Some questions - most about Sweboz

[Miles Sueborum]

First of all I wanted to thank you for this great mod! I love it - it improves the already good RTW in so many ways...

I have some questions I couldn't find answered in the faq:
1. I started the Sweboz campaign and I am unable to recruit ships - I'm just in the year 234 BC - will I be able to that later or will I never be able to conquer the seas? Or did I make some mistake?

2. Will Roman Civil Wars be included? I think they were an essential part of the time period. In RTW the solution was to divide rome into four nations - a nice solution though it is ridiculous that only a quarter of Rome would be at war with another "nation".

3. Is it really historical, that the better trained, better equipped forces of Rome are cheaper than my barbarians? Ok - household troops who were a standing "army" and were equipped by their lord might be quite expensive - but at least when after the Marian Reforms, when Romans soldiers all were equipped and trained by the state they should be more expensive, I think...

4. In the faq it is said that it is impossible to improve AI - does that mean only battle AI or also campaign AI? It would be great if it's decision would be more rational - with Cartargo besieging Roman Ports and both Gaul-tribes attacking Roman possessions in Gaul they should have better things to do than to declare war on a loyal ally. And when the armies of this ex-ally burn down Italy unpunished they should also consider a ceasefire-treaty that includes giving them back all their territory in Italy a worthy option ^^

5. Gastiz and Hundaskapiz - they have almost the same stats - but Gastiz have +1 in Chargebonus...
So the obviously worse unit (Hundaskipaz) should also cost less - or at least the same. But though it's the same price to hire them, their upkeep is almost 200 bucks more...
Since it is said that they'd work in tandem with the cavalry they may be faster - but than there is another question: When they need to be fats - why do they wear the together with gastiz the heaviest armor aviable for Germanics (Chainmail)?

6. Germanic cavalry - why is it so weak? If I remember Tacitus right he told about a tribe (Tencteri or so?) who had an excellent cavalry...

[Ludens]

1) Ships are only available in provinces that can build a naval harbour (as opposed to a mercantile port). Have a look at this map to see where you can build these. Keep in mind though that this map was for a previous build of EB so it may not be up to date.

2) Unfortunatly not.

3) Not sure what you are talking about. The early Roman armies are comparatively cheap, but they aren't very well equiped or powerful either. Lateron, they will get more expensive.

4) Unfortunatly, it's not possible to directly change either strategic or battle A.I. routines.

5) Can't answer that one.

6) Germans had good cavalry, but in general it was light rather than heavy cavalry.

[Fondor_Yards]

First of all I wanted to thank you for this great mod! I love it - it improves the already good RTW in so many ways...

I have some questions I couldn't find answered in the faq:
1. I started the Sweboz campaign and I am unable to recruit ships - I'm just in the year 234 BC - will I be able to that later or will I never be able to conquer the seas? Or did I make some mistake?

2. Will Roman Civil Wars be included? I think they were an essential part of the time period. In RTW the solution was to divide rome into four nations - a nice solution though it is ridiculous that only a quarter of Rome would be at war with another "nation".

3. Is it really historical, that the better trained, better equipped forces of Rome are cheaper than my barbarians? Ok - household troops who were a standing "army" and were equipped by their lord might be quite expensive - but at least when after the Marian Reforms, when Romans soldiers all were equipped and trained by the state they should be more expensive, I think...

4. In the faq it is said that it is impossible to improve AI - does that mean only battle AI or also campaign AI? It would be great if it's decision would be more rational - with Cartargo besieging Roman Ports and both Gaul-tribes attacking Roman possessions in Gaul they should have better things to do than to declare war on a loyal ally. And when the armies of this ex-ally burn down Italy unpunished they should also consider a ceasefire-treaty that includes giving them back all their territory in Italy a worthy option ^^

5. Gastiz and Hundaskapiz - they have almost the same stats - but Gastiz have +1 in Chargebonus...
So the obviously worse unit (Hundaskipaz) should also cost less - or at least the same. But though it's the same price to hire them, their upkeep is almost 200 bucks more...
Since it is said that they'd work in tandem with the cavalry they may be faster - but than there is another question: When they need to be fats - why do they wear the together with gastiz the heaviest armor aviable for Germanics (Chainmail)?

