Less Civilized Factions

[Macilrille]

Haha, I'm not much of a history guy so whatever I know I got from movies Though those battles were interesting, they happened a while past EB times didn't they? Whatever

Arausio, greatest Roman defeat ever was inflicted by Cimbri and Teutons in 105 BC. Sort of in the middle of EB timeframe if you keep to historical expansion. Close to the end in a normal game. Hadrianopolis was 378 AD and outside it yes, but let me instead site some other actual battles between Roman armies and German ones within EB Timeframe.

• 112 BC, Noriea, Cimbrii "confederation" vs Res Publica Romani, Cimbrii victory.
• 109 BC, Narbonensis and Burdigala, same. Though it can be argued that ambush and feigned retreat tactics played a role in these battles.
• 105 BC Arausio.
• 102 BC, Aquae Sextiae, Teutons (part of the "confederation") vs Res Publica Romana, Rome's "new army" wins (Marian Reforms, though he did not in fact reform much).
• 101 BC, Battle of Vercellae, Cimbrii vs Res Publica Romana, Roman win.
  
• 60 BC, Magetobriga, Averni and Sequianii with Suebi support/mercenaries under Ariovistus vs Aedui. Aedui loss. Though it is not a Rome-German battle and we do not know how it was fought, the Germans were apparently decisive in it and when they confront Rome two years later it is as an army ready to do battle, not as ambushers.
• 58 BC, Battle of Vosges, Suebi vs Caivs Ivlivs Caesar, Roman win.

If you look just after the EB timeframe, there are numerous actual battles between Arminus' alliance and the Romans as Germanicus attempted to resubjugate the lost province, as well as one between Arminus Cherusci + allies and Marbod's Marcomanni + allies of which Tacitus says that the armies were ordered in the same way as the Roman one...

As for getting knowledge from films I sincerely hope you are jesting, for you might as well get no knowledge; ignorance is better than wrong information. And, I might add, by installing EB you have agreed to read more history.

Seek enlightenment!!!

[athanaric]

As for getting knowledge from films I sincerely hope you are jesting, for you might as well get no knowledge; ignorance is better than wrong information.

Indeed, most films featuring Germanic people(s) are either horrible or totally inaccurate - actually, both.


I imagine that in the hands of a skilled player, the Getai are one of the most fearsome factions. They combine the badassery of the Swêboz with the versatility of the Seleukids.

[Kikaz]

Indeed, most films featuring Germanic people(s) are either horrible or totally inaccurate - actually, both.


I imagine that in the hands of a skilled player, the Getai are one of the most fearsome factions. They combine the badassery of the Swêboz with the versatility of the Seleukids.

Being defeated by the Getai is essentially the EB equivalent of rape... They had their way with you and there ain't a thing you can do about it.

[Kevin]

Being defeated by the Getai is essentially the EB equivalent of rape... They had their way with you and there ain't a thing you can do about.

It's the Roman's fault for dressing that way.

[DaciaJC]

Being defeated by the Getai is essentially the EB equivalent of rape... They had their way with you and there ain't a thing you can do about.

This is making its way into my sig...

[Kikaz]

This is making its way into my sig...

I had the feeling someone would sig it...

[Kevin]

The only faction I would never play are the Sauromatae. They have weak horse archers compared to the other eastern nomads, they're towns are really spread out, they have the worst economy, the least infrastructure, and no infantry (besides some armourless regional barbarians). But, if you want a challenge...

[chenkai11]

The only faction I would never play are the Sauromatae. They have weak horse archers compared to the other eastern nomads, they're towns are really spread out, they have the worst economy, the least infrastructure, and no infantry (besides some armourless regional barbarians). But, if you want a challenge...

I do have a plan for this faction, to eradicate everything in their path. Slaughtering, looting, destroying, leaving nothing behind and move on. Start from homeland traveling west until spain, then down to africa and travel east until India and up to SAKA region then back to homeland. Objective is - a whole map of Eleutheroi, except Sauromatae homeland. Army strategy is - outside homeland region use all mercenaries and regional units in front, keeping every factional units survive the journey as much as the gods wish. Economy strategy is - use all possible resources to upkeep a 3 full stack army without negative income. If necessary will spend sometime in a big city or two before destroying it. Spies and diplomats will play a important role here, as allies and ambushes are necessary for this insane plan.

[Kikaz]

The only faction I would never play are the Sauromatae. They have weak horse archers compared to the other eastern nomads, they're towns are really spread out, they have the worst economy, the least infrastructure, and no infantry (besides some armourless regional barbarians). But, if you want a challenge...

I haven't played them yet, but they seem to become a "tan-death" quite often and dish out many a nut cracking.

[king of thracia]

The only faction I would never play are the Sauromatae. They have weak horse archers compared to the other eastern nomads, they're towns are really spread out, they have the worst economy, the least infrastructure, and no infantry (besides some armourless regional barbarians). But, if you want a challenge...

Now now,
you really only need the Roxolani riders, and
you start out near the ocean and the greek coasts.

You are close to Rhomphaiaphoroi recruiting grounds; units which can annihilate armored horsemen while standing up to missile fire. You can get by with Drapanai against Hellenic and western armored cavalry. Thureopherontes Toxotai recruited from the Chersonesos region bordering you are armored composite bow infantry archers with high lethality swords. You can recruit the Roxolani riders anywhere you expand, and even if you are driven out of the steppe the coastal cities provide a booming economy anyway.

So you have a dominating cavalry you can recruit anywhere, quality foot archery to mow down all kinds of archer enemies, horse slaughtering infantry, and a booming economy all within close geographical range. My advice is to abandon the steppe and look south.

I don't like the steppe myself. But Sarmatians actually have quite a bit going for them. In fact, I think I will play them next, soon as I'm done promoting civilization ruling from the greatest throne in the world, ARCHE SELEUKEIA