Im a long time lurker, sometime poster. I have to say, this whole, "omfg this unit does not fit with my perception of what this era was really like decreases my immersion faction by 26.9756%" is getting a little bit rediculas.

Give CA some credit, they have delivered on 2 fantastic games so far, games nobody else has even approached genre/scale wise. While I think they are total twits for not putting in a multiplayer campaign they have earned SOME creative leeway for making units. Some of these units may not have existed, some of them were used, see pigs minus the flames. The fact is this is a game based on realism and history. This is not a realistic historical simulation. If it were there would be no point in playing the game, everything would happen on a time line and we would all know the results no point playing the game.

The entire premise of this game is based around whatif. What if the barbarians decided to throw heads at the romans to cause them to panick. This didnt happen, but whose to say some enterprising general in a different situation may have?

Nobody has a gun to your here forcing you to play with these units, I am very sure you can play and enjoy the game without ever having to employ these fanciful units. If your game experience is ruined because on your crusade to bring enlightenment to the eastern hordes, they use their women to fight I am very deeply sorry for you. My only advice is, have an open mind, nobody here actually lived in this time frame so to say unequivically "they did not exist" is ignorant. Probably did not exist, but you cannot be totally sure. The key here is could have. DEAL with it, if you don't like it don't use it and mod it out when you are able. Just be happy that people are complaining about a few unit choices rather than actually important things like game mechanics.

Disclaimer, some units here are more out there than others, and this post is directed at no one in particular, rather everyone who complains bitterly about a couple units they never have to use.