6. Germanic cavalry - why is it so weak? If I remember Tacitus right he told about a tribe (Tencteri or so?) who had an excellent cavalry...

1. Take Scandavia and Gothland *Island next to sweden*, you can build ships. In EB, only places that were historical major shipyards can build warships. Here's a map that shows all the shipyard cities.
https://img529.imageshack.us/my.php?...hrports3th.gif

2. No

3. Someone else can go into more detail, but basicly, yes. The romans mass produced their kit after the marians, so that they could equip their men at a much lower cost. Each warrior had to provide his own stuff, which was often highly decorated and quite expensive.

4. Both of them. The ai is hardcoded, modders can only change a few things like formations to help out the AI, but ultimately we are stuck with what CA made.

5. No idea

6. IIRC the team said there was a germanic heavy cavalry unit in the works.

[Miles Sueborum]

Thanks for the fast answers.

But on some points I still have questions ;)

1) I owe Skandza. Do the Sweboz perhaps need a very high developed town to train ships?

3) @Ludens: The Triarii are quite tough (as they should be) but less expensive than comparable units of the sweboz
@Fondor_Yards: Ok - more efficient production is agood point ^^

6) @Ludens: Hm - you might be right.
@Fondor_Yards: Cool ^^

[Orb]

2. I don't think so. I doubt the scripting would allow us to truly do them justice, anyway.

4. We do what we can by altering the starting position and map within realism, but that doesn't stop retarded blockading and other problems (E.g. the Human=Target bias.

5. I don't know, I'll ask one of our Germanic historians

6. The ridoharjoz is still quite good, just lighter than typical 'good' Greco-Roman cavalry. There is some debate within the team about the Germanics getting a medium or heavy cavalry unit.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

1) I owe Skandza. Do the Sweboz perhaps need a very high developed town to train ships?

You have to have at least the large_town level. Then build a separate military docks building after building the trade port building.

[SaFe]

I will answer your questions - concerning historical views on Gastiz and Hundaskapiz - tomorrow. There are currently some majo flaws in their graphical display concerning equipment.

Concerning stats- the Ridoharjoz are much too weak statswise (especially when you look at their gallic counterparts which were historically inferior.)

The other questions must be answered from still active team members.

Take care.

[eirik]

I was actually pondering a number of these questions earlier this evening, so I'd like to thank Miles for having the guts to ask you big, scary hulks otherwise known as devs.

[SaFe]

As promised, now that i have some time i will give you a few short answers to your questions:

1. + 2.
I could not answer these questions. About ships i'm not up-to-date sadly with the EB team.

3.
About the costs:
Germanic troops should be fairly inexpensive to recruit with the notorious exception of the Gastiz and also the Herthoz (Bodyguard - literally "Those belonging to the hearth"), but should have a very high upkeep cost.
I will try to get in contact with Mike (afaik he was the stat-guru), as the current costs are not correctly displayed in the game.

4. /

5.
Gastiz and Hundaskapiz:
First i will tell something about Gastiz:
Well Gastiz should be only recruitable after the germanic reforms - which are sadly not incoperated since the time i left my post as germanic FC. Here also i will try to get in contact with the person who is responsible to display this in a correct way. The Gastiz were often noble men or at least rich free men from other tribes who didn't want to "play" farmer during the sparse peace-times and so offered their services to the kings or chieftains from other tribes which were normaly very eager to enlist those experienced warriors. Instead of normal payment they were often paid with good weapons and armour, but all this happened in greater scale at the biginning ca 100 BC during the century-long clashes with the romans.
Currently their first appearance in EB is much too early.
Same goes for Ferulaharjoz ( which are currently wrong written with Ferulharjoz ), which means "Wandering Warriors". Their stats should be slightly inferior to the Gastiz, as they often had a poorer background and not so good equipment. Ferulaharjoz should be the mercenary counterpart of the Gastiz ( "Noble Guests" ) and the same about their first appearance and the the reforms should apply here.
For Gastiz and Ferulaharjoz the recruitment costs should not be too high, but they should be very expensive to upkeep

