Between Nikaia and Bizantion and some Getai balance questions

[Vlad-Tudor]

Why are the land troops/agents allowed to pass over the sea in that place. There is a patch of at least 1 km wide sea and even if they are allowed somehow to go adrift across it hanging by pieces of wood they should be somehow hindered by the passing. Less defense for one turn/loose some of them by drowning/whatever just not make it seem like there are bridges over it that we're more or less built 2000 years later.
If you are defending one part of the strait if one army passes it comes with no problem at all no way of stopping it to come across. Make it a mandatory sea fight, but whatever don't just let them Jesus over the 1 km wide strait that is way deeper and to a degree more difficult to pass then the majority of the widest rivers. If we go on the logic we used on this rivers should really be allowed to be passed over without bridges or shallow water areas and that would change the game quite a bit. It's just a bit repetitive for me to fight 40 battles in that area because of this issue.

I might be wrong and this be the best way to balance this thing out, but I don't like it. If anyone knows how I can remove the crossing or make it more difficult or any workaround please tell me, I would greatly appreciate it (it annoys my getai ).

Don't know what else I wanted to add, might just edit along the way. Yeah, any other place on the map where this kind of stuff happens?

Second to that. Why are the Getai so backward comparing to other factions? No paved roads, no teach me good buildings, no colonies (which at some point they controlled the Greek ones as far as I know), just the basic kind of mines when as far as I know and history shows they really had some metallurgy skills and had some precious metals (remember the Roman 4 months long free party after getting their gold and silver *and I doubt they found it all* - that was one time in their whole history ... and the building projects that followed $$$), they didn't have the second level of farms like other barbarians do, or the upgrade to ports (this one might be justified, they weren't cool with water). Unit wise they are backwards a bit also, but Celts > Getai after the moderately hard to get reforms. They are saved a bit unit-wise by the ability to build HA. Also, the ethnicities that the Getai get, apart 3,4 (Krobyz, Ordes, Hellen, whatelse?) are pretty weak and give bad traits.

Any good way to go about this or reason why it is so?

Offtopic: The time of Soldiers thing basically makes the army Celts > Romans.

[Entropy Judge]

Why are the land troops/agents allowed to pass over the sea in that place. There is a patch of at least 1 km wide sea and even if they are allowed somehow to go adrift across it hanging by pieces of wood they should be somehow hindered by the passing.

They are (if it's the area I'm thinking of), as IIRC the European side of the strait has a high movement cost. If you're thinking of the area by the city itself, then I'm less sure.

Less defense for one turn/loose some of them by drowning/whatever just not make it seem like there are bridges over it that we're more or less built 2000 years later.

I'm not sure you can do anything like this you can either make it impassible by land units - in which case the AI will almost never attack from Asia Minor into Europe, since they rarely use ships - or you make it passible by land units, which might break SoD in some ways but is more balanced for the game. On the other hand, it's possibly believable that short-term ships could be made at the strait, or that there is a civilian ferry (or local fishermen, or whathaveyou) that can be conscripted to allow an army to cross.

It's just a bit repetitive for me to fight 40 battles in that area because of this issue.

Conquer the cities on the other side of the area so you don't have to worry about invasions crossing the strait?

I might be wrong and this be the best way to balance this thing out, but I don't like it. If anyone knows how I can remove the crossing or make it more difficult or any workaround please tell me, I would greatly appreciate it (it annoys my getai ).

Basically the only ways to do it would be make it impassible (although I'm not certain *how* that is done) or jack up the movement cost so that everyone slows down a lot in that area.

Yeah, any other place on the map where this kind of stuff happens?

Britain to Ireland and IIRC the Crimean peninsula. There might be another area in the Middle East that has it, but I'm not sure.

Second to that. Why are the Getai so backward comparing to other factions?

Compared to which other factions? In the following replies, "On the other hand" means that the following question is one that you need to answer to explain why the Getai should get the item in question.

No paved roads,

Shared with the Casse, Sweboz, Saka (IIRC), and Lusotannans. Maybe Saba. On the other hand, can you place any paved roads that the Getai actually created?

no teach me good buildings,

Shared with the Sweboz and the Lusotannans. Don't know if any of the Eastern factions lack Academies. On the other hand, did the Getai have any institutionalized learning centers?

no colonies (which at some point they controlled the Greek ones as far as I know),

Shared with all three Celtic factions, the Sweboz, and the Lusotannans. Probably by some of the Eastern factions as well. On the other hand, did the Getai themselves institute colonization efforts?

just the basic kind of mines when as far as I know and history shows they really had some metallurgy skills and had some precious metals

Metallurgical skill and access to precious metals don't mean they have access to more technologically advanced mining skills.

they didn't have the second level of farms like other barbarians do,

(According to the building documentation) Sweboz and Lusotannans only have Level 1 Farms as well. The Celts have the second level, but apparently require a Large City to get them.

Unit wise they are backwards a bit also,

Getai have pretty good units, actually ... and howso "backwards"? What sort of troops "should" the Getai be fielding that they can't?

Also, the ethnicities that the Getai get, apart 3,4 (Krobyz, Ordes, Hellen, whatelse?) are pretty weak and give bad traits.

Ethnicities have a minor impact on gameplay no matter the faction, from my experience.

Offtopic: The time of Soldiers thing basically makes the army Celts > Romans.

Hahahaha. No. Why not? Well ... let's look at the Neitos, shall we? He has:
6-Attack Javelin with 47.3 Range
11-Attack Longsword with .225 Lethality (8 Charge)
12 Armour, 3 Shield, 10 Skill
13 Morale, Disciplined, Highly Trained
40 Men in a unit (base size), 1.18 Mass
2134 Recruit / 534 Upkeep
Require a Level 4 MIC

Now let's look at the humble Roman Polybian Principes, shall we?
4-Attack AP Pila with 35 Range
11-Attack Shortsword with .13 Lethality (4 Charge)
12 Armour, 4 Shield, 8 Skill
13 Morale, Disciplined, Highly Trained
40 men in a unit (base), 1.18 Mass
1185 Recruit / 296 Upkeep
Require a Level 3 MIC

So, the Principes have a better Ranged weapon - it's shorter-ranged and has a lower base Attack, but it's going to be hitting a much lower Defense score. The Neitos have better Swords and Charge, but aren't actually any more skilled in their use. They have the same Armour value, and the Principes has a better Shield, and the total Defense scores are only 1 point apart in any case. They have the same Morale stats and the same unit Size/Mass ... and the Principes cost about half as much and can be recruited earlier anyway. Neitos are only a bit more effective in most departments, although the much better Sword is a noticeable advantage. Still, for the cost difference - and presumed relative scarcity of the unit as a consequence - Principes are much better.

Solduros? Yeah, they're better than Principes - but lack the ranged option, are nearly three times the price, and come with fewer men. Principes can still hold them off for a decent time (although the 18-Attack Spear hurts), but they're going to get kills of their own in, and the price differential is just not going to work in the Celts' favor, since a Roman can throw Principes around all day, but armies of Neitos and Solduros are going to eat up money in a bad way - three Solduros cost nearly as much as a Trireme Fleet!

[Ryoga84]

Britain to Ireland and IIRC the Crimean peninsula. There might be another area in the Middle East that has it, but I'm not sure.

Bruttium to Sicily, of course.... and I think Kimbrolandam (Denmark) to Skandza (Scandinavia), near modern Copenaghen.

[Sint]

Unit wise they are backwards a bit also,

No not really:
1.Komatai Agrianai (Dacian Elite Archers)
2.Komatai Epilektoi (Dacian Elite Skirmishers)
3.Ischyroi Orditon (Elite Dacian Infantry)
4.Komatai Thorakitai Stratiotai (Dacian Heavy Phalanx)
5.Taxeis Triballoi (Triballi Infantry)
6.Ktistai (Dacian Noble Cavalry)

They have lot's of good units.

[Stath's]

and Scythian Horse Archers from Kallatis

[Hummer]

Yeah, any other place on the map where this kind of stuff happens?

Entropy Judge mentioned two locations.

Also

Sicily to Italy.
Denmark to Sweden.

Shoot. I didn't notice this was already answered.

[Ryoga84]

No problem, people often don't notice me ( )