A Parthian Campaign Suggestion

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi guys, I have been avidly playing a Seleucid campaign for one month now and I have enjoyed every single moment of it. Sadly, however, Parthia only posed me a problem at the start of the game by sending out two full stacks at the same time to siege my two border cities and then they, after I overpowered their stacks, unfortunately, just vanished. They have not attacked anybody for seventy turns now and they unfortunately don't appear to have trained any troops. So I must suggest that Parthia gets a little bit of a boost to help it conquer the Selucids. This could be through weakening those border provinces' happiness so that they rebel to Parthia and by giving them more trade buildings at the start enabling them to get more riches and wealth from their small part of the world. I am sorry to bother you with this irritating suggestion, but I hope that you can implement this in a future release.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

The parthians are going to undergo the biggest changes for a faction that we have left in store for EB1. It won't happen in 0.81 though. We're giving them more spies to help cause problems in Seleucid areas near their borders, but that's pretty much it (besides helping fix their capital city - though those changes might not make it in time). We will go into greater detail about this at a later time though, but doing a lot more work on their situation now and progression now might be wasted with the changes that will come about later.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

That's brilliant, just a few spies would probably give them a larger chance of their historical eastern domination and getting their great empire. Thanks for the quick reply and good luck with 0.8.1.

[kambiz]

Some notifications on "Pahlava" (Ashlanian) faction.

I supposed it's better to do not open another thread and use a current one to notify somethings on this faction :

Pahlava's faction leader title ,which is "Shahrdar" in the mod ,but it must be "Shâhanshâh" as it was historically (Mithridates I chose this title for the first time).

Pahlava's character names ,Which are the greekized version of the original iranian names.I suggest you to use true parsi names ,For example :

"Mithridates" should be changed to "Mehrdad" ,
"Phraates" -> "Farhad" ,
"Artabanus" -> "Ardavan" ,
"Achaemenes" -> "Hakhamanesh" ,
"Cyrus" -> "Kurush" and ...

also many iranian (Parthian) names have been forggoten to added. I expect you to at least add the king's names like :
"Orodes" -> "Orod" ,"Tiridates" -> "Tirdad" ,"Vardanes" -> "Vardan" ,"Vologases" -> "Belash" and ...etc.
Maybe "the Persian Cataphract" can help you better on both of them.

Thanks a lot
-Kambiz

[The Persian Cataphract]

Dear Cambyses, we have been working a lot on the Pahlavân faction, and while your suggestions are highly welcome, without giving too much information, you are a little late with this. Don't worry about the names, they should be the least of your worries as we speak

As for Shahrdâr, it is a correct designation for pettier kings. The Parthian Empire, in all effect being a confederacy governed by Seven great clans of the Dahâë (Haftzandân or the later Haft-Khandân the basis of the Sassanid system of magnates or vuzurgân). The city of Hatra had a Shahrdâr, for example. Vassal kings are also "Shahrdâr" because the norm back then for pettier kings was the measuring of how many cities were in possession, an idea consistent with Isidore's (Of Charax) "Parthian Stations" where a rudimentary division of satrapies were responsible for the local construction and maintenance of the caravanseries (Karawânsarâï). The greater King, the emperor, King of Kings, whatever you call him, had a different designation. "Arsaces" was the epithet, hereditary to the great sovereign, and to the head of the Ashkânî Royal clan. The common name for king was "sah", pronounced "shâh", but like I said, it was the common designation for king. In parthian society, a king was not merely a king. Shahrdâr is more flexible in the sense that it is used to measure power, influence and wealth, through amount of cities, satrapies and one thing that greatly influenced parthian society was the importance of what clan you originated from. Hence why we use "Shahrdâr", dearest Cambyses. We could use "Shâh", as a suffix to designate the Kûshân (Kûshânshâh, for example, king of the Kushans), Hayasdan or the Sakaë (Sakâshâh) but "Shâhanshâh" is reserved for the big chief. Very rarely, Parthia was a unified nation, and usually the King of Kings being nothing more than the puppet of the strongest clan.

