Scots

[AussieGiant]

This is the description:

The “Compagnie des Gendarmes Ecossois”, better known as the French Scots Guard, are a great example of the term “the enemy of my enemy is my ally” since their shared enmity to England has given the Scots and the French common cause. These Scottish troops are elite heavily armoured longbowmen and form part of the French King's retinue.

Where does it say they are the best archers in the game?

There are more than likely going to be multiple elite archer units in the game.

[Orda Khan]

I still can't understand why the Scots are playable at all

........Orda

[L'Impresario]

Two words: Mel Gibson.

[Furious Mental]

Personally I think that CA has figured that alot of English people will play MTW 2 and that these English people will play as the English, and to make the game more interesting for said people they should give them at least one immediate challenge besides war with France. I guess it might also have something to do with the fact that Scottish people will buy the game but Scotland isn't very large.

[Midnight]

I wonder how many viable opening strategies there'll be as the Scots... blitz England (perhaps), take Britain and Ireland a little slower, or maybe boat across to Denmark (after grabbing any rebel territories)?

[Antagonist]

IIRC from early previews, the Scots unit roster is summarised as being a mixture of Norman-style, conventional feudal European "lowland" units and "dangerous but unreliable" Gaelic highlanders. As far as I know the basic highland/lowland distinction is fairly accurate, but the depictions of the highlanders especially are likely to be fancifully romantic and primitive, influenced by Braveheart etc.

I'd certainly like to see their unit list as I'd quite like to play as them, although I suppose there's a stronger argument for more Eastern or Islamic factions before things like Scotland. I hope they will be interesting though, especially the Gaelic units should make them less of a generic western European faction.

Antagonist

[Bob the Insane]

Well it will be fun in vanilla and it will give the modders something to play with (a la the Illyrians in RTR, formally the British faction)...

Being British I naturally think this is great, but I do understand the opinion that another Muslim or Orthodox (or even pagan) faction would have added more variety to the game. And RTR (and others) have shown how you can have very distinct regional rebels implying a distinct but small faction is present...

[Spino]

Well as I recall everyone and their mother complained that Scotland was not even included as a minor faction in MTW1. Add to the mix the number of modders who addressed the issue by making Scotland playable and the fact that CA eventually made the Scots into a playable faction in Viking Invasion and you can why CA decided to make them a playable faction in MTW2.

I get the feeling there are more Orgahs dismayed about the inclusion of the Aztecs at the expense of some other European or Asian faction of historical note (i.e. Aragon) than there are people disappointed about the inclusion of Scotland.

I really look forward to playing as Scotland for the same reasons as I enjoyed playing the minor factions in RTW (i.e. Armenia); it's incredibly fun to play a faction with its back against the wall and the odds stacked heavily against it.

[Martok]

I still can't understand why the Scots are playable at all

Two words: Mel Gibson.

For better or worse, L'Impresario is probably correct. Braveheart was a very popular movie, particularly over here in the U.S. (although I imagine it was in Scotland as well ). It won a metric ton's worth of awards, including the 1995 Oscar for Best Picture.

While I'm fully aware it's about as historically accurate as The Last Samurai, it still remains a personal favorite of mine (it's easily in my top ten), as well as those of many of my friends. Quite a few people over here are also into Celtic culture in general, and I think that's at least somewhat reflected on this board.

So in essence, I'm saying if you're upset that the Scots are a playable faction, you can probably blame us Americans. What can I say? We're in love with the Scots!

[Martok]

Well as I recall everyone and their mother complained that Scotland was not even included as a minor faction in MTW1. Add to the mix the number of modders who addressed the issue by making Scotland playable and the fact that CA eventually made the Scots into a playable faction in Viking Invasion and you can why CA decided to make them a playable faction in MTW2.

Good point; I should've mentioned that as well. I can say with certainty that the Scots were sorely missed by my friends that formed our little MTW group. We were very happy when Viking Invasion and (later on) VikingHorde's XL Mod allowed us to play as them!

I get the feeling there are more Orgahs dismayed about the inclusion of the Aztecs at the expense of some other European or Asian faction of historical note (i.e. Aragon) than there are people disappointed about the inclusion of Scotland.

I would certainly be one of those people! I was actually about to rant about that again, but I'll refrain....

I really look forward to playing as Scotland for the same reasons as I enjoyed playing the minor factions in RTW (i.e. Armenia); it's incredibly fun to play a faction with its back against the wall and the odds stacked heavily against it.

Exactly. Even in VI and XL, the Scots were a fun challenge, being pressed up against the English right from the start.

[IrishArmenian]

For better or worse, L'Impresario is probably correct. Braveheart was a very popular movie, particularly over here in the U.S. (although I imagine it was in Scotland as well ). It won a metric ton's worth of awards, including the 1995 Oscar for Best Picture.

If I am correct, the Scots hated this movie. Mostly for Robert the Bruce seeming like a villen.

[Orda Khan]

Two words: Mel Gibson.

I enjoyed that. I'm not upset that Scotland are in and an immediate challenge to the English makes sense. I just think that slot could have ventured outside of Europe

.......Orda

[econ21]

If I am correct, the Scots hated this movie. Mostly for Robert the Bruce seeming like a villen.

Off topic, but I thought Robert the Bruce was the most interesting character in the film (apart from Longshanks, I guess) and his turning coat the end was the emotional high of a generally pretty dodgy film. Plus, I think - unlike William Wallace - he was portrayed truthfully. Scottish politics has never been as simple as the Scottish Nationalist Party would have people believe.

[Duke Malcolm]

If I am correct, the Scots hated this movie. Mostly for Robert the Bruce seeming like a villen.

Not really, rather it bolstered the support for the Scottish Nationalist Party. Apart from the fact it is about Scotland beating the English, it is pants though.

[Azog 150]

I watch movies to enjoy them, not complain about how historically accurate it is. Braveheart was based on true events, but its wasnt called 'Braveheart, the historically accurate movie about the william wallace'

[Sun of Chersonesos]

Well to be honest i dont think that the scots will be very good in the long run, their archers are no beter than the english, and those feudal knights wont be much use for long since it doesn't utilise plate armour, its like celtic Byzantines

[Antagonist]

I'm pretty sure the Lowland Scots at least were generally equipped in much the same way as the English throughout this period. IIRC in the later Middle Ages they reformed their army to incorporate better armour (greater proliferation of mail for ordinary soldiers and plate for nobles) and adopted things like pikemen etc.

Antagonist