Epirus instead of IGCS for XC5?

[Zarax]

We're considering removing indie greeks for XC5 and replacing it with Epirus as we built a mechanism to increase effectiveness of slave AI.

PROS:

- one more playable faction
- two less provincial campaigns would be necessary
- More predictable AI expansion
- Increased historical accuracy

CONS:
- Some unique IGCS features will be lost like Loyalty
- Epirus won't have any really unique units

What do you guys think?

[Tete]

Hey Zarax,

I just have a few question regarding to this. I know probably I'm not the best person to comment on this since I'm not much an experienced and good player.
- Does this mean that there would be another so far playable faction disabled by putting Epirus in as a playable faction?
- If you remove IGCS, what will happen it's regions, they will become rebellic or they will end up part of other factions (like the normal greeks?)
- To be honest I like the IGCS faction in a way, because usually I can't keep my economy growing and falls apart after a while because my leaders misbehavier therefore I tend to cheat a little bit, but as a compansation I usually picked the IGCS faction to donate huge amount of money in order to keep some sort of balance in the game. I know it's wrong but it worked for me.
- I have one concern about Epirus though. As my experiences IGCS could become a powerful faction sometimes (even withouth my generous donations) but I don't think Epirus alone would be able to stand up against their neighbours for long time.
- Which provincial campaigns will be removed? Is it still possible to keep a few greek related ones (like Pergamon, Cyrene, Syracuse) or these will be gone too? I don't mind if you remove IGCS if these cities states will be still available to play as a provincial campaign at any level.

Thanks, and good luck!

[Zarax]

1) No, it would replace the unplayable independent greeks
2) The regions will become slave faction but we found a way to make them stronger so they wouldn't be an easy pret
3) Balance is of course a concern but it would at the same time create a pretty challenging campaign
4) Epirus and Syracuse would be removed as the faction would cover both starting positions, all other provincial campaigns will be unchanged

[Suppanut]

Loyalty feature will not lost though as in XC5 all faction loyalty will tie to slave rebels, which may not fully function in term of character random switch side like normal rebel but faction would have chance to lost character to switch side to rebel when settlement revolt if character is not high in loyalty.

[Stath's]

I would vote 100% Epirus, but if they don't have any unique units... Can't they have at least 1 or 2 ? Either way, my vote for Epirus.

[Zarax]

They play halfway between Macedon and GCS, unfortunately even if we gave them uniques they wouldn't be very original.

[Zarax]

Guys, is there any problem with voting?

We see lots of views but 0 votes.

[SuperTechmarine]

Epirus is one of the greats in the mod's starting timeline, so yeah. Go for it.


For unique units, look to Illyria and the locals (non-Greek) of Epirus, Thessaly and South Italian folks.

[ahowl11]

Question.. What about the Eastern Kingdoms etc? Are they subject to change as well?

[Zarax]

EK became Numidia

[Jagged17]

Hey Zarax, just a quick question about Epirus vs IGCS. Would all the Greek provincial campaigns such as the Bosphorus still exist or would they all be replaced by Epirus.
I just ask as I find the provincial campaigns (Bosphorus and Messina in particular) add another depth to Extended Cultures and would hate to lose.

Awesome mod by the way, and sorry to add my two cents.
Thanks

[Zarax]

No, the provincial campaigns would be mostly untouched as they use GCS rather than IGCS.

[Apollyon]

Pretty unanimous to me. Epirus were a serious power at the start of this timeline, and were key to the rise of Rome.

[TM Is Back]

It is interesting to play Epirus. IGCS are, in all my games, quickly destroyed anyways.

[Zarax]

Expect an epirote faction stump in the next test build.

[TM Is Back]

Awesome