Let's Play: Rome 2 Total War - Completed - ROMA INVICTA

[Rehab]

Oh god do I have a lot of reading to do, thanks so much for the writeups!

Torn between asking after Britain, due to ancestors, and Arabia, to see what their units are like

[IGdood]

Oh god do I have a lot of reading to do, thanks so much for the writeups!

Torn between asking after Britain, due to ancestors, and Arabia, to see what their units are like

No problem, I just like sharing military history around :D

Well, those are tough choices indeed. I made a poll in case people want to give input.

[IGdood]

CRETAN MOTHERFUCKING AHHCHUHS

ETHIOPIA WILL SOON BE OURS. Soon.

Who knew they'd have equipment like this? Will make reinforcements much easier to reequip instead of having to send them back to Cisalpina.

Manipulating enemy agents can lure them over to our faction. This allows the player to get over the agent cap.

As we make our way down to Axum, Mercenary Sabaens show up. They're kind of like Proto-Arab, if you will.

I pick the Aethiopians instead.

Guerilla warfare is nasty business. The AI enjoys hiding its troops in the desert. I cannot give chase because Roman troops suffer massive attrition baking in the desert. The enemy African troops don't.

We can recruit our own Sabaens with an Auxiliary Camp.

I think we're surrounded.

LEGIO "AFRICAN VICTORY BY TWILIGHT" WILL SAVE THE DAY

Egypt has only been sending Saboteurs over so the Bronze Wolves can reclaim lost ground.

Arachosia suddenly offers to take down Egypt for a price. Why the hell not, we have money.

Whoa, where did you come from? I'll get you next year.

Nah, the patch made it 2 turns per year now instead of 1 turn per year. That way generals and agents will last longer.

Meanwhile, the covert warfare gets nasty. Any available spy, champion, and dignitary is sent to Alexandria to wage war on the combined might of Egypt's and Blemmye's spies, sages, nobles, and rubbish.

Fucking Cappodacia, why are you getting involved?

Meanwhile, Nabatea has had enough.

A fleet has been raised to defend our island interests.

Just...2....more....cities....

Fuckin' guerrillas, LET'S CLEAR THEM OUT.

SEND IN THE DOGS

I like how the dog handlers are clapping with their swords and shields.

FALCCCOOOON.. I mean... LUPIIINNEE...........CLUUUUUUUUB!

WE HAVE CONQUEEERREEDDD

Or not.

More armies show up out of nowhere.

"MARCH UNTIL YOUR FEET BLEED. THEN MARCH SOME MORE!"- AVBT Commander, upon ordering his troops into forced march.

Alright, assholes. Let's finish this.

The garrison will hopefully be able to hold out until the light cavalry and light infantry arrive. Patch 3 nerfed unit run speeds.

The light infantry will head straight to the plaza square. The others will attempt to hit the enemy forces directly.

The idiots get caught in the cross-fire. Still, it doesn't do much to stop them though.

Rorarii may not be worth much, but against light African cavalry they can deliver quite an effective defence.

How the fuck...

FASTER. FASTAH. GALLOP LIKE YOU MEANT IT!

Got their archers. CUT'EM AND GUT 'EM

Our archers have arrived! Albeit they're a bit tired from the run.

When the enemy crosses that crosstreet... they'll be fucked.

Javelins, arrows, and stones rain from the air. The oval shields are practically useless.

Sucks to be the guy in the middle of it all.

I think our conquest is over.

Due to popular vote, we'll be heading to Briton for a brief detour (the rest of the armies are there) and then we'll sweep Arabia and go East afterwards.

[IGdood]

The Bronze Wolves, Euskadi and AVBT will not be participating for the duration of the conquest of Britain. They're busy keeping the Aethiopian front secure and will take steps into Magna Arabia if possible.

Nothing really amazing about the Sabaens.

A naval invasion through Iska would be direct, albeit costly. We'll look for a way in via Caledonia (that's ancient Ireland, I think)

Cappadocia, you fuckers!

Vigiles have the exact same stats as Rorarii despite the cloaks and more decorated shields.

Eastern infantry are also affectionately known as "Pajama Men" by the Total War fandom.

They try their best to throw javelins up the walls at my slingers, to no avail.

After what seems to be forever they manage to destroy the gates after suffering immense losses. By then they were too weak and depleted to make an effective assault.

Those ranged units who had run out of ammo will move to the other gate to fend off enemies there.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE, EASTERNER?

I bet I can take out all those slingers out there. RIGHT?! RIGHT!???

Wrong.

CHAAAARRRGGGE DEATH OR GLORY

The plebs don't tie up the slingers as well as I thought, and the AI knows to prioritize hitting my legionnaires from all directions with rocks. It hurts.

The AI, however, goes into passive buggy mode where it just stands there and does nothing. I do what I can, and let the game run in the background for 30 minutes while I did other things. I win by countdown timer. It's funny how they fix this bug in Fall of the Samurai, then somehow it worms its way back in for Rome 2.

Also more annoying is the I-can't-get-off-the-ship bug. A single soldier can't get off the ship, rendering the unit unresponsive and untargetable by land units.

In response to recent events, a new defense legion has been raised to guard our eastern interests.

Time to die.

Dacians don't look too different from the Celtics. The Thracians look pretty kickass though.

Slingers? FUCK EM. CHARGE!

Our Dacian detachment goes in first to carve up some British barbarians.

"Save some for the rest of us!" - Numidians

Bah, you tribes better give me a better fight than the Germanians and the Gauls did.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

Welcome to Planet Hell, we'll do what the Luftwaffe failed to do. Bomb them. Whoever survives the bombing will take a javelin to the head.

Panic shall rip through the streets! There is no shelter. There is no hope! Submit to the mighty Roman war machine! There is no Boudica to save your asses!

Some of the Coarse Lads cavalry make their way to the village to give it a final flush via equine.

Wow, Capitoline Brigade is currently commanded by Pompei. Yes, THAT Pompei who later fought against Julius Caesar in the real Roman Civil War.

[Rehab]

I happened to get Scipio Africanus leading my samurai the other day in Civ 4. I'm guessing the way Total War determines what the generals' identities are differs a bit from however that might've happened

(also cool playthrough stuff once again etc.)

[IGdood]

I happened to get Scipio Africanus leading my samurai the other day in Civ 4. I'm guessing the way Total War determines what the generals' identities are differs a bit from however that might've happened

(also cool playthrough stuff once again etc.)

Thanks for reading and keeping up with the LP!

As far as I know from what I gather on the forums, historical figures will spawn on the dates that their real life counterparts were famous in. They will also have slightly higher stats to boot.

While our forces make war in Arabia and the British Isles, these fellows declare war.

It would also appear that Marc Antony is in-game.

Godammit. I thought it downgraded the upgrades on the units, but it seems like nothing really happened...?

Reaching rank 5 is no small feat. Time to level up some Bittermelons.

For some reason the pathfinding on the Fiorentina Coarse Lads sent me through a snowy forest. The attrition damage inflicted after their march made them unsuitable for further combat. Fuck.

The new patch 4 changed Forced March such that getting attacked while in this stance automatically turns the battle into an ambush. First Capua FIGHT exploits.

The results are....extremely satisfying. If you want to know what it means to be FUBAR, here's what.

There was nothing they could've done. There was no time to react.

Meanwhile Euskadi gets auxiliary elephants.

The Capuans will have to do this without the Coarse Lads, who recover quickly thanks to speccing in Grand Camp Following...

Enabling Level IV buildings allows me to convert over non-Roman level IV buildings to Roman ones... Makes things neater.

Coarse Lads back in action!

You'll see some new units wearing Hellenic linothorax armor. No worries, they're barbarians to the heart...they just happen to be those alpine tribes that come into regualr contact with Hellenic influences. Other new units are just mid-high tier units made for history's sake.

British slingers rip apart our skirmishers, who barely get any kills in befre they were forced to retreat.

Well, no worries. The Coarse Lads are a melee-oriented force, and everyone else carries javelins that are used for the charge.

With most of the infantrymen using both spear and sword/axe, they're versatile.

Not much to say, it was a small garrison. We're also making progress down in Arabia...

Camulodon is assaulted by the Capitoline Brigade. It looks to be a most glorious assault. The walls are useless; our thrice-calibrated siege engines are more than capable of reducing these barbarian constructs into rubble and woodchips.

1st person mode teehee

INTO THE BREACH WITH MARS' BLESSING. GLORY TO THE FIRST MAN TO DIE, CHARGE!

Not even a charge from British cavalry could break us. Not a chance. It's always a slaughter.

Somehow I didn't get a screenshot of what I was attacking, but I assume its Dumnonii's sole settlement.

Cretan archers wear linothorax but I don't think they were assigned the appropriate armor values in the game files....hm...

The Iberian will guard the rear and flanks. The Greek section of the Bittermelons will do battle today.

Arrow showers ruin anybody's day. Peltasts just make it worse.

I fail to notice that one unit of Rhodian slingers took a lot of counterfire until they were almost dead.

Meanwhile, I move up the pikemen. FORWARD, QUICK MARCH

With the enemy kept at bay, I send in the hoplites to finish things off. They took more casualties than I expected.....of course that's because it turns out the barbarians had Scorpions in the rear...

Man, these Brigantes sure love being ambushed.

[IGdood]

Poor fuckers never stood a chance.

They ally against us. It's not going to work.

These bastards wouldn't stop harassing Ptolemais Theron. Time to put an end to such annoyances.

WE ARE LEGION. The chariots are just for show.

Elephants are great at combat. However, they fall extremely easily to javelins.

Damn line of sight... I didn't see those javelineers until they were extremely close. I retreat the elephants but the javelineers caught up.

Fortunately, the legionnaires get close enough.

"We're surrounded! Poor bastards..."

Slingers appear right behind us. The equites are sent to smash them. Some spearmen hang about, but they are quickly pinned down by our own Italic spears so the cavalry can wipe the slingers out without too much trouble.

Still, there's so many slingers I don't have much of a choice but to send everybody forward. While I have a lot of cavalry, the slingers are all over the damn place and they can't get to everybody. Our own are firing off their own, so the situation isn't too bad.

British scout riders carry their own lances and are more dangerous than their German counterparts, who carry tiny shortswords.

Still, our cavalry won the day, given time.

Euskadi also improves its army traditions. Heavy infantry and melee attack.

Cappodacia asks for peace.....and perhaps we can send our armies to the East now. The British Isles are pretty much ours.

Advanced farms will soon be available.

The Coarse Lads reach the maximum unit cap with the addition of British mercenaries and auxiliaries to the army. The Massalian Hoplites, after much debate, are transferred to the Bittermelon because of their claim to be as Greek as any other.

Some random steppe nation offers to be our client state. Okay...

[Rehab]

I fail to notice that one unit of Rhodian slingers took a lot of counterfire until they were almost dead.

Meanwhile, I move up the pikemen. FORWARD, QUICK MARCH

...Stonehenge? haha what

[IGdood]

...Stonehenge? haha what

Oh shit, didn't notice.

Previously in ROME 2 TOTAL WAR our able, faithful legions had conquered the British Isles and now make their way down to Arabia and the East. The journey of the fleets will take awhile, so Bronze Wolves, Euskadi, and whoever else is down there (AVBT?) will have to work without support. For the moment, at least.

It probably isn't coincidence that Marcus Antonious as 12 Zeal off the bat. The combat bonuses to his bodyguard is absolutely massive. We won't be getting support, let's see what we can conquer for Rome.

No blitzing this one. We'll wait.

Not going to autoresolve this one. Already did for the past 3 battles.

The German Scout Riders charge a group of slingers, but they fail to inflict much damage, and thus were ordered to withdraw before they started dying a lot. The Spear Brothers were sent in, and after some heated combat the rest of the melee troops were sent in as mop up. Textbook.

Seleuca is under siege and...we'll wait for the siege engines to be created.

EUSKADI, LET'S FUCKING DO THIS! Surely those Scorpion Towers can't kill all of us. And that turtle siege engine is a strange way to say "battering ram"

Our legionnaires were confident. They thought the ladders and ram could block incoming scorpion bolts. But for some reason, the scorpion bolts fired from towers killed 3-4 men per shot, but the ones fired from the scorpion engines on the ground only kill 1 man at a time. The casualties were horrible. Men fought for the walls as quickly as possible the scorpions killed them. Whole units perished. Nothing would ever be the same again.

