Post Marian Project: Modding descr_mercenaries.txt

[Suppanut]

After I finish alpha version of XC traits I will start to meddle with descr-mercenaries.txt to pave way to PMP. I have some question to those who fluent with ancient and classical history (especially LucretiusTC, Zarax, and Archbaker)."Which regions/cities should count as regional hub of mercenaries where employers and mercenaries gathered to signed contracts within area? And if could me what kind of mercenaries in those regions would be good."

Here is currently in my mind.

Alexandria: Greek and Nubian/Ethiopian
Sparta(Laconia): A lot of Greeks with small amount of Thracian
Antioch: Greek and Easterner
Carthage: A varieties of Numidian, Libyan, with some Iberian, Balearics and Greeks.
Taxila: A lot of Indian units especially elephant, with some amount of bactrian and eastern steppe.
Bactra: Eastern Steppe, Persian and especially Bactrian units
....

need more idea about cities to serve as mercenaries hubs.:hmmm:

Being hub is mean their replenish rate of mercenaries are faster and have more variety/bigger pool of units than others regions with in area. So these regions would become key region by themselves.

[Zarax]

Alexandria: some cretans and a few galatians
Sparta: not thracians but rather some tarentines
Antioch: could use some galatians
Carthage: you might want the occasional celtic mercenary as well
Emporion/Massilia could add some celtohellenic mercs
Syracuse: mercenary ballistas!

[LucretiusTC]

I think Byzantium could be pretty good location when we think about the Black Sea Region, the Balkans and Asia Minor; e.g. Greek Hoplites, Thracian Falxmen, Scythian Horse Archers, and maybe Phrygian Axemen?
http://mkatz.web.wesleyan.edu/grk101...n_archers.html

Maybe Tanais could be another possible location:
"Tanais quickly developed into an emporium at the farthest northeastern extension of the Hellenic cultural sphere, a natural post first for the trade of the steppes reaching away eastwards in an unbroken grass sea to the Altai, the Scythian Holy Land, second for the trade of the Black Sea, ringed with Greek-dominated ports and entrepots, and third for trade from the impenetrable north, furs and slaves brought down the Don."

Seleucia could be also quite natural location for a mercenary centre as one of the biggest cities at the time.

If we need a some kind of mercenary centre in the Iberian Peninsula, maybe Gadir could a natural choice there?

Here are some interesting links about Celtic Mercenaries:
http://members.aol.com/skyelander/celts8.html
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/skyelander/celts5.html

Something about the Cretan Mercenaries:
http://www.fanaticus.org/DBA/armies/...etanGreek.html

Something about the Mithridatic Army:
http://www.fanaticus.org/DBA/armies/II48/index.html
Maybe the Pontic Scythed Chariot could be a mercenary unit, possible available in Sinope?

Besides there were those famous Mamertines, the Sons of Mars in Sicily.
http://www.livius.org/maa-mam/mamert...amertines.html


These are some unfinished ideas, feel free to develop them further...

Luc.

[Suppanut]

Here is test version of mercenary hubs which included

Alexandria
Sparta
Antioch
Carthage
Taxila
Bactra
Messalia&Emporium(use the same pool)
Byzantium
Tanais
Seleucia
Gadir
Samarobriva
Arabia(give some strategic use to uncapturable region)
Sahara(give some strategic use to uncapturable region)


Someone please test it by replaced original in xgm\Data\world\maps\campaign\barbarian_invasion\