[Req] Falxman (10/22/06)

[Rabbit, White]

This unit was requested by Aranor. It's an ancient Roman warrior that used a falx, which is a scythe like weapon. It also sports the very fashionable wolf's head as a cap . Make sure you unzip all the files and use the provided animation files.

Download



There is a small bug with the unit - in the pedia entry it shows up with an extra floating weapon. If that bothers you and you want to get rid of that read the spoiler.

Spoiler bug fix :

There are two fixes:
1) Open falxman.nif and falxman_fx.nif files and remove the floating weapon. However, this will mean that when the unit dies and drops the weapon, the weapon doesn't actually drop to the ground but disappears.
2) Don't use the provided KFM for animations but instead, when creating the art definition for the unit, reference the original pikeman KFM file. This however will result in an idle stance that doesn't fit well with the unit, at least IMHO.

Enjoy

 

[sepamu92]

This is great Rabbit, White! I especially like the wolf's head.

 

[ohcrapitsnico]

Man oh man you've become a master of units

 

[Aranor]

I am not worthy!! This is far beyond anything I had envisioned when I asked you to undertake this task!
Superb job! I concur with what Ocrapitsnico said you truely are the master of units!
Thanks

Aranor

 

[ohcrapitsnico]

As well as a photoshop master.

 

[Ploeperpengel]

Another nice addition to my artfolder

 

[GeoModder]

One look was sufficient to get my butt to the download section (again).

 

[Redking]

Very nice work. All of your work, in fact. And I appreciate it.

However, judging by the screen capture, the falx may be wielded improperly by those units.

The falx (a weapon of the Dacians/Getae that anciently inhabited what is now Romania) was sharp on its convex/inner side, and struck not unlike a giant, two-handed sickle.

You've got the handle correct, but not the orientation.

 

[Shqype]

This is one of your best models thus far, WR! The wolf on the head looks really, really good. I don't even know what a falx is, but I sure love the unit

 

[Aranor]

This is one of your best models thus far, WR! The wolf on the head looks really, really good. I don't even know what a falx is, but I sure love the unit

A falx is a a polearm weapon developed by the Getai from the Thrakian Rhomphoria, a long curved sword. The blade was especially adept at cutting off limbs and hacking off a enemies head. Historically when the Romans first encountered the Getai they were shocked at the ferocity of these warriors. It is alos theorised that they adopted the Laorica Segmentia to counter the Getai falx.

 

[Rabbit, White]

Very nice work. All of your work, in fact. And I appreciate it.

However, judging by the screen capture, the falx may be wielded improperly by those units.

The falx (a weapon of the Dacians/Getae that anciently inhabited what is now Romania) was sharp on its convex/inner side, and struck not unlike a giant, two-handed sickle.

You've got the handle correct, but not the orientation.

Well, being sharp on the convex side makes sense, seeing how it was the precursor to, or variation of, the scythe (as I understand it), that's an easy fix. As for how the units weild them, well, Aranor asked for a polearm version, which I took to mean that it should be used in a manner similar to a polearm, and closest to that are pikeman. However, if something like warrior or maceman animations would be more appropriate (2-handed grip, swinging from side to side), then it wouldn't be too hard to implement.

One look was sufficient to get my butt to the download section (again).

Heh, gracias

 

[Aranor]

Well, being sharp on the convex side makes sense, seeing how it was the precursor to, or variation of, the scythe (as I understand it), that's an easy fix. As for how the units weild them, well, Aranor asked for a polearm version, which I took to mean that it should be used in a manner similar to a polearm, and closest to that are pikeman. However, if something like warrior or maceman animations would be more appropriate (2-handed grip, swinging from side to side), then it wouldn't be too hard to implement.

Ahh yea my bad When I requested this unit I neglected to mention how the Getai used the Falx, as I said in my previous post it was developed from the Thrakian Rhomphoria, and had a single handed version of it too, both were used as a balded weapon not like a spear. Presonally I think the Axeman animations would suit the unit best with the blade rotated 180 dergees.

 

[Redking]

I should correct myself. I said "convex/inner" when I meant concave/inner. You seemed to take my intended meaning (even though you reiterated my error).

As for how the units weild them... I took to mean that it should be used in a manner similar to a polearm, and closest to that are pikeman. However, if something like warrior or maceman animations would be more appropriate (2-handed grip, swinging from side to side), then it wouldn't be too hard to implement.

