Barbarian sides

**TrajanusII** · January 22, 2009, 10:05 PM

I'm a long time player of R:TW with BI, from the mods I've mostly played RTR PE but also had a foray into Europa Barbarorium (sp?). Anyway, now I've been playing Extended R and it's the best so far. Although I kind of miss the 'personalised' faction screens from EB (I think, been so long I can't be sure) with each faction feeling like a new experience with different interface etc.

Now, I mostly like playing with the barbarian sides, or non-Roman factions. Out of all factions most often it's the Germans/Swebians/etc. Now, I know you're probably pressed with requests but I'd just like to chime in with a wish or a feedback to one day have a better German side. Not stronger, just more 'barbarian'. For example, I don't think the forest ambushing works as it should, I'm not exactly sure how it should work. I also know it is impossible to change. Just that the German side feels like an inferior Rome and that kind of makes them sort of dull side to play.

Anyway, I'm glad you made this mod, cheers to you all.

**Quinn Inuit** · January 23, 2009, 07:20 PM

I'm glad you're enjoying this!

I have absolutely no idea how to improve forest ambushing. I don't think it's possible, unfortunately, though if I can will.

I also don't have a lot of experience playing the Germans. (Jamey's our expert on them.) AFAIK, they need to be played in ways that maximize the effectiveness of their hail of javelins. Beyond that, what would you like to see done with them?

**TrajanusII** · January 23, 2009, 09:58 PM

Well I'm not really even sure what exactly I'd like changed. Maybe you've already pushed the R:TW - game as far as it goes. I guess what I'm looking for would be Barbarian - Total War but that would be a whole new game.

Personally I play the game sort of intuitively, there is probably a 'perfect' way to play the game but I don't want to take it that seriously. I'm kinda looking for those "wow" - moments when something interesting happens in the game world. I'm interested in the history of the era but not necessarily purely from a Roman view point.

Well I do have a question. The Roman units probably correlate pretty well historically but what are the German units based on? Are there historical conterparts for the German units in Exp R?

**Quinn Inuit** · January 24, 2009, 12:37 PM

I think so. The German units are actually pretty good, AFAIK. I don't know that much about German history, so this is going more on the the research the RTR team did. Most of my knowledge of that era involves the Hellenistic world.

**Wien1938** · January 24, 2009, 06:52 PM

I'd recommend Rome's Greatest Defeat. That has a very good account of German warfare.

**Quinn Inuit** · January 24, 2009, 09:41 PM

Ok, I'll check that out at some point, and recommend it to Jamey, too. I'll bet he'd really enjoy it.

**AqD** · January 24, 2009, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by TrajanusII

Now, I mostly like playing with the barbarian sides, or non-Roman factions. Out of all factions most often it's the Germans/Swebians/etc. Now, I know you're probably pressed with requests but I'd just like to chime in with a wish or a feedback to one day have a better German side. Not stronger, just more 'barbarian'. For example, I don't think the forest ambushing works as it should, I'm not exactly sure how it should work. I also know it is impossible to change. Just that the German side feels like an inferior Rome and that kind of makes them sort of dull side to play.

Ambush works when your army is entirely unprepared, centurions and soldiers not getting orders and having no idea what happens.

It cannot happen in RTW

**Warmaker** · January 24, 2009, 09:52 PM

Out of all the Barbarian factions, the Germans I enjoyed the most. Lots of projectiles to throw and shoot and decent throwaway units that aren't shabby. Toss in a few cavalry and "shock" units, then you're golden.

Assaulting towns are an okay experience, especially since you have the manpower (in general) to absorb losses and wear down defenders.

But the thing of course, just like most of the Barbarian factions, is the poor armor... incoming javelins, sling stones, arrows tear my boys apart. Personally, I have no fear of facing lots of cavalry with these guys. Keep my infantry formed when the cavalry charges in on them, absorb the losses with these huge units, and massacre the cavalry in close quarters. Lots of spears are found in these Barbarian army lists.

Basically, my favorite unit with the Germanic faction is their "warband" type of unit. They enable my roving armies to do alot, even though they're "fodder."