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Thread: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

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    {GrailKnights} Member hoetje's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Okay, these guys look awesome, very cool unit ^^
    and finally a unit being used by the russians :D
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    Chief Biscuit Monitor Member professorspatula's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    There used to be the Russian Woodsman unit, but that has long since vanished from the previews.

    Anyway, you're going to need more than just a humble tin-opener to get through that armour.

    He's a bit of an eerie looking fella.
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    Time Lord Member The_Doctor's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    It looks good, though I am not sure about those bits sticking out of his legs, they look like something a cavalryman would wear.

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    Research Shinobi Senior Member Tamur's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    His face is... vaguely human. yeep. Is there a reason for the pasty-and-flat look?

    Has anyone else noticed the well-done two-handed weapon grips in M2 preview movies and such? I must admit I haven't really looked for it. However, if it's anything like this (which looks perfectly natural) it'll be great fun to watch these fellas do their work.
    Last edited by Tamur; 09-06-2006 at 22:15.
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  6. #6

    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    excellent unit, once again.
    It seems that the developpers finally discovered that the lesser known factions also have some nice, historical troops. (not that i have anything against billmen, janissaries or longbows).
    It feels good to seee that they introduced the distinctive fac masks, used for protection by the russians in the middle ages.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tamur
    His face is... vaguely human. yeep. Is there a reason for the pasty-and-flat look?
    it's a face mask
    Last edited by cutepuppy; 09-06-2006 at 21:18.

  7. #7

    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Looks asian.
    I like it!

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    mostly harmless Member B-Wing's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Anybody else notice how short this guy is compared to the others units in the lineup? Thought that was funny.

    Anyway, I think its cool. Looks realistic enough, though I wouldn't be suprised if the facemask turned out to be somewhat less common than this unit will portray. The description specificly mentions the Russians using this unit, but I assume other factions used it as well, right?

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    Research Shinobi Senior Member Tamur's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Thanks cp, that makes sense.
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    Just an Oldfart Member Basileus's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    This unit looks great, nice work ca

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    Shaidar Haran Senior Member SAM Site Champion Myrddraal's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Looks good! We've seen plenty of heavily armoured troops in these previews, I guess they are the more spectacular ones.

  12. #12

    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Cool unit, looks like one of those heaby shock infantry units you use to thin enemy ranks with, like zweihanders and gothic swordsmen, I just hope they got their speeds right with all that armour on.

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    AKA Leif 3000 TURBO Senior Member Leet Eriksson's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Can anyone confirm the use of facemasks by footsoldiers?

    The armor looks like its for cavalry (it looks like what russian nobles would wear during combat).
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    Research Shinobi Senior Member Tamur's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Can anyone confirm the use of facemasks by footsoldiers?
    http://www.buycostumes.com/productde...roductid=21019

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    My resources are limited to the early middle ages but I haven't found anything on this yet. It would be very interesting to find references or illustrations to which this model can be compared.
    Last edited by Tamur; 09-08-2006 at 15:44.
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    Member Member Dr_Who_Regen#4's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Quote Originally Posted by B_Ray
    Anybody else notice how short this guy is compared to the others units in the lineup? Thought that was funny.
    I think he is shorter because the picture is further away so that they could show the axe over his head. I noticed a couple other units seem shorter but it is because of their weapons I think (at least it did not say anything about them being Axe wielding dwarves)

    Regardless I imagine with something like 250 units each faction should have several speciality units. Hopefully they are not just different looking but actually have different characteristcis. It will be interesting.
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    Time Lord Member The_Doctor's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    My resources are limited to the early middle ages but I haven't found anything on this yet. It would be very interesting to find references or illustrations to which this model can be compared.
    In my two Russian Oprey books there are two pictures with people wearing a facemask, one is of a Chernye Klobuki (black hoods) standard bearer and the other is other a prince.

    http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...ser=MAA~per=41

    There is a Chernye Klobuki facemask in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.

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    Member Member TB666's Avatar
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    Default Sv: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Just look at this pic

    This is the same unit and yet no mask and a more simple armor.
    Considering that any upgrade you do on units will change the looks on units, the guy we seen the unit preview is obviously upgraded to the max

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    Grand Patron's Banner Bearer Senior Member Peasant Phill's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sv: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    This is the same unit and yet no mask and a more simple armor.
    Considering that any upgrade you do on units will change the looks on units, the guy we seen the unit preview is obviously upgraded to the max
    Are you sure on that? That would be great for immersion. (as long as you get the chance to zoom in without the danger of losing half your army)
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    Time Lord Member The_Doctor's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Are you sure on that?
    I have heard the same thing.

