Countdown to Open Beta - Features and Gameplay
Greetings Europa Barbarorum fans!
First, please let me note that we are once again looking for excited, active EB fans to join us in our effort. Our primary goal is to raise our activity level, and we have many non-technical tasks to complete, such as writing descriptions, or organizing data, so experienced modders are a plus but not a necessity at all. We will be placing a recruitment post for you to read; please contact us if you have some time to commit, especially in the next couple of weeks, as we push to release our open beta.
In a similar vein to the Tabula Orbis Terra preview last month, this week we are taking a slightly different look at the mod in progress and revealing some aspects of the mod, of which we have never spoken before.
This week we're taking the cover off the engine and highlighting some of the new gameplay features that you can expect to see in the open beta.
Never more so has a preview been really the product of the entire team as this preview spans all factions and aspects of the game, but nevertheless some particular people must be highlighted so special thanks go to Malrubius, The_Mark, Epistolary Richard, LorDBulA, Krusader and Teleklos Archelaou.
Traits & Ancillaries
The traits and ancillaries system for Europa Barbarorum attempts to add to the historical immersion for the player, to make him feel like he is really there and playing the ruling class of his faction. To accomplish this, a new system was developed, where each general has a set of Ability and Personality stats, similar to what you might find in a role-playing game. These 6 primary traits are the backbone of the EB system, and they affect the acquisition of many of the other traits and even ancillaries.
Transformation - How a historical personage becomes a general in Europa Barbarorum
We have a moderate amount of biographical knowledge for Magas, King of Cyrene. This can be simulated with a variety of traits. He would be Charismatic, with a low Vitality. He seems possessed of a Happy and Altruistic personality, representing his good nature. By the time we meet him in Europa Barbarorum, he has grown Indolent, and perhaps Epicurean. He could be described as a Kind Ruler. His experience as a commander would have given him Leadership skills.Arche Seleukideia
Magas Kyrenaios - 53 - Makedonian of obscure birth; phalanx commander for Alexander; liked by Ptolemy at first; governor of Kyrenaia under Ptolemy, held it 50 years; revolted under Ptolemy Philadelphos; abandoned to indolence and luxury; enormously fat; died from suffocation from fat; illiterate, but mild and gentle; long and tranquil reign.
Put this all together, and we have an approximation of Magas Kyrenaios that comes as close as possible to representing the real man who lived almost 2300 years ago.
Seasonal Campaigning
As has been previously announced, Europa Barbarorum will have Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter turns each year. Historically, there were seasons for campaigning. This varied depending on climate and custom. Winter was usually not a time for armies to be on the march, forage being scarce, and weather being uncooperative. The movement of generals will be somewhat restricted during winter to reflect the historical realities of winter campaigning. But some people, such as those of the forests beyond the Rhine, and the people of the steppe, fared well in winter campaigning.
Arid regions are a different story, however. Here, water is scarce, the hot sun bakes men during the day, and the temperature drops at night. It is wise not to push one's men too far during the summer. The movement of generals in these areas will be restricted during this season.
As already previewed, summer is also time for the Olympics, held every four years, and open to all free Hellenes.
New Victory Conditions
Rome – though undoubtedly a mighty prize to capture – held little allure for many of our factions. For us at Europa Barbarorum – to truly portray a nation as authentically as possible – it is not enough to account for their starting lands and their leaders, we must also take account of their goals and desires.
Therefore we have dispensed with the vanilla victory conditions of capturing Rome and fifty provinces and given each faction its own personalised victory conditions – aligned as far as possible with what we know of their ambitions for conquest and development. These victory conditions include specific territorial gains as well the destruction of particular foes and more.
As illustration we present you the victory conditions for the Sauromatae (NB, some of the names of this map have been superceded)
The Sauromatae, though their homelands were vast, ranged even further afield in bands of raiders who would attack and loot lightly defended settlements before vanishing as the defenders scrambled together an army. To represent this, as well as territorial occupation we have included a range of raiding targets that they must strike to bring terror to the world before they may call themselves its masters.
Capturing Special Provinces
Upon capturing certain important provinces, you will receive special messages detailing the historical significance of those areas to your faction, such as the following, when a Parthian general conquers Babylon or Parsa:
Living off the land
All soldiers know how to forage, how to hunt and find food whilst on the road. Nevertheless, keeping a mighty army in the field can be a terrible expense that can drain a treasury dry supporting them with food, material and pay. The warriors of some nations, though, are so adept at living off the land, roaming free without supply lines or baggage trains that they may fight on for years without support from their leaders.
When the generals of certain factions such as the Swêbōz and others excel so at this that when they loot and pillage the enemy’s territory it will reduce the expense of their upkeep to the treasury.
Military Reforms
The Marian Reforms were the greatest sea-change in any military of the period, however it was not the only one. The soldiery of several factions evolved as time progressed and they came face to face with new enemies and new tactics. Depending on their fortunes, a few factions will develop new core units as they progress – sometimes based on time, sometimes based on the lands they conquer and sometimes upon the enemies they face.
In this example, it was not until the Seleukid’s own cavalry was bested by the terrible kataphractoi that they began to deploy these armoured juggernauts in their armies.
Neighbouring Countries
No nation in 272BC was ignorant of its neighbours - exploration, trade, political interest and colonisation all meant that each settlement knew much about those around it. For us at EB it was as ludricous to say that the Ptolemies knew nothing of Greece as it would be to say the Romans knew nothing of Rome!
Therefore at the beginning of the game, each faction will have some knowledge of those settlements with which it historically had had significant contact. Not in as much detail as their starting territories, of course, but no longer will it seem as though they've simply fallen from the sky.
Alliances with the Independent Cities
With contact between these nation-states, came diplomacy. The politics of the lands around the Mediterranean were a complex spider-web of alliances, pacts and treaties. No power could take a step without considering the likely reactions of their rivals. These alliances were not just between the major players, many settlements – though nominally independent – had close, binding ties with the greater nations around them. An attack upon them was an attack upon their nation-patrons, who would not shy from defending their interests in battle.
Any general who believes that such cities can be conquered without stir or ripple around the Mediterranean pond will quickly find themselves embroiled in wars they cannot win. Equally, you too will not be able to escape conflict if your local allies are threatened. Consider though, that such arrangements are not entirely burdensome, every successful liberation expands your empire one city further.
Triumphs
Each one of Rome’s commanders has a chance to be awarded this highest accolade, but only a few may ever achieve it. To be even considered, a general must smash the barbarous foes that lie beyond Rome’s borders though displays of tactical brilliance, he must be adored and acclaimed by his soldiers, and even beyond that he must be a political player of the highest order to survive the intricate machine of patronage and privilege that is Republican Rome.
For those who achieve it, though, they will become the leaders of their nation and will always be remembered as the finest of Rome.
Do not fear that other factions have not been forgotten. Both mighty tribal war chieftains and skilful eastern princes will have their own rewards of men, money and power.
And more...
And these are not all, there are many more historically authentic events, goals and achievements to be discovered as you explore the world of the past – the world of Europa Barbarorum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------We hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s update!
Please note that unless stated otherwise, ALL pictures shown in our previews are of works in progress. We continue to improve on all parts of EB, and we will continue to 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 is here, where the EB team is most active:
Europa Barbarorum ORG forum
Europa Barbarorum TWC forum
We give special thanks to Imageshack that provides us with a simple, foolproof, and free way to show you all these pictures each week.
Have a great day!
Sincerely,
The Europa Barbarorum team.
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Originally Posted by kayapó
lovely
Remarkable preview indeed, congrats all around!! 
Cool modders make their mods with the 
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