are the british head-hurlers real units?

[SpencerH]

No.

[Ginger]

In my head the barbarians wouldnt have had such regimented, standardised armies.

I think of the warlords elite troops concentrated in sections of the barbarian line, and while the rest of the army may be armed with similar weapons armour would vary from tribe to tribe. Breaking from the ranks as the armies engage would come individuals or small groups of frenzied warriors- call them berserkers, woad warriors or head hurlers.

I dont see them as formalised units- more young men bent on glory, taking massive risks and seeking recognition.

Im not maning that the armies wouldnt have tactical subtlety, more that the apearance of the army would reflect a multitude of tribes and families called together to fight.

[Kraxis]

Since hardly a barbarian unit existed you can bet that the head hurlers didn't exist. But I'm pretty certain that the Britons did throw severed heads at their enemies now and then, basically every culture did that (though mostly in sieges).

[Byzantine Prince]

I'm hoping that CA will fix this in the expansion. They should make the barbarian units mingle and attack as masses.

[The Stranger]

yeah, but putting them in horde formations make it look a bit better already, but i'd like to see that a unit used axes, swords and spears al together

[Arrowhead]

That would be unstoppable. The staying power of spears, the attack of axes and the agility of the swords? Whoa!

[Arrowhead]

You could stop a charge and then butcher your way through.

[Ginger]

EDIT Damn double post EDIT

[Ginger]

That would be unstoppable. The staying power of spears, the attack of axes and the agility of the swords? Whoa!

But little cohesion, meaning that a solid shield wall would probably take them apart.

Even massive barbarian numbers didnt always work against roman armies, for example Caeser vs the Helvetii where the roman forces were significantly outnumberered (10:1 *IF* you believe Caeser) but still slaughtered the Helvetii.