Having read the whole Arabia preview (save the religion part, that I'll read soon/later), I'm wondering about what we can expect playing one of the Arabian and also the Numidian faction.

Concerning the desert factions in general (ie. Nabatu, Saba, Massylia):
- What about giving their units (and other "desert" units) a ground stat bonus in sand? That could represent their (strategical) superior ability to conduct warfare in dry/desert regions, and at the same time simulate the difficulty for other factions to expand into desert regions. In EB1 sand and scrub bonuses aren't used and the eg. Saba units are comparably (and of course realistically) weak, so that's why I'm asking.
- Will their units get a very low heat penalty and overall good stamina? As for the above mentioned reasons, and to compensate the mostly inferior armour/equiment. Perhaps this isn't actually realistic (dunno), but it could be good for the overall campaing gameplay balance.
- Is there a possibity or are there already plans to make the desert factions less affected by the hot/summer season? Maybe using special traits for Nabatu, Saba, Massylia generals?
- Actually, is there any way to give 'desert' factions a bonus in desert areas - other than via the afore mentioned/relevant unit stat bonuses?

Sb' w-gwm (aka Saba):
- Compared to EB1, will they be able to recruit more/better local units, imagining (a player-controlled and somewhat ahistoric) Saba that expands into more military sophisticated areas (ie. Egypt, Levante, Mesopotamia)? Their society/miliary would have then probably evolved somewhat and thus incorporated new techniques. In EB1 their possiblities to recruit local units is rather limited, as is their ability to establish higher forms of government.
- I'm curious what to expect... That said, I don't want Saba to become less challenging to play. They're a great option in EB1, if you are in for a die hard campaign.

Malkuta Nabata (aka Nabatu):
- Will they perhaps get the horde feature, due to their liftstyle till the 2th century BC?
- Sound like they'll get a fair amount of axe/ap units, right?
- How will the transformation to more a settled culture be represented? And will they have special military reforms along with that cultural change?

Regards!


@Moros - Great preview, man! What a good history lesson/read it is! Would like to give you +repright now, but I have to wait a little till I can (again).


PS: I'm posting this here and not in the Arabia preview, as I assume it would easily get lost their due to the amount of fresh comments.