Spartan Merc minimod

**Teleklos Archelaou** · 01-30-2007, 18:19

Why doesn't someone make this?

Here is my thought:

Some of us wanted to use the first version of the spartan unit as a merc unit, but it was not agreed to on the whole. The unit was first done by Agart, and I heard someone mention on the public board recently that the skin was included in the build, but just isn't being used. Now in the overall EB plan, that takes up a unit slot that is going to be used elsewhere, but I would think it would be cool if someone made a unit using the current spartan stats and model, but just used that skin instead and made it a merc, available I would guess in Lakonia, Peloponnesos, Aitolia, Krete, and Kalabria. Honestly I think they even made it to Egypt at some point, so the range could be increased, but I wouldn't go overboard really. Maybe Attike, Thessalia, Euboia, Brettia, Mysia, Lesbos, Lydia, and Karia would be a wider range to add.

Anyway, the skin Agart made is much more rich and decorated than the one that ended up in the game (SW's). It would be more appropriate as a "full-time" merc instead of the regular KH unit that we currently have SW's variant as. It seems like it would all work pretty well.

Any thoughts on it? Does the skin match the model still, or did SW change it up and pretty much rule this out?

**abou** · 01-30-2007, 19:36

Any screenshots of the unit somewhere?

As for Egypt, Agesilaus led a contingent of Spartans as mercenaries to aide in an Egyptian rebellion against Persian rule; so there is precedence.

**Oleo** · 01-30-2007, 20:15

Something like this:

Descriptions, Unit cards need doing still and of course the model is completely screwed up ( I used those textures from the one thats not in the game on the spartan hoplite model that is in the game). It could become quite a nice addition though. Fixing graphics isnt really my thing, though.

**Teleklos Archelaou** · 01-30-2007, 20:33

Yep, maybe one of the guys who have the model could make it available. Someone would need to make the unit info pic and unit card though.

I've got no idea how to code a new merc or new unit - I just try to provide a little inspiration.

**Oleo** · 01-31-2007, 10:21

Anyways, the model screw up was me forgetting to change something. It works now and it sure is a nice model.

EDIT: Turns out, I can do unit cards, I still need practice though:

**Teleklos Archelaou** · 01-31-2007, 15:52

Hmm. They should use the same animation that the current Spartan unit uses. Is this one using that? Seeing them hold their swords when at rest makes me think it is on our old system. On our new system, to get them to use their spears correctly as their primary weapon they dont' have their secondary weapon working at all. An unfortunate glitch in the whole RTW system, but one that other mods use as well to get old-style hoplites to work correctly.

I'd advise changing the name to Spartiatai Misthophoroi (Mercenary Spartan Hoplites). Then bring the description over from the regular unit too.

Can anyone give details on how to set a unit up as a mercenary? Where unit recruitment gets set?

**Oleo** · 01-31-2007, 16:11

Originally Posted by Teleklos Archelaou

Hmm. They should use the same animation that the current Spartan unit uses. Is this one using that? Seeing them hold their swords when at rest makes me think it is on our old system. On our new system, to get them to use their spears correctly as their primary weapon they dont' have their secondary weapon working at all. An unfortunate glitch in the whole RTW system, but one that other mods use as well to get old-style hoplites to work correctly.

I'd advise changing the name to Spartiatai Misthophoroi (Mercenary Spartan Hoplites). Then bring the description over from the regular unit too.

I was thinking about that Misthophoroi myself, thats a good idea. Ive got it finished, sort of.. I ll see if I can get them to change their weapons around, though.

Originally Posted by Teleklos Archelaou

Can anyone give details on how to set a unit up as a mercenary? Where unit recruitment gets set?

Mercenary recruitment is located in descr_mercenaries.txt in the world\maps\campaign\imperial campaign folder. In lines like this for every province that they should be recruitable:

Code:

unit hellenistic infantry spartiateshoplitai mercenary,		exp 2 cost 2800 replenish 0.05 - 0.13 max 1 initial 0

would recruitment around Syracuse make any sense, since thats where you could recruit spartans in vanilla ?

Have you got any tips on cost, probably the same as normal spartans would make sense right?

**Teleklos Archelaou** · 01-31-2007, 16:51

These guys are wealthier though. Their armor is more elaborate for sure. I'm really awful at any type of stats for units though, or costs.

As for where they could be recruited exactly, I'm not sure if they could be recruited in Sicily. I just knew they were around the heel of Italy at one point. The only clear reference I have is that a big mass was recruited *from* Taenarum, which is Lakonia anyway on our map. If you could make the refresh rates very low everywhere (except Lakonia - which always had some at the cape at Taenarum), they could be available in many more places though.

**Oleo** · 01-31-2007, 18:51

Originally Posted by Teleklos Archelaou

Hmm. They should use the same animation that the current Spartan unit uses. Is this one using that? Seeing them hold their swords when at rest makes me think it is on our old system. On our new system, to get them to use their spears correctly as their primary weapon they dont' have their secondary weapon working at all. An unfortunate glitch in the whole RTW system, but one that other mods use as well to get old-style hoplites to work correctly.

I am not really into cas files, so I am guessing here, but I think the cas files in DMB are what determines all this. Since the AGART model has its own cas-files I think there is nothing I can do about this.

Maybe someone with more knowledge on the subject can tell us about it.

I think I'll make the recruitment around 0.03-0.05 (which probably means one new merc every 20-30 turns) in places like Lesbos, Brettia, a little bit higher in places like Thessalia, Attike, Mysia (0.05-0.08) and highest in Peloponessos (0.10-ish) and Lakonia (0.15-0.2-ish).

**Teleklos Archelaou** · 01-31-2007, 20:37

I'd think about dropping one of them even in delta neilou also - every 20 - 30 turns. If it's that rare, putting one in syracuse would be ok too probably. Make Krete about the same as Aitolia. Lakonia should be more than any other for sure - most people who needed spartans went to Tainaron (Taenarum) or sometimes Gytheion and loaded them up on boats and took them where they needed them.