Anno Domini Classic: discussion thread part 3 (warning: lots of images on page one)

[Hrafnkell]

Dark-haired intelligent women are great, but even more so when they have (for an American) a charming English accent. Quite the inspiring way to present the new AD, Rob. Gets two thumbs up from me.

I like all the changes and the final roll call of civilizations and leaders, especially Theodoric. The man was a true statesman and if he'd have had a descendant worthy of his name perhaps we'd never have heard of Charlemagne.

The only change I'd suggest is the Athenian UU. The Argyraspides were part of Alexander's army and had nothing to do with Athens but it looks from page 1 of this thread that they're the UU of Athens. I'd give them to Macedonia and give Athens citizen hoplites or a naval UU.

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

The only change I'd suggest is the Athenian UU. The Argyraspides were part of Alexander's army and had nothing to do with Athens but it looks from page 1 of this thread that they're the UU of Athens. I'd give them to Macedonia and give Athens citizen hoplites or a naval UU.

You're right again! However, I'll make them a flavour unit for Macedonia, as the Macedonian Phalanx is their UU. Thanks for the info.

 

[Kyriakos]

Can you call the mac phalanx 'Sarissophoroi'?

 

[Keroro]

You're right again! However, I'll make them a flavour unit for Macedonia, as the Macedonian Phalanx is their UU. Thanks for the info.

The Argyaspides were a veteran group of Alexander's phalangites, that survived so many battles that they made it into their late years. And were still fighting. Still fighting very well. I seem to remember reading somewhere that they were still in action when they were in their sixties, and tended to kick the ass of anyone that stood up to them. I think that Argyaspides in the Seleucid empire became an elite designation for the best phalangites in the battle line.

Can you call the mac phalanx 'Sarissophoroi'?

Sarissaphoroi (sarissa carriers, if my Greek is right) would bring to mind the cavalry that Alexander used that was raised from the Thracian and Illyrian tribes. Petzhetairoi (foot companions) would be better IMO, since that would be less ambiguous.

 

[Kyriakos]

I didnt know that they carried sarrisai on horse as well

 

[Plotinus]

The Argyaspides were a veteran group of Alexander's phalangites, that survived so many battles that they made it into their late years. And were still fighting. Still fighting very well. I seem to remember reading somewhere that they were still in action when they were in their sixties, and tended to kick the ass of anyone that stood up to them.

In that case, the unit already exists for them...

 

[Keroro]

I didnt know that they carried sarrisai on horse as well

They had a slightly shorter sarissa for cavalry. Certainly the 18 foot pikes that the later phalangites used would have been a liability for a horeman.

In that case, the unit already exists for them...

You know I did think of that unit when I posted, but to make it authentic you would have to give the old boy a sarissa to shake at the young people.

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

The unit I made as the Macedonian Phalanx is this:

Oh, and Keroro, I converted that kneeling pose into an alternative "fortify" pose by taking out the frames where he gets back up again .

So what is he, a phalanx? phalangite? sarissophoroi?

I was going to call the Macedonian swordsman the "pezhetairoi" and if I get a unique horseman for Macedonia, I was going to name them "hetairoi".

Whilst the phalanx/phalangite/sarissophoroi is the unique unit and replaces the hoplite, there will be a spearman (in my more traditional "right hand controls spear, left hand/forearm controls the shield" fashion). What should I call him? How about hypaspistai?

 

[Quinzy]

A phalanx is a group of phalangites.
I'd call this chap a phalangite or a sarissophoroi. this site has a tonne of info on Alex's army: http://members.tripod.com/~S_van_Dorst/Alexander.html

I'd have the defensive unit sarissa-armed, the swordsman-replacement be the pezhetairoi, as you've said. Just don't arm him with a sword.

 

[Kyriakos]

If it is in singular it would be a 'Sarissophoros'; 'Sarissophoroi' is the plural

 

[odintheking]

Looks good, but 2 things:

- Increase the frame rate of the the death and the run. They are running too slow.
- Rework the death a bit. Right now he is falling to the ground slower than his spear. If the spear takes for instance, 4 frames to hit the floor, make the unit fall in 4 frames, too. Also, his feet shouldn't stay in the same place while he falls, they should go up in the air for a frame or two and land with him. It's not humanly possible to leave your feet in the same place while you fall, you would break your ankles! Also, make the unit bounce, too, like you made the spear bounce, it makes deaths more believable, and fun ("Holy crap! That guy hit the ground hard, dude! Look at how much he bounces! Awesome!").