Now to the Hundaskapiz, which means nothing else than "Group of Hundred".
In germanic warfare the best hundred warriors of a tribe formed the "spearhead" of any charge. Directly behind their chieftain or war-king and his personal bodyguard the Herthoz (which should also not look like the typical Gasstiz warrior, but this is another discussion) they led the troops to victory or were the first to fall in case of defeat.
They are also not correct displayed currently as they use the same model as Gastiz.
In reality they were not much better equipped than the average Frameharjoz. A spear and a shield would fit here - the sword is a bit too much - but the stats should reflect their "veteran" status and their experience through long years of constant warfare.
The current display with swords and look-alike Gastiz/Ferulaharjoz is a little too much.
Gamewise - perhaps we should give them axes instead of spears for a better charge. But this would be just a gameplay decission.
The overall lack of axes is also wrong in the current display of germanic troops.
I will not repeat me in this thread for the reasons of so few germanic weapon grave finds in the BC era, just a reminder that germanics burned their dead bfore A.D.

6.

Germanic cavalry was superior to celtic cavalry especially concerning morale.
They Gauls feared the germanic cavalry and were often defeated or routed on spot. Germanic cavlary was also superoir to roman cavalry.
In later times there was a cavalry of great renown - the Batavians. Well, they are a little too late for EB, but even the "early" germanic cavlary should be better than their current stats.
Also i'm not sure why their gallic counterparts - the Leuce Epos carry 6 javelins with them. A few too much in my opinion and i thought as i created the Ridoharjoz ( "Riding Warriors" ) that they should not be a walking/riding weaponshop.
Sadly the correct display of germanic cavalry warfare could not be integrated in EB, because the often fought with a infantrymen running along with the horse and stabbing the enemies mount in the belly.
About the stats i will contact the person who can correct this.

Hope, my remarks will help you.
Take care.

[Miles Sueborum]

Thank you for this detailed answer! Though I didn't encounter Ferulaharjoz yet... Do they look like Gastiz?

[Varg1204]

I only can answer ur ships and ports question for now. I think Safe our former Sweboz-fc already answered the other questions very well. Perhaps Tank our current fc will also add a few answers.

1. in the latest public version of EB u only can build ships in Skandinavia and Gotland and u need a higher town level in order to do so. I am not happy with it as it is now. In the future we hopefully will include a shipyard in the Habukoz area, because the Frisians were located there and the North Sea was referred to as Frisian Sea in that time, so a third place to build ships needs to be included. In general the ships aren't really completed for the Sweboz faction, there are some troubles with historicity and missing archeological proof, and therefore I only can tell u to be patient and wait for the next patches. sorry for that.

[Miles Sueborum]

And to conquer Gotland I need scandinavian ships?
Understood ^^

But I have another question concerning Sweboz religious buildings...
It seems to me that only two of them are sensible choices - Tiwaz grants good bonuses to your troops, while Fraujon increases your population...
Do the other shrines' expansions grant any great bonuses - or is there another reason for building other shrines like that for Wodanaz?

[Redmeth]

But will there be a reform for the Sweboz, SaFe said that it was in the works but did not know what became of it?

[Varg1204]

well there was a huge reform of the Sweboz units after SaFe left, in order to make the Sweboz units more realistic and even more historic, but this reform is far from being completed yet and currently there is a big discussion going on about the Germanic units again.There is no end in sight yet, so I can't tell u much about what will happen in the future. U need to give us some time. We are really working hard on the Sweboz so don't lose the faith in us...

[SaFe]

I'm sure till EB 1.0 is ready the germanics will be displayed in a correct and historical way.
I'm sure Varg will get the translations right and about the units i will talk to the responsible persons. There are many thing that must be changed, but in the end the effort will pay back.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Great. I will definitely wait until I start my great Sweboz campaign then.