Brown coats

**seleucid empire** · 10-10-2012, 22:28

I've seen some pictures on the web that suggests the sabaen noble infantry were originally swordsmen in the earlier versions. Is there a reason they got changed? Cause having elite swordsmen would have been a big advantage over some of the eastern factions.

**Titus Marcellus Scato** · 10-10-2012, 23:10

Don't they still have swords, but as a secondary weapon?

I guess with spears they are the only Saba unit that have a decent chance to stand up to a charge from a Seleucid or Ptolemoi general's bodyguard heavy cavalry.

**seleucid empire** · 10-10-2012, 23:23

Originally Posted by Titus Marcellus Scato

Don't they still have swords, but as a secondary weapon?

I guess with spears they are the only Saba unit that have a decent chance to stand up to a charge from a Seleucid or Ptolemoi general's bodyguard heavy cavalry.

They have javelins and spears now

Actually, I've found the sabaen levy spearmen better at holding the lines. They have similar morale , 200 men units and are 500 cheaper to hire.

Brown coats are really bad spearmen in my opinion

**Basileus_ton_Basileon** · 10-11-2012, 04:02

I personally find them to be the better-than-nothing medium infantry/spearmen. The only issue I have with them is that by the time I could afford to have them in any number, there are pandas and keltoi for me to use.

**seleucid empire** · 10-11-2012, 13:17

Originally Posted by Basileus_ton_Basileon

I personally find them to be the better-than-nothing medium infantry/spearmen. The only issue I have with them is that by the time I could afford to have them in any number, there are pandas and keltoi for me to use.

They are worse at holding the line than the lowly Thureophoroi. And I agree with the cost thing. For some reason Saba economy is super weak even after you build the mines.

**lolpah** · 10-18-2012, 21:23

You are confusing the Sabaean bodyguards with the nobles. The Bodyguards are the ones with swords and brown coats, and they accompany the Sabaean FMs in campaing. The nobles are the armoured ones with spears, and are normally recruitable.

**seleucid empire** · 10-19-2012, 04:41

Originally Posted by lolpah

You are confusing the Sabaean bodyguards with the nobles. The Bodyguards are the ones with swords and brown coats, and they accompany the Sabaean FMs in campaing. The nobles are the armoured ones with spears, and are normally recruitable.

No I'm talking about a picture I saw on images that had sabaens in the armour of the nobles but holding a sword. So I suspected that it was an old version

**athanaric** · 10-22-2012, 23:27

Originally Posted by seleucid empire

Brown coats are really bad spearmen in my opinion

Of course a supporter of the imperialistic Alliance would try his best to badmouth the Browncoats

But more on topic, in my experience they're actually good spearmen (they have 15 or 16 morale while the Sabaean levies have 13. Plus the javelins, better discipline, and armour). And anyway, in EB II they have bows, which will make them more dangerous.

**seleucid empire** · 10-23-2012, 05:09

Originally Posted by athanaric

Of course a supporter of the imperialistic Alliance would try his best to badmouth the Browncoats

But more on topic, in my experience they're actually good spearmen (they have 15 or 16 morale while the Sabaean levies have 13. Plus the javelins, better discipline, and armour). And anyway, in EB II they have bows, which will make them more dangerous.

They take such high casualties all the time and they are supposed to be your best spearmen. They take a lot of damage form arrows, javelins and even holding a line, they will take high casualties.

Bows and swords or bows and spears?

PS. What imperialistic alliance?

**athanaric** · 10-23-2012, 11:24

Originally Posted by seleucid empire

Bows and swords or bows and spears?

Bows and spears, as can be seen in the preview.

PS. What imperialistic alliance?

I thought since you mentioned "brown coats" you might get this popcultural reference... Anyway.

**seleucid empire** · 10-23-2012, 11:34

Originally Posted by athanaric

Bows and spears, as can be seen in the preview.

I thought since you mentioned "brown coats" you might get this popcultural reference... Anyway.

Hmmm bow and swords would have made me happier.

As for the alliance thing. I don't know anything about nazi paramilitary groups and its been along time since I've watched firefly

I said brown coats cause there's no better way to describe them and most people here seem to call them that. :)

Anyway, the brown coats represent a "heavy"infantry component for the Saba. However it doesn't really suit the fighting style of Saba. And as line infantry they are too expensive and not really Heavy enough. That's why I asked why the swords from the early version was changed into spears (ill try and find the image I saw). As swordsmen they could have provided a valuable shock infantry unit for saba