Countdown to Open Beta - Swêbōz
Greetings Europa Barbarorum fans!
As you are aware, we have begun our closed beta test. We asked only a small number of people to take part, including the official Beta Test team; there may be more opportunities in the future, but take heart that the closed beta will allow us to reach a playable form much more quickly so that everyone may participate in the open beta. Please allow us to set expectations - this is still a beta, and bugs are to be expected in a project of this magnitude.
We apologize for not meeting your expectation of a weekend update. We do our best to meet your expectations, but sometimes our families, real lives, and mod work come first. A lot of things must come together to make these updates, and the pieces have not fallen into place before now.
Today or tomorrow should see a new release make its way into the hands of our closed testers, and so we'll be moving even closer to the open beta.
This week, the EB team is proud to present:
Háiláz Kuningáz!
We, the Erilōz and all Fránkámánnōz of the Swêbōz have raised you on the shield to be both the Kuningáz and the Hárjánáz of all our tribes in this time of its need. As a man of a noble lineage which can trace its blood to the ancient gods, the elders of our peoples trust that you will be a just and wise ruler and bring good fortune to us all. And as a warrior, skilled and crafty in battle, our warbands swear to follow you in war and do your bidding, so long as your judgement is clear and your war-luck holds.
As you know, our federation stands on the brink of both great opportunity and great danger. To our west, over the great river Rhine, lie the rich and fertile lands of the Gauls. These people are strong warriors and well-armed, but they have grown soft with easy living and are torn by their own rivalries. They also look fearfully to the south, over the mountains, where rumour has it the city-dwelling Southmen - the Romans- are growing ever stronger. Now may be the time for us to cross the river and finally take for ourselves those lands that we have raided and pillaged for generations.
But we must also look to closer concerns. Our tribes, the Sêmnōnōz, the Márkámánnōz, the Lángōbárdōz and the Hêrmundurōz, to name only a few of our mighty federation, are strong amongst the peoples of the north, but we have attracted jealous rivals. The Hêruskōz are a proud tribe and would be happy to usurp our status. They may not have our numbers, but they have proven themselves fierce fighters. They would be particularly threating to us with they conquered or made a common cause with the Hábukōz or the Háttōz. Perhaps it would be wise for us to make the first move and bring all three of these tribes into our federation, either by reason or by force.
And there are other threats further afield. In the far north, the peoples of Skándzá are stirring and with the Rugōz and Gōtánōz, could threaten us from the north-east. And there are rumours, that a great wandering army from amongst the Kimbriōz will march through Gaul and bring war and fire to the far off land of the southern people. Subduing these dangerous warriors would aid our safety, add to our strength and give us access to the northern seas.
With our flanks secured, there are warm rich lands to the west and south for our warriors to conquer. We don't lack for courage, strength and wisdom in war, Wōdánáz willing. And what we lack in swords and armour we can remedy through looting and conquest. With good fortune, good judgement and cunning strategy, we can expand our lands in all directions and become the richest and mightiest tribe the northlands have ever seen.
Our future is in your hands.
Here are a few action shots:
Some of the units you will find in the Swêbōz armies:
Swáinōz - Swáinōz are lightly armed troops who break up and harass enemy formations before the main battle lines meet, and act as a screen for heavier troops. Their skills also make them useful in springing tactical ambushes. Each man is armed with a clutch of throwing framea, a slightly longer frame for melee and a stout ovular shield, but they do not wear armour, preferring speed over protection. Swáinōz are mostly the tribe’s younger warriors. These men have yet to prove themselves as warriors. The Swainaz are armed with up to three throwing framea and a frame for the melee.
Bugimánnōz - These germanic bowmen learned their skill with their chosen weapon by hunting in the dense germanic forests. Bugimánnōz are used to harass and break up enemy formations, so that other warriors can then get in amongst their enemies. Their bows have a short range, but each warrior carries a good selection of hunting and war arrows, designed to cause massive bleeding and pierce armour respectively. Their choice of missile is matched to the nature of the target. These tribesmen are also armed with the typical germanic spear - the framea, which means that they can do more than just defend themselves in hand-to-hand combat. They can, when required, act as light infantry. Their presence on a battlefield is always useful, as they have the flexibility to be both archers and infantry and do a good job in both tasks. These Bugimánnōz are at their best in wooded country, where their superior stalking skills learned on the hunt can be put to use.
Fránkámánnōz - Germanic Tribesmen are mostly yeomen and hunters. From a very early age they are accustomed to persistent tribal wars and raids. As soon as they recieve their spear and shield according to germanic tradition they are adults and full warriors of their tribe. These tribesmen lack the training of the germanic warbands, but are fierce and their experience in constant tribal clashes make them better then most other militias. Their armament consists of a sturdy frame and an ovular shield. They have nothing in the way of armor except for trousers.
