Boii unit roster

[tone]

Good to put some thoughts together any unique models we want for them. Most units like with the other celtic factions will share models with the others but unique units could include...

Helvetians?
Mori gaesum? http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=53367
Insubres?

We could go with maybe 4 or 5 unique ones. Time to get thoughts together.

[rory o'kane]

Helvetians i like. perhaps a heavy spear unit for them (caesar describes them as having fought in a phalanx, but since it's unlikely they formed a phalanx in the same manner as the greeks, perhaps a heavy unit that can form a shieldwall would be better)? oh, and make them recruitable in geneva - the swiss numberplates don't have CH on them for nothing, you know!

[tone]

Agreed about Helvetiae. Armed with? Spear clearly.. and secondary weapon?

[rory o'kane]

not a clue! anyone got a copy of the Commentarii de Bello Gallico to hand?

[Mulattothrasher]

Cherry's lists seems to work well, like the ones he did for the Belgae. Unless he wants me to do them, which I don't mind doing, I'll wait 'till his list gets posted here

[pseudocaesar]

not a clue! anyone got a copy of the Commentarii de Bello Gallico to hand?

Actually. Yes... I do own that book. I'l read it tonight and tomorrow, and get back to you guys

[cherryfunk]

I think we need:

Helvetii Heavy Infantry (Spear/sword)

Alpine Axemen (generic alpine unit)

Noricene Spearmen (Hellenic influence)

Insubres Spearmen or Swordsmen or Skirmishers

Scordisci Spearmen or Swordsmen

Volcae something (Axemen? Cavalry?)

And then the Boii units (similar to the Arverni roster, but with Getic/Scythian influences).

We do need Bastarnae also, but they could go with the Cimbri roster or this one.

[rory o'kane]

Boii i say, since they're geographically closer, and similarly influenced. or, failing that, we could put them in the getae list?

[Mulattothrasher]

Some possibilities for the Boii. No matter what is chosen as the depiction, its known that many troops would have the "bleached blond spiked hair" look if they do not have on a helmet. . Discussion/opinions welcomed



This picture is excellent for capturing the "flavor" of their overall appearance thats common in the descriptions for the Cisalpine Gauls. Tribes more or less outside Cisalpine Gaul (the Taurisci, Scordisci, etc...) can look more standard if we want.




This picture could represent a veriety of units as well...






Light Swordsmen & Light Spearmen
These pics show how they can appear.





Light Cavalry
These are actually Galatian light cavalry but they retain the common spiked hair look and will do for the Boii.





Medium Cavarly
Perhaps a shirt can be added or not.




Medium Swordsmen
Despite fighting nude, these guys would have preferred smaller shields for increased agility/maneuverability and better offensive power. Having the rope around them would be a plus as well. Maybe spear/sword combo.




Heavy Swordsmen
The better swordsmen that keep bigger shields and chain mail for excellent offensive and protection. Spear and sword combo.




Gaesatae
Thought to be a depiction of the gaesatae. If we go by the accounts of Telamon, then he would have be well adorned in gold braclets and rings as well. Its important that these gaesatae have smaller, narrow shields like the medium spearmen in the picture above.




Heavy Chariot

[rory o'kane]

i was under the impression that it was the Belgae that were getting chariots, not the Boii...

[pseudocaesar]

Yeh no mainland European Celts used Chariots, at all.

[Mulattothrasher]

My argument (which I've not really put forth) for having chariots is that the Boii had around 20,000 cavalry and chariots at Telamon in 225 B.C. according to Polybius. Keep in mind that this is only a few years before RS2's start date. I think that its viable that the Boii and others should/could still field them in battle.

The last recorded use of mainland chariots being was the Battle of Vindalium in 121 B.C. in Southern Gaul.

What do you guys think?

[rory o'kane]

the man's got a point.... thing is, they were being phased out, so they can't exactly be über, but if you make them too week then no one will use 'em!

[tone]

OK so how about this? - there's good reason for having Helvetii, Insubres and Scordisci as these were powerful tribes. I'm concerned about Noricene spearmen as they appear to be unit taken directly out of EB. Otherwise good.

[Mulattothrasher]

OK so how about this? - there's good reason for having Helvetii, Insubres and Scordisci as these were powerful tribes. I'm concerned about Noricene spearmen as they appear to be unit taken directly out of EB. Otherwise good.

Taurisci unit
Therefore it is not surprising that already in the 2nd century B.C. Rome showed its interest in the area southeast of the Alps, as it is obvious from Polybius’ report on the rich gold layer in the land of the Taurisci. Roman interest in Pannonia dates back to the beginning of the 2nd century B.C. at the latest. According to Polybius, rich gold deposits were found in the land of the Taurisci. Rome showed interest in its northeastern neighborhood during the final stage of the Roman Republic, and probably evolved a long-term plan for conquering the area beyond the southeastern Alps.
(info from Strabo, 4.6,12)

This was also one of the tribes that repelled the Cimbri/Teutons. The Taurisci lands were on wealthy gold mines as well, this area would be excellent for helping the Boii faction run their war against Rome when it comes. As for what specific unit the Taurisci should have, I was thinking a heavy axeman. Living up in the mountains, an axe is probably more "useful" than a sword for cutting trees, war, everyday tasks, etc... but I am not basing this off any particular finds or discoveries, so if we wanted a sword unit thats fine as well.




As for the Noricene spearmen, thats simply logical conjecture. We could theoretically have "Cotini spearmen" and folks would wow at that and think its some forgotten secret only a PhD professor could scrounge up and comprehend, but, once the awe is gone you realize there were spearmen in every tribe. So we attach a tribal name, and add spearmen behind it, and viola, a new unit..."_______ spearmen"

[rory o'kane]

i like having the Noricene units. they'd be good to include, since if we're gonna put Massilia in as a swap faction, some aditional Hellenic-influenced troops would be great for them! Plus the romans could use 'em as well as the celts.

[tone]

Where's the evidence for them? We need some primary sources

[rory o'kane]

*cough EB cough cough*

[rory o'kane]

there's an article here on Noricum as a roman protectorate and province - it provides a few hints as to their metalworking ability:

http://www.unrv.com/provinces/noricum.php

[tone]

Seems to me from reading that that the unit Noricum ought to have if any is cavalry rather than infantry, if they were supplying Rome with auxiliary cavalry.