Barbarian factions

[Publius Quirinus]

I've been wanting to try a barbarian faction for my next RTR campaign, does anybody have any suggestions on which ones?

How are the barbarian factions in RTRPE different from the ones in vanilla RTW (apart from the units, of course)?

[RadD]

Try the Germans, they are always fun. At first you're not threatened from other factions besides the Rebels, so this gives you a chance to build up. I always like to do a barbarian campaign once and a while, because the barbarians are so different in the way the work in the game.

I'm a Roman guy.

[AqD]

Sarmatians!
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[Jamey]

Germania is my favorite faction. German melee infantry is unarmored and tends to have low attack values. The infantry all have javelins and the elite infantry inspires fear in enemy infantry. The basic German warband is a surprisingly strong unit because of its javelins and its speed. The German early game tends to be slow, as most of your starting settlements are Towns (meaning less than 2000 population and no ports). The first few decades tend to be a tightrope walk of balancing growth, income, and conquest. Be aware that Germania has a lot of location restricted units (Blackshields, German archers, swordsmen, and club warbands off the top of my head). Most or all of them cannot be recruited in your starting territory - head South and/or East to find them (I like to go to Viberi and work on growing it to get Blackshields ASAP).

I also like Thrace. Bastarnae are virtually unarmored but have perhaps the best melee attack in the game (huge attack value and armor piercing). They are strong in a frontal attack and virtually unstoppable in a flanking attack (I prefer to pin the enemy with hoplites and flank them with bastarnae). I've seen them carve through opposing elite units like a hot knife through butter.

[Andy5]

I've been wanting to try a barbarian faction for my next RTR campaign, does anybody have any suggestions on which ones?

How are the barbarian factions in RTRPE different from the ones in vanilla RTW (apart from the units, of course)?

It depends on how challenging you want the game. I have played the Numidians on VH/VH and defeated Carthage but you have to pick your battles carefully. I always provoked Carthage armies to attack me when I was above them on a hill or mountain. This way you can use the Berber Spearman and Numidian Cavalry and Javelin soldiers to your best advantage. Don't write off the Berber Spearmen they are pretty tough in desert conditions.

Once you defeat Carthage and have moved up the Iberian peninsula you will eventually come into contact with Rome. I got hammered by them but if you pick your battles you can win.

Don't be concerned about withdrawing your troops and 'losing' a battle it is better than having your army wiped out.

[fourganger]

If you play as Sarmatia, I'd say you should leave Thrace alone and advance through Armenia. Those Black Sea territories are hard to control, and unlike other factions you can't just let them rebel and then re-conquer them.

[AqD]

Numidians are not barbarians despite of their "primitive" appearance

If you play as Sarmatia, I'd say you should leave Thrace alone and advance through Armenia. Those Black Sea territories are hard to control, and unlike other factions you can't just let them rebel and then re-conquer them.

No, it's more glorious to destroy Thrace and meet the mighty Macedonians - and beat them!

BTW I figured it's best to add a landlock between Armenia and Scythia, because Pontus or Armenia always expand to there instead of fighting Seleucids
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[Andy5]

[quote=aqd;2986936]Numidians are not barbarians despite of their "primitive" appearance

My understanding was that Numidia was the ancient Berber kingdom and that the term Berber is a Latin variation of the term barbarian.

Apart from the Greeks the Romans considered all other races barbarians (less civilized) and the Greeks considered anyone who wasn't Greek 'barbaros'

[Surgunoglu]

And yet, the Berbers weren't called Berber by the ancient Greeks and Romans. It's a much younger term. They were more frequently called Libyans, Numidians, and Moors.

In any case, in game terms, barbarians refers to northern cultures. But your point is valid.

[AqD]

Numidians are not barbarians despite of their "primitive" appearance

My understanding was that Numidia was the ancient Berber kingdom and that the term Berber is a Latin variation of the term barbarian.

Apart from the Greeks the Romans considered all other races barbarians (less civilized) and the Greeks considered anyone who wasn't Greek 'barbaros'

Yeah, but somehow RTR sets Numidians to have Carthaginian Culture...
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[Andy5]

Yeah, but somehow RTR sets Numidians to have Carthaginian Culture...

Historically, Roman prejudice was not based on race but on culture. The Carthaginians were considered barbaric because each family had to sacrifice a young son to Ba'al.

The Romans and plenty of other races considered this practice and the Carthaginians barbaric.

[Vectis]

I often play as the barbarian factions as it adds variety. The 2 that I tend to play are as Germany or Sarmatia. The germans are good with their infantry units, and are able to recruit some great unique units, as well as chariots from Britain.
The Sarmatian unit is great for its horse archers. There is nothing better than getting victory after victory with HA's against the Macedonians. When you run out of arrows charge into the back of their phlanxes with heavy cavalry. Their is a thread with good advice on this faction.

[Andy5]

I agree with Jamie about Thrace. Their infantry are first class even against the phalanx. If you can pin the front of the phalanx with hoplites or warbands and then charge the rear of the phalanx with falxmen or bastarnae then it will be all over very quickly.

Thracian infantry are very good also. I like to have a couple of units even if I am playing as Rome. They are very good at chasing down routing units.