Twitter discussion

**moonburn** · 05-30-2013, 15:16

where is the skenelendo province ? and why so many new regionals ? and why so much enphasis on krete is krete finally going to be portraited properly with the constant civil war and 5(?) factions fighting for the control of the island ?

today your out of luck it´s back to my 5 years of age stage the why age!

**Arjos** · 06-01-2013, 08:37

Originally Posted by moonburn

where is the skenelendo province?

Looking at the map, posted by VT Marvin, Skanelendo is southern Norway and Sweden...

Originally Posted by moonburn

and why so many new regionals ? and why so much enphasis on krete is krete finally going to be portraited properly with the constant civil war and 5(?) factions fighting for the control of the island ?

I don't think it calls for such depth, but Kretikoi were definitely employed almost in every single conflict during the Hellenistic Period...
And as the last interview has shown, they did not fight solely with bows, so I'm glad they received that well deserved attention :)

On other news:

Arevaci farm descriptions completed. - Brennus

Ethiopian Spearman vs. Machimoi - nazgool
Render no.1 pic.twitter.com/Go7W3xdbcc

Ethiopian Spearman vs. Machimoi - nazgool
Render no.2 pic.twitter.com/UIZ8pNaIlx

Ethiopian Spearman vs. Machimoi - nazgool
Render no.3
https://img547.imageshack.us/img547/5409/2kopiai.png …

New interview, this time with 2D artist Haithabas, posted on our fan forum. Check it out at https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?143931-An-interview-with-10 …

**B-Wing** · 06-01-2013, 18:26

Love the Ethiopian unit! Really makes me sad that there won't be an Ethiopian faction of some kind.

**Cybvep** · 06-02-2013, 11:25

So Gaesatae have spears instead of swords now? Why? Is this a balance measure? Spear is a weapon which requires discipline and close formation in order to be employed effectively, i.e. in a shieldwall. One would think that naked fanatics using chemicals which allow them to ignore pain would love to chop things off and show their battle prowess that way ;).

**Ludens** · 06-02-2013, 11:51

Originally Posted by Cybvep

Spear is a weapon which requires discipline and close formation in order to be employed effectively, i.e. in a shieldwall.

Pikes require a close formation, but a short spear is a perfectly good duelling weapon. It's like a short sword with a greater reach. Yes, it can be batted aside, but against a good spearman that will be a lot more difficult than you think.

**Arjos** · 06-02-2013, 13:19

Oh man the rampant stereotypes XD

The Gaisatoi were highly professional bands and no fanatics. It's possible they underwent an initiation, with specific substances and a ceremony. That however had nothing to do with tactics and warfare per se, it was their specific ethnic/social trait. It belonged to the sphere of comradery, warrior bonds and class distinction. Also fighting naked was a chioce, either tactical (climate, geography or psychology) or made by the individual to show his defiance towards peril. And this wasn't restricted to the Gaisatoi, but was very much valid for any warrior. For it stated that he could rely solely on his prowess, despite having the means to finance defensive armour.
As for their equipment they could afford any sort of it, their chiefs are recorded as possessing chainmail too. Their name clearly speaks for the use of spears (Gaisatoi = Those who bear the Gaesum). Obviously they had swords, these were the symbol of the warrior class, but even taking their gods into account, the spear in keltic society was the main tool for war.

**Cybvep** · 06-02-2013, 13:25

Originally Posted by Ludens

Pikes require a close formation, but a short spear is a perfectly good duelling weapon. It's like a short sword with a greater reach. Yes, it can be batted aside, but against a good spearman that will be a lot more difficult than you think.

I'm not implying that a spearman is useless by any means and skill is probably more important than anything else, BUT I think that in battle conditions a shieldwall would still be much more effective than individual spearmen fighting "duels". In EB1, the vast majority of cheap, non-Hellenic low-tier infantry units have spears, while mercenaries and nobles usually have swords, which doesn't surprise me at all. It seems like a waste to arm the Gaesatae with short spears and in EB1, they had longswords, hence my questions.

The Gaisatoi were highly professional bands and no fanatics

A description from the EB's website:

Historically, the Gaesatae were Gallic naked religious fanatics. Their skill was a source of terror, and their frightful appearance shook many. Most horrifying, even beyond their size and skill and terrifying cries, was their seeming invincibility. A chemical they used allowed them to brush off and ignore any pain. They were remarked to do things such as rip javelins that had struck them free from their bodies, and hurl them back, and continue to fight with gashes and wounds that would have surely fell a normal man. They were Hannibal's favored Gallic mercenaries, and were used as his personal guards, as they were so devoted and trustworthy, as well as brave and skilled.

Are you implying that this description is nonsensical?

Their name clearly speaks for the use of spears (Gaisatoi = Those who bear the Gaesum).

I thought that it was because of the javelins which they used. EB's website:

The Gaesatae (Guy-sah-tay; "Spearmen") are easily one of the most fearsome groups of warriors in the known world. They fight stripped bare but for neck torcs and sometimes their shoes or boots. They fight with longswords, but are named for their incredible skill with javelins; they can hurl them unnaturally long distances and deal great damage with them. Their charge is most ferocious though, causing many lines to simply fold and flee. This is not all solely due to skill and strength, though they are experienced and huge, muscular men. They imbibe a chemical before battle making them seemingly impervious to pain. They will fight to the very end, and are very destructive when employed properly.

**Arjos** · 06-02-2013, 13:39

Yup, that is very much outdated for the Gaisatoi...

There probably were men, who dedicated themselves to some divinity and followed a religious code of conduct, but they were completely different (something related to the lore of man-demons, falling into god-inspired trance). The Gaisatoi were professional bands for hire, with their own hierarchy...

Javelin is a bit misleading, because the Gaesum was very heavy, but yes they did throw them. Still the best description would be throwing spear, such designed to cause great damage to both equipment and foe. Although the idea that all of them would have high quality longswords is overblown, it would've been the prerogative of their respective higher classes. Still these would use primarly an heavy short spear too...