Siege engines with a totally dead crew went out of control, glitching and battering the air. As the regular legionnaires died off, the veterans and Praetorians were sent in.

The Euskadi paid for every step in blood. The city's garrison yielded, but at what cost?

The problem is that the Euskadi Legion is a Marian-reform themed legion. The units aren't the Cohort units found in Adeptus Serenus and in Legio AVBT, and so they are irreplaceable. Disbandment is out of the question, so....the decision lies in whether to upgrade...or to do something more historically accurate...

AVBT heard of the casualties. The general knew that bottlenecking situations (limited ladders, confusion in pathfinding) created death traps for legionnaires. He decided that the light troops (which Euskadi did not have) would go first, withdraw before they're killed off entirely, and in general become scorpion bolt meatshields for the heavier troops that will do the killing.

Sabaen units...surprisingly enough, look exactly like the Aethiopian units. I may have made the Mercenary versions of the Aethiopians, but they use existing models. I wasn't sure what I'd expect, but I feel less inclined to keep the Sabaen units.

The plan was sort of successful. So far most of the casualties were from the missile troops. Covering fire was sporadic but existent, and the legionnaires had a moderately easy time clearing the enemy archers from the walls.

As the gates opened, all who could still fight charged in. Defended by measly Hillmen and Spearmen, they were no match.

We lost some units though, but they're expendable auxiliaries.

Times change and men must adapt. While Euskadi Legion used to be a pure Roman legion, now it will be reborn as one of the Eastern legions of the Empire. Arabs and Easterners will join up to fight for Roman glory and gold.

The Bronze Wolves aren't going for siege assaults. Best to just starve out the garrison.

The First Capua Fight make a short drop in Sardinia to recruit some Sardinian Archers, a new unit I created after doing some research on the peoples of the island.

The Gerrhae don't have much left. Wipe them!

Ethiopian Cavalry are just rape machines.

The spearmen held out surprisingly long against the Praetorians. While killing little, I was surprised they didn't unrealistically melt away.

[IGdood]

But all peasants must fall to the gladius. It was only a matter of time.

Lacking any tactical sense, the general runs himself into a skirmisher trap.

This tech would've been nice to have had.... 10 turns ago.

Huh, my client state is apparently doing some conquering on their own.

The legions finally arrive at the Eastern provinces. Things are gonna GIT GUD

The Euskadi have the first battle where the Arabian auxiliaries will be put to the test. The results were mediocre. The camel archers didn't kill much until I ordered the to shoot at enemy skirmishers. The melee camels didn't do much damage and one of them even ended up routing off the battlefield. Perhaps it was because these units were new recruits....but still..they were fighting slingers. SLINGERS.

And the Romans had to come in and save the fucking day.

Every legion will take one Eastern province!

Breaking a non-aggression pact =...?

Starving enemies out also cause casualties to your own forces. Ah well.

Sometimes the enemy sallies out and will fight you on a field. Let's oblige them this time.

Heh, Sardinian Achers. I think I'll have to change the officer model though. This guy is too African.

The enemy consists of mostly Hillmen, Skirmishers, and some noble cavalry. My own cavalry hide behind the sand dunes before delivering a crushing pincer grip blow.

Seems like nothing can stop the Capuans. Good for them.

The Seleucids attempt to steal Edessa before my guys get there. They succeed. They will pay.

Adeptus Serenus finally gets some action, and I should seriously take screenshots of names of settlements I'm fighting around.

Like with the battle between rebels and First CAPUA FIGHT, I hide the cavalry behind sand dunes and flank.

The enemy has pike units this time, but they die quickly when they get disorderly. The enemy skirmisher cavalry also could not..well..skirmish because my own cavalry intercepted them.

Lion hoods and Dacian cavalrymen are fucking beast.

Clearly, he forgot how to horse.

THESE PLEBS

YOU WILL GIVE BACK WHAT IS MINE

It is the Coarse Lads' turn. These British auxiliaries sure look kinda funny wearing Roman colors.

The AI army regrouped in the beginning of the battle, but as they came together my slingers and archers fired away to kill plenty of their men. The main clash didn't amount to much, it was mostly just an overwhelming charge.

[IGdood]

Don't fuck with the Coarse Lads.

Unless you're a Shieldbearer (elite Hellenic infantry), in which case you're able to fuck over some poor sops.

The Arabian Peninsula is now ours. The Empire will grow stronger!

As Eastern provinces come under our control, Eastern units will begin to appear in our recruit rosters.

Persian units sound interesting. Not sure if I should add them into the ranks of Adeptus Serenus or into the ranks of the Euskadi Legion.

You're probably wondering why a bunch of Celts are settled in the East. Well, the Galatians were one badass tribe that led a path of conquest from their homeland to Ancyra, where they drove out the inhabitants and settled down there. Galatians then offered their sword to the surrounding Easterners, Hellenes, and even to places like Egypt where they served as heavy sword and spear infantry.

FREE SYRIA

A food shortage from overupgrading buildings takes place during these peaceful years. Many soldiers die from starvation, only to be replaced by raw recruits downgrading the experience levels of the legions. Champions have already been sent to legions that need additional training. Good thing the food shortage disappeared with the upgrading of farm buildings.

That is all for the time being. I like the East. Plenty more archers than in the West, for sure.

[IGdood]

The eastwards march continues.

Euskadi gets some new auxiliary recruits to replace the legionnaires lost from that disastrous siege.

This looks like a sufficiently huge battle.

Since I had so much cavalry, it was easy to control the battlefield. The reinforcements coming in from the right were spearmen, so I had to dismount my noble horsemen to avert any anti-cavalry bonuses.

They did their job well and took minimal losses, if any. Unfortunately their horses were scared away so I essentially lost a heavy cavalry unit and gained a heavy spear unit. It'll be awhile before they can rejoin the line. The other cavalry were okay, however

You're probably wondering what that single unit is doing so far away. Turns out that Ambushers can be deployed almost anywhere on the map before the battle begins.

Some deer scatter before me. As my force marches ahead, the AI made a quick run into the forests and hills. Tree terrain decreases the effectiveness of cavalry units and the effects of ranged attacks. Looks like the new patch fixed the AI a bit.

When suddenly....

FLAMING BALLS OF FIRE ROLL DOWN THE HILLS AND INTO MY ARMY. My skirmishers got away, not so much for the slow heavy infantry. Holy shit.

The Coarse Lads got mad.

They got so mad they just did a massive fuckall charge.

Cavalry reinforcements arrive and cause further mayhem and panic down the enemy line. Their noble spearmen proved to be quite a match for the Spear Band, but Coarse Lad mentality demands only manliness and Cockneyism. No running. Ever.

Not even the most dangerous cavalry unit in-game, the Royal Cataphracts, could do much. They were a pain to take down, but without being able to charge they were little more than extremely heavily armored speed bumps.

We make our way up into the Caucasus mountains. Judging by it's going to be a lot of light spears and light axemen. The hillmen love their axes.

The Bittermelon Brigade finds one more cavalry unit to fill out its ranks.

Archers begin to enter the ranks of the Euskadi.

I played out a few other uninteresting battles. I thought these screenshots were kind of funny. Those Easterners look fierce but they crumble against Roman armor and discipline.

This battle was one of my favorites and really showcased what it meant to be a bitter Greek steamrolling enemies for Rome.

The battle opening was awkward. Enemy reinforcements came in bit by bit from the rear.

They distracted me enough that I didn't bother advancing until I cut them all down.

Companion cavalry is the most powerful cavalry that Hellenic powers can muster. Illyrian cavalry...isn't that great. It took a combined force of Illyrians, Thessalians, and Tarentines to shut those bastards down. The elite cavalry arm of Alexander the Great certainly isn't something you looked down upon.

The enemy pikemen were able to deploy their pikes and maneuver them so a single unit can't defeat them. However they falter extremely quickly when hit from 2 sides. However, there will always be 1 unit that will take the pikes from the front.

The only unit that can inflict damage on a pike unit is another pike unit. However, expect casualties on both sides and in general it's not a very pleasant spectacle. Front rankers get pushed into spear points by their rear companions.

As the reinforcements were being handled I lined up the hoplites, ordered them to form their shield phalanx, and advanced into the enemy. The devs stated that making them break out of phalanx when giving the attack order is a design decision, so all I did was keep them in phalanx and literally ordered them to march past their enemies. This way, they attacked whoever was in the way while still keeping the defense bonus and tight formation.

Still, street fighting is a messy affair and leads to what I can only describe as "clusterfuck"

The pikemen join the hoplites in the push, and ranged units rain hell from behind. I don't think the spearmen alone would have done so well; the enemy had pretty high-tier swordsmen and javelinmen running around causing havoc.

The meatgrinding wins the day, and the enemies rout. Casualties were...acceptable.

The RNG Goddess loves Rome

SIGN UP FOR A GOOD AND GLORIOUS LIFE FIGHTING AND DYING FOR ROME

Our architecture knows no bounds.

[IGdood]

Some Iberians in the Bittermelon Brigade were disbanded to make way for Karians. Karians are some of the slightly Hellenized hilltribes in the East.

We are pretty much expanding all over the place now, including the north where the cold steppes are.

This is one of the battles where I used a more unorthodox tactic to win. The opponent's line consisted of mainly slingers and archers. I sent in a direct cavalry charge across their entire line while the infantry followed from behind. When the infantry got close enough I withdrew the cavalry.

These eastern names are just so foreign.

SIege weapons might be a bit OP in this game. Or maybe not, as I'm just bombing the fuck out of a village garrison.

I'm not gonna fight that ne out, but autoresolving to skip over the siege defenses seems like cheating. I'll just starve them out or something.

What the hell are you Hellenes doing all the way out here?

Well, time for Euskadi to shine again as a reborn Eastern legion.

The Red Sea Hoplites are basically Greco-Egyptian (mostly Greek) settlers of Egypt that lived along the Red Coast. Their hoplites forgo armor in exhange for better stamina in the heat.

Syrian Archers are basically archers with heavy iron scale armor. They can survive melees.

The Persian Parsig are the archers of the late Persian Empire. Most of them wear armor and wield spears in self-defense and so they can act as light spearmen when required.

COVERING FIRE!

A single unit of pikemen come from behind, but before they deployed their pikes the elephants kind of killed them all.

The lines engage. I send the camel archers to the sides so they can shoot into the unprotected rears of the enemy infantry.

The Arabian spearmen melt rather quickly, though I don't expect much from levy troops fighting professionals.

Note to self: Armored archers in melee against pikes still die extremely quickly.

2nd note to self: The 2-handed spear animation is almost identical to the yari vs yari animation from S2 and the bayonet animations from ETW and NTW.

Fuck, we permanently lost another unit of Veteran Legionnaires. Feels like permadeath.

Where are we...

Welp, suddenly this pops up. But I won't consider a victory until the whole map is red.

If you're wondering how far east Alexander got, he got all the way to modern day Afghanistan, aka Bactria in the classical period. Yup, Afghanistan used to be Hellenized.

The cavalry out here are pretty decent too. The units here are like East + Steppe, if that makes any sense.

It's also weird how many rebels are out here, like there's no single leader amongst them. Any minor faction out here is really weak.

Well, we got as far as Bactria.

More to come soon!

[IGdood]

Sorry for the delay, I was busy modding the fuck out of the game and releasing my mercenary unit packs.

Some mercenaries join the Euskadi Legion.

I decide that the Numidian Auxiliaries in Adeptus Serenus don't quite cut it, and replace them with the horse archers of the steppes.

Sidenote: Sacae in Fire Emblem is actually based on Saka, the steppe lands in modern day Kazahstan and other -stans.

Fuck nomads and nomadic troopers.

I was expecting more mounted enemies. Guess not.

Steppe infantry crumble like shit. Their cavalry last quite a bit in melee, but they fail to kill. After all, nomads shoot, they don't fight in sustained melee.

The Roman steamroll continues. Note the amount of slums are in Baktra. I think the nomads came by and razed the fucking place. Now it's a shithole and it's up to me to fix it.

I get bored and decide to give gifts of gold to the pets.

Oh look, more Dacians. Let's remove the fuckers.

No shields, no armor = ranged attacks kill them nearly instantly.

They have plenty of archers, but it looks like nobody's getting shot except my Thracian Cavalry. The battle was easy since their falx troops were notoriously weak to ranged attacks and their bowmen were shooting at the wrong targets.

And because I'm an idiot, I didn't notice that Legio AVBT lost their chariots to autoresolve a long time ago. Well they're back now..

I also have a fear of assaulting regional capitals because fuck scorpion towers. Fuck them to hell.

Baktria the faction is reinstated after a rebellion in a minor nomad-controlled settlement. I can now expand a bit without needing to declare war on the nomads.

It's kind of funny to see Greek influence get this far east, and well, it's histoically accurate.

Indian-Greek-Steppe cultural blend, first Greek Buddhists....

China sent envoys to Rome and they passed by here. Unfortunately, they never got to Rome because the fucking Parthians gave them false directions. Still, both empires knew of each other and had a very long indirect trade route.

But for all their uniqueness, they die quite easily.

The east also offers better elephant units. Indian elephants are bigger and carry archers.

With all the armies in place, it's time to move to the Steppes and clear out their horse archers.

Unfortunately, I don't find much resistance along the way. I'm not sure if it's because the new patches don't apply retroactively to game saves 100% or if steppe factions are...naturally poor?

We're almost done conquering Eurasia.

With the newly released Blood and Gore DLC today (sad, I know, but good thing Steam Trading Cards sell well), I decided to record 2 settlement assaults.

I really enjoy the voice acting in this game, it's one of the high points. I can safely say that with Patch 5, the game is quite playable and can be fun, but I do not believe it is the fun I was hyped for in the trailers.

Edited November 1, 2013 by IGdood

[IGdood]

All will fall before Rome. Only got a few settlements to conquer, and hopefully we'll get some great last stands. I doubt it though....

Even in Forced March stance it takes awhile to get from the East to Germania. I wonder if the Euskadi Legion will make it in time to take part in conquest.

Side effect of declaring war on factions left alone for 40-50 years: Your settlements get attacked. A good thing that the latest patch now fixes siege defenses so you get to choose your deployable engines prior to the defense.

Unfortunately, it doesn't even let you choose the locations of the deployable engines, which is bullshit. Regardless, the troops held out and fought off the initial ladder assault.

The AI may have been able to overwhelm me had they continued using the ladders, but after their "Designated ladder units" were routed off, they all proceeded to attempt to torch my gates. Then they bottlenecked themselves at the gate and boiling oil took care of the rest.

STEAMROLL. BY THE BLESSING OF MARS.

The last tech on the tech tree, and I don't even need a navy all that much anymore...

I wanted to record this battle, but the sheer amount of snow and weird lighting made for pretty blurry screens and footage. It was similar to a slow spear advance into the settlement and fending off enemies harassing my rear. The Iberian Cavalry took plenty of losses and were driven off the battlefield after they successfully halted a lancer charge.

Not sure what the point of assigning skillpoints is at this rate...but...yeah.

The next series of battles was recorded (there's 4 total)

The first battle details a typical Capitoline Brigade style siege assault, with massive engines of war just bombing the shit out of defenders and the infantry do clean up. The reason why they are few in number is because the pathfinding AI decided that they should walk through cold forests and thus incur attrition damage.

The second battle shows a coastal navy landing and taking over a somewhat well-defended rebel settlement. Missile troops stayed on their ships to provide fire support from the waters.

The third battle showcases Legio AVBT. I thought I'd get some action with elephants and chariots, but unfortunately the enemy AI sent all their troops at the laddermen I initially sent....

The fourth battle shows Adeptus Serenus clearing out a settlement. I was surprised the Plebs didn't die outright when facing elite German swordmaster units....

The last 2 screenshots showed the last non-allied settlement being conquered. The garrison was small so I just autoresolved it.

Aside from the client states, we now own all the provinces....and..well..it's over.

Conclusion: Rome 2 Total War didnt quite live up to the hype that Sega's expert marketing branch generated. The release was quite buggy and had a lot of features cut out and which were previously advertised. However, I do like how in the span of 2 months since its release, 5 going on 6 patches were released to fix a lot of the bugs and the game is decently fun.

I think Rome 2 is getting better. If they can get the siege AI right then I think there's a passably decent game on our hands.

A lot of people compare Rome 2 to Rome 1 and I hold a rather unpopular opinion. I'm not saying Rome 1 is good, because honestly at release Rome 1 was kind of shit with hyperspeed battles and even after the patches it was still at SONIC-levels. However, Rome 1 had something that Rome 2 most likely will never have: Great overhaul mods that dwell deep into the game and change it fundamentally from the ground up. Sega will never let modders touch and edit the game on that level (Rome 1 was published by Activision).

I was originally going to give the game a 5.5/10, but I think I can give it a 7/10 now. It's what a game should be at release. There is fun to be had, but it was not the fun one was hyped for by trailers.

I also apologize if I didn't get your favorite legion on camera I honestly did not think of recording until the blood and gore DLC pack was announced.

I hope you at least enjoyed the LP somewhat. Perhaps there will be an expansion pack in the future?

Future plan: I plan on doing a LP of XCOM: Enemy Within when it is released November 15, assuming Integrity isn't going to do it. It may be all video. May be.

And now..time for muh history writeups because I really like this.

Eastern Units

Asiatikoi Hippakontistai (Eastern Light Cavalry) [Eastern Skirmisher Cavalry]

These Asiatikoi horsemen represent a light, but versatile unit well able to skirmish and to perform screening duties. They have their uses in pursuit and thanks to their skills in using spears in melee, they are also the bane of light infantry. As light auxiliaries, they are also armoured with a linen corselet giving them light protection and more staying power than most other light cavalry. They are not suited for combat-intensive tasks, and will root if bogged down in melee, in particular against heavier contenders, whether they be mounted or on foot. Their low morale is also marked by the fact that these men often enlisted as mercenaries measuring loyalty by the amount of gold.

Historically, the Epigonoi were originally thoroughly Hellenized Persians, a part of Alexander's plan in fusing together Hellenic and Iranian traditions. Even if its originator's death put a dent to the success of that plan, this later extended to native Mesopotamians, Iranians and Scythians who were prevalent around the Near East. Epigonoi would be the Hellenzsed Asians who were born and raised by their non-Hellenic parents in Hellenistic poleis, who could speak Greek and be part of the Hellenistic world. Most of whom, however, weren't given that chance, thus turning to soldiery as a means to sustain themselves. Later on they would revenge the Hellenistic world for this injustice by turning into rebels or joining their enemies. As such, their equipment, albeit light, reflect local traditions in a military sense: They are armed like Hippakontistai or mounted skirmishers, armoured with a lineothorax, and a Phrygian cap. They are armed with a bundle of javelins and a thrusting spear for melee combat. As such, this unit represent Eastern horsemanship and attire, in combination with Hellenistic equipment.

Asiatikoi Hippeis (Medium Eastern Cavalry) [Eastern Cavalry...did we fight these guys? I don't remember but whatever]

These medium cavalry represent a versatile task-force well able to perform a wide range of roles in battle. They are excellent screeners well-suited to guard the flanks of a battle-line, well able to cut lighty armed horsemen to ribbons, as well as their qualities in pursuit. Such qualities would make them a worthwhile addition to any commander. They are armed with a thrusting spear, which they bear in an overhanded manner, and a vicious axe with a back-spike allowing them several advantages in melee. As such they are also suited for flanking and supportive roles. Still however, they are not well-suited to take on heavier cavalry or elite infantry formations, and their loyalty is only marked by the measured weight of gold.

Historically, these horsemen were prevalent around Asia Minor, the Near East, and further eastwards, marking them as an ethnically diverse contingent consisting of "Eastern" peoples, including Medeans, Persians, Albanians, Iberians, Armenians, Cappadocians and Syrians willing to fight for any wealthy master in exchange for whatever that may feed their horses and themselves for a longer term. As such, their equipment and clothing would also have differed, though not always were such horsemen drastically diverse in ethnical disposition. Comparatively they may be seen as a heavier variation of Pantodapoi horsemen.

Gund-î Paltâ (Eastern Skirmishers) [Eastern Javelinmen]

Armed with nothing but a small shield and a handful of javelins these men risk their lives in closing with the enemy with only the lightest of equipment. These men deploy in a cloud before the heavy infantry dashing back and forth to release their deadly missiles. These infantry skirmishers fought in open formations so as to maximize the number of men able to get a throw and minimize the effect of enemy missiles. Lacking armour, training and heavy weapons these light infantry stand no chance if committed to melee.

Historically, most armies of the classical period found use for poorly equipped levies as skirmishers, very often as javelinmen, as these troops required relatively little training and financial investment, relying mostly on widespread natural skills and scant gear, while still providing some useful service.

Shûbân-î Fradâkhshânâ (Eastern Slingers) [Eastern Slingers]

Slings are very easy and cheap to make and, yet, they are a respectable weapon. It is for this reason that they are so prevalent among the poverty-stricken hill tribes of the eastern lands. In battle, slingers are used as light skirmishers, troops with no armour or melee weapons but who rush forward against the enemy to pepper them with stones, only to flee when threatened. The best method of releasing a stone from a sling is by an underhand motion. These missiles can leave the sling in excess of 60 miles per hour. A well trained slinger can hurl a stone as far and as accurately as a good archer. The effect when they strike is nothing short of devastating.

Historically, slingers came from the shepherd boys of the highlands who use slings to herd sheep and goats. They stand guard in the upland pastures, and if they see an animal straying, they sling a stone in front of it to ward it back to safety. Ancient hand slings generally consisted of a single long strip of leather or woven wool, with a central "pocket" for the stone. The longer the sling, the greater would be its range. Long-range slings were about 3 feet long.

Tabargânê Êrânshahr (Eastern Axemen) [Hillmen units might also be based on these guys, especially the subsequent 2 units]

The Tabargân are steadfast warriors, aggressive and impetuous in temperament, valued by Iranians and Hellenes alike for their ferociousness and courage. These hillmen are recruited as irregulars from the mountains of Iran, not least from the Zagros and Elburz ranges, areas that breed toughness and have done so for centuries. Though certainly not as disciplined as Hellenic heavy infantry, nor even comparably attired, they are armed with the Sagaris, or the "Persian pick-axe" (Ironically being Scythian in origin) which they wielded with skill, and a bundle of javelins, and they are prepared for guerilla warfare tactics such as ambushes and surprise attacks; they are particularly fond of broken terrain where disciplined troops accustomed to fighting in formation would fare badly. This is facilitated by their light attire, as they bear no armour and the only true means of protection is a light shield, nimble movement and dauntless impetus, casting themselves into the fray. Distinguished by traditional Iranian highlander garb such as the Kyrbasia cap, baggy trousers, a woolen tunic, boots and a thick sheep-skin jerkin, these tough hillmen could almost be mistaken for shepherds or nomadic herders.
However, these hardy hillmen are nothing to scoff at, as the pick-axe could puncture helmets, and penetrate bronze and iron armour. The Tabargân were no less skilled with their javelins, in which the usage of javelin-thongs increased the stopping power and accuracy of the javelin, giving it a spin during flight. Using them properly, they will give a good account of themselves. Using them poorly on the other hand may prove suicidal and their dauntless bravery may quickly turn into fragile bravado.