[BozosLiveHere]

I thought we reserved Shâhanshâh for after the pahlava complete the Shâhanshâh event. I could probably figure out a way to switch the FL title after that happens.

[The Persian Cataphract]

Well, you are right Bozos, however considering the humble start of the Pahlavân which was nothing more than a confederacy, let alone a centralized kingdom, the successful campaign would explain how the Pahlavân kings became King of Kings, sovereigns over several nationalities.

[fallen851]

What is wrong with the Pathian Capital?

Buggy or historical problems?

[kambiz]

Ba Dorood "Savar'e Parsi"
I know all you said about parthian faction leader.Well I suppose it's a matter of how to look at it.When I hear about "faction leader title" ,I consider it as the formal way of calling a faction leader. That's right that common people just called them "shâh" or ashkanian faction leaders were not that powerful to be considered as a real King of kings ,However "Shâhanshâh" was thier formal title and especially foreigners like Romans knew them like this ,For example :
At the reign of "Phraataces" (Parsi : "Farhadak") when caeser"Augoust" calls him just in name ,it made him annoyed and in his letter to august in return ,"Phraataces" call himself "Shâhanshâh" (King of kings).
Also in roman records ,Ashkanian kings have been called as "King of Kings".

In regard of the character names ,i think it should not be so difficult and doesn't need long time to be done.
Anuways ,these are my suggestions.

-Kambiz

[The Persian Cataphract]

Dear Cambyses, I think you misunderstood me. My point was that Shâhanshâh is a title that we in the team intended to use from the very first beginning, to designate the greatest of kings, the lord of the shahrdârs. Let me demonstrate it in this way:

Shâhigânê Vuzurgân = Shâhigânê Zand = Shahrdâr (Leader of a specific clan's lesser magnates = leader of the clan = Owner of cities)

Shâhanshâh = Basileos Arsakoi = Arsaces = Shâhigânê Shahrdârân (King of Kings = King of Arsacids, the royal clan = The regal epithet of Arsaces = Shâh of the "city-owners")

I hope this clarified

[kambiz]

Hey guys;
@"the persian cataphract" in Fingilish
Dorst'e man ,Rastesh man akhar nafahmidam shomaha mikhahid che kar konid (Engilisye man albate kheili bade) Amma hadafe man yad avari bod ke kardim ,Baghyash ba shomast.

@EB team
-Some other thing I had forggoten to mention.
Both "Pahlava Shivatir" and "Azad Asavaran" have wrong model ,because they carry bow on their models (!?) which should be corrected.

-"Grivpavar"(Parthian General bodygourd unit) don't use thier swords after the initial charge.

-Is it possible to add "Camel Cataphract" for Pahlavians? As you know "Artabanus IV" (Ardavan IV or V) used them in the last successful Pahlava attack on romans.I know this case was the only one has been recorded ,but it also gives Pahlava's (Mostly horsed based) unit roster some variety

Thank you so mutch for attention & Be vizhe sepasgozaram az "Savar'e Parsi"
-Kambiz

[The Persian Cataphract]

Bleh... Double post.

[The Persian Cataphract]

Hey guys;
@"the persian cataphract" in Fingilish
Dorst'e man ,Rastesh man akhar nafahmidam shomaha mikhahid che kar konid (Engilisye man albate kheili bade) Amma hadafe man yad avari bod ke kardim ,Baghyash ba shomast.

@EB team
-Some other thing I had forggoten to mention.
Both "Pahlava Shivatir" and "Azad Asavaran" have wrong model ,because they carry bow on their models (!?) which should be corrected.

-"Grivpavar"(Parthian General bodygourd unit) don't use thier swords after the initial charge.

