central place. Around the middle of the 5th century the complex was enclosed by a massive rectangular rampart behind a large trench cut from rock itself. Within this enclosure an incredibly ambitious series of structures were constructed; six high, dry stone platforms were erected (five rectangular, one triangular), the largest of which (27m x 11m), the triangle, is thought to have been covered by an Etruscan inspired temple. It has been theorised that the triangular structure may have been intended to represent the sacred Celtic trinity (Teutatis, Esus and Taranis). By the end of the 5th century the foundations between these platforms had been filled in, creating a single, larger platform. Following these major construction efforts the entire site was almost completely abandoned until it was reoccupied in the 2nd century and became the acropolis of the Boioi oppidum. During this final phase the sanctuary was enclosed within an oval, covered with numerous buildings. The fact that Závist remained in use for so long, eventually being selected by the Boioi to serve as their chief oppida, is a reflection not only of the site’s significance but also of how long religious traditions persisted in the Celtic world. In the same way that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem has, since at least c.1000BC, been a point of focus for the Abrahamic faiths, so too it appears Závist was for the religious traditions of central Europe.

History

Although the Cisapline Boioi had been known to classical authors for several centuries, the Transalpine Boioi did not fully enter the historical record until c.114BC, when they successfully resisted the Cimbroi-Teutones invasion. Despite this victory the power of the Boioi appears to have gone into decline soon after. During the 1st century BC the Dacian king Burebista began an aggressive expansion westward. The Boioi, along with the Skordiskoi and Tauriskoi, did not fare well against Burebista and began to lose ground. Sometime around 60BC they attempted to expand their territory by laying siege to Noreia, the capital of the Celtic kingdom of Norikom. During this siege they were approached by a delegation from the Eluuetoioi who invited them to join in an invasion of Gaul. Having agreed to join in invasion the Boioi abandoned their lands. The scale of depopulation in Boiotergion appears to have been so great that classical authors referred to the region as “the desert of the Boioi”. The Boioi who joined the Eluuetoioi in their invasion met the same fate as their allies; defeat at the hands of Caesar’s legions. In contrast to their allies however, who were instructed to return home, the Boioi were allowed to remain in Gaul, whereupon they came clients of the Aedui.

**Tux** · 11-26-2013, 02:04

Having some fun with the new terrain and grass textures:
Enjoy!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Tux** · 01-26-2014, 22:35

The Pritanoi chariot got some visual improvements:

**Tux** · 05-20-2014, 23:31

It's been a while since the last sneak peek and that is because we're trying hard to polish the game for upcoming release this year.
So here's something that we've decided to improve upon, new textures for wooden walls:

Wooden palisade:

Wooden wall:

And here you can see the normal map, and the depth it brings, which was created using a high-poly model:

**Tux** · 06-09-2014, 00:35

Our newest addition to the team, Nightfall and I have started working one new vegetation.
Credit also goes to Yughues aka Nobiax for many of the vegetation models and textures.

So here's the new vegetation for the floodland desert climate used on the nile river: