Alternative factions

[Geoffrey S]

Considering the state of affairs with regards to the Yuezhi who would you like to see replacing them should they abandoned in later release? Any particular regions which you think could use an additional faction? Do share your thoughts!

Personally, I'd like to see a counter to the Ptolemaioi or Arche Seleukeia in the Arabian peninsular in the form of a faction such as the Nabataeans, or perhaps another Germanic faction

[Conqueror]

Nabataeans would be good for they could be set as the "creator" faction for provinces on the Arabian peninsula. They would also slow down other AI factions expansion in that area.

[QwertyMIDX]

The Sabeans are much more likely than the Nabataeans as the Nabataeans hadn't even become sedentary until the very end of the mod's time frame.

[GoreBag]

I'd like to some more action in Africa. Nubia would be a good choice, even if their political influence in the period wasn't huge.

[Big_John]

if the yuezhi are removed, i'd also like to see saba or kush replace them. not sure if there is enough space on the map to represent kush properly, though.

[moeman]

yep yep yep saudi arabia the peninsuala is too big to be empty and imagine how much more fun it would be to be the bactrians or ptolamies to have more options then turkey and the meditaranian, its just europe is crowded youve got macedon, greece and epyrose all in the one peninsuala which is very fun but if you play the mid eaastern ones its just plane
well thats my 2 cents

[Byzantine Mercenary]

ive always thought that a middle east faction is needed, to counter the ptolmaics

[menander]

A Galatian faction, maybe? There are two Gallic factions already, though...

[Geoffrey S]

The reason I like the idea of an Arabic faction is that it seems either the Seleucids or the Ptolemaioi dominate in the region, which is neither entirely realistic nor that good for the gameplay. On the other hand, a new Germanic faction would fill out the rather empty northern end of the map quite nicely, though the loose tribes up that way may be better represented by rebel provinces.

The Sabeans are much more likely than the Nabataeans as the Nabataeans hadn't even become sedentary until the very end of the mod's time frame.

Sounds good. Is there anywhere you'd recommend to find more (accurate) information on the Sabeans, because I know next to nothing about them.

Would I be correct in assuming that there's very little (primary) information on the Sabeans? I wouldn't have thought they left much behind in the form of written records, though I'd have thought that about the Yuehzi too.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

An African faction would be great with that huge expanse there.

[QwertyMIDX]

Over 10,000 Southern Arabian inscriptions have been found, the large plurality of which are Sabean. They are also mentioned briefly in Pliny, who was part of a Roman expedition sent ton conquer southern arabia (didn't manage it, but more because their guide, a Nabataean, betrayed them). Ptolemy also talks about the peoples and cities of Southern Arabia.

[Justiciar]

The Cimbri perhaps? Kush? Or maybe the Mauryan Empire?

[Geoffrey S]

Over 10,000 Southern Arabian inscriptions have been found, the large plurality of which are Sabean. They are also mentioned briefly in Pliny, who was part of a Roman expedition sent ton conquer southern arabia (didn't manage it, but more because their guide, a Nabataean, betrayed them). Ptolemy also talks about the peoples and cities of Southern Arabia.

Sounds good. Are there any books/articles on the subject you'd recommend?

Or maybe the Mauryan Empire?

It's one I'd love to play as, but I can't realistically see enough room on the campaignmap to represent their true size and power, or enough unit slots to accurately portray them.

[Greek_fire19]

The only problem with the sabeans is that (i'v only read a few articles on them but this seems to be the general consensus) they were an important trading power on the route from the west to the east, and they had a virtual monopoly on the frankinsense trade, which was used as an incense in temples across the western world, so they were a small put wealthy power, however, they didn't have a particularly large population and would rely mostly on mercenaries. They wouldnt have a particularly diverse or interesting military.

I might be wrong though, I havent seen any studies of them which dwell on their military prowess, except that they were occupied throughout this period with fighting between themselves and one of their neighbour states, whose name I forget

[QwertyMIDX]

They were actually a rather expansionistic power, they conquered all of Southern Arabia at one point and ruled over large parts of Ethiopia as well. Their Military would likely be made up of rather well armed nobels from the cities, some what less well armed citizen soilders (also from the cities), large numbers of Arabia tribesmen who were supplied by the nomadic Arabian tribes that owed alliegence to the Sabeans and perhaps some Ethiopians. Other than the Arabic tribesmen none of the forces they field could even been broadly called mercs, and they aren't really mercs except in the sense that the Sabeans (or some other urban power) would usally give certain tribes gifts in exchange for their allegience.

The 3 other Southern Arabian states at the time were Qataban, Ma'in and Hadramaut with Himyar emerging later.

The Sabeans were indeed generally occupied with trying to restablish dominance over the other southern Arabian kingdoms during this period, and it should be very hard for them to do so, but they had managed to conquer the entire area in the past, and were things to have gone a little differently they could have managed it again.

[Dayve]

Are there enough cities in southern Africa to put in a new faction? It wouldn't be wise because the distance between each city is HUGE... Then again armies in EB can move much further than in any other mod so maybe it is a possibility...

A faction on the Arabian peninsula would be awesome... I've no knowledge at all of any people from this area but i'd definately play a faction there...

[MeroFromVero]

The only problem with the sabeans is that (i'v only read a few articles on them but this seems to be the general consensus) they were an important trading power on the route from the west to the east, and they had a virtual monopoly on the frankinsense trade, which was used as an incense in temples across the western world...

Why would that be a problem? One of the big reasons the Casse got factionized was their control of the tin trade, right?

[QwertyMIDX]

Turn your FOW off and look at the area around Marib, there are 3 cities within easy attacking distance of it.

[DocHolliday2006]

As I said in my other post, Syracuse.

[Stormy]

Sabeans!!

The Nabataeans and the Kush is nice choice also.

[The_Mark]

Lugians. If eadingas can gather enough information about them.

[Warlord 11]

An Arabian faction would be my choice

[wolftrapper78]

I will have to go with Sabeans.
They are the best choice as far as I am concerned.
Didn't they beat back a small Roman invasion or raiding party (if the Romans ever did that)?
And their expansion gives them as much reason for being 'factionized' as the Casse.
And one other question, what would have to happen to get this implemented in the greatest mod of all time, EB?

[QwertyMIDX]

They sort of repelled a roman invasion yes, it was the one Strabo was a part of, I think I mentioned it (I think I actually said Pliny was on that expedition, don't know where that came from, must have been tired, it was Strabo). Their ability to defeat them had more to do with the harsh climate, the high walls of Marib and the betrayal of the romans by their guide than the combat prowess of the Sabeans though.

[saulot333]

Sabaeans sounds like a good choice to me

[Justiciar]

No one else in favour of the Cimbri? Some company for those poor Sweboz fellas?

[GeneticFlea]

I kind of would like to play the sabaeans as well... there already seems to be a plethora of barbarian groups (two gaul, swboz, casse, dacia somewhat) And i think an arab faction would be suite..plus i like the quick speed and fighting style of the desert cultures like numidea and arab forces.

[QwertyMIDX]

You'd probably be disappointed by the rather stolid urbanites that the Sabeans are then.

[Krusader]

Sakae for me.

[GeneticFlea]

lol shows my knowledge of the ancient world eh? i just assumed if they were precursors to the arab world, theyd be like that...did they use warriors from the bedouin and other nomadic groups though? like as mercs or tribute for living on "sabean" teritory?