-Is it possible to add "Camel Cataphract" for Pahlavians? As you know "Artabanus IV" (Ardavan IV or V) used them in the last successful Pahlava attack on romans.I know this case was the only one has been recorded ,but it also gives Pahlava's (Mostly horsed based) unit roster some variety

Thank you so mutch for attention & Be vizhe sepasgozaram az "Savar'e Parsi"
-Kambiz

Kambiz jân,

Bebinid, be yê Shahrdâr mâ mitunim begim "Shâh", vali mozûë mâ ast kê emperâtûre Ashkânihâ eyne mesle Hakhâmenshiân bûde dige. Yedûne keshvar nabûd ke mâ faghad mitunestim begim "Êrânshahr", na, mesle Hakhâmaneshiân ba sisteme "Shatrapân" estefâdeh kardan. Keshvarânê/Shatrapânê Armenistân va Kûshânshahr va Sakastânâ ke Shâhegâne khudeshun dashtan, mage na? Hame az inâ Keshvarân, bâ Shâheshân... Hame tike az emperâtûriyê Êrânshahr budan, va hame Shâhegân (Shahrdârân), ye Shâhê vuzurg dâshtan, yê Shâheshâhân. Be in migim "Shâhanshâh". Shâhê az hame Êrânshahr! Mehrdâd II ye Shâhanshâh bûd, bekhatere kê Shâh-sâlârê Shâhânê Armenihâ, va Hendihâë Arachosiyâ va Îrânihâë Mâdîyân va Pârsiyân, va Elâmiyân bûd, vali Arshâk, Shâhê aval az Ashkânihâ, hanûz faghad Sâlârê Zand-i Pârnî, ye mîhanê kûchî, mesle Bakhtiârân, bûde.

Âlân fahmidi, azizam? Kheyli sharmandê, bekhâtere "Fengilisië" man ye zarrê eftezâh ast, mesle Fârsië ketâbî

-"Grivpavar"(Parthian General bodygourd unit) don't use thier swords after the initial charge.

You need to alt-switch your weapon. After you charge with your lance, double-rightclick again, but this time do this while holding down the alt-key.

-Is it possible to add "Camel Cataphract" for Pahlavians? As you know "Artabanus IV" (Ardavan IV or V) used them in the last successful Pahlava attack on romans.I know this case was the only one has been recorded ,but it also gives Pahlava's (Mostly horsed based) unit roster some variety

Oh dear... This was me nearly a year ago, before I joined EB. I too suggested a cataphracted camel unit of the Hatrene model, however this was scrapped. The cataphracts gave Artabanus his victory against Macrinus, and Trajan's failed siege of the Parthian city of Hatra would of course add to this, but this was before I learned that the mod does not extend this far into the time-frame, I'm afraid

Bâ sepâs.

[scannerfish]

If you can say anything , what is in the works for our Parthian friends ? More cavalry ? A decent piece of Native Infantry ? The return of cavalry that can bring the soft touch of Parthianization with there axe?

[The Persian Cataphract]

Y halo thar, scannerfish

I can't tell you the specifics, but there is plenty on the store for the Pahlavân. We had this discussion before in GameFAQs, so again, patience my friend, patience.

[russia almighty]

You didn't hear this from me but the Parthians are going to get Cossack dragoons imported from the 19th century , complete with repeating rifles and kickass sabers .

[kambiz]

Ba Dorood (Hi) ;
@"The Persian Cataphract"
Bale fahmidam va Sepasgozaram. Amma mikhastam bedonam in emkan hast ke vaghti hameye sarzaminhaei ke az did tarikhi az anne Ashkanian bod ro dar bazi gereftim ,Pas az in onvane "Shahrdâr" be "Shâhanshâh" tagheir kone?

You need to alt-switch your weapon. After you charge with your lance, double-rightclick again, but this time do this while holding down the alt-key.

Will try it.

the mod does not extend this far into the time-frame, I'm afraid

You don't want to add such a cool units just becasue "It doesn't meet the time frame" AFAIK the mod time limit is at about 30-50 AD ,right? so it's long enough ,Who would continue his game till this time or even more (Till the Ashkanian decline)? I don't understand why you are so loyal to the historical accuracy? the game is combination of fun ,balance and historical facts as well.Imo "Camel Cataphract" is well deserved addition to the Pahlava unit roster ,Don't miss it !

I'm still interested in changing Pahlava names to their current Parsi ones.Or at least add the important-Forggoten names (King of King's names) like "Orodes" ,"Artabanus" ,"Tiridates" ,"Vologases" and etc.I think this is important ,especially for EB team that is so sensitive on historical accuracy

Also is it possible to add "Iran Spahbad" as an ancillary?(If there's no problem with the time frame )

Thanks in advance
-Kambiz

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

[The Persian Cataphract]

Dorûd Ê-Jahân, Cambyses,

Bale fahmidam va Sepasgozaram. Amma mikhastam bedonam in emkan hast ke vaghti hameye sarzaminhaei ke az did tarikhi az anne Ashkanian bod ro dar bazi gereftim ,Pas az in onvane "Shahrdâr" be "Shâhanshâh" tagheir kone?

Bebakhshid vali mutvadje nashudam, shumâ digê fahmidî kê ê "Shahrdâr" ê Shâh ke ê chantâ shahr dâre?

The Shahrdâr is literally "an owner of cities" in which he governs like a king. The Shahrdâr does not own all cities.

Also, as we speak, I am planning for some new suggestions to the faction goals, so that it is more consistent with the ideals of what a Shahrdâr is (A Shâh) and what a Shâhanshâh is.

You don't want to add such a cool units just becasue "It doesn't meet the time frame" AFAIK the mod time limit is at about 30-50 AD ,right? so it's long enough ,Who would continue his game till this time or even more (Till the Ashkanian decline)? I don't understand why you are so loyal to the historical accuracy? the game is combination of fun ,balance and historical facts as well.Imo "Camel Cataphract" is well deserved addition to the Pahlava unit roster ,Don't miss it !

Again, it seems that I must clarify myself

The cataphracted camel was an invention to bring the strong, Arabian dromedary into becoming another flavour of the successful cataphract concept. The problem however is that historically, the city of Hatra was the only major herding point for breeding the dromedary, and this is an important aspect of realism, because we can't use the Bactrian camel, no matter about how much stronger and larger it is than the Arabian dromedary, because it is much slower. Another problem is that the city of Hatra proper was founded the year 70 CE, and even then it takes another century until we see the first account of the Hatrene clibanarius, let alone the concept of giving a "zen-ûstar" (Camel's armour) to a camel, which appears either in the accounts of Trajan besieging the city or the defeat of Macrinus.

Also, analyzing the structure of the Parthian military and why camels specifically used these creatures in the far rear hints at the explanation that most Parthian mounts were untrained to the presence of the camels, and therefore that sometimes the use of camels would have been ineffective. I'm not trying to make up any excuses, because I would myself like to see such a unit to be featured in the game, I'm just saying that there is reason to why the EB team has scrapped the use of camelry for now.

I'm still interested in changing Pahlava names to their current Parsi ones.Or at least add the important-Forggoten names (King of King's names) like "Orodes" ,"Artabanus" ,"Tiridates" ,"Vologases" and etc.I think this is important ,especially for EB team that is so sensitive on historical accuracy

And like I told you before, don't worry about the names

Also is it possible to add "Iran Spahbad" as an ancillary?(If there's no problem with the time frame )

Nice pun

The social structure among nobility and the council of the Dahae confederacy means that matters of defence and military becomes an issue within the clans. I would therefore say that the Parthian court would therefore rely on their nobility to provide their own marzbâns, or frontier marshals. It would not be entirely inaccurate to consider this suggestion, but it is not exactly accurate either. Let us take Rustam of Sûrên Pahlav, the victor of Carrhae, he is often designated "Êrânshahr Sepahbôd", right? The problem is that he had brought his own private army, consisting of Yuezhi and Sakae horse archers and his own household cavalry bodyguard of 1,000 men to do the fighting. This would naturally lead us to this conclusion: What was Surena minister of military over when there is no standing army? To be a minister of the military while making use of his own bandegân (Bondsmen) and his companions makes no sense, friend. The title of Êrânshahr Spâhbâd is very Sassanian, and until the marzbân reforms of Chosroës I, the seat of the military minister was decided by the magnates (Vuzurgân). Also, as an ancillary one may consider Êrânshahr Spâhbâd, but this I will need to confer with my colleagues.

[kambiz]

Thanks a milion for the fine replies "The Persian Cataphract" I wish you and EB team good luck

With my best regards (Ba behtarin dorood'ha)
-Kambiz

[Grand Lord of Poop~]

i think our beloved friend here, PC, deserves a round of applause for his hard work and dedication to the Pahlava cause. for if it was without him, there wouldn't be us pig-snotting, eyes-bulging, ever-so-nosy pahlava fans...

balloons for you, my friend.

and cheers too

[Kull]

.....us pig-snotting, eyes-bulging, ever-so-nosy pahlava fans.....

FWIW, I've been playing a very long Pahlava game using a recent internal version, and it has been one of the most white knuckle, gripping EB campaigns ever. Just an awesome good time. Here's a few of the more unusual sights from this "god-I-just-have-to-play-one-more-turn" game:

1) During the Siege of Alexandreia Ariana, there's a Plague outbreak:



2) A flash flood occurs in the desert near Apameia. The garrison experiences no casualties, but my field army on the left loses 10% of it's troops:



3) In the reddish-tan foothills just northeast of Hekatompylos, the Parthians trapped a band of Seleukid raiders. Ho hum, right? But when we go to the battlemap, my army is arrayed at the edge of a precipice leading down into....what?

[kambiz]

Hello EB team;
Is there any chances we have Persian(Parsi) voices for the Pontus and Pahlava units in the final release???

[The Persian Cataphract]

Hello EB team;
Is there any chances we have Persian(Parsi) voices for the Pontus and Pahlava units in the final release???

Dear Cambyses,

Do you celebrate Christmas? I hear it is a time of miracles

[HumphreysCraig00]

Hey Kull are you allowd to say what that giant hole in the floor is or not as it looks interesting.

Plus you missed the c00 from it.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Kull found the secret tomb of the lost Templars and the Umbilicus Mundi!

Never seen that before mate. Looks pretty cool though. I can't wait till we can get those parthia changes started now though.

[Kull]

Hey Kull are you allowd to say what that giant hole in the floor is or not as it looks interesting.

I have NO IDEA what that thing is! It was a complete and total shock to find it there on the battlemap. I tried to set a unit down inside, as it looks like there are passageways and chambers leading off to who knows where, but it's all treated as impassable terrain. Too bad, as it would have been awesome to force the enemy up to the edge and push them in during battle!

As to the location, take a look at my second screenshot, the one with the flood. If you look to the mountains just north and east of Hekatompylos, the battle which revealed the Secret Chamber occurred on the slopes near that first orange foothill. Not sure of the exact coordinates, but it was right around there.

[kambiz]

Do you celebrate Christmas? I hear it is a time of miracles

Excuse me but I don't understand ,Ofcourse we don't celebrate XMas and I'm sure you know it well so ,What do you mean?

[Krusader]

Excuse me but I don't understand ,Ofcourse we don't celebrate XMas and I'm sure you know it well so ,What do you mean?

If there is one thing Hollywood has taught us, it's that miracles happen with greater frequency during Christmas.

In other words...
As of now we just need someone to record all those commands Persian Cataphract has written.

And regarding Pontos, they will be using Greek, although their eastern units will of course respond in Iranian.

[The Persian Cataphract]

Excuse me but I don't understand ,Ofcourse we don't celebrate XMas and I'm sure you know it well so ,What do you mean?

Too bad. Perhaps Hâjî Fîrûz may be able to bring this miracle then

Hint: If there was nothing planned for the Pahlavâ I could have said "no". So as with the case of the Parthian authentic names, I repeat: Don't worry. Negarân nabâshid, dâdâsh. Eine mesle Nôrûz mâ dige nimitûnim begim barâye shumâ che kâr kardîm, vali mesle har Nôrûz mâ dige yê chîzî dârim. Negarân nabâshid, mâ yek nakshe dârim

Oh and when you celebrate, make your wish in Pahlavî. Who knows, maybe it will become a reality

Except Krusader already gave it away...