An Occultus Faction possibly worked out?

[NoHelmet]

God damn it, i think that the sig is there to cloud our thinking. Best clue that i could see was a positive hint that "it's way off geographicaly" from nabatea, so we can exclude north-eastern africa, fertile crescent and arabia. Then, i think it should be a faction that was, at least to some extent, expansionistic and ifluental. Also, there is IMHO need to balance some factions without much enemies in their neighborhood, such as Sweboz and Sauromatae.
As for history, damn. Not nearly educated enough to make wild-guesses, but some of mine were: 1. Xiongnu, right next to Sakae, at 209bc aready had a solid nomad state, and were aggresive to in some hipotetical way expand to the west, but, they didn't, so i don't think they have a good case. 2. & 3. Proto-slavs & Proto-balts. Way beyond EB timeframe, but certainly were in central-eastern europe in that time, and they surely were numerous enough to be distinct factions, nor did their technology undergo any serious revolution to the time of our first knowledge of them. Also, good way to bring more fun to european steppe scene. But still, their case is on a hear-say basis, and doesn't have a bright EB future as far as i can tell. 4. Central asian nomads, massagetae or someone like them (historians, feel free to unleash your anger if something is blatantly ignorant on my side) 5. Balkan factions: Scordisci, Illyrioi, Bastarnae are all fine, and might be a great way to slow down Getae and Epeiros, with a good historic ground IMO.

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

I really don't think 1-3 are a possibility. Xiongnu are way to far to the east. In fact, the team already cut the Yuezhi because they were too far out of the timeframe mapwise and they were in fact being pushed west by a series of population shifts potentially started by the Xiongnu expanding westwards.

[NoHelmet]

I know, it was a far fetched guess... Listed them because i've seen a map with their state being in EB map area, a little part of the state, though. Without paying huge attention to the notorious sig, my best guesses would be central Europe, Balkans, and the Steppes, just for the lack of factions there... And as for the sig, damn, it looked like a dragon to me most... Most realistic, IMO, would be a second german faction and some balkan tribe, illyrians perhaps.

[Ludens]

I doubt the Xiognu were on the current EB map because it's debatable whether even the Yuezhi were, and the latter were further west. The Yuezhi were actually a faction back in EB 0.7, but were cut partly because they probably weren't on the map and partly because, even if they were, their main activity would have been on the eastern side, fending off the Xiognu. Because of this I doubt they will be returning in EB2. Another one or two central Asian steppe factions have been mentioned as a candidate factions for the final faction slot of EB1, but the Xiognu are definitely out.

Proto-Balts I think unlikely, but hasn't been positively denied. Proto-Slavs are out. The exact origin of the Slavs is anybody's guess, but they can't be identified properly until well after EB's time-frame.

[Mithridates VI Eupator]

The Xiongnu would only enter our map in any meaningful way in around 175 B.C, after defeating the Yuezhi and some other nomad confederacies and city states in the Tarim Basin. They were, however, never next to the Saka, and in 209, when Motun became their Shan-yü, they were actually a relatively weak confederacy mainly controling land between the northern Ordos and, at most, the Turfan depression.

[olly]

Can i just check are emergent factions ruled out?

Also how about rebel factions that represent civil war?

There seems to have been a lot ruled out and not much ruled in from what I have seen. Either of the above would open up a lot more options. Also Brennan is promising an "atomic bomb" and either of the above would certainly be unexpected.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Can i just check are emergent factions ruled out?

I think so.

Also how about rebel factions that represent civil war?

Just about every faction would've had a civil war at some point were they to dominate. That way madness lies.

There seems to have been a lot ruled out and not much ruled in from what I have seen.

It's easier to say no when you know it is a no, then to say yes when you are not sure it will be.

Either of the above would open up a lot more options. Also Brennan is promising an "atomic bomb" and either of the above would certainly be unexpected.

Atomic bombs, mental squirrel death rays and other superweapons? Those are a no go, I'm afraid.

[olly]

Atomic bombs, mental squirrel death rays and other superweapons? Those are a no go, I'm afraid.

Did you not see the Pritanoi preview? Mental squirrel death rays are in!

But seriously he said that the next preview would be an "atomic bomb" in reference to everyone speculating on the factions being belgae and iberian so I'm expecting a surprise in the next one.......... whenever that is...........................

[Ludens]

Can i just check are emergent factions ruled out?

Also how about rebel factions that represent civil war?

Yes to both.

There seems to have been a lot ruled out and not much ruled in from what I have seen. Either of the above would open up a lot more options.

That's because the team won't reveal the new factions, but has given reasons against some of the more unlikely proposed candidates. I am not sure how this is a problem.

[olly]

I'm not saying its a problem that stuff is ruled out and it is good that the team do.

Sorry if it came across that way. I was just trying to explain why I asked about emergent factions and civil wars.

[Brennus]

@Olly, if by "Brennan" you are refering to myself then I would like to explain. When I said the next preview would be an atomic bomb I meant that it would make a big impact on the forum purely becuase there hasn't been a preview in a while now. I didn't mean the next preview would contain a faction which no one expects but rather it will receive alot of attention and greatly influence the politically situation on the map if indeed it is a Belgic, Iberian or Germanic faction as within those areas it will curtail the expansion of the factions already present in those regions.

