New to XC

**Mandvadin** · August 09, 2009, 09:00 PM

I have not seen alot of information on this mod specifically (but I am probably looking in the wrong places). Are there big campain differences between this and XGM? And I noticed the Watchmen buildings - Do they provide an actual garrison or are they just for the PO?

Thanks

**CaesarVincens** · August 09, 2009, 09:45 PM

Welcome, Mandvadin.
A great place to find information about Extended Cultures is at its readme which you can find here. There are links from the readme which go to version history and a page about the mod. There are many differences between Extended Cultures and XGM. One, there have recently been many changes to the XC map. Two, Extended Cultures has always had many more colonies and barracks groups than XGM. Three, there are several other new buildings, like the garrison buildings. Finally, to answer your question about the garrison building, it provides public order and at higher levels, recruitment, but as of yet, no actual garrison per se.

**Mandvadin** · August 10, 2009, 11:17 AM

Thats cool, I only got to try it a little before I had to sleep for work. I guess what I am trying to figure out is: I have been wanting to play the Seleucid campain on XGM. And with all of the guys surrounding you, you basically have to let part of your empire fall until you have enough strength to pull all your forces that direction. I saw the watchmen and I thought if they fired off a garrison script when the city gets attacked then I could fight for Egypt and Turkey while maintaining my easter borders. (This sounds more like a suggestion then a Question =p but I was wondering if anyone had a good strategy for handing this?)

Also, When I play as Rome in XGM, I conquered Carthage in Africa. Well, when I moved my efforts to Spain nearly every single town flipped on me or was in the process

. Does this happen in XC? or is there at least a way for me to prevent this with out having to send like 15 diplomats over to each region?

And btw from what I have seen so far of this mod, it looks really great! You have done a great job with it and I look forward to playing it!

Also, I noticed the unit size increase for the greek armored infantry (their name escapes me for the moment). When it was 100 from XGM it just seemed like that was not enough! =)

Thanks again for responding.

**CaesarVincens** · August 10, 2009, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Mandvadin

Thats cool, I only got to try it a little before I had to sleep for work. I guess what I am trying to figure out is: I have been wanting to play the Seleucid campain on XGM. And with all of the guys surrounding you, you basically have to let part of your empire fall until you have enough strength to pull all your forces that direction. I saw the watchmen and I thought if they fired off a garrison script when the city gets attacked then I could fight for Egypt and Turkey while maintaining my easter borders. (This sounds more like a suggestion then a Question =p but I was wondering if anyone had a good strategy for handing this?)

The Seleucid Empire is at least as hard to maintain in Extended Cultures, except for the garrison buildings there are no advantages really (well the AI get a bit fewer bonuses).

Also, When I play as Rome in XGM, I conquered Carthage in Africa. Well, when I moved my efforts to Spain nearly every single town flipped on me or was in the process

. Does this happen in XC? or is there at least a way for me to prevent this with out having to send like 15 diplomats over to each region?

This is about the same, it just depends on how you convert towns and what colonies are present when you conquer the town. If the Carthaginians had taken Iberia before you, it would likely be much harder to control at first.

And btw from what I have seen so far of this mod, it looks really great! You have done a great job with it and I look forward to playing it!

Also, I noticed the unit size increase for the greek armored infantry (their name escapes me for the moment). When it was 100 from XGM it just seemed like that was not enough! =)

Thanks again for responding.

Thank you. I'm sure you'll have fun.
I'm not sure which Greek armored infantry you are refering to (there are so many), but unit sizes should be the same in all cases.

**Mandvadin** · August 10, 2009, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by CaesarVincens

Thank you. I'm sure you'll have fun.
I'm not sure which Greek armored infantry you are refering to (there are so many), but unit sizes should be the same in all cases.

I think they are called Hypaspists??? They are the guys you get a little later with bigger barracks. They use short swords and toss spears. In XGM they came in packs of 100 which worked but it was hard to use them as a main force. In yours (they share at least the same unit card) they seem to come in sets of 200 (I changed the unit limit when you start a new compain from 100 to 200) <- I don't remember seeing that option in XGM, but it was late and I was only just checking it out.

And on the Selcs. - thats too bad, they are really tough to play. I think if I can figure out a solid strategy on a fast way to take egypt or turkey I should be ok. Parthia is stupidly hard to fight.

**CaesarVincens** · August 10, 2009, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by Mandvadin

I think they are called Hypaspists??? They are the guys you get a little later with bigger barracks. They use short swords and toss spears. In XGM they came in packs of 100 which worked but it was hard to use them as a main force. In yours (they share at least the same unit card) they seem to come in sets of 200 (I changed the unit limit when you start a new compain from 100 to 200) <- I don't remember seeing that option in XGM, but it was late and I was only just checking it out.

And on the Selcs. - thats too bad, they are really tough to play. I think if I can figure out a solid strategy on a fast way to take egypt or turkey I should be ok. Parthia is stupidly hard to fight.

Oh yes, that is one of the other differences between XGM and Extended Cultures. XGM's battle system is based on 2 hps (with a 1 hp option). One part of that is Dime decided to give elite units (such as hypaspists) 3 hp but cut the unit size in half.
Whereas Extended Cultures works by cutting lethality (and other changes that are being implemented slowly), elites have the normal amount of hp (with a few exceptions I think) and regular numbers.
It's also possible to change unit size in XGM, you just have to do so from the options menu not the campaign menu.

The Seleucid Empire is one of the hardest campaigns to play. If you use your starting units to quickly take the Levant (the area south of Antioch), you should have a much easier time of it.

**Mandvadin** · August 10, 2009, 06:45 PM

Well we will see I haven't actually started a campain yet. I am torn between greece - macedonia - selc - or rome =)

**Mandvadin** · August 12, 2009, 10:20 AM

Well I have never done a Macedonia campain on any mod so I decided to go for it. I am having a blast!!! You guys have done a great job. I am not sure if there is actually less buildings or not, but I feel like I don't have to build so much stuff to get things done. Currently I had to wipe out GCS - they decided to attack me =p.

That took like 3 turns - I was already preparing to finish off GCS (Ind).

I had Thrace as a buffer from guys to the north while I started to take on Turkey and the Selcs. But, Rome and Germany have ganged up on them and they are all but gone. I will now have to deal with the dreaded rome! =). I have a plan to send 3 armies over 1 to sicily and 2 to the southern tip of italy. I plan to burn to rome before their armies get a chance to react.