Hábukōz-Swáiut - The Chaucii are a numerous tribe inhabiting the extreme northwestern shore of Germania. The tribe called itself Hawks - Hábukōz in their own language - and their warriors often used symbols of those birds on their clothing and shields. Hábukōz warriors form warbands, called Swáiut, and are bound to the service of a strongman or petty village head. They fight well, as glory and loot are the road to status, but are often difficult to control. The Hábukōz-Swáiut can form the shieldwall, a very good defensive formation and can be relied on to fight, and fight hard. In warfare it is up to each man to prove his own bravery and worth, so the savage charge into the enemy is about as sophisticated as they ever want to be. Their weapon, the frame, is a spear with a short sharp ending, ideal for thrusting and throwing , and a stout, large ovular shield for protection.
Mêrjōz - Mêrjōz are an elite among tribal warriors, selected for their physical size, strength, bravery and not to forget agility and speed as these warriors run directly behind their cavalry into the fray. Double-handed axes are intimidating weapons, especially in the hands of these warriors. These men can hack a hole in almost any enemy battle line. They are the assault troops of any barbarian army, the men whose only job is to smash any organised resistance and keep on killing until no foes remain. They are fantastically strong men - and need to be to wield their enormous two-handed axes with any degree of skill and control. The axes are easily capable of cleaving a man down to his breastbone even through armour.
Sáhsnōtōz - Sáhsnōtōz means Swordbondsmen and these fighters hail from such warlike tribes as the Cimbrii, the Cheruscii, the Chaucii, and the numerous clans of the Suebii confederation. Swords are not plentiful in germanic lands, due to the expense and iron needed for a such a weapon, and so these fierce and valiant warriors carry their highly valued swords with pride. They fight in dense formation, often with their own kinsmen at their side. The Sahsnotaz carry a long sword, up to two framea for throwing
and a large ovular shield for protection.
Skándzá-Swáiut - Scandia and the island of the gothii are rough lands with a harsh climate, and its people are used to fighting everyday for survival. The Swáiut of these tribes are fierce and hardy and they fight well, as glory and loot are the road to status, but are often difficult to control as they have little tactical sense, but are experts at reading the land and hiding when there is cover. In warfare it is up to each man to prove his own bravery and worth, so the savage charge into the enemy is about as sophisticated as they ever want to be. Their weapon, the frame, is a spear with a short sharp ending, ideal for thrusting and throwing and a stout, large ovular shield for protection.
Wōdánáwulfōz - Wōdánáwulfōz hail from the Harii tribe, which belong to the Suebii confederation. These warriors are fierce in nature and trick out their innate ferocity by the help of art and choice of time- they blacken their shields and dye their bodies; they choose pitchy nights for their battles and strike fear into their enemies by the terrifying and shadowy appearance of an army of the dead. A particularly frightening tactic of the Wolf-Warriors, which amaze their enemies, is that they are so fast on foot that they would team up with a horse-riding warrior, hang on to the mane of the horse with their left hand, wield their weapons with their right hand, and charge into battle, running as fast as the horse directly into the fray. Before battle, they daub their bodies with black dye, giving them an otherworldly appearance. When the moment is right, they charge - wild-eyed and screaming - at their foes. Any who survive assaults by these maniacal barbarians are convinced they are spirits sent from Hell. Wōdánáwulfōz carry a sword and have also up to two framea for throwing. For protection, only a stout ovular shield.
Ridōhárjōz - Ridōhárjōz ride sturdy and sure-footed ponies with a good turn of speed, and are excellent light cavalry, useful as scouts as well as harass enemy formations before the main battle lines with their throwing framea. Like many germanic warriors, however, they can lack battle-discipline and be over-keen to enter battle against worthy opponents. This can lead them to be headstrong, and difficult to restrain before a fight, as personal glory gained in battle is always welcome. Honour and standing come from fighting, and sometimes the urge for glory overwhelms good sense!
Their war gear of framea and shield is the very finest that can be provided. Before a battle starts the Ridon often throw a few framea at the enemy. These warriors are armed with a frame for thrusting and up to two framea for throwing. For protection they carry only a round or ovular wooden shield, because speed is more important for them than armor.
Finally, a signature image:
We hope you enjoyed this week's (belated) preview. Next week's may be slightly delayed as well, as our scheduling is a bit off at the moment.
Please note that unless stated otherwise, ALL pictures shown in our news posts are of works in progress. We continue to improve on all parts of EB, and will do so long after our initial release.
Since some areas where these news items are posted cannot handle wide images, we appreciate your restraint from quoting full-size images.
As always, if you have questions or comments, the best place to post them would be here:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=70
Or here:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=31
We give special thanks to http://www.imageshack.us who provide us with a simple, foolproof, and free way to show you all these pictures each week.
Have a wonderful day!
Sincerely,
-the EB team
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Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat
Great work again EB. Can't wait for the open beta.... 
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