I don't know how the Dacians/Getae/Thracians tended to operate as warbands/armies, but I do believe that there were at least four variants of this weapon. Aranor alluded to some.

Regarding the polearm variant on the theme, which is what you've modeled, I do recall that it was able to hook and prise shields away, and I do believe this was committed with a downward stroke (not a stabbing motion). I imagine they were used in much the same way a hersir would brandish a long axe. Maybe the berserker animation would serve well. A heavy weapon with an ever-approaching blade (it doesn't shed off as a convex blade does) proved famously deadly in antiquity. The down-side of the weapon is that it required two hands and therefore its wielder carried no shield.

Trajan's column depicts the Dacians and a number of these weapons. Many of the depicted warriors carry shields, so presumably the polearm variant wasn't dominant (just, perhaps, the most awe-inspiring to enemies). Other variants included hand-ax-sized (or sickle-sized, really) and sword-sized. Aranor mentions the Thracian variant, which was seemingly more gracile than its northern Geton neighbor. Perhaps he has insight into how the Thraco-Dacians organized their military (mixed irregulars or distinct corps).

 

[Rabbit, White]

Ahh yea my bad When I requested this unit I neglected to mention how the Getai used the Falx, as I said in my previous post it was developed from the Thrakian Rhomphoria, and had a single handed version of it too, both were used as a balded weapon not like a spear. Presonally I think the Axeman animations would suit the unit best with the blade rotated 180 dergees.

Okay, I'm gonna make a version like that then as well.

I should correct myself. I said "convex/inner" when I meant concave/inner. You seemed to take my intended meaning (even though you reiterated my error).

Concave/convex, tomato/tom-ato, I never seem to remember which is which. Yet another proof that high school geometry is useless

I don't know how the Dacians/Getae/Thracians tended to operate as warbands/armies, but I do believe that there were at least four variants of this weapon. Aranor alluded to some.

Regarding the polearm variant on the theme, which is what you've modeled, I do recall that it was able to hook and prise shields away, and I do believe this was committed with a downward stroke (not a stabbing motion). I imagine they were used in much the same way a hersir would brandish a long axe. Maybe the berserker animation would serve well. A heavy weapon with an ever-approaching blade (it doesn't shed off as a convex blade does) proved famously deadly in antiquity. The down-side of the weapon is that it required two hands and therefore its wielder carried no shield.

Trajan's column depicts the Dacians and a number of these weapons. Many of the depicted warriors carry shields, so presumably the polearm variant wasn't dominant (just, perhaps, the most awe-inspiring to enemies). Other variants included hand-ax-sized (or sickle-sized, really) and sword-sized. Aranor mentions the Thracian variant, which was seemingly more gracile than its northern Geton neighbor. Perhaps he has insight into how the Thraco-Dacians organized their military (mixed irregulars or distinct corps).

Ahh yes, if one is looking for experts on archaic history of obscure peoples, one just have to look amongst the civ community.

The berserker animation actually wouldn't fit well because it's a kind of an awkward, double handed, axe swing (have the civ4 animators never played a single baldur's gate game ), but it would look great if used with spy's body and some pompoms.

 

[ohcrapitsnico]

Ahh yes, if one is looking for experts on archaic history of obscure peoples, one just have to look amongst the civ community.
QUOTE]
Very true. I seem to know things about obscure nations like the ancient khorezmian civilization, little trivial tidbits of numerous things. Unfortunately just like high school geometry things like sas triangle congruence really aren't useful though deep in my mind I think trivial history is interesting and useful.

 

[Jeckel]

I love it! We can always use more ancient melee units and this is just perfect.

The berserker animation actually wouldn't fit well because it's a kind of an awkward, double handed, axe swing (have the civ4 animators never played a single baldur's gate game ), but it would look great if used with spy's body and some pompoms.

Hmm, thats not a bad idea, I could really use a Cheerleader Unit for my JWorldSports mod.. *pokes White Rabbit * Any possiblity you could make this unit? I would be forever in your debt.

 

[mrkingkong]

Awesome unit!

mrkingkong

 

[jasper1]

It’s curved in the wrong direction still it looks great. Kind of like a gigantic Japanese sword.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falx

I kind of like the Rhomphaia rather then the Falx

 

[Aranor]

After some hours of playing with this model in nif veiwer ( and learning some hard lessons in the process I might add ) I now have it working happily with the Samuri animations with the blade rotated correctly. Now he looks especially brutal when he is attacking those nasty Romans!
Aranor