Just my two cents, but I got most of that advice from Vuldacon, and it really makes your animation more professional, .

 

[Keroro]

Oh, and Keroro, I converted that kneeling pose into an alternative "fortify" pose by taking out the frames where he gets back up again .

Thank you!

So what is he, a phalanx? phalangite? sarissophoroi?

I was going to call the Macedonian swordsman the "pezhetairoi" and if I get a unique horseman for Macedonia, I was going to name them "hetairoi".

Whilst the phalanx/phalangite/sarissophoroi is the unique unit and replaces the hoplite, there will be a spearman (in my more traditional "right hand controls spear, left hand/forearm controls the shield" fashion). What should I call him? How about hypaspistai?

Well, allow me to quote the website Quinzy pointed us to.

In addition to the shock troopers of the hetairoi a small number of light cavalrymen designated prodromoi or scouts were part of the native Macedonian cavalry. These horsemen were usually equipped with javelins when employed on reconnaissance missions, but armed with a cavalry version of the sarissa they served as heavy cavalry sarissophoroi in battle. Normally these Macedonians operated closely with the light Paeonian, Illyrian and Thracian cavalry. Confusingly these mounted Thracians were also known as prodromoi.

So, hetairoi = Companions, elite cavalry.
And, sarissophoroi = Heavy Cavalry.

Beside the cavalry mentioned above there were also infantry units that were recruited in Macedonia. Amongst these the most important were the pezhetairoi or foot companions, of which some were also given the mysterious title of asthetairoi. These pezhetairoi were recruited according to a territorial system in which the various provinces of Macedonia each provided a single taxis or regiment. To reduce the threat of a rebellion at home the army assembled for the Asian campaign was predominantly made up of regiments from the seditious northern districts. Command of the foot companion regiments was usually entrusted to nobles originating from the same area as the men themselves. The various taxeis often carried the name of their commander. Modern studies often assume that each of the foot companion regiments had a strength of some 1500 soldiers, but it is not unlikely that in fact the units as a result of dissimilar losses and replacements had varying numerical strengths. At the start of the campaign six regiments of pezhetairoi were included in the expeditionary army, but during the campaign a seventh taxis was added using reinforcements from Macedonia. It is not known whether this seventh regiment was also territorially recruited or that men from different districts were grouped together.

Pezhetairoi/Petzhetairoi = Foot Companions, heavy infantry.

Hypaspistai would be a decent name for the Macedon spearman. No one knows exactly how the Hypaspistai were armed anyway, but their armament was most probably flexible according to what role they needed to play in the battle. Eg - at the Battle of Gaugamela they are reported as being armed exactly the same as the Petzhetairoi. Alternatively you could name the spearman 'Allied Greeks' or something like that.

Hope that helps.

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

Thanks for the info, guys !

The front page has had some updates; what I'm going to keep on this page is items that have already been built into the game, rather than what's planned - for example, I've plenty of plans for the Anglo-Saxons and Iceni, virtually none of which is in the game yet.

 

[CartesianFart]

Are you using those Latin words for all the infrastructures and names for everything in this mod,I hope?

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

Are you using those Latin words for all the infrastructures and names for everything in this mod,I hope?

Sorry, I'm not exactly sure which Latin words you mean (except "Anno Domini"); I thought I'd use whatever words seemed appropriate for each building.

 

[CartesianFart]

What i meant was,is it gonna have latin scripts such as "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" mod by pinktilapia .

I was just a suggestion since i'd love the fact that it had latin in it.

 

[Mirc]

What i meant was,is it gonna have latin scripts such as "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" mod by pinktilapia .
.

Loved that aspect of RFRE too! For example, instead of "Factory", it said "Fabrica", which is identical to my language.

 

[Partizanac]

now that you have added Florence, have you considered on putting Slavs in the mod? so the guys like me... would have the opportunity to play as their own people!

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

now that you have added Florence, have you considered on putting Slavs in the mod? so the guys like me... would have the opportunity to play as their own people!

Sorry, mate, I've not really got any room or time to add more civs or change the existing ones, but I hear what you're saying. Come the expansion pack...

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

...actually, I'll eat my words!!

I have decided to place four new civs in the mod, taking the total to 24 - but that really is that, honestly!!

The new civs were chosen for the fact that they could each bring a unique aspect to the mod:

Coritani : superb archers/bowmen
Illyria: full piracy gameplay
Iona: very low pollution/unique bonus resources only they have access to
Slavs: settlers available at the start of the game - they're also cheap and fast.

I will update the front page with more information soon; RL's being too busy lately!!