    If watch the video, they have facemasks on.

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    Member Member TB666's Avatar
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    Default Sv: Re: Sv: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Quote Originally Posted by Peasant Phill
    Are you sure on that? That would be great for immersion. (as long as you get the chance to zoom in without the danger of losing half your army)
    Yes. CA has stated this a few times.

  21. #21

    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Quote Originally Posted by Leet Eriksson
    Can anyone confirm the use of facemasks by footsoldiers?

    The armor looks like its for cavalry (it looks like what russian nobles would wear during combat).
    Whether anthropomorphic face masks were actually used for combat is a moot point. They have been found in the Qipchaq, Volga Bulgar, Golden Horde and Byzantine regions. Possibly they were, or then again they may have been purely ornamental; I doubt very much they would have been used by common or garden infantrymen

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    Member Member Solon of Athens's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    That unit looks awesome...

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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Maaaan...60 more days! JUST 60 MORE DAYS!

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    MTR: AOA project ###### (temp) Member kataphraktoi's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Whether anthropomorphic face masks were actually used for combat is a moot point. They have been found in the Qipchaq, Volga Bulgar, Golden Horde and Byzantine regions. Possibly they were, or then again they may have been purely ornamental; I doubt very much they would have been used by common or garden infantrymen
    Indeed, particularly for the Byzantines they found a face mask in archeological excavations in the Great Palace. However, it is undated so its not for certain what century it belongs to but I suspect a mercenary in the elite Hetaereia regiment which had large numbers of Khazars and Ferghanese Central Asian warriors. Central Asian warriors had a bit of a liking for exhibiting their "fashion" in combat so it may well be a possibility of masks being used in combat.
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    Research Shinobi Senior Member Tamur's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    I'm wondering if the Russians preview movie that features this unit shows actual combat as it happens, or was spliced together?

    If it actually takes (at times) three blows for an axeman to kill an opponent, there's no question we're going to see a slowdown in battle speeds. If, on the other hand, this movie was spliced together from different kills, then it doesn't really say anything.
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    Ming the Merciless is my idol Senior Member Watchman's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Looks decent enough, but I must wonder - that much armour just screams "heavy cavalry", all the more so given the Russian geography and the importance mounted troops played there. Moreover the armour design looks distinctly cavalry-ish. Now, were these dismounted cavalrymen I'd have little to say (save wonder if a bardiche was their weapon of choice for the situation - which is in fact feasible, given West European men-at-arms' penchance to wield assorted staff-weapons on foot), but the unit description seems to specifically imply infantry...
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Is there any historical evidence for Russian armies (or, since that's the faction we're getting, Novgorodian) ever using heavy, axe-armed infantry shock troops in battle?

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    Member Member Tiberius maximus's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    this is probly the best unit ive seen lately, its armor is just amazing if not over zealous and the facemasks are a nice touch

    so another good job to ca

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    Member Member Captsin's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Quote Originally Posted by anti_strunt
    Is there any historical evidence for Russian armies (or, since that's the faction we're getting, Novgorodian) ever using heavy, axe-armed infantry shock troops in battle?
    there is no evidence. It's a made up unit. It makes the Russians an exotic tribe to conquer and insults a fan ruissian medieval history.

  30. #30
    Ricardus Insanusaum Member Bob the Insane's Avatar
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    Default Re: New unit: Berdiche Axemen

    Quote Originally Posted by Captsin
    there is no evidence. It's a made up unit. It makes the Russians an exotic tribe to conquer and insults a fan ruissian medieval history.
    Well looking at the unit itself (at least in the screenshot rather than the one show in the 3D units) it appears to be dressed correctly. Though in the images I have seen (and I am no scholar of Russian history) he would be more likely to have the norman style kite shield and long sword...

    A Berdysh is a type of halberd or poleaxe though and is the correct term for the weapon they are carrying is it not? Though I think it is from a later time period (16th centry I think)...
    Last edited by Bob the Insane; 09-22-2006 at 14:19.

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