Xanthippos

**HamilcarBarca** · 10-25-2007, 08:21

I just love the Xanthippos scripted character in the Carthaginian game. A terrific solution to the challenge of adding a Spartan mercenary to the Punic army! Well done!

I was hoping someone could explain the triggers to his arrival. I have looked in the FAQ, but could find no explanation there.

I assume Carthage must first be at war with Rome? Does it only happen in 255 BC?

H.

**bovi** · 10-25-2007, 09:37

Yes.

**Dumbass** · 10-25-2007, 11:11

I like his spartan hoplite bodyguard, nice addition and flavour for Carthage. Anyway to make his portrait that of a Greek?

**Pharnakes** · 10-25-2007, 12:38

No, you can't control portraits except to give a group to a culture.

**Poulp'** · 10-25-2007, 22:24

Originally Posted by Pharnakes

No, you can't control portraits except to give a group to a culture.

How about scripting some force diplomacy, bribing a greek-culture general ?
the problem of the general's portrait is solved (by creating a huge load of new problems...)

**Spoofa** · 10-25-2007, 22:35

Xanthippos was alive when the game starts, thats why they included him.

**Geoffrey S** · 10-25-2007, 13:02

Originally Posted by Dumbass

I like his spartan hoplite bodyguard, nice addition and flavour for Carthage. Anyway to make his portrait that of a Greek?

Did Xanthippos arrive with Spartan troops? I was always under the impression he was there alone or with only a very small group. I guess as head of a group of mercenaries he must have had a decent amount of troops with him, but are they explicitely mentioned to be Spartans?

**Eduorius** · 10-25-2007, 16:19

When the recruitment officer arrived from Greece (possibly Cape Tainairon) in the winter of 256 BC, he arrived with around 50 - 100 Greek mercenaries.

Polybius doesnt tells what this Greek mercenaries were, but I assume they were probably hoplites.

Because they were so few, because they were mercs, because of their number, and because of the engine limitations, we tought that the best way to represent this troops was to made them the bodyguards for Xan.

I think that nobody here wants Xan using a Sacred Band Cav as bodyguards like the other Carthaginian generals. Giving Spartans, for a Spartan general was the best option in my mind.

**Sarkiss** · 10-25-2007, 16:43

wasnt he historically on a horse back?

**Geoffrey S** · 10-25-2007, 22:12

Originally Posted by Eduorius

When the recruitment officer arrived from Greece (possibly Cape Tainairon) in the winter of 256 BC, he arrived with around 50 - 100 Greek mercenaries.

Polybius doesnt tells what this Greek mercenaries were, but I assume they were probably hoplites.

Because they were so few, because they were mercs, because of their number, and because of the engine limitations, we tought that the best way to represent this troops was to made them the bodyguards for Xan.

I think that nobody here wants Xan using a Sacred Band Cav as bodyguards like the other Carthaginian generals. Giving Spartans, for a Spartan general was the best option in my mind.

Giving him Spartan troops seems somewhat extreme, especially considering the small amount of mercenaries he apparently arrived with. If I've got time I'll try to look around for more details, but at first glance I'd have thought realism would be better served by a group of regular hoplites; or perhaps a random type of bodyguard, ranging from Spartans to peltasts (or even no Xanthippus at all), keeping in line with EBs motto that the starting position is correct, but the rest of history isn't predetermined?