Historically, the northern Iranian highlands are known for their hardy mountaineers who held all transgressors at bay. These men of the mountains were lightly ruled by all Persian Grandees who valued their warrior skills over what meagre income their mountain homes might bring. These men would be recruited from the warlike Gîlânî and Dailamî tribesmen of Verkhânâ (Hyrcania), and other similar peoples of northern Media. The earliest origins of these people are unknown, although the Dailamites could be the descendants of such ancient peoples as the Delumïoi (Delumioi) and Karduchoi (Kadousioi or the Cadusians) mentioned by Ptolemy in 2 AD. Classical historians mention Dailamites, 'Dolomites' or other very similar names repeatedly and their name is particularly mentioned in context with the later Byzantine Varangian Guard. Due to the mingling of migrant tribes with the indigenous residents of the region, several new clans were formed, of which, the two tribes of 'Gill' and 'Daylam' formed a majority. In the 6th century BC, the inhabitants of Gîlân allied with Kûroush (Cyrus) the Great and overthrew the Medes helping to establish the Achaemenid Persian Empire. The Dailamites would later during the Sassanid dynasty form a core of heavy infantry with fine equipment including brightly painted shields and two-pronged javelins, meant to be pitted against the finest Roman infantry.
However, that is a long way from the continuously more declining irregular force, the Takâbarâ as they were called by the Achaemenids, and in Parthian history, the Tabargân are merely the residue of the Iranian highlander spirit, not exclusive to the Elburz range but to all areas of Iran where the environment breeded toughness

Katpatuka Zanteush (Cappadoccian Hillmen)

hese fierce tribesmen come from the ancient land of Kappadokia, the Hittite, Katpatuka 'land of the beautiful horses'. The tribal warriors raised in the mountains of Kappadokia know the terrain and are well equipped, with javelin and axe, for mountain warfare. They will not do as well away from these heights, as they lack the heavier armour of the Greek infantry. Their axes and javelins will allow them to give a good account of themselves but heavy melee should be avoided.

Historically, while some of the tribes living in the mountains were hostile towards the Greeks, others cultivated very close relationships with them. It is from these mountain warriors the Tibareni and Chaldaei tribesmen, the Mossynoecians, Makrones and other tribes residing in the eastern part of Northern Anatolia, that the skirmishers of Pontos are recruited. The terrain of Pontos is well suited to the style of warfare these men are practiced at. The Pontic Alps stand as a wall between the interior plateau and the rich, narrow plain bordering the sea. These tribes ward the mountain approaches and the kings of Pontos know well the value of such friendship. Xenophon too found such frienship of great value in his passage of these regions. Many of these mountains are thoroughly impassable and altogether precipitous, and there are extensive areas devoid of human habitation, only plunging ravines from which it is impossible to climb out, forested heights and impassable chasms.

Anatolikoi Phyletai (Anatolian Hillmen)

These troops are armed with a large axe, with a double, half-moon shaped blade called a Bipennis. They also use a wooden, crescent-shaped shield similar to the old Greek Pelte. They favour bright clothing and often paint their shields in garish colours. Their charges are dangerous for most enemies and even the stoutest armour will suffer from a blow of the weapons they wield. However, being lightly protected themselves protracted fighting will see their casualties mounting.

Historically, the Anatolian highlands always featured axes in their warfare. The axe was the characteristic weapon of the infantry recruited there and they excelled in its use. The more civilized nations often suffered from attacks by the mountain tribes of Anatolia. Wise kings have put this to use, and these men are recruited from the native tribesmen who sell their warrior skills to the highest bidder.

Uazali (Karian Warband) [or Karian Axemen]

The Uazali are warbands of soldiers from the peoples of the southern coast of Mikra Asia: the Karians, Lykians, Pamphylians, and Pisidians. These warlike peoples have long traditions of military service abroad, and of nearly constant local warfare between the small cities and towns separated by the towering heights of the western Taurus. These Uazali are skilled mountain fighters. Their name comes from the Lykian tongue, and means "Warriors," and is similar also to the words used by the other peoples along the southern coast of Mikra Asia, all of whose languages derived primarily from the Hittite tongue. The Uazali carry a solid rectangular shield slung over the shoulder to ease the burden on the arms, emblazoned with signs of their peoples, and wear a solid Phrygian helm, a common form of protection among those in Asia who could afford such things. For weapons, they carry several javelins and a lengthened xiphos sword, which became a popular weapon in Mikra Asia, both as a result of the Iphikratid reforms, and out of experience fighting the Galatai, with their longswords. Their shields and helmets provide them a great deal of protection compared to most other skirmishing units, and their ferocity in melee surpasses most of their peers.

Historically, many young men from Karia, Lykia, Pamphylia and Pisidia went overseas to serve as mercenaries, or were recruited in their native lands as militias and katoikoi for the successors. Many of the most Hellenized inhabitants joined the ranks of thureophoroi and other medium infantry units in other lands. Many others, however, stayed closer to their native infantry traditions, and served abroad as warrior bands, or as locally-recruited troops in their own lands. They were used to great effect in irregular mountain combat, but also distinguished themselves in assaults, and if they end up in the battle line in major pitched battle, a good commander will maximize their skirmishing and melee abilities by using them in a flanking, ambushing, or screening role if at all possible.

Kovkasi Lernain Netadzik (Caucasian Archers) [Eastern Archers, honestly East also includes the mountains of the Caucasus so it's quite a generic term]

In the mountains of the Caucasus and the highlands below the people have lived a long and healthy existence, sustained as they are from the surplus fruits of the fertile valleys and rich mineral seams. But their history has also seen strife, for their mountain kingdoms are highly prized by those of the fertile crescent below. Not only the spear and sling, but also the bow are used by these hardy mountain-men, who protect their land from foreign looking for dominion and even rival kingdoms within the Caucasus region who seek to expand their lands. Lightly equipped, these archers are used to the trying terrain of the Caucasus and their training is more for light skirmishes than heavy battle upon an open field. Yet though they may find themselves fighting outside of home territory on the flat plains of the lands to the south, they should not be underestimated. Their bows are well made, learnt from the steppe nomads beyond the northern mountains and the Persians who conquered them later. They wear little in the way of armour, a leather jerkin over a warm woolen tunic, which offers little in the way of protection. Other than the bow, they carry a short knife, or other such simple melee weapon as they are not trained for and not meant for combat at close-quarters.

Historically, the Caucasus region was not well known for its archery, it was the cavalry that they were famous for. However, they undoubtedly used the bow just as they used the sling and javelin. Xenophon was unlucky enough to find himself at the wrong end of worrying tactics of such a people, the Karduchi, who may have been the ancestors of the modern day Kurds, as he and his force battled through the Caucasus highlands to the southern shore of the Black Sea. Xenophon mentions that the bow the Karduchi used was the three cubits long, whilst the arrow was two cubits itself. Xenophon further reports that "When discharging the arrow, they draw the string by getting a purchase with the left foot planted forward on the lower end of the bow. The arrows pierced through shield and cuirass, and the Hellenes, when they got hold of them, used them as javelins, fitting them to their thongs." Powerful weapons indeed.

Kavakaza Sparabara (Caucasian Spearmen) [Eastern Spearmen seem to be based on a ton of different units around the area]

The Caucasus Range: fierce mountains breed a fierce people and these men, drawn from the tribes of the Caucasus, are fierce indeed! For centuries the tribes that inhabit these hostile climes have warred amongst the ominous and noble mountains, and this harsh lifestyle has bred a hardy people. The simple folk of the Caucasus region, men of farms and fields, livestock and grain, are grown into a world where knowledge of sling, bow, javelin and spear are as necessary as the written word is for the Hellenes. A sling will catch them a rabbit, a javelin or bow will keep predators from their flock, and a spear will protect them from their neighbour’s envious eyes. These life-skills, learnt amongst the mountains, make for hardy warriors, braver and more fearsome than the city-folk of the plains below.

These Caucasian Spearmen are armed with a simple spear - held underarm - and a Thureos shield, introduced into Anatolia during the Galatian invasions. They wear no armour, such a luxury cannot be afforded, and instead simply wear the clothes of normal, everyday use: a tunic tied at the waist and loose fitting trousers. When fighting they form a solid wall of shields, their spears a fearsome barrier against oncoming attack. However, these men are not disciplined, they have no formal training in warfare beyond what the most experienced warriors of a tribe can impart, and may break rank leaving gaps that the enemy can exploit. Yet, they do form the backbone of the armies that wage war beneath the shadows of the Caucasus Range, and - perhaps - beyond.

Pantodapoi (Hellenic Native Spearmen)

The most basic and numerous of the infantry units used by the non-European Successor States were the Pantodapoi infantry. These men were called from a variety of nationalities and were usually settled in certain areas for garrison duties and the like. There were Ioudaioi, Syrioi, Kilikes, Persai, Assurioi, Aigyptioi and many other peoples counted among their number. They are not particularly reliable soldiers, but they are certainly better than their eastern counterparts. They can give a good account of themselves in battle if deployed properly. They wear no armor, and have only a light shield for protection, so most other infantry will slaughter them in droves. They can fend off light cavalry for a time, if need be.

Historically, the Pantodapoi were a group of various nationalities that were used as a militia levy and defensive group for towns and villages prone to raiding. While the name is conceptual (meaning, from everywhere), they were a standard fighting force of the day. They were trained rudimentarily, but had enough training to be counted as superior to many militia levies. They had some experience fighting off nomadic raiders, so they can be useful against light troops and some light cavalry.

Shipri Tukul (Babylonian Heavy Spearmen) [babylonian Mercenaries, I hired them in Euskadi Legion but didn't get to use them, influenced also by the Persian Hoplites They deserve a mention]

These heavy infantrymen use the old pointed Assyrian helmet and have iron scale corselets. Their weapons are the sword and spear. Their defence is the old fashioned Aspis shield faced with bronze. Their role on the battlefield is that of well drilled loose order infantry organized along the lines of Hellenistic Thureophoroi.

Historically, the Hellenistic monarchies established after Alexander the Great’s conquest used the military settlement system widely, probably taking it over from the Persians. Native heavy infantry such as this was not well regarded by the Hellenic conquerors of Asian territories nor particularly trusted. Necessity, however, required troops to govern the kingdom and these troops were readily available and these considerations applied as well to the Parthian that would supplant the Seleucid Empire as masters of the lands where these heavy infantrymen were recruited. They came from the Aramean population of Babylonia, Syria and the Jews of Mesopotamia. While not playing the same significant role that Jews played in the Ptolemaic military system these men were present in significant numbers.

Kardakâ Arteshtâr (Persian Hoplites)

The Kardaka are armed with the Iranian longsword, and a long thrusting spear. These guards also carried the large hoplon-shaped shield known as the Aspis. The armour to protect the torso was usually composed of iron scales and was worn over a brightly decorated tunic hanging down to just above the knees, however this was far from uniform so any rudimentary armour, including bronze scales, linen and even quilted cloth could suffice depending on individual wealth or the available equipment of the local armouries. As the Kardakâ, originally a late Achaemenid imitation of a hoplite, grew to become gradually more Hellenized, in particular during Seleucid times where the linen corselet also known as the linothorax became more popular. Their grey iron helm would have a slightly oval thimble shape though here it is shown as an Eastern version of a modular Attic helmet, with protection for the neck, particularly popular around Lycia and Cilicia. They would have loose trousers and short light brown leather boots. They would also have a thick linen cloak of dark blue or deep red. Well drilled, close order infantry these men form the core of most eastern armies. They were however relegated to garrison duty in Parthian service. They are capable and disciplined troops.

Historically, these troops were a late imperial Persian attempt to make a native Hoplite like infantry. These men come from the old Persian core Satraps of Persis and Media, willing to serve the Seleucids as easily as the encroaching Parthians. They are versatile in the sense of providing a reliable platform, fending off cavalry and faring decently in close combat, without being restricted by the inflexible Macedonian phalanx, making them some of the finest infantry to the disposal of the Pahlavân. Still it must be remembered that while they can give a good account of themselves as heavy infantry, they will likely turn out to be inferior to comparable Hellenic infantry, and should therefore be used a little bit differently by Eastern armies who rely more on cavalry; The Kardakâ may rather be used as an auxiliary rather than as the backbone of an Eastern army. The Kardakâ or Cardaces/Kardakes as they were called by Greek sources were subject to a wide range of different accounts regarding their combat performance, between being mediocre to full-fledged elites and equally their equipment, in particular their shields ranged from the hoplon to the more traditional wicker shields. Though it can be argued that the Kardakâ must have retained some uniformity during Achaemenid times, with the royal treasuries withdrawn and being deployed by Eastern nations who have rather turned their eyes towards cavalry, they do also inevitably represent a continuously declining unit type.

