[Preview] Armenia overhaul

[Avetis]

Hayastan

Hi, mates! Today - the Armenian preview




First of all, I want to say very big thanks to local Armenian community members for history info, EB researchers for some inspiration, Antelope for his research, Roach and Magnar for helping with workflow organization. Special thanks to Ahiga for hats

Starting position for Armenia is pretty challenging. Former vassals of Persia have a lot to do to rise as a strong independent state. For now Armenia is in difficult position. Surrounded by powerful Hellenic and Eastern countries, and each can become your friends as well as your enemies.

Despite to mostly mountain relief Armenia was famous for it cavalry power. Infantry before reforms is mostly light and not so capable.
To get access to heavier melee infantry and heavier armour for noble cavalry you’ll need to provide two reforms: first near 175BC (times of Artashes I), second one - approx. 70-65BC (Tigranes expansion)

It's the case when if I sad "preview", I really mean "preview" You can find ten new models, about 100 new textures and patterns here.
But there is still so much to do at future (more models, shield patterns, local tribes AOR units etc)

So. The core Armenian roster is here: 29 units total (22 unique + 7 upgrades).
You can horses from my "Armoured horses mod", they will be added to Vae Victis as well

MISSILE INFANTRY

Fradakshaha - levy slingers Netadzik - light archers Hay Sagamartig - light skirmishers Kurdi Sagamartig - Kurdish javelinmen Hay Thanavar - medium Armenian archers Nizagamartig - medium javelinmen Azatan Thanavar - elite archers Azatan Thanavar (late) - elite archers (late)

MELEE INFANTRY

Takabara - caucasian highlanders Mardig - medium swordsmen (late) Nizam - levy spearmen Kavakaza Sparabara - medium Caucasian spearmen Nizagan- medium Armenian spearmen Kentronakan Gund - heavy Armenian spearmen guard Kentronakan Gund (late) - heavy Armenian spearmen guard (late) Azatan Mardig - heavy Armenian swordsmen (late)

MISSILE CAVALRY

Shivatir - light horse archers Nizakahar - light horse skirmishers Zrakahir - armoured horse archers Zrakahir (late) - armoured horse archers (late)

MELEE CAVALRY

Hay Asabara - medium melee cavalry Hetselazor Aspet - lesser Armenian nobles/freeman Hetselazor Aspet (late) - lesser Armenian nobles/freeman (late) Azat Aspet - Armenian noble knights Azat Aspet (late) - Armenian noble knights (late) Nakharar - High Armenian nobles Nakharar (late) - High Armenian nobles (late) Hay Sparapet - Armenian commander (general unit only) Hay Sparapet (late)- Armenian commander (general unit only, late)

Update: new General skins for campaign map, battlefield, advisor window and diplomacy screen:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hope you'll like it! Stay in touch

Regards!

[Miri82]

Awesome work avetis..im looking forward for the release....i need more and more..

[Avetis]

Thanks, mate!

Today I've tested them in the game, here are some screens (Karian axemen for meat as always ):

Mardig (new simple helmet model, new textures for armour, tunic, shields)




Zrahakir (new helmets and elbow shields models, new armour textures):



Kentronakan (1 - early, 2 - late; new helmets and shields models, textures, patterns, new armour, tunics etc):




Early Azat:



Azat Mardig (later unit):




Late Nakharar:



My favorite:

[zeddtakashi]

God these look awesome, im loving the new full face helm by the Nakharar.

[Legatus21]

The best work done for armenia! Great job mate!!!

[Miri82]

Your favorite is the mine too

[Avetis]

Thanks guys!
I need to say big thanks to Roach and Magnar for the research spreadsheet system which helps to clarify information so I can do exactly what I need to without any "oh, maybe I should add corinthian helmet to this slingers, people love corinthian helmets so much"

[Aguirre]

Beautiful, solid work!

[Avetis]

Thx

Additional update to make this overhaul able to next VV patch: new General skins for campaign map, battlefield, advisor and diplomacy screen. Armour, tunics, helmets, shields, maces - all matches with Sparapet (General) unit appearance. Check this out:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Uniqueness forever

Cheers!

[BalrogOfMorgoth]

Those grey beards are lovely, amazing work !

[Avetis]

If you can see there are no any "shock cavalry" unit at the roster list, but melee and missile only.
First of all, the drastically differences between these types of units will be not so obviously as they are in vanilla.

The second point, and the most important: I didn't find any evidences to proof that Armenians have used kontos or any other two-handed lances. There are some Osprey-like pictures, but I see no reason to trust them. They are just show us kind a Parthian style warriors, called "Cataphracts" (btw using this name is completely incorrect and irrelevant for heavy Eastern cavalry). Also, all sources I have (some books, some historians of local Armenian community etc) talking about cavalry holding a small or medium-sized (approx 50cm diameter) round dome shaped shield.
Maybe I missed something, but our opinion is steady after all those researches and some conversations with Roach (thank you btw )

Soooo. Armenian nobles are holding small shields, maces/swords/axes and... ta-da! long spears. I have some interest research about that spears which shows, noble spears was made from strong types of woods with relatively long and not so wide good penetrating metal tip, counter-weight at the other side. And the main part is spear length, about 2.3 - 2.5 meters. It's pretty longer then standard spear models we got in R2TW (approx 2-2.2 meters), so as you can see below, the new long spear model have arrived
Still much shorter then two-handed lance, but little longer then standard "short_spears" models.

Idle


Charging:

[Miri82]

Its.....beautiful....im jealous..... Nice job

[Avetis]

Its.....beautiful....im jealous..... Nice job

Said the man who made best Iberian stuff ever

[DramaBelli]

These armenian and Iberians by Miri82 are both spreading marvellous units. Love the way you figured all those armenians and the little shield on the left arm of some missile cav is simply delicious!

[Miri82]

These armenian and Iberians by Miri82 are both spreading marvellous units. Love the way you figured all those armenians and the little shield on the left arm of some missile cav is simply delicious!

Ey Drama friend...thkyou four your support..like always. Avetis is a f..ing artist heheh... like you

[Aenima]

Wow, those are incredible! Can't wait. I remember straying from my usual Roman/Carthaginian/Greek tendencies when it comes to RTW campaigns and giving Armenia a go waaay back in the early days of DeI, I was surprised at how fun it was playing as them. Armenia certainly look like a fleshed-out faction in this mod, and I bet playing with them will be a blast!

[Shapur e Sassani]

waaaaaaaah ! great job dude !
I badly want this mod !!!!!

[Antelope]

Can you note me Down in the credits for starting the research.

[Avetis]

Can you note me Down in the credits for starting the research.

Sure, mate, thank you

[Antelope]

Impressive work Avetis Tigran the king of kings would have been proud lol