New faction Preview - The Byzantine Empire

**Tamur** · 09-14-2006, 18:32

Maybe I've missed the discussion being mostly gone this week, but I wonder if anyone noticed this quote from the unit preview...

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.

**Furious Mental** · 09-14-2006, 18:38

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?

**Beelzebub** · 09-15-2006, 03:40

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.

**ChewieTobbacca** · 09-15-2006, 07:34

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.

**batu khan** · 09-15-2006, 14:36

i liked the byzantine infantery.i will enjoy killing them:)

**edyzmedieval** · 09-15-2006, 23:47

Apart from Byzantine infantry and the Guard Archers, everything is historically correct. Good job CA.

**cutepuppy** · 09-16-2006, 12:00

Originally Posted by edyzmedieval

Apart from Byzantine infantry and the Guard Archers, everything is historically correct. Good job CA.

the guard archers are also historically correct - to a certain extent. They were called mourtatoi and were elite archers around 1300.

**avatar** · 09-15-2006, 23:57

Very nice preview. The Byzantine faction should be as much fun to play as the first MW. I have read the other posts talking about the Byzantine Infantry and the Viking Guards, but no mention of the cavalry units. The cavalry units available to the Byzantines were a treat to play.