EB June Preview :: Eastern Kingdoms

[Kralizec]

Looks good. I deinstalled EB the other day to make time for my exams, but once the new version comes out I'll probably install it immediately to give it a try (knowing it's unwise)

[Ludens]

Nice work . Though the description of the Bronze Shields contains the phrase "The Makedonian conquests never included Pontos, but their influence in military matters found a home on the shores of the Pontos Euxine" twice. But I suppose someone has already noticed this.

[Ignoramus]

New factions slots? I thought the limit was 21.

[orwell]

It is, but the senate slot is freed up, and the yuezhi are out.

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Nice work . Though the description of the Bronze Shields contains the phrase "The Makedonian conquests never included Pontos, but their influence in military matters found a home on the shores of the Pontos Euxine" twice. But I suppose someone has already noticed this.

Better now?

The Macedonian conquests never included the Pontos Euxine, but their influence in military matters found a home on it's shores.

[Ludens]

Better now?

I meant the entire sentence appeared twice. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Chalkaspidai - Bronze Shields

The Makedonian conquests never included Pontos, but their influence in military matters found a home on the shores of the Pontos Euxine. The phalanx is the natural tactical formation of a part-time citizen levy. Their training cannot be extended or in depth as they have their own lives and role to play in society. These men are part-time conscripts able to serve during the summer campaigns, but they must be released at harvest or famine will follow. The Bronze Shields or brazen shields are the elite phalangitai of the Pontic state. The chalkaspidai can be a powerful and dangerous weapon in the hands of a competent general, and a slaughterhouse in the hands of a fool. The phalanx, known already in ancient Sumeria, is at its simplest, a compact body of spearmen, formed up in depth to present a hedge of spears to any attacker. The weak point of the phalanx is the flanks and if the enemy is able to engage the flanks then the formation will quickly fall into disorder. The sarissa is a clumsy weapon, not well suited to close quarters combat, but such is not its purpose. It is meant to be an impenetrable wall of pikes, creating a moving fortress which cavalry can use to launch their attacks. Vital to the success of the pikemen are hoplites, or hypaspistai, whose purpose is to ward the vulnerable flanks of the phalanx.

Historically, the latter day Hellenic states forgot the nature and vulnerabilities of these pikemen. Trying to use these infantry as an offensive arm, these pikemen failed to achieve for their masters what they had never been intended to do. The Makedonian conquests never included Pontos, but their influence in military matters found a home on the shores of the Pontos Euxine and the phalanx was adopted in that area too.

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

I meant the entire sentence appeared twice. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Ah! Ok. I'll talk to the guys to rework it. Thanks.

[edyzmedieval]

I think it is. I finished a book about them recently and the goats were all over their monuments.

Ah good.
We found one of the factions: Saba.

But what the heck could be the other one....

[Kääpäkorven Konsuli]

http://www.krusader.be/eb/alabama.jpg

Damn, why don't you but the name on the address anymore?

[Geoffrey S]

Ah good.
We found one of the factions: Saba.

But what the heck could be the other one....

Something Scythian. That symbol is exactly like some of their art.

[sithlord85]

This is looking awesome dudes

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Slasher]

<insert suck up here>

[Simmons]

<insert suck up here>

No need to be obnoxious Slasher lets all just be friends

[amritochates]

At the cost of sounding pedantic- I believe I called the sabeans first with Trax responding to my earlier post- and my initial query is still not answered:
why the sabeans at all when i can think of at least two far more deserving canditates, namely
a. The attalids of permagmum
b. The cimbri in the cimbrian cheronsee

Both the above mentioned factions have far better claim to be included due to their influence on the global stage either in this period or shortly thereafter as opossed to the sabeans who were basically a marginal power at this stage, in fact the Nabateans have a far better claim if an Arabian faction is to be included.

In addition I do somewhat dimly recall the official insignia of the sabeans being the Owl, at least as potrayed on their coins- though I might be mistaken as I seem to be experienced random hair as well as memory loss.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Just to reply to one part of a post - no responses to anything concerning the two faction symbols EB has released will be given by any EB member. Discussions may take place when information is released, but I will say that EB members have decided on the factions and are moving forward with them, and will be happy to talk about things after the release is out. But I just want to say this much to make sure no one is expecting answers from us on these sort of questions. Fans can feel free to talk about things as much as they want among each other though.

[Big_John]

actually, the new faction is the aztecs.


hahaha, foiled you yet again TA! you should have kept the keep-em-quiet payments coming.. your hope dawned proud and bright, and now you have nothing left but your dreams to keep you warm at night. betwixt earth and flesh! the twilight of the innocent mind!

[Mujalumbo]

Damn! Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about! Those Armenian Royal Bodyguards are going to whip some serious ass.

Just to be critical, though, the Parthians ones don't look quite as finished and polished as the Armenians. Is it just 'cuz of different graphics options in the game when the screenshot was taken?

Nonetheless, I'm really looking forward to the next build. The Pontic General was a pretty good unit, but now I'm really looking forward to charging in with my Armenian or Parthian family members and cracking some skulls!

[Jarardo]

Looks great! Yay!

[sithlord85]

Sweet.......!!!!!!
______________________________________
"I don't fear the dark side as you do Obi wan"

[tk-421]

I just have to post this, just once- I know who both the missing factions are and I'm not going to tell. laugh4:

[beauchamp]

I certainly hope so...

[beauchamp]

Sa'ba is awsome

[VandalCarthage]

In addition I do somewhat dimly recall the official insignia of the sabeans being the Owl, at least as potrayed on their coins- though I might be mistaken as I seem to be experienced random hair as well as memory loss.

You probably came under that impression because at the time Sabaean coinage was emulating the weight and appearance of the Athenian standard.

[edyzmedieval]

I just have to post this, just once- I know who both the missing factions are and I'm not going to tell. laugh4:

*whips TK till he dies*

I want to know the factions tooooo....

[tk-421]

*whips TK till he dies*

I want to know the factions tooooo....

Hahahahahaha!

[Tuuvi]

Just a guess based on VandalCarthage's sig, but the new faction is Occultus?lol

[Radier]

Hahahahahaha!

C'mon tk. I know you want to tell us...







Oh, and I know where you live.....

[Scott]

And as a dessert:

Now what could this be?

I don't think this repesent's a European faction. I don't think the sand in backround repsent's a Eurpeaon faction. That sheep may be the Argali sheep(Ovis ammon what Roman would). This may repsent an Asia faction(probally either centeral or southwest asia).

For some reason I think Occultus is a codename

actually, the new faction is the aztecs.

Aztechs didn't even exist during 272 bc and they didn't have a Ovis ammon as it's symbol.

[paullus]

Aztechs didn't even exist during 272 bc and they didn't have a Ovis ammon as it's symbol.

Pretty sure he was making a joke...

And yes, occultus means "hidden." At least they've let us see the faction icons this go around. I'd like an east european faction, myself, but I think other people have made reasonably good guesses at a faction in the Arabian peninsula and some tribe of Skythians.

[Musopticon?]

There was also a minor leak(purely a mistake, nothing to get riled about) on a thread about recruitment maps, which showed that symbol over the area next or nearby to the city of Sa'ba. It's been removed.

Make your own guesses.