[Preview] Bosporan Kingdom

[AqD]

Preview for Bosporan Kingdom:

Campaign Position:


It's a very good position for human players - rich trading towns surrounded by sea and terrible but immovable rebels. You can spend decades to build up cities and then backstab your trading partners when the time is right

Their army are a mix of scythian, sarmatian, and greek styles, plus some celtic and thracian influences. It inherits cavalry units from previous Sarmatians, though there is no more cheap HAs since they're not nomads. Historical sources for their native units are very rare, because they always relied on foreign power for defense, therefore some of the following units are history-inspired rather than being historically-accurate ones:

The preview has been synchronized with the development version; some units/names may not be as same as what you get in v2.1

Basilikon Hippeis ("Royal Cavalry")


The Bosporan royal cavalry fight in the same style as Sarmatian nobles - very fast and powerful lancers. They're armed with two-handed "contus sarmaticus" and a longsword. The horse is also protected by some forms of barding. They have unmatched charge power, speed and stamina - the best of all cavalry!
The unit is the original Sarmatae Basilikon Hippeis in RTR, with changed weaponery and horse decoration/barding.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In reality the king of Bosporan kingdom in 280 BC was a Thracian, not Sarmatian (yet); and the two-handed kontos weren't recorded in battle for Sarmatians until many years later (after 1AD).

Basilikon Agema (Royal Guard)


Recruited among rich greek citizens, the "elite hoplites" were commonly used as guard infantry in many Hellenistic kingdoms and the Bosporan Kindgom may have done the same, though these heavy hoplites are quite outdated by 280BC and don't have much value in field battles in the vast pontic steppe, where mobility is much more important.

The unit is reskinned from unmounted Sarmatian Basilikon Hippeis in RTR, with golden Pontic shields.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Bosporan Kingdom was never recorded to have royal guard infantry, although they probably had it, just like most factions. The unit is modelled after Scythian armoured infantry depicted in Osprey's book. It's not accurate but should be close enough, if the royal guard unit really existed

Sarmatai Eugeneis Hippotoxotai (Sarmatian Noble Archers)


Armoured horse archers, equipped with a bow and a pick-axe. They're the highest-level cavalry you can actually recruit in most regions. Although they're unable to perform effective charge, they could support the general cavalry with their bows and excellent melee combat skill.

From Sarmatae Kataphraktoi in RTR but changed to a true horse archer unit.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Historically armoured horse archers were used by Sarmatians and Scythians, and likely to be in the foreign armies or mercs employeed by Bosporan kingdom, but not recruited from the kingdom itself - their own horse archers were depicted with bow and longsword (an indication of wealth!) but no armour, which is rather weird and one has wonder if they did do the real fighting at all

Sarmatai Eugeneis Toxotai (Sarmatian Noble Foot Archer)


Armed with a bow and two-handed longsword, the unmounted Sarmatian nobles are the best foot archers in game and very capable in melee combat as well. However, they carry no shield in order to allow rapid movement and wield their extra-longswords freely, so like other archers it's very important not to expose them under missile fire for a long time despite of their high-quality armours...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Modded from hidden texture in RTRPE; The noble archer is based on Roman description of unhorsed Sarmatian nobles in battle - wearing light armour and wielding two-handed gaint longswords.

Bosporanoi Pelekephoroi (Bosporan Heavy Axemen)


Bosporan Imitation Legionary is a local copy of Seleucid and Pontic Thorakitai, with very different arms: scythian pick-axe, medium-ranged darts, scale armour, and silver-covered thureos. They are expensive and late-period unit, but more flexible and suitable than other legionary-type units for flanking due to fast movement and strong attack.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The unit is one of late-period unit (= imaginary), it's constructed according to the arms that settled Scythians and Sarmatians may have used; Historically the Thorakitai in the region were only used by Mithridates when he tried to invade Bosporus. However, there was indeed a type of Imitation Legionaries, which first appeared in the Bosporan War in AD 49, but they were equipped just like Roman Auxilia and no longer had any "uniqueness".

Bosporanoi Doryphoroi (Bosporan Spearmen)


Levy spearmen, only recruitable in initial regions. They're fast and proved to be an even match to levy hoplites; They can be used to hold the line, but against legionaries or phalangitai they would need some extra support.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The most historically-accurate unit of this faction. It's reconstructed according to the foot infantry depicted in one Bosporan funeary stele.

Kataphraktoi Hippotoxotai (Cataphract Archers)


Cataphract archers in bactria and saka regions. Like other bosporan cavalry, they have excellent stamina at the cost of weaker armour. There is no story about them - they're fictional late-period unit and modelled after the saka noble cataphract in other mods

Bosporanoi Epilektoi Toxotai (Bosporan Elite Archers)


Hellenized scythian archers. Inspired by EB's Thureopherontes Toxotai.

________
Laguna Bay II Condo Prathumnak

[lelouchx99]

Release this mod please =P

Hugs and kisses~!

