7 Cultures

[Malik of Sindh]

7 cultures maximum.

[Bellum]

Well I'm sure the EB team will work something out that's presentable. They always do.

My best bet would be something like

Roman
Greek
Celt
Nomad
Phoenician
Iberian
German

Lets see... In no particular order

Romani - Roman
Epeiros - Greek
Koinon Hellenon - Greek
Makedonia - Greek
AS - Greek
Ptolemaioi - Greek
Karthadastim - Phoenician
Lusotannan - Iberian
Aedui - Celt
Casse - Celt
Arverni - Celt
Sweboz - German
Getai - Celt?
Pavlah - Greek/Nomad (depending on govt, I suppose)
Sauromatae - Nomad
Saka - Nomad
Saba - ?
Backtria - Greek
Pontos - Greek? Nomad? What?
Hayasdan - Nomad?


Of course there are cultures that are only used once that could be replaced with something else. German and Celt culture are close enough that they can share, and Iberian's are as well. I can also see a case for Persian or Armenian (Persian could be more inclusive than Armenian, perhaps). I don't know anything about the Saba other than glancing at it's info while choosing a campaign.

[Dumbass]

What's wrong with EB using the current system?

[[EB]Demulon]

EB currently does not use cultures, Dumbass. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

So here's the situation. It seems we have 5 cultures that are likely to be used. Two more to reflect the hundred remaining cultures of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Germans, I don't think, were much of a threat to the status quo prior to the end of the Roman Republic, and the chances of them imposing their culture on the neighbouring Celts. Likewise, I don't think Africans and Arabians were in a position to create a large empire as this time, like conquering and Africanizing Carthage for example.
Here's what I think will be the cultural makeups of certain regions...
Italian Peninsula - Celts in the northern regions, perhaps with a small Roman minority (5%) to reflect traders etc. This would also give the player, and hopefully, AI an incentive to bring these minorities into the 'rightful' faction.
Romans would represent a majority, perhaps with a miscellaneous culture to reflect the Samnites, Campanians, etc which in time would become Romanized. In the south and in Sicily, would be a Greek majority, say 90% Greek and the other 10% being Roman and Phoenician colonists.

Anatolia - Greek and Persian majority (that is, if the Greeks did not assimilate the Persians by 272BC). Some 30% Celt population in Thrace, some 80% in Galatia. Also, there could be a misc. culture to reflect the mountainous peoples who escaped Greek or Persian assimilation?

Bactria - mostly steppe nomads and Persians with a Greek minority. This would compel that faction to recruit fewer Greek units and rely more on native troops

Egypt - this one will be tricky. Obviously, the Greeks were in charge at this time, but what about the rest of the country? Sure, there were likely still some Persians, but what about the Africans, the Egyptians etc. Should they be all listed under Other?

As it stands, all cultures unfortunately cannot be represented so I think it would be best to focus on the cultures that had a likely chance at expanding into large empires

[Admetos]

I must have mis-read your last post Demulon. Cultures determine the general's portraits and GUI a faction uses, and likewise, determines what kind of portraits a rebel settlement will use, not the ethical make-up in a certain region.

[Bellum]

He is (I assume) talking about removing 'religion' and replacing it with 'culture' (as was done in Britannia).

[IrishArmenian]

Bellum, lose the 'Iberian' (they could be given a Celtic culture) and add... I don't like the word 'Persian' as so maybe Former Satrapy? Hayastan is not nomadic, we never were.
Ohhhh! I thought this was the culture, which seemed odd as you already had seven good ones for EB.

[[EB]Demulon]

I didn't know that cultures deal with portraits.
To stereotype ancient cultures based on modern popular cultures....
I would assume that Celts would be characterized though long red/blonde hair?
Nomads with long hair and several tattoos?
Greeks with togas and Corinthian helmets?
Arabians with darker skin complexion?
Romans - in classic EB1 attire.
Persians with darker hair, covered with jewelry
etc...
Um, is there going to be African negroes represented? I don't think they were too important in the development of Europe during this time, so to avoid having to make portraits for them I would contract the current map to the borders of Numidia and the northern Nile

I can't wait to see how EB will represent cultures!