I've been taking a look at the teaser trailers, new skins, and reading on the changes that will befall Europa Barbarorum in version 1.0. With the new patch apparently so close already, I find myself waiting with anticipation and anxiety. That's right, I'm of two minds on the upcoming 1.0, as I imagine other people here may be.

First of all, the good stuff: I LOVE EB, and I LOVE what I've seen to so far in the previews. The Barbarian (sorry, Celtic) improved wooden wall, the trailers on YouTube, the titles given to Diadochoi generals, the new Marian/Post-Marian Roman Centurion skin. I love it all. It's exactly what makes EB great, and when I look at that I can't wait for the game to come out.

But then I've been reading that the EB team is trimming down the total number of units to make the game more user-friendly and less complex. While I don't initially disagree with that, I was dismayed when I learned of the units that'd be done away with: Namely the Argrayaspidai, Thorakitai, Heitairoi, most of the Gallic units, and even the Roman Camillan and Polybian units are being trimmed down. Now I'm not sure if the EB team is serious about doing that much trimming, but if they are, I'll admit I'll be dismayed. EB's variety, colour, and attention to rich detail has always been one of its fortes. In RTW Vanilla I preferred playing as Rome. In this game, I don't have any preferences, because all factions are done so well (Saba and Saka exempted, of course. They still need work) and have so much variety. If EB loses some of that variety, that richness, then it just won't be the same for me.

I read that the Gallic units are being 'killed' because they were overwpowered. I personally have never had that problem, thus furthering my 'of two minds' stance about the coming 1.0.

Of course I understand, and am happy, that the developers insist that EB 1.0 is still a work in progress, and that's why I'm still waiting with anticipation for the patch to come out. I just hope it won't lose too much of the complexity that makes it stand out amongst other mods I've played. Obviously, when 1.0 comes out I won't download it without reading up on what's different, what's new, what's improved, and what's lost/gained. I did the same before downloading this current version.

I'm additionally comforted by the fact that we're not obligated to download v1.0, and will always have the choice to stick to our rusty, creaky old 0.81 if the new stuff is too much for us (In much the same way that I'm sure there are people in this community who didn't download v0.81 immediately when it was released...right?? ).

Anyway, that's my two cents on the matter. My doubts and anticipation aside, I continue to wait with baited breath (to be clichéd about it) for 1.0. Here's to hoping my fears are unfounded! Hope the EB team keeps up the good work!

P.S I took a look at the re-skinned Augustan legionaries. I'm not crazy about the plumed helmets. But then, I'm not crazy about the spiked helmets in 0.81 neither.