a few questions...

[aem91]

Hi, i played EB awhile ago, but now im interested in it and am thinking of downloading it again. But, i have a few questions that i hope you folks can answer and im sorry if this is posted anywhere but i didnt see it.

1. when instaliing, dont install BI, just rtw 1.5?
2. can the ptolemaic empire get elephants now, when i played it said they could, but there was some bug and they couldnt actually recruit them.
3. If i remember correctly, elephants only had 2 hps, is it possible to go into the unit file and edit the amount of hit points they have, and if it is possible, can some one give me detailed instructions as i wanted to boost elephant and maybe chariots hp to make them more effective. I just thought it unrealistic that you hear so many historical stories of how strong these beasts were and then a single unit of peltasts can take them out...

Any help would be appreciated.

[Warmaster Horus]

1. It doesn't matter whether you install BI. You must however install RTW 1.5 after you install it (if you do).
2. I think they can do that now (never actually played the Ptolies, but didn't hear anybody complain).
I'll let someone else answer 3. the long way, but basically, you can.

[satalexton]

historically elephants ARE that easy to be taken out by peltasts...perhaps even way easier than EB actually, the battle of Zama is a fine example.

Elephants are simply not made for charging headlong into a formation, sure u can trample a few more than a cavalry charge, but they'll be toast just like any cavalry. They are meant to be an uber cavalry screen, then charging at the BACKS of an already engaged enemy.

I confess I don't use them often, but that because of their price tag and lack of tactical flexibility. When they're fielded properly, they are an utter super can of pwnage.

Oh btw, mst of what you need can be found here: click me you clearly haven't searched hard enough =]

[Lucio Domicio Aureliano]

Could someone tell me at what difficulty EB is meant to be played cause i´m current playing at Very hard - very hard and it seems the battles are way difficult to win. Thanks

[Foot]

Hard or Very Hard campaign difficulty, but it is meant to be played on medium battle difficulty. Higher battle difficulty doesn't make the AI smarter it just artificially boosts their stats so that their cheap units can beat your elites.

Foot

[aem91]

If anyone can help tell me how to increase the hp of elephants that would be appreciated, because i wanted to increase them from 2 to 5 or 6 and give chariots 2 hps also. And does anyone know for a fact if ptols. can actually recruit elephants, cause i was bummed out last time i played them and the building said i could get them but couldnt find them on the settlements recruiting menu. thanks

[Foot]

To change stats for any unit you need to edit the export_descr_unit.txt.

Ptolemaioi can recruit african elephants.

Foot

[fenix3279]

If anyone can help tell me how to increase the hp of elephants that would be appreciated, because i wanted to increase them from 2 to 5 or 6 and give chariots 2 hps also. And does anyone know for a fact if ptols. can actually recruit elephants, cause i was bummed out last time i played them and the building said i could get them but couldnt find them on the settlements recruiting menu. thanks

5 or 6 hitpoints is a bit much IMO. You're basically turning them into modern tanks. The game will lose its fun if you just steamroll everything with elephants.

[Lucio Domicio Aureliano]

Thanks foot.
I was wrong there´s no problems with the battle balance whatsoever it´s was i that played in the wrong dificulty.

[satalexton]

foot, i think you should rework the bunch of stickies...cuz we're getting a whole bunch of questions whose info are found in the various important threads....

[aem91]

thanks everyone who posted, maybe ill try the elephants with the 2 hps, prolly will be more fun, and now that i know ptols can actually get the eles they are supposed to i think ill play them first.

[bovi]

Those who don't understand that "Important Information" is something you should read, might be the same who would not read a bunch of different stickies... Although I think perhaps we should resticky the 1.1 release post.

Anyway, elephants have 4 hitpoints. It gives the best balance where they can perform their task of smashing into the enemy line with gusto, but are still vulnerable to javelins.

[aem91]

oh, they 4 hp now, thats better because when i played they had 2, and chariots had 0 hps, but i guess i should download before posting to get the most accurate info. Does anyone know the reason why chariots have such low hp compared to vanilla, i mean i know they were becoming somewhat ineffective at this point in history, and if you broke its charge then they would be cut to pieces, and other have suggested they were just troop transports. Im just curious what the eb teams reasons for giving them low hp was.

[bovi]

Chariots in EB are way more resilient than in vanilla. Which is not saying all that much. Chariots are rightly vulnerable when they get bogged down, and they don't have much defence against arrows. When mobile, they are powerful. Keep them safe until the lines are joined and they can work their magic on the enemy's morale.

[Lucio Domicio Aureliano]

Hail

I know that EB is to be played in the medium battle difficulty but could someone tell me if the medium difficulty in EB is the same as the very hard battle difficulty in RTW? Thanks

[Foot]

Very Hard battle difficulty does not change how clever the AI is, all it does is artificially increase the stats of the enemy troops so that their simple levies can defeat your heaviest elites. Medium battle difficulty allows our delicate stat balance to work its full effect. That is why we recommend medium battle difficulty.

Foot

[Aemilius Paulus]

Chariots in EB are way more resilient than in vanilla.

Are you kidding?!? One time had my 82 1exp/1 weapons and armour Pricipes attack 54 two gold chevron and 1 weapons/armour Cidainh (Celtic Chariots) of an enemy FM and the Pricipes killed all of them in exactly 10 seconds! The chariots didn't even get bogged down, and the didn't cause a single casualty among the Principes!

This was my only time fighting the chariots, so it is an isolated experience. The Cdaihn do not seem have the scythes, which is what made the vanilla chariots so powerful. In RTW, I used chariots primarily as an anti-cavalry weapon since their scythes moved down horsemen and were generally ineffective against infantrymen, who were simply knocked down. How effective is the chariot's 50 charge bonus anyway? I had the chariots charge me at a sufficient distance, but they did not inflict any losses. I hope the Harmata Drepanephora (Scythed Chariots) are more effective.

[Codyos Vladimiros]

I hope the Harmata Drepanephora (Scythed Chariots) are more effective.

They are. Believe me, they are. When used properly, of course. I've never used the Celtic Chariots, so I have no idea how they compare. But I've used the Scythed as Pontos and as the Seleukids to great effect.

[bovi]

Are you kidding?!? One time had my 82 1exp/1 weapons and armour Pricipes attack 54 two gold chevron and 1 weapons/armour Cidainh (Celtic Chariots) of an enemy FM and the Pricipes killed all of them in exactly 10 seconds! The chariots didn't even get bogged down, and the didn't cause a single casualty among the Principes!

That would be because the AI used them incorrectly, charging missile troops headlong into a thick mass of people, with javelins no less. Like elephants, the AI has no idea how to use special units.

The vanilla chariots would die extremely quickly from any missile fire. One volley of slingshots or two of arrows and they would all be either dead or rampaging, including the egyptian general. The higher mass in vanilla made them somewhat more effective at smashing into things though, but they would still die quicker in melee. Perhaps you should try a missile chariot charge against principes in vanilla and compare.