Thanvarê Payâhdag (Persian Archers) [Eastern =/= Persian, just saying]

These men are skirmishers only and not inclined to close with enemy troops. These men would have the fully sleeved, long Persian Kapuris tunic. Often brightly coloured these traditional tunics would end just above the knees secured at the waist by a wide woven belt. They would also have a woolen cap, loose trousers and soft felt shoes. They would be armed with the powerful composite bow and a long dagger suitable only for defense. A plain leather quiver would be strung over their back. They would also have a simple woolen cap.

Historically, the mainstay of the Parthian infantry were foot archers. These foot archers almost certainly represented the poorer elements of the various infantry levies of Parthia. The tradition of mounted archery in Parthia and the northern steppe peoples makes it almost inevitable that a massed levy would produce significant numbers of foot archers as well. The station usually assigned to these Parthian bowmen is behind the first line of spearmen and forward of them in skirmishing lines. These troops are vital to any armies plan, harassing and confusing enemy troops as they advanced, and shielding the flanks of the battle line from light cavalry and other enemy skirmishing units.

Nîzagân-î Êrânshahr (Persian Archer-Spearmen)

Armed with spear and bow these troops are not well regarded by their Greek masters having formed the bulk of the Old Persian army defeated by Alexander the Great. Seen as skirmishers and auxiliaries with the heavy Greek infantry forming the battle line. These Iranian Spearmen are recruited from the eastern reaches of the Iranian plateau and are very common in the armies of Baktria. They are the backbone of the traditional tribal militia and form a major part of the Baktrian tribal levy. They are armed with the traditional Iranian weapons, an 8' spear and a composite foot bow. A large decorated brown leather quiver of arrows would be slung on the left side with the bow case on the right. A long plain yellow tunic with close fitting sleeves at the wrists. The tunic would be held with an narrow embroidered Parthian linen belt. Trousers are worn under the tunic and are close fitting. Soft felt ankle shoes are secured with leather or fabric straps.

Historically, the vast Iranian plateau gave rise to a form of infantry rarely seen in the west. Armed with 8' spear and composite short bow these infantry are well suited to conditions in the east facing nomadic enemies relying on long range archery to which they men are well able to respond. Nomadic cavalry is reluctant to engage close order troops and these men can fill both roles. They are versatile and can be dangerous if used properly. They are however no match for heavily armored infantry. Individually, they are skilled but not outstanding warriors, but their versatility ensures that they will be useful to any commander. These men however, prefer to rely on archery to inflict harm on the enemy. They can hold the line against weaker infantry and cavalry but they cannot be relied upon to put up an extended fight if the situation is not in their favor.

Pahlavân-î Grîvpânvar (Parthian Late Elite Cataphracts) [Parthian Royal Cataphracts, appeared in one of our battles]

The Pahlavân-î Grîvpânvar are nobles from the highest level of cataphracts that the Pahlava have to draw on. The elite of the clan host form this armoured fist that represents one of the most powerful armoured cavalry the world has ever seen. They deploy in the heaviest armour available and use the kontos as their primary shock weapon. Armoured in iron lamellar corselets, covered by a leather tabard, laminated leg and arm guards and with iron shining from the scale horse barding, these are truly men of iron, in bright armour for horse and man. The horse bearing such loads must be both large and strong, and both the Parthians and Achaemenid Persians bred just such horses, the Nisaean breed of Persia.

Historical evidence suggests that the Parthian, heavily-armoured Pahlavân-î Grîvpânvar were, at least partially, a product of military influence from the Central Asian steppes which had inherited the armoured cavalry traditions of the Massagetae and the late Achaemenid Persians. Their name derives from the Pahlavi griwban "neck-guard", a helmet armour guard, from whence "Grivpan" warrior. In the 3rd century AD, the Romans would begin to deploy such cavalry calling them clibanarii, the name thought to derive from griwbanwar or griva-pana-bara.

Kamboja Asvaka Ksatriya (Indo-Iranian Light Cavalry) [bactrian Light Horse]

Master horsemen and horse traders, Kambojas never leave an opportunity to plunder using their light horse troops. Living on both sides of the Khyber Pass, they were a part of the "Arya" races which stormed and conquered India, some 1500 years before. Their own name was a mistaken identity by the Helllenes of Alexandros who called them "Assakenoi" whereas they were "Asvaka" or "horsemen" in Sanskrit. Losing badly to Alexander, they befriended his descendants, their Greco-Baktrian overlords and along with them they invaded India reaching as far as present day Bangladesh. They repeated this feat, but with their new Lords, the Sakae who overran Greek Baktria in the end of 1st centrury BCE. Their helmet is an evolved Boiotian one, and their primary cuirass is a quilted silk one. Untreated (so called "dirty") silk had very good anti-missile qualities, which Kambojas facing Indian foot archers and Steppen Horse archers would deffinitely appreciate. They wear Iranian dotted pantaloons and have pteryges to cover their genitals. Their weapons are clearly Hellenic: round "Aspis" shield, a short kontos spear that could be held underarm in a stance reminding that of the knights, and a sturdy kopis for the time when the spear gave way. It is safe to assume that they would show the same faith to all their overlords, whoever they might be.

Historically, Kamboja, were among the westernmost of the 16 or so nations (mahajanapadas) which comprised the Archaic (Vedic) Indian world. IndoIranians to the utmost, they presumably took the name from river Kabul (then named Kaboj) or from Kam(region)-used mostly in those areas to this date- and Bhoja(owner). They must have a major impact on the Achaimenid Persians who conquered them, as Cyrus the great (Kurush) named his son Kambyses (Kambujiya) the 3rd, presumably after a Mythical hero, Kambujiya (Kamboja of Shantiparava),who led the Iranians against a Vedic king Kuvalashava, defeating him in the battle and wresting a prized sword from his lineage. Thus, it can be easily understood that common language and mythical bonds made Achaimenids and Kambojas friendly to one another.

This good relation with their overlords would change later, as the Kamboja clans—the Aspasioi of Kunar/Alishang valleys, the Guraeans of the Guraeus (Panjkora) valley and the Assakenoi of the Swat and Buner valleys fought the Makedones to a man. When worse came to worst, even the Assakenoi(Ashvakayanas) Kamboj women had taken up arms and fought the invaders side by side with their husbands, thus preferring "a glorious death to a life of dishonor". In fact Alexander spent a couple of years at present day Afghanistan and NW Pakistan fighting Kamboja clans. These highlanders, designated as "parvatiya Ayudhajivinah" in Panini's Astadhyayi were rebellious, fiercely independent and freedom-loving clans who never easily yielded to any overlord. Modern historians have this to say on them ...."It was indeed a hard work for Alexander to take their strongholds, of which Massaga and Aornus need special mention (A. K. Narain, 'Alexander the Great') and "A tribute must be made to the vision and sagacity of Alexander because he realised that without reducing these highlanders, his march into India would neither be secure nor effective."(History of Punjab, Vol I, 1997, p 225, Dr Buddha Prakash). This was the wonder and the tragedy of those people. That they controled the way to India, thus they had to be either conquered or destroyed.

Survivors were a lot less willing to fight off superior forces than their ancestors. Instead they played along with the plans of their overlords and managed to survive and prosper. They must have been hellenized to a degree, as is evident by the following excrept of Assalaya Sutta of Majjhima Nikaya, the second book of the Sutta Pitaka (written probably around the end of first century BCE or 2nd centruy AD)- Buddha says:"Have you heard that in the countries of Yona(yonaratthan) [greek territory] and Kamboja (kambojaratthan) and other adjacent districts there are only two castes, master and slave? And having been a master one becomes a slave? Having been a slave, one becomes a Master? - Yes, I have heard this, Sir, in Yona and Kamboja...having been a slave, one becomes a master." If we compare this to the Asoka's 13th edict where the country of the Yonas is mentioned as the only place where the caste system doesn't exist. Of course it was written more than 100 years earlier than that Buddhist script. Kambojas took part willingly in the Baktrian invasion of India which must have led to the creation of the separate Indo-Greek state by 186 BCE (time when the Indo-Greek calendar begins) and as a spoil of war, they were allowed to settle along their Indo-Greek Overlords in India, both all along the Indus river and in the center of India Mathura and eastern on.

Indians wrote the following, according to Majjhima Nikaya 43.1.3. ; Ganapatha II.1.72; Harivamsa 14.16. "Both people are attested to follow common culture, social customs and manners like supporting short cropped hair, non-entertainment of Brahmanas in their countries and observing two varna=caste/class (Arya and Dasa=master and slave) social system instead of chatur-varna observed by the Indo-Aryans ". Greco-Baktrians managed to control western and Central India in a few decades. That wouldn't have been possible without the help of Buddhist local population (who were persecuted by the Hindu majority), and their vassals, Bahlikas (Baktrioi Hippeis) and Kamboja Asvaka Ksatriyas, excellent horsemen, to compliment their own cavalry, chosen Phallanxes, Hypaspistai and Agemata.

Manusmriti (X/43-44) lists the Yavanas with the Kambojas, Sakas, Pahlavas, Paradas etc and regards them as degraded Kshatriyas (members of the warrior caste). Hence the "Ksatriya" in its name.

The "Yonakambojesu" expression (Yonas and Kambojas alike) in Ashoka's Thirteen Rock Edict as well as in the Majjhima Nikaya powerfully attest very close relations of the Kambojas with the Yavanas. Mahabharata contains references to Yavanas and Kambojas having conquered Mathura. Kambojas had also entered India and spread into whole of North India, especially in (present day) Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. According to Agni Purana (A hindu holy text), it locates two Kamboja settlements in India itself. Kambhoja in south-west India and Kamboja in southern parts of India, even if it can be debated that this account was much later than our timeline.

When the Saka-Rauka conquered the Baktrian state, and were preparing to move into India to fight the Indo-Greeks. Along with 4 other tribes (Bahlikas, Parama Kambojas, Rishikas, Paradas) they were among the armies of the Saka-Rauka who invaded and occupied India.

Illustrious traders that they were, they reached even unto Taprobane, present day Sri Lanka. Cave inscriptions found in Anuradhapura which strongly attest the existence of one Kamboja Sangha (Goshatha) and Grand Kamboja Guilds in ancient Sinhala. These inscriptions are believed to belong to second century BCE (Dr S. Paranavitana). Later on, centuries later a Kamboja trader is said to have reached into a country in Indochina, whose reign he acquired, giving it the name of his people. Presently it is known as Cambodia.

Throughout the Indian literature, the Kambojas are honoured for their horses. All major Indian religions have a lot to say about them. Jain Canon Uttaradhyana-Sutra informs us that a trained Kamboja horse exceeded all other horses in speed and no noise could ever frighten it. The epics, Puranas and numerous other ancient Sanskrit texts all agree that the horses of the Kamboja, Bahlika and Sindhu regions were the finest breed.Sauptikaparva of Mahabharata ranks the horses from Kamboja as of the finest breed. Bhishamaparva of Mahabharata refers to the quality war horses from various lands and puts the steeds from the Kamboja at the head of the list specifically styling them as the leaders (Mukhyanam) among the best breed of horses.

Elephantes Indikoi (Indian Elephants)

Imported from the regions around the old Eastern Persian provinces, Elephantes Indikoi are an exceptionally valuable resource in combat, very popular among Alexandros' Diadochoi. Towering over most other creatures, they can easily scare men and horses alike, with both their size and smell, though elaborate bells and trappings often add to their intimidation. Such corps are directed by their own mahouts riding behind their heads, often a native of their own country who has spent at least two years training his beast from capture. The mahout is armored to better protect against the obvious assault that generally comes against him, launched to bypass the thick natural armor of his mount.

Elephants are best used as cavalry screens for your army, where their presence can scare away enemy cavalry. They can also be used to ram through an enemy battle line, though they are less useful when faced with loose order or phalanx infantry. Pyrrhos of Epeiros even innovated a tactic of flank screens when he fought the Romans at Heraklea. Beyond their obvious use against enemy infantry or cavalry, they can also be used in siege combat; battering down gates, though they're highly vulnerable to better prepared installations. Their greatest vulnerability is against skirmishers, slingers and archers, who can pepper them with missiles - eventually toppling them by virtue of their cumulative impact. To counter the effect of enemy skirmishers, it is often wise to array your own in opposition, or to maintain constant attacks upon each individual group.

