my first impressions.

[Inhuman One]

I downloaded the XGM yesterday evening and have been through some custom battles to see all the new and altered units, havent started a campaign yet.

There definatly is a lot of great stuff there, I really like the roman reskin and the many additions to greek factions.

But there are also some things I dont like or could be improved.


Where Corinthian helmets that rare in greek armies? Aside from spartans and hypaspists pretty much no other unit seems to wear this one, instead they seem to be wearing those smurf hats which might be more accurate but look rather rediculous. Could more units use the corinthian helmet? where it might be accurate of course. Maybe for some cavalry?

As I mentioned the roman reskin looks great, but sadly the horses where not reskinned, and the bright red cloth on the horses looks very weird with the more realistic reskin. can the horses please be reskinned as well?

While I understand that the Carthaginians mostly relied on mercenaries, a few more units of their own might be good to have, maybe an archer unit? doesnt even have to be a great archer but seeing how carthaginians usually didnt do the real fighting themselves it might make sense. And perhaps the Iberian infantry could be restored as well to give them a weak yet very usefull sword unit once more.

New units for the Gauls is of course a good thing, but I must say that their two new swordsman units dont seem to fit in with the rest of the roster. the chain hauberk looks a bit weird and the white sleeves as well. The spearmen unit that looks like the general might be a bit weird as well unless its meant as a diversion to protect the real general.

All the greek factions seem to have a peltast or light infantry unit with a large oval shield that has green branches on it, since this color is not used for any of these factions and its rather bright, perhaps it could be turned black or grey?

The Parthians dont seem to have much infantry anymore, only one unit. why is that? cant they have a few more basic units? like the hillmen? and what about the Scythians? why dont they have their basic axemen unit anymore?

[Hurlbut]

Corinthian helmet was VERY uncomfortable. You cannot hear and see very well, you had to rely on your sense of touch and it became your whole world in the hoplite phalanx. The hoplite deliberately avoided putting on the helmet and the bronze breastplate until the very last minute. These pieces of equipment tended to be thrown away in a retreat/rout (the shield being the very first since it was the easiest one to drop away). The hoplite only tolerated the panoply because it did afforded respectable protection and as long as they were fighting the Greek way (decide it all in one brief, intense clash between hoplites).
The "smurf" helmet as you put it is the thracian style helmet. It offered a good all around vision and unimpeded hearing. It protected your head and, with cheek guards, to your face as well.

[DimeBagHo]

Thanks for the feedback Inhuman One.

Where Corinthian helmets that rare in greek armies?

By the time of the game period, no one was using the Corinthian helm. It restricted sight and hearing too much so, as manoeuvre and tactics became more important in Greek warfare, it disappeared. The few units that still have it in XGM are there just because I like the look.

As I mentioned the roman reskin looks great, but sadly the horses where not reskinned, and the bright red cloth on the horses looks very weird with the more realistic reskin. can the horses please be reskinned as well?

Do you mean for the Romans? That could be done.

While I understand that the Carthaginians mostly relied on mercenaries, a few more units of their own might be good...

That would be unrealistic, and I think it would make Carthage less interesting to play. The current setup requires the player to adapt to the types of auxiliaries available in each region.

The Parthians dont seem to have much infantry anymore, only one unit. why is that? cant they have a few more basic units? like the hillmen? and what about the Scythians? why dont they have their basic axemen unit anymore?

The reasons are partly a matter of historical accuracy, and partly a matter of game-play. Historically the Parthians didn't use infantry at all, and the Scythians only did so after becoming sedentary. Also, if these factions have even one halfway decent infantry unit then the AI will recruit armies that consist of 60-80% infantry, which is highly unrealistic and uninteresting.

Because they have only one infantry unit consisting of old men armed with wooden spoons the AI only recruits a small number, and AI stacks tend to be all (or mostly all) cavalry, which is a lot more realistic and also a lot harder to fight against.

[Inhuman One]

thanks for the quick responses.

I can understand the vision being a bit limited with a corinthian helmet, but I do know that they had designs with an open space for the ears to improve the hearing. And up to the time armor became obsolete helmets have been used with limited vision, especially in the late medieval period. Face protection might be rather important when two phalanx formations are poking at each other.

But this all might just be me rambling because I dont like the Phrygian helmet design, calling it a smurf cap is still polite, the top of the helmet reminds me a bit of a phallus. Maybe there could be alternatives like perhaps a more open corinthian helmet.

And has the typical gladiator helmet with a rim and high crest ever been used outside an arena? thats a great design although probably limiting vision. Often used by murmillo's and secutors I think.

Good to hear you would like to see the roman horses changed as well, that would really complete the roman faction.

Now that I heard the explanation, I can agree with the Parthians and scythians have little infantry.

As for the carthaginian units, I understand the viewpoint and respect it, but dont fully agree with it. I can live with it of course.

What about the gaul swordsmen that look a bit out of place and the bright green olive branches on the shields of a greek peltast unit?

[DimeBagHo]

And has the typical gladiator helmet with a rim and high crest ever been used outside an arena?

Not as far as I know.

What about the gaul swordsmen that look a bit out of place and the bright green olive branches on the shields of a greek peltast unit?

With some factions the laurel wreaths do look a bit too "christmas tree" but it's unlikely to change any time soon.

Personally I like the newer Gallic Swordsmen units. The heavy spearmen, not so much. There's a good chance they will be replaced by something that looks more like the Celto-Hellenic Hoplites.

[Hurlbut]

you mean the Gallic Heavy Spearmen, or both?

[DimeBagHo]

Just the Heavy Spearmen, I like the way the sword units look now.

[Hurlbut]

Just the Heavy Spearmen, I like the way the sword units look now.

so basically it'll affect the Germanic Heavy Spearmen as well?

[DimeBagHo]

so basically it'll affect the Germanic Heavy Spearmen as well?

Probably not. I expect they will get an entirely different model.

[Hurlbut]

Well I'm fond of the Germanic Heavy Spearmen. Will the new model be spear based?

[Diomede]

tbh I don't see the issue with the spearmen (despite being general-lookingish) or swordsmen, but I do wish the heavy swordsmen could warcry.

[Inhuman One]

I do believe that the gauls have two advanced swordsmen units that look exactly the same now.

Maybe the heavy spearmen could use the model of late gaul bodyguards from after the reforms? Could also be a good model for swordsmen.