Also I am not a member of the EBII team, in case my post led you to believe I was, thus I have no idea which faction will be revealed.

[Mithridates VI Eupator]

Did you not see the Pritanoi preview? Mental squirrel death rays are in!

But seriously he said that the next preview would be an "atomic bomb" in reference to everyone speculating on the factions being belgae and iberian so I'm expecting a surprise in the next one.......... whenever that is...........................

Just so everyone is clear on that, Brennus is not a member of the EB team, so his remark is just an educated guess. Unless he has somehow hacked our internal fora...

In any case, I think that we still have a few surprises in store for you!

EDIT: You beat me to it, Brennus!

[B-Wing]

Dang, you mean this atomic bomb shelter I've been burrowing for the past two weeks isn't going to be necessary? I guess that I also took him too seriously. But really, it doesn't seem certain to me that the next preview will be of an unrevealed faction. I'm personally really looking forward to a preview for the Bosporan Kingdom, mainly because I have no idea what to expect in terms of their units and government system. Though, if EB1's AoR units are a good representation, they may just be typical Hellenic units, plus a few Scythians and one awesome heavy foot archer unit.

[Brennus]

Just so everyone is clear on that, Brennus is not a member of the EB team, so his remark is just an educated guess. Unless he has somehow hacked our internal fora...
EDIT: You beat me to it, Brennus!

Never underestimate the technical prowess of an archaeologist. I must say I didn't reaise so many of the team worked in lap dancing clubs...

[stratigos vasilios]

I had quite a laugh reading the above posts. Who knew Brennus was "on the EB team".

*makes quote sign with fingers*

[Brennus]

Who dares doubt my modding abilities?



Any hints from the EBII team as to what the occultus factions are? I'll draw you a pretty picture if you help us out...

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

Who dares doubt my modding abilities?



Any hints from the EBII team as to what the occultus factions are? I'll draw you a pretty picture if you help us out...

Nice concept art!

[B-Wing]

Is that a Bartix unit? General's bodyguard, perhaps?

[olly]

Yes.

I may have got confused.

And sorry for getting your name wrong Brennus.

[Brennus]

And sorry for getting your name wrong Brennus.

That's alright.

[Cyclops]

...Unless he has somehow hacked our internal fora... ...

Oh we all have. In fact we're all playing pirate EB2 now, and just keeping up pretences with all the occultus guessing games.

Its a great mod btw, but the Lugians and Nabataeans are a bit OP (camel riding FMs ftw!) and maybe you could tweak the Western Greek City State Alliance start positions so the Etruscans don't get rolled so easily.

[stratigos vasilios]

Brennus, you forgot to put the word Occultus over that sig you made. Now everyone can see which faction it is, the Celtibrennus'.

...Ok I think we've shaken the life out of this joke now.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Oh we all have. In fact we're all playing pirate EB2 now, and just keeping up pretences with all the occultus guessing games.

Its a great mod btw, but the Lugians and Nabataeans are a bit OP (camel riding FMs ftw!) and maybe you could tweak the Western Greek City State Alliance start positions so the Etruscans don't get rolled so easily.

Well if that is the case this should end the debate on releasing the mod quite nicely. There's no need for us to release anything, since you already got it!

[Brennus]

Well if that is the case this should end the debate on releasing the mod quite nicely. There's no need for us to release anything, since you already got it!

That's ok, sorry we all got impatient. Now which of the four Goidelic factions to play as today, decision decisions. If you need any more high quality concept art just let me know.



As stratigos said maybe best we move on before Ludens comes after us. Is there any chance of the team giving us a clue as to what the occultus factions are?

[stratigos vasilios]

For some reason I'm feeling the Helvetii. Have they been ruled out?

[Brennus]

I had a similar feeling a few weeks ago. Although they were small I think they would be a worthy candidate. After all they were both powerful enough to cause the Romans concern on two occassions and were expansionist (migratory) at at least one point in their history, plus we know how their government functioned and that they employed a phalanx formation (at least in the first century BC).

As the Saba and the Pritanoi have survived as inclusions I think it gives the Helvetii a good chance.

[Tochata]

I agree that the Helvetii may be a great guess based on the starting position of the Eleutheroi tribe already in that area in EB1. The other new factions that have been confirmed have stronger than average starting position compared to other eleutheroi tribes in EB1.

[Ibrahim]

Who dares doubt my modding abilities?

I do.

so does Scorpion :

I had a similar feeling a few weeks ago. Although they were small I think they would be a worthy candidate. After all they were both powerful enough to cause the Romans concern on two occassions and were expansionist (migratory) at at least one point in their history, plus we know how their government functioned and that they employed a phalanx formation (at least in the first century BC).

As the Saba and the Pritanoi have survived as inclusions I think it gives the Helvetii a good chance.

makes sense to me. Now let's wait and see if it will be included.

[Cyclops]

Well if that is the case this should end the debate on releasing the mod quite nicely. There's no need for us to release anything, since you already got it!

...except I lost mine again.

Pls don't punish me for being a smartypants...

.... Now which of the four Goidelic factions to play as today, decision decisions...

Lol the Atlantaeans aren't Goidelic.

[anubis88]

It's nice to see that this thread isn't spammed in. At all