Historically, the use of elephants in war was largely contained to India, but after the battle of Hydaspes that changed. Though Alexandros never cared over much for the animals, his successors were very much in favor of their use, organizing their own elephants into a distinct corps under their own "elephantarchos". These "Elephantes Indikoi" (Indian Elephants) were imported for war in the West from the old Eastern Persian provinces around Baktria, Gandhara, Sattagydia, and Sind - though most originally hailed from the regions directly around the river the natives call the Sindhu. In the first wars of succession, each Diadochoi had a contingent of Indian elephants and Indian mahouts, who stayed on where they taught the Hellenes how to capture and train elephants for war. Such forces had been wreaking havoc on battle lines for centuries within the armies of Indian Rajas, and the Diadochoi used them on an equal scale (the first substantial group supposedly numbered 500 elephants total, granted to Seleukos I Nikator by his new ally Chandragupta Maurya, called "Sandrokottos" in Greek), attaching substantial political power to their possession - some officers gained temporary power and success simply by this virtue (most notably, the Eastern Satrap Eumenes).

Despite their great usefulness when properly employed, it was not unusual for elephants to cause defeat for those who employed them. If an enemy was clever enough to devise their own means to combat elephants, as was the case at the battle of Gaza when Ptolemaios planted an ‘iron spiked minefield’ to ward off elephants, or when Caesar properly utilized slingers and Scipio gaps between his infantry cohorts to channel the elephants, they could be defeated and even turned against their masters. Even pigs were used on occasion, released among elephants who were often scared of their comparatively small, darting forms. However, despite the many different weapons and stratagems being devised to fight them and the huge expenses required to maintain them, the elephant was still considered a valuable asset, maintained widely. The Arche Seleukeia even developed a corps of ‘elephant guards,' whose task was simply to defend the beasts in combat.

Other non-Hellenic powers also used Indian elephants in war, but it seems not to the same great extent. These powers started using elephants when they gained control of Indian provinces, such as the Pahlava, Kushan Empire and the Indo-Saka kingdoms.

Steppe Units

Skudra Tabari (Scythian Axemen) [steppe Axemen/Young Axes]

Armed with a Tabar axe, the primary offensive weapon of these infantrymen, they are protected with only the crescent shaped Taka shield and light armour. While unable to hold against most steppe cavalry, they can do deadly damage to some of the more “civilized” people’s inferior cavalry. But they would not last long against those same people’s massed heavy infantry. Despite some of their shortcomings, any steppe general would think twice before fighting a long campaign without these soldiers.

Historically, despite all steppe peoples' reliance on cavalry, most of them fielded infantry of some type at one time or another. In the case of the Scythians of the Pontic steppe, axemen were either recruited from subject farming peoples or from the growing proportion of settled Scythians, often young warriors from the tribes.

Sauromatae Arc Aexsaeg (Sarmatian Light Spearmen) [steppe Spearmen]

Sarmatian Spearmen are raised from settled groups of formerly nomadic Sarmatians such as the Siracae of Ciscaucasia. As they abandon their traditional way of life as nomadic herdsmen, more and more of their warriors become infantry. The equipment of these troops reflects substantial Greek influence, which is quite evident in, for example, the large oval shields of the thureos type that these infantrymen carry. That shield is typically their only protection. To it, they add spears and short swords for offense. Thanks to their shields, they may face the many archers that their potential enemies are likely to field with some confidence and their spears allow them to fend off the light cavalry that is also common among their foes. They will also hold their ground against infantry similar to themselves. However, truly heavy cavalry, not to speak of quality heavy infantry will get the better of them sooner rather than later.

Historically, by the 3rd century BC oval shields with long spines and spindle-shaped bosses spread and became common into the areas around the north coast of the Black Sea. The whole region had long maintained strong connections with the Greek world and this particular process followed military developments in the Hellenistic world. Infantry men equipped with oval shields and spears became common among the diverse ethnic groups that inhabited the region including settled Sarmatian tribes.

Sauromatae Fistaeg Fat Aexsdzhytae (Sarmatian Foot Archers) [steppe Archers]

Unlike most other Sarmatians, many of the bowmen from Sarmatian groups that have become settled do not shoot their arrows from horseback, but fight on foot. Certainly, foot archers lack the mobility of their mounted counterparts. In exchange, men on foot need less space than those on horseback. Thus, foot archers can be deployed in tighter formations that provide heavier arrow barrages. And the composite bows that these foot archers employ maintain still the qualities of those of their nomadic relatives.

Historically, several groups of Sarmatians became sedentary when they moved into areas (Ciscaucasia, the Hungarian Plain, etc.) where farming was a viable option to their traditional pastoral nomadism. The Siracae, for example, were a relatively small Sarmatian group that occupied the southern edges of the steppe along the Black Sea and in Ciscaucasia. Since quite early, they initiated a process of settlement and hellenization and, while still fielding armies with numerous cavalry, they resorted to infantry most than any other Sarmatians in the centuries BC. Presumably, the abundance of horsemen may have not been the only trace that steppe warfare left upon the ways of waging war of settled Sarmatians and substantial numbers of their infantry seem to have been archers using composite bows.

Skuda Fistaeg Fat Aexsdzhytae (Scythian Foot Archers) [Probably also another influence on Steppe Archers]

These Skythian archers often carry a slightly larger version of the composite bow that their fellow cavalrymen employ. This fact, together with the advantage of shooting from a more stable platform than a moving horse, tends to give their missiles somewhat longer range and more power than those typically shot by horse archers. To some extent, they compensate in this way for their comparative lack of mobility. Certainly, substantial numbers of foot bowmen can make sure that horse archers stay away from the area of the battlefield where they are deployed or inflict substantial damage on them, should they be foolish enough to engage in a protracted missile exchange. Of course, they will not be able to catch and destroy the elusive riders if the latter decide to avoid the arrow duel. In that regard, it is important that these archers are not lured too far away from supporting heavier infantry or cavalry whether in the pursuit of horse archers or for any other reason. They are not well outfitted for hand to hand combat, as all they carry is a short sword or small pickaxe and no armor but their thick jackets and bashlyk felt caps. If unsupported, they will be easy prey for cavalry, or aggressive infantry fast enough to catch them.

Along their history, the Skythians of the northern coast of the Black Sea underwent a process of settlement and sedentarization. The phenomenon had started quite early, as Herodotos already spoke of farming Skythian groups, but it seems to have picked up pace as Sarmatian pressure pushed the Skythians out from much of their former lands and restricted them to a much reduced territory (the western part of the Crimea and the lower Dniepr) that could not have supported a large nomadic population. This process resulted in Skythian armies fielding increasing numbers of foot troops. A good portion of those seem to have been bowmen, as many settled Skythians still favored their traditional weapon.

Payai Dunai (Saka Foot Archers) [yet another influence on the Steppe Archer unit, I suppoe]

These Saka Foot Archers are foot bowmen. They are dismounted tribesmen who choose to fight on foot, utilizing the advantage of shooting more accurately and releasing longer, more powerful volleys as a result of standing upon a relatively more stable and level platform than on the back of a horse. The bows they carry are a fairly large recurved composite bow, one that, with its relatively longer siyahs and body show a deviation from the traditional Skythian recurved composite bow and a transition to the later "Sassanian" and "Hun" types of more eastern steppe nomads, enabling them to outrange, outshoot, and outpower steppe nomad horse archers. These foot bowmen are the ideal counter to horse archers in a stationary exchange of missiles with the latter. However, given their advantages in returning fire from the ground, they are also extremely vulnerable to heavy infantry and cavalry charges since these foot bowmen are still suited to more of a harassing and supporting role due them being merely armed with a short sword, the akinakes of Scythian origin, and no other melee weapon.

Historically, steppe nomads at times employed infantry in their ranks, even though they usually fought as cavalry. They would mount these men on camels or horses so as to keep pace with the majority of the army, which was the cavalry, and when they did battle, they would dismount from their horses and release volleys of arrows with deadly accuracy and power against their foes. In his "Geography", Strabo said that among the ranks of the Massagetae, another Indo-Iranian steppe people who were probably kinsmen of the Saka, were those who lived in the mountains, plains, marshes, and islands, and that, in addition to having excellent cavalry, they also had good foot soldiers as well.

Aursa Uaezdaettae (Aorsi Noble Cavalry) [Aorsi Noble Horse Archers]

As is usual for most steppe nomads, nobility among the Aorsi have the means to equip themselves with more and better war gear than their followers. Metal armour, nonetheless, is still beyond the means of most Aorsi nobles and they must be content with either polished horn or hardened leather. Modest as they may initially seem, those materials confer nonetheless enough protection that Aorsi nobles may face a diversity of foes in hand-to-hand combat and expect to come out the victors. Their charges pack a distinct punch and their armour allows them to withstand both distant archery and melee against lightly armed foes reasonably well. However, they cannot expect to frontally charge infantry that has not been “softened” or to engage truly heavy cavalry and survive. Of course, true to steppe traditions, Aorsi nobles have not forsaken the composite bow and against such heavier enemies their skill as bowmen serves them very well.

Historically, Aorsi warfare remained firmly based on the horse archery tradition. Nonetheless, they, particularly their noble elite, also appear to have been somewhat better prepared for melee combat than earlier groups of Sarmatian peoples. It is not unconceivable that against more poorly equipped enemies they may have not been content with just winning archery duels thanks to their greater protection and may have actively sought to close in, so advantages in hand-to-hand offensive equipment may also be put to good use.

Rauxsa-alanna Uaezdaettae (Roxolani Noble Cavalry) [Roxolani Lancers]

If many Roxolani riders can now equip themselves with corselets of scale armor, their nobility will take this trend one step further and provide defenses for the horses they ride as well. Protecting their mounts represents a substantial advantage for horsemen expected to charge headlong into the enemy, as horses, being a large target, are particularly vulnerable to missiles. In addition, when both horse and rider are armored, their momentum increases and their potential impact is greater. Thus, the charge of a group of Roxolani nobles is truly terrible and will often succeed in punching a hole in an enemy battle line that the rest of the warriors will be able to exploit. This does not mean that they constitute any of sort of “forlorn hope” or are particularly suicidal. Typically, they will first probe for weaknesses and, if none are readily found, they will work to create them. For such a task they may well resort to their bows, using archery to “soften” a spot prior to a charge. For an astute commander, they are a very valuable resource which should not be lightly squandered

Historically, only the richest Sarmatian chieftains were able to furnish complete sets of defensive equipment for both themselves and their horses. However, the impact, at least psychological, of such superbly equipped riders upon their enemies seems to have been much greater than what their numbers alone might have led to expect. Often, depictions of Sarmatians in battle produced by their enemies show masses of armoured horsemen. Archaeology and other sources indicate that this is a major overstatement, but such representations still probably hint about what most durably impressed the foes of the Sarmatians.

Ysaninu Aysiramjä (Saka Bodyguard Cavalry) [also Saka Cataphracts]

These fearsome warriors wear an armoured jacket fitted at the waist and made of large metal plates. Their necks are protected by high armoured neck-guards, their arms by brassarts made of steel or hard leather bands and their legs by greaves. The casque they wear, originally made of cast bronze, was riveted or welded by several iron pieces. Their horses are protected by an armoured cloth. They carry a long kontos lance for the shock action during the first charge and a deadly sagaris battle-axe that can cut through the heaviest of armour in melee combat. These heavily armoured warriors are the most powerful shock arm available to the Saka and represent the epitome of Saka military achievements in the history of heavy cavalry. Their weapon set was the prototype from which the famous Pahlava kataphraktoi used in later history and they are Kataphraktoi in their own right. In cooperation with light horse archers and other less heavily armoured units using primarily the larger recurved composite bow for offense as was the case in Central Asian nomadic warfare, they are best used after their lighter companions have weakened and "softened" up the enemy. Yet, they are still a valuable asset even when used alone, for no enemy except the most disciplined and armoured of infantry units can withstand their fearsome charges and nasty blows they deliver to their foes during melee combat.

