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kinda figured they'd have built constantinople up a little more...not much in the city at the moment. plus we see the flaw in the city/castle set-up with constantinople. one of the largest cities of its time, one of--if not the--richest, yet its displayed as a castle because otherwise it wouldn't be good for producing soldiers. hmph.
Well, if im not mistaken, castles CAN reach huge ammounts of population; its only that their income wont be up to par with the city's income. However, i do agree that the castle/city system is a tad restrictive.. maybe give a 5/6th stage of devellopment, where the 2 trees "fuse" (IE a huge city-type settlement at that stage will be the same as a huge castle-type settlement). For exemple, constantinople would reach that stage: Big enough in population to be an important trade center, yet heaviliy fortified.
However, i think that the castle/city system works pretty well overall; after all, the most heavily fortified cities in the middle ages werent the most populated (think of the knights' Krak in syria compared to cities like london or paris)
However, i think that the castle/city system works pretty well overall; after all, the most heavily fortified cities in the middle ages werent the most populated (think of the knights' Krak in syria compared to cities like london or paris)
I'm pleased so far with the Byzantine units. In the original game the Byzantines were one of the factions that had a truly unique unit roster. They will be a lot of fun to play as, and are no doubt one of the most popular factions if not the most popular faction. Looks good
There baaaaaaack! Sword armed Byzantine infantry.
Originally Posted by lars573:
There baaaaaaack! Sword armed Byzantine infantry.
I fear that was inevitable, given CAs insistance on swords vs spears as a rock vs paper kind of distinction. There baaaaaaack! Sword armed Byzantine infantry.
However, the Byzantine unit roster seems more authentic than the original MTW one. Particularly, regarding the importance of Western mercenaries (armed from mail to plate - I wonder how that will be modelled?). I also like the dismounted lancers and dismounted Western mercenaries - in the medieval period, some of the best infantry should actually be dismounted cavalry, so it is nice to see them being represented explicitly and systematically.
The guard archers were interesting - given the Scots Guard unit for the French, I suspect most factions are going to have elite armoured archers.
On Constantinople being a castle, that was in the preview but it was not obvious from the screenshot, which described the settlement as a large city.
I only want one thing from MTW2- and that is the ceremonial Varangian Guards from the original MTW. They may not be historical but damn they were cool!
Originally Posted by econ21:
I fear that was inevitable, given CAs insistance on swords vs spears as a rock vs paper kind of distinction.
I don't mind as they get a decent spear unit this time. I fear that was inevitable, given CAs insistance on swords vs spears as a rock vs paper kind of distinction.
Originally Posted by econ21:
However, the Byzantine unit roster seems more authentic than the original MTW one. Particularly, regarding the importance of Western mercenaries (armed from mail to plate - I wonder how that will be modelled?). I also like the dismounted lancers and dismounted Western mercenaries - in the medieval period, some of the best infantry should actually be dismounted cavalry, so it is nice to see them being represented explicitly and systematically.
That will be handled via armour upgrades. CA has said that doing armour/weapon upgrades will mean that some units will get all new wepaons/armour. This may be CA's way of getting around that Byz units will be passed by eventually. As many of their units seem to have a "start with a very light armour and move into a much heavier type as time goes on" element to them.However, the Byzantine unit roster seems more authentic than the original MTW one. Particularly, regarding the importance of Western mercenaries (armed from mail to plate - I wonder how that will be modelled?). I also like the dismounted lancers and dismounted Western mercenaries - in the medieval period, some of the best infantry should actually be dismounted cavalry, so it is nice to see them being represented explicitly and systematically.
Originally Posted by econ21:
The guard archers were interesting - given the Scots Guard unit for the French, I suspect most factions are going to have elite armoured archers.
On Constantinople being a castle, that was in the preview but it was not obvious from the screenshot, which described the settlement as a large city.
The Byz seem to have 4 levels of melee/archer infantry combinations. Peasant (peasants, peasant archers), militia (militia spears, militia archers), normal professionals (Byz spearmen and Trebizond archers), and guard (Varangian and gurad archers).The guard archers were interesting - given the Scots Guard unit for the French, I suspect most factions are going to have elite armoured archers.
On Constantinople being a castle, that was in the preview but it was not obvious from the screenshot, which described the settlement as a large city.
I don't like the conehead icons representin' the city happeness. they should switch to smilies 
cool prieview id prfer a muslim update
Only four starting territories? THat'll make for an interesting game, especially with the units becoming outdated eventually. 
Originally Posted by Supreme Shogun:
cool prieview id prfer a muslim update
patience precious.....this is only the 2nd faction preview.......cool prieview id prfer a muslim update
Maybe I've missed the discussion being mostly gone this week, but I wonder if anyone noticed this quote from the unit preview...
Originally Posted by :
Byzantine Spearmen are a step up from spear militias, better trained and equipped these troops are able to form a defensive ring.
Are there other references to this defensive ring for units elsewhere, or is this the first time such a formation has been mentioned? It seems like I remember a (very brief) discussion in a thread about three weeks ago on this, but I can't find it.Byzantine Spearmen are a step up from spear militias, better trained and equipped these troops are able to form a defensive ring.
I'm no expert on the Byzantine military but by the time it fell completely in the late 15th century wasn't it heavily reliant on Latin mercenaries?
Also disappointed by cities so far..maybe everything isn't complete yet in that area, we have seen some cool pics of some customised locations (Krak Des Chevaliers), perhaps the lack of others (Rome, Venice, Constantinpole) is due to unfinished artwork. Even some custom city icons on the map would add a lot of atmosphere, hopefully they arent restricted by the engine in this area.
I'm happy to see that the Byzantine composition is more realistic now - their units not only have more authentic names, but they are more reliant on cavalry and archers, including western mercenary units.
Looks very promising.
Looks very promising.
i liked the byzantine infantery.i will enjoy killing them:)
Regarding these faction previews... remember the runup to MTW's release, and the awesome story/fanfic piece they had on IGN back then?
I think the link's still somewhere on the .com (or was before the restyling), but it would be nice to see a revival of that.
I think the link's still somewhere on the .com (or was before the restyling), but it would be nice to see a revival of that.
you know what the kataphractoi's lances suck! i mean hell they aaare short and the apearance looks like a heavily armed urban militia on horses!
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