Byzantines

[-=WingZero=-]

Can't help but notice the Byz (one of the most popular MTW factions) haven't gotten any love in the way of pictures... or did I simply mis them...

[Lusted]

One of the 3d unit previews has been Trebizond ARchers, and if you check out the new look www.totalwa.rcom in the factions section you will get more info on them.

[Stalins Ghost]

There's one of their cataphracts too.

[Rhone]

Think the Vangarian guard will be in it this time?

[Lusted]

What do you mean this time? The varangian guard were in MTW.

[Knight of Rome]

yeah i remeber they were in the original...though one thing i do hope is that the byzantine infantry look more historical in terms of pictures i have seen of them....in which they look alot like Roman Legionairres.....i remember in the first game they gave them like a curved arabian sword and i am not sure but i do not think they used those...like i said pics i have seen of themthey look like they are using a variant of the Spatha(late roman legionairre sword).....not sure if i am exactly right, just think it would make it better.

[Keravnos]

I am really WORRIED about how the Byzantines will appear on MTW2.

First worry.

1080. It was near the end of the "Black Decade" following the Betrayal at Manzikert (you could say battle, if you haven't read about it). The whole of Micrasia, or Asia Minor as Anatolia is known prior to its Turkish conquest, was occupied by minor seljuk turk emirs.

So, a proper map would have Byzantium control only some of the large coastal cities of Asia minor.

Some units that distinguished themselves in the period were...

Archontopouloi or "lords' sons" who were the children of the slain lords of Asia Minor, (who were slain when they tried to resist Seljuk turk occupation of their lands. On their shield St. Andrew was painted.

Anglovarangoi or Inglovarangoi who were basically Anglosaxon lords ousted by a certain Norman who took England by invasion some years earlier
They were mainly cavalry in contrast to Scots and Russians/Vikings who fought as infantry.

All were distinguished in battle, and I would hope they will be included. Besides, remembering them in game is all that is really left of them now.

R.I.P. ye god guarded empire

[dragases1453]

I hope they'll be maken in an historical way....anyway they used the curved sword as the scimitar, but especially in the period between 1260-1453.

In 1000-1200 they used the Spathion, a normal medieval sword

[Knight of Rome]

ahhh ok......just curious....not trying to be biast but i thought mostly islamic factions used those not not Christian......ow well just a assumption based off cultural aspects

[Farnan]

Well Mid-East factions used them, and the Byzantine (or Eastern Roman) Empire was a Middle Eastern faction.

[Knight of Rome]

true....heh never thought of it that way

[Keravnos]

Having read the preview of the faction in totalwar.com, I must say I am a little bit worried.

In it, it is stated clearly that while Byzantium starts weakened due to Manzikert, it WILL NOT GET TECHS, due to its "history" and traditionalism. True, historically, those byzantines fighting in the 1100's weren't much different to those fighting in the 1400's, but that was due to the increasing hopelessness of the situation, NOT TRADITIONALISM.

Should Byzantium reach the 15th century in good shape, (and when I WILL RULE IT IT WILL BE ) I don't see why it shouldn't have bombardiers, cannons or hand cannoneers (gunmen of the time) or improved cataphracts (otherwise known as knights). If all nations around did have them, how could the Byzantines not? (especially since -if being succesful- it will be able to afford them).

Win win situation here unfolding. More byz designs (and believe you me, should you choose to research, you wil find that Byzantines were able to field ALL SORTS OF MODERN ARMIES OF THE TIME), just not enough of them ... AND a byzantine empire (or true rome to you heathen westerners ) that can fight its way back into history.

I hope that CA will find it in their hearts and minds to give byzantium MORE UNITS than "Cataprhacts, themata infantry, trapezounta archers and varangoi".

2 eurocents poorer, I thank you.

[Lusted]

But if Ca do do that, they'll have the realism community up in arms about not portaying Byzantium properly.

[Boudicca]

They could have it optional - depending on what Byzantium does make out of itself. If they achieve to take a certain number of provinces and hold them for more than 10 turns they should get their new weapons.

[Zenith Darksea]

Actually, many leading voices in the realism community (including myself) have actually asked for this before, and it seems to be an interesting idea. After all, if Byzantium were to rise again, it would be less realistic if it were to be massively restricted in its technology.

But this is just the problem with picking such a massive time period - they've over-reached themselves massively, and as a result questions such as these tend to throw themselves up, if you know what I mean.

[John I Tzimisces]

Bearing in mind that the Byzantines could field Arquebusiers and Culverins in MTW...I'm sure the Byzantines won't be totally outclassed in the late period in MTW2.

[Boudicca]

It would add to my feeling of challenge if the Byzantines were a difficult faction. I always liked the flavour of recreating an empire without really having the means to do it. I do hope that they won't be too "flat" in terms of playing depth. However I thinkg we will see a lot of Byzantum mods very soon. Many people seem to like them.

I never played vanilla Rome for more than one campaign..

[John I Tzimisces]

It would add to my feeling of challenge if the Byzantines were a difficult faction. I always liked the flavour of recreating an empire without really having the means to do it. I do hope that they won't be too "flat" in terms of playing depth. However I thinkg we will see a lot of Byzantum mods very soon. Many people seem to like them.

I never played vanilla Rome for more than one campaign..

I have a feeling they'll simply end up like they did in MTW...smallish tech tree, few (maybe only one like last time...) developed areas, sparse armies early on...

[Zenith Darksea]

No religious depth, poorly depicted provinces, stereotypical and inaccurate...

[Lusted]

But very fun to play as, i loved creating armies of Kataphractoi, Pronoi Allagoi(sp?), Byzantine Infantry and Trebizond Archers. The Byzantines were one of my favourite factions, if CA does them as they were in MTw, but with more depth, i will be very happy.