Historically, these warriors were composed of accomplished nobles or other elites of Saka society, for the costly defensive weapon set that they wore was not attainable by regular tribesmen. While the style of shock cavalry warfare and some of the Kataphraktoi's equipment was already centuries old and possibly has its roots to those of the Massagetai, Iranian kinsmen and neighbours of the Saka, this weapon set of the kataphraktoi that was first developed among the Saka can only be traced to the time right before Alexander's invasion of the Achaemenid empire. Combining local autochthonous developments along with the military developments of both the Achaemenids and the Warring States of China, the former due to their fight against Achaemenid rule in the west, and the latter due to their active participation in the turmoil on the northwestern frontier of the Warring States, the Saka developed a set of arms in the late 4th - 3rd centuries BC that became prevalent amongst the heavy cavalry such that this army component turned into a decisive factor on the battlefield.

According to one authority, influence from the Warring States can especially be seen, as he notes that the Saka method of securing their sword belt and accoutrements were borrowed from the Chinese Warring States; he further notes that even the pommels, the guards, the loops or scabbard slides, the scabbard tips which were often made of jade, were all directly imported from China. He also indicates that these weapons had been used by both the Skythians and Persians, and by Chinese chariot fighters and infantryman, the latter two probably referring to the Qin chariot fighter from Qin Shihuang Di's famous mausoleum (3rd century BC) near Xian and also to the suits of armour made of large lacquered leather plates with the high neck-guard found from a tomb at Suixian, Hubei, just north of the ancient kingdom of Chu, dated to the 5th century BC. There also exists in what may be the earliest archaeological depiction of a fully armoured kataphraktoi on a fragmentary terracotta flask piece from Khumbuz-tepe in southern Chorasmia/Khorezmia, dated to the 4th-early 3rd centuries BC, which, although attributed to the Massagetai or the Dahai due to geographical rendition, can also represent kataphraktoi development among the Saka.

There are also historical references to heavily armoured Saka warriors in the written sources as well. For example, from Arrianos's Anabasis, Book 3, Chapter 8, we learn that a Saka cavalry contingent under a certain Saka chief Mavakes aided the Achaemenids at Gaugamela in 331 BC; he also further informs us that these "Skythians", aided by Baktrian cavalry routed the Greek cavalry mercenaries that Alexander initially sent against them. Immediately, they fought a fierce battle against the combined Makedonian, Greek, and Paeonian cavalry of Alexander and inflicted huge casualties on Alexander's right wing, almost putting them to rout, for Arrianos further says that the Saka cavalrymen also had much more armour protecting their horses than did Alexander's cavalry. Additionally, we are told by Arrianos in Book 4, Chapter 4, that a Saka warrior was struck through his wicker shield and corselet by missiles hurled from Alexander's military engines that he had loaded when attempting to cross the Tanais (Jaxartes - modern Syr-Darya river).

Germanic and Dacian and other Barbarian Units I may have missed

Dreugulōzez Brunjādoi (Germanic Heavy Infantry) [sword Masters]

Ðreuġulōzez βrunjāðoi
(DhREU-ghu-lō-zez VRUN-jā-dhoi, "Armored Mercenaries")

Armed with Celtic mailshirts (the brunjō, 'byrnie' borrowed directly from the Celtic military innovation) and other equipment of the finest manufacture and design, Dreugulōzez Brunjādoi are the Germanic tribes' best warriors, similar to Long-haired Companions but on campaign. A war-leader is obeyed by his warriors because of his bravery, not because of his rank. In battle he must act as an example to his men and it is a disgrace for him to be surpassed by them in bravery. The warriors in turn have to equal the bravery of their war-leader. The lord fights for victory, his companions for their lord. Armored Mercenaries are fearless, and even hungrier for glory than younger men. Their original training has been augmented by years of warfare, often leaving their bodies heavily scarred. Long-hairs are wealthy, powerful men, fiercely loyal to their lord. Their weapons and armor are the best, because these warriors have joined the retinue of a chieftain or other powerful lord who often provides better equipment.

Historically, each frowō (lord) had a retinue of followers, Companions who were linked to him by personal loyalty. To leave a battlefield alive while their lord lay dead meant a life of shame and scorn for such men. To defend and protect him, to assign one's own acts of heroism to his credit- that's what is truly meant by allegiance. These warriors have sworn oaths upon the mead-bench to stay loyal to their frowō and to protect him with their lives if needed, and in return he has sworn to support them and their families, to provide them with food, drink, weapons and equipment in exchange for the fulfillment of their vows and deeds in his service.

Worgōzez (Wild Mercenary Infantry) [berserkers]

The forests of Germania, dense and expansive are home to all sorts of wild and dangerous beasts, including those of the human variety. Wargōzez, whose name can also mean "Wolves," or "Outlaws" are predatory Indo-European warriors who are outcasts from regular society sometimes as exiles and criminals, sometimes by choice, and oftentimes young men seeking to prove themselves in accordance to extremely ancient customs. These men live deep within the woods that shield and blanket Germania, an ideal enviroment for hiding and preserving all sorts of ancient traditions, untainted by external forces and influences now becoming more and more commonplace in Germania via trade and military expansion. They fend for themselves in this harsh and unforgiving enviroment much in the same way as the wild beasts, so feared and respected they are sometimes emulated throughout Germania and indeed Europe as a whole.

They use equipment and tools that will understandably become more and more makeshift as time goes on as the more common utensils from societies left behind begin to fade, wear and break. These men look after themselves, living out a true and ancient ideal of self sufficency and independance seen throughout the Ancient world and likely drawing its origins from a Proto-IndoEuropean tradition and possibly even prehistoric, pre-IndoEuropean traditions.

Living in small groups made up of individuals from all over the class spectrum, for all sorts of reasons, these young men will have spent many years surviving in the wilderness and will have as a consequence become very vicious, efficient and arguably quite mentally ill due to their isolation from regular society. What sets these men apart from other wild men who undoubtably existed in Europe for a very long time, is their use of wolf symbolism.

The wolf is a proud, vicious and cunning pack hunter animal, an expert at survival, whose striking aesthetic and haunting howls will have understandably captured the imagination of man since the moment they encountered the beast for the first time. So it is no surprise that over time perhaps through superstition, perhaps through an understanding of the power of psychology on the battlefield or perhaps for simple camoflage and practicality, that men would don the skins of wolves and attempt to emulate these fierce beasts on the battlefield, altering their aesthetic and also their mental state to give themselves an edge in combat.These packs of man-wolves are outrageously vicious and aggressive in combat, stalking their prey through the trees and tall grass before choosing to make their attack, howling and roaring as they make their presence known on the battlefield. They swiftly charge towards their enemies with their weapons trained on their opponents faces, necks and limbs, perhaps after hurling a devestating volley of javelins whose accuracy will have become impeccable from years of hunting to survive. After combat the more peculiar and perhaps disturbing habits of these men can be witnessed in the drinking of the blood of enemies, perhaps even their own blood, possibly cannibalism, self mutilation, and of course: howling.

It is not surprising to learn that these very ancient style warriors will have gained the attention and respect of wealthy Germanic lords, and later on Roman Emperors (such as Trajan) who would seek to hire and use these men to fight their enemies and expand their territories.

Of course, it comes at a price, such individualisitc warriors will not work for just anyone, they will expect good pay and one will have to venture deep into the forests of Germania to find them, risking ambushes from all sorts of potential enemies as one travels, however, once located and hired, these terrifying mercenaries could be exactly what an ambitious Emperor, King or Warlord requires in order to successfully expand his or her borders or defeat his or her foes.

Sloxonez (Germanic Club Infantry) [Club Levy/Mercenaries]

Sloxonez, whose name can also mean "Butchers" or "Mowers" are Germanic warriors who specifically choose a cudgel for close combat in order to cause massive and deadly blunt force trauma. Even if they might not be able afford metal weapons of higher status, Germanic warriors are typically able to make effective arms quickly from any readily available materials.

By shaping heavy boughs of oak and inserting bone spikes, this special weapon can be used to maim both armored and unarmored foes alike. Cudgels are cheap, easy to make, and replaceable on campaign, while also being able to smash or punch through armor. Although this weapon may seem primitive to untrained eyes, against armored opponents it is more effective than any other at disposal.

Historically, the Germanic tribes quickly realized they naturally lacked the resources required to outfit their men with the armor seen in surrounding societies and found themselves often resorting to weapons with the specific purpose of crushing armor in order to achieve victory over better equipped foes. This worked with a great deal of success as seen by use of these warriors by the Roman Army in their auxilia, depicted on Trajan's Column as possessing swords but choosing to wield clubs. These light armored club warriors were recorded to have taken down units of the feared and notoriously lethal kataphraktoi.

Thraikioi Doryphoroi (Thracian Light Spearmen) [The Dacian Spearmen unit might be based on them, not the Dacian Phalanx mentioned on page 4 of the LP. CA seems to mix Dacian and Thracian, but honestly this is just me getting technical. ]

Among the Thraikian tribes, the vast majority of men of military age are too poor to fight in the bands of well-equipped units. As farmers, herders, and general pastoralists, many of these Thraikes cannot afford more than a few pieces of military equipment. For that reason many of them carry simple wooden shields, a clutch of javelins with fire-hardened wooden tips, and a simple spear. While many of the warriors who perform service for their tribe are these farmers, herders, and fishermen, many of them are also accustomed to a form of warfare through their incessant, low intensity squabbles with neighboring tribes, or even through occasional raids on passing trading parties or local trading emporia. So while they lack good weaponry, or armor, they carry a ferocious disposition - they are Thraikes, after all. While they may carry their ferocity on to the battlefield, their lack of experience in much of anything larger than a skirmish over farmland may cause their ferocity to dissipate in the face of prolonged hand-to-hand combat with well-ordered, or even professional, soldiery. They are accustomed to short skirmishes and decisive charges, and so are best used in similar roles.

Phylakes Daoi (Dacian Bodyguard Cavalry) [Dacian Noble Cavalry lancers seem based off these guys]

The strong ties developed between royalty and the Ktistai priesthood made these zealots the perfect recruitement basin for the king's guards. The beltistai's loyalty is unquestionable and their ferocity unmatched.

Historically, the numbers of these guards would have been greater than presented in-game, thus acting as a nucleus for the royal cavalry. The ktistai were so close to the king, that the succesor would either be chosen from their ranks, or become pontifex maximus of the priesthood. The ones recruited for the Beltistai corps must have been trained from infancy, while the secretive nature of their order must have been ideal for the purposes of any strong ruler.

Ischyroi Orditon (Elite Dacian Infantry) [Dacian Noble Spearmen]

The Ischyroi Orditon, or "Mighty men of the Ordes," are the elite guard among the Getai. They trace their lineage back to the old capital at Helis, are the pinnacle of the Getic noble infantry. As the nobility of the tribe of the Ordes, they are equipped and supported by the Basileus, and unlike the tarabostes lords in their far-removed hillforts, the warrior lords of the Ordes are loyal retainers--and frequently family members--of the Getic kings. Armed with a long thrusting spear and either a sica or Keltic sword, they can be very effective in close combat with infantry and even cavalry. Protected by an iron Thraikian helm with a large iron crest, imported from Hellas, a large oval shield with a strong iron boss, a coat of mail, and occasionally greaves, they are one of the most heavily armored units in any Getic army. They are an expensive unit to train and maintain, but they are a valuable force on the battlefield, capitalizing on Getic fierceness and borrowed Hellenic and Keltic techniques to stand toe-to-toe with enemy heavy infantry.

Historically, after the Galatai destroyed Helis, the surviving population moved north of the Istros and rebuilt their capital at Argedava, now known as Popesti. What had been an insignificant fishing and agricultural settlement quickly became one of the largest in all of the Getic lands. The population at Helis had already been well-acquainted with advanced metallurgy, and traded extensively with Skythians, Kelts, and especially Hellenes. This did not change at Argedava, which--judging from archaeological remains--became the source for the best-equipped and most disciplined Getic soldiers.