[AqD]

The bosporan kingdom is included in released 1.0 version (except for last 3 units). Check this thread. You'd need RTW-Alexander to play this.
________
The Legend Condominium Cosy Beach

[Jamey]

If left alone, how does the AI Bosporan Kingdom expand? Does anyone have any map screenshots of later in the game by any chance?

I'd try it myself, but no Alexander.

[AqD]

It'd expand into Dacia and Germaia after the stronghold of rebel Campus Scythii is destroyed, some 40 years or 30 years - 4tpy But then they'd have to face Macedonians or Greek cities, or Thracians. AI bosporan wouldn't launch naval attack due to crap economics despite of the money script.

For players, navy is absolutely necessary to begin invading greece or asia minor. There is no chance you can beat the golden experienced HAs in Campus Scythii or other surrounding steppe regions in current version - no wall to limit their movement and their arrows can kill cataphracts and elephants instantly!
________
Vapormatic vaporizer

[Jamey]

It'd expand into Dacia and Germaia after the stronghold of rebel Campus Scythii is destroyed, some 40 years or 30 years - 4tpy But then they'd have to face Macedonians or Greek cities, or Thracians. AI bosporan wouldn't launch naval attack due to crap economics despite of the money script.

Have you tried making the Bosporan Kingdom favor naval invasions? I'm curious if that makes it range across the Black Sea to Asia Minor.

[Quinn Inuit]

If you'd rather see them stick to the coast, I recommend adding Sindica (like we've done in the ExRM) and then adding a couple of cities to the coast of Colchis (Dioscurias, Pityos, etc.). You can use those to lead the AI by the nose toward Trebizond.

[AqD]

Thanks. But first of all I need to figure out how to add a bridge to connect the two parts of Tanais
________
VOLCANO VAPORIZERS

[Quinn Inuit]

You mean an actual bridge or a land bridge? Actual bridges are easy--just use the map_features file. Land bridges are a pain.

[AqD]

An actual bridge - I figured it out last night
________
Ecigs123

[AqD]

RS2's bosporan preview has been published. Now I finally got a historical source
________
Wong Amat Tower Condominium Pattaya

[AqD]

UI cards for new/reskinned units:

[Sir Walter]

To make it easier to expand towards Thrace and Macedon, could Bosporan Kingdom start with the "Tribus Scythii" region? It makes them better in game because if Armenia backstab you (which they did to me in turn 3) and take Tanais with their unlimited supercataphracts, then you barely have any land left. If I hadn't known they'd attack me because they did the stupid "Have a pathetically small amount of money so you'll think we like you" thing, I would've lost the game because I had one army and it was trying to take Campus Scythii at the time

[AqD]

To make it easier to expand towards Thrace and Macedon, could Bosporan Kingdom start with the "Tribus Scythii" region? It makes them better in game because if Armenia backstab you (which they did to me in turn 3) and take Tanais with their unlimited supercataphracts, then you barely have any land left. If I hadn't known they'd attack me because they did the stupid "Have a pathetically small amount of money so you'll think we like you" thing, I would've lost the game because I had one army and it was trying to take Campus Scythii at the time

The region isn't supposed to be conquered, that's why it's garrisoned by elite steppe cavalry!

The armenians ..... um well just hold the bridge if they come They'd get frustrated and turn to south or pontus in the east sooner or later! I was never attacked by them though.....

[Sir Walter]

The region isn't supposed to be conquered, that's why it's garrisoned by elite steppe cavalry!

The armenians ..... um well just hold the bridge if they come They'd get frustrated and turn to south or pontus in the east sooner or later! I was never attacked by them though.....

Yeah, but the problem with it not being meant to be conquered is that it doesn't really make sense... it's between two of my territories and it's on the Black Sea so it's ideal! Also, because of the landbridge from the Crimea to the Tanais province they'd just go and invade my capital

Anyway, once the "Free Peoples" are there they might not march through Tribus Alanni...

[AqD]

Yeah, but the problem with it not being meant to be conquered is that it doesn't really make sense... it's between two of my territories and it's on the Black Sea so it's ideal! Also, because of the landbridge from the Crimea to the Tanais province they'd just go and invade my capital

Or you can hold them on the narrow pass in their own land

Anyway, once the "Free Peoples" are there they might not march through Tribus Alanni...

Free Peoples won't attack you or anyone. They just defend themselves

[Sir Walter]

What I meant was that all the Armenian armies attack me via Rebel territory... they might not do that in Free territory.

And if you attack the Free Peoples in, say, India, will the ones in Arabia still trade with you (example)?

[AqD]

Nope. They cannot be modded that way..... So you should not attack them unless you have nothing else to do Most of their lands are useless anyway.

[Sir Walter]

India, and Britain should have a couple I think, to make wars there harder.

[AqD]

India could be at war with Bactria, now the map is just too small to represent it. must wait until RTR VII....