Arabian and Egyptian

Machimoi (Native Egyptian Infantry) [Egyptian Infantry, Egyptian Archers]

The Machimoi were an important part of Aigyptian society long before the arrival of the Hellenes and the new Pharoanic dynasty of the Ptolemaioi. Aigyptian society consisted, aside from the royal family, primarily of the priests, the warriors--or Machimoi, and the farmers. These men are drawn from the largest section of the Machimoi, and armed with several javelins, a sword, and a shield, and armored with a light cuirass and mass-produced helmet. They are competent in basic wartime and garrison duties, but should not be expected to succeed in combat against well-trained units or in other daunting situations. They may once have been a warrior class, but for hundreds of years many of the Machimoi have spent most of their lives farming or trading, not fighting.

The Ptolemaioi eventually organized the Machimoi class into three distinct levels: the 5-aroura machimoi, the 7-aroura Machimoi, and the Machimoi epilektoi. The machimoi epilektoi formed the auxiliary phalanx at Raphia, and may not have existed until the reforms leading up to the Raphia campaign. The 5-aroura Machimoi served as light troops: Toxotai, Akontistai, and the like, and may have been part of the recruitment pool for the Phulakitai, the regional police. These are the 7-aroura Machimoi, who likely saw extensive use on a reserve basis in the Ptolemaic fleets, in various garrisons both in Aigyptos and overseas, and on both sides of the many civil wars which wracked the Ptolemaic state from the late third century on. While this population initially consisted almost exclusively of native Aigyptians, years of immigration and Hellenization have changed the makeup of the Machimoi to a considerable degree. While it still maintained a native Aigyptian character, the vast majority of Machimoi had first- or second-generation Hellenic, Asian, Galatian, or Thraikian ancestors.

Machimoi Phalangitai (Machimoi Native Phalanx) [Egyptian Pikes, Phalangitai = phalanx in Greek, and you may notice that Phalanges = finger bones]

The Machimoi are Aigyptioi natives who have been conscripted to fight in the traditional Makedonian fashion. They are armed with all the standard phalanx equipment including the sarissa, the Phrygian cap, and the small Illyrian shield. They wear quilted cloth armor due to the harsh Aigyptian climate. They are reputable enough fighters, but have a history of rebellion, so they are far more expensive than most troops of the same caliber. This has to be dealt with though, since the Ptolemaioi simply do not have the numbers of Hellenes to fill their armies with. Machimoi have decent morale and can be relied upon as capable troops. Their weaknesses are the same as any pike phalanx, in that they are immobile and prone to flank attacks and missile fire. If used accordingly, they will give good account of themselves.

Historically, the Machimoi were used with good effect at Rhaphia and other battles. Once they realized their own power, however, they soon began to revolt against their Hellenic and Makedonian rulers. The Ptolemaioi looked for different racial groups to settle in Aigyptos to counter this disparity, and ended up importing large amounts of Ioudaioi and Galatai to fill the ranks. Still, the Machimoi were used as a necessity, and often gave good accounts of themselves in battle.

Bnei Shevet 'Arabim (Arabian Light Infantry) [Arabian Skirmishers]

These lightly armed men are not much to look at, clad in simple attire and armed with the most rudimentary of weapons, a spear and shield, but they are far more capable soldiers than first glance would indicate. Exceedingly loyal to their Sabaean overlords they are much more reliable than their eastern levy counterparts and their experience in years of both tribal skirmishing and warfare on behalf of their Sabaean rulers has made them into warriors of surprising merit and skill.

Historically, the bulk of the Sabaean medium infantry line was levied from the Arab and Bedouin peoples under their direct or nominal rule, many of them serving as regulars, though most were recruited sporadically by agents of the Sabaean King. Their minor tribes and settlements had a history of loyalty to the Sabaeans, having fought alongside them and been under their rule to various extents for centuries, most of them coming to accept their religious practices ages ago. They were hardy veterans of numerous conflicts, with relatives who could in all likelihood say the same, generally invested in their ruler's cause and sympathetic to their often easy government.

Qala'im 'Arabim (Arabian Slingers) [Arabian Slingers]

Slingers are common in Arabian armies, being levied from the nomadic tribes. These men are mostly lower class herders. The tribesmen are not wealthy, so they march to war in just their simple garments, a simple shield and their own, often homemade sling, in addition to a dagger for self-defense. In battle, the slingers should be used as light skirmishers, who will rush forward against the enemy to pepper them with stones, only to flee when threatened. These slingers should never be expected to fare well in melee.

Historically, slingers seem to have been used in almost all corners of the world in some sort and Arabia was no exception. Slings are very easy and cheap to make, and yet they are a respectable weapon. It is for this reason that they were so prevalent among the poorer Arabian tribes. The Arabian city-states, like Sab’yn levied slingers from the subject nomadic tribes to augment their own armies and these men were drawn from the lower class herders whose only task during peace was to guard the herds from predators. This in return meant they had enough experience with a sling to be a threat on the battlefield.

Parashim 'Arabim Meguiasim (Arabian Light Cavalry) [Arabian Cavalry, camel troops existed but actually horses were preferred]

The majority of Saba’s cavalry arm was drawn not from her urban population, who were more often called on to serve as the center of the line of battle, but from her tribal allies. The tribes that provided these cavalry forces were generally nomadic in lifestyle and as such provided men who spent more time mounted than on foot, even if the mount was often a camel rather than a horse. In battle these men provide a highly skilled light cavalry contingent exceedingly capable in the roles of skirmishing, pursuit, and harassment. When coupled with the smaller contingent on medium cavalry fielded by Saba’s urban population they can also deliver a devastating charge to the flanks or rear of the enemy battle-line, but should not be expected to fulfill the role of shock cavalry on their own.

Historically, the Arabs were a far-flung people, raised on the backs of camels and horses while crossing desert as traders or living the rugged life of the nomad. While they might generally have chosen the high perch of a camel for their travels, in battle, their horses were the prefered mount. Brought literally into a new saddle, they excelled in combat, well-served by the balance learned from riding a camel, and despite their light armor and armament, fought with skill - though not always with dedication.

Dorkim Ezra'him (Sabaean Levy Spearmen) [sabean Spearmen]

These urbanites are the core of Sabaean society and as such it is no surprise that they provide the bedrock of the Sabaean military machine. Armed with sturdy spears and protected by good quality helmets and hardy camel hide leather shields these men are far more capable than their lighter counterparts in tribal levies of holding the line of battle. Further, their religious fervor makes them more reliable in battle than many citizen forces. Still, their more sheltered urban existence makes them less able to bear the rigors of desert warfare than their nomadic fellows and their armament is not as heavy as comparable troops fielded by other states. A wise general will be mindful of both the strengths and weaknesses of these troops, the Sabaean will never recover their past splendor without their sweat and blood, but only when used in proper roles will their sacrifices be meaningful.

Historically, the Sabaean urban population was the most substantial component of their impressive regular military. In Sabaean society, religion was among the most immediate concerns of the average citizen. Their years revolved around the Festival of Almaqah, while their days were first geared towards frequent sacrifices and offerings to him, administered by his all pervasive High Priesthood. Everywhere they might go, an agent of the High Priesthood could be encountered, and in everything they do, some aspect of their work can be seen, giving such citizens a massive psychological stake in their traditional religion. This simple dedication and familiarity made these citizens among the most loyal soldiers of the Sabaean infantry, beyond reproach and angered at the very prospect of foreign encroachment upon their childhood religion.

Qasatim Saba'im (Sabean Archers) [sabean Archers]

Sabaean archers are a common sight in Sabaean garrisons and large armies. Even though archery is not frowned upon, these men are drawn from the lower urban classes and from the agriculturalists in times of war. They carry nothing but their own clothes and bows to war in addition to a small shield and dagger should they be caught in melee, which any general should try to avoid. Sabaean archers are not renown for their archery even though it is a part of Sabaean life be it a noble or a peasant one, so they should only be counted on to weaken the enemies, not to severely reduce their numbers like the Syrian and Iranian archers can be capable off.

Historically, hunting with bows was a popular sport among the Sabaean nobility and a fact of life among the peasantry. With the advent of large scale defensive fortifications in the eight century BC the use of bow as a defensive weapon probably became fairly common in southern Arabia. Sabaeans though seems not to have had a reputation as good bowmen and archers were most probably used to simply bolster an army’s numbers or for defending walls.

Lo'hamim Azzilim (Sabean Noble Infantry) [Arabian Noble Infantry, it would appear CA sometimes mixes Sabean with Arabian but either way a lot of troops of Saba were levied from the Arabic tribes that lived close by and acted as semi-independent entities of the army]

This tough, well armored infantry is the cream of Southern Arabian nobility and despite the land’s reputation for the production of aromatics these are not perfume wearing effeminates who can be easily brushed aside. Armored in quality padded armour, tough leather shields and armed with good spears these men can be relied on to hold their own against all but the best heavy infantry.

Historically, the institution of the Sabaean Kingship wasn't always the sole authority over the Union's military forces, many being raised through tribal councils outside their main urban holdings, but it did hold complete sway over the King's Elites. These men, though devoted to the Sabaean High Priesthood and their ancient city-gods, were personally loyal to their king - from whom the cost of their equipment and training was exclusively drawn. In the days when the Sabaean King controlled the High Priesthood, they served as temple guardsmen in addition to his personal escorts, marching as a ceremonial guard and as an elite corps of regulars in battle. They were superb melee warriors, trained for the most difficult assaults and confrontations, and fiercely loyal to their king in all fortunes. Such men were the crux of a Sabaean battle line, around which all tactics and strategies were formed, and before which most enemies were driven.

Hoplitai Troglodutikes (Red Sea Hoplites)

Hoplitai Troglodutikes (Erythraian Sea Hoplites) are mostly Hellenic colonists who were drawn to the Erythraian Sea coast. After initial exploration Ptolemaioi founded colonies in there to hunt elephants and trade with the natives and as far as India. Local garisson forces took part in those hunts and many of the veterans remained on those colonies after retiring. As in each Hellenic polis, a local force of hoplites would be summoned at time of need. Having completed the rigorous "ephebike askesis" they would be ready to fight against their enemies and as such the rigorous demands for citizenship have been lowered to whomever is available. The enemies aren't hoplites or Phallangitai. They are the skirmishers and spearmen of the Troglodytai, the fierce archers of Meroe and Inner Aithiopia, and maybe even the lightly armored but deadly Sabaioi. Hellenic discipline and courage can win the day, but not by underestimation of those enemies. Against those, while retaining the same offensive equipment, (spear and aspis shield), bronze muscle cuirass and linothorax have been dumped in favor of lighter quilted armour. It is easier to wear in the tropics as ancient Aigyptioi had proven. No pteryges, as they add to weight and can raise body temperature. A trusty "machaira" compliments their equipment too. Their helmet is an evolved Boiotian, the ideal helmet for providing some sort of eye protection in the desert and african coast. Their aspis has no bronze coating, relying on elephant skin instead. Natives had been using such an arrangement, for some time. Now Hoplitai Troglodutikes must do the same.

Historically, Ptolemaioi were very interested in the southern regions of their domain. Akte Troglodutike or the coast of the Troglodutes was perhaps the “wild, unexplored” frontier of the time. The rising elephant hunts as well as the trade with Sabaioi and Indoi, led to the founding of a series of Colonies, with Filotera, "founded by Satyr [a Ptolemaioi general] when he was sent hunting elephants in Troglodytiki" (Strabo,16,4-5) being the first. Soon enough, Arsinoe Troglodytiki, Berenike Troglodytiki, Ptolemais of the Elephantotheron (Elephant hunters) were founded. As frontiermen always do, those people cared more for what someone could do, not the purity of his Hellenic blood. Thus Hellenised Aigyptians and other nationals could be there and perfectly fit in. However rich and promising their situation was, their enemies were at the doors as to a Troglodyte which many of them were, the Colonists were godly rich. The local hoplites fight as ekdromoi mostly, since this is the only way they can effectively deal with the fluid battlefield environment in that area. Colonies in that region existed for many centuries and that was due, in no small part to the ability of their inhabitants to defend them.