The pirates & raiders pack and dei

[rem123456]

While we cannot play it all the changes made to the game are already in the encyclopedia. Here is what I like:
1. The raiding bonuses: They really promote the playing style I would expect from these factions, specially the Ardiaei. They not only get a huge income bonus from raiding but also get mercenaries with cheaper recruitment but higher upkeep costs so that you recruit them, sack a settlement and then disband them. These are the coolest faction bonuses I've seen so far in Rome II.
2. The mixed culture of Tylis: While they are classified as a balkan faction but they get lower public order from the presence of balkan culture and their temples actually promote the celtic culture. This could be further enhanced like with Bactria and the Seleucids who have buildings that give bonuses for two different cultures.
3. Many new units. Only problem is that CA's Illyrian raiders have axes and dei's have swords. Perhaps one could be renamed?

What I don't like:
1. The Ardiaei have the same port chains that all the barbarians in Rome II. As a culture geared towards the sea they deserve the same, if not better port chains that the civilized factions. They should also have a unique pirate pirate lair building like they have in dei.
2. The Ardiaei share the same culture with the Thracians and the Dacians. While making them as Greeks as they did before in Rome II wasn't accurate making them thracian isn't appropiate either.

Conclusion: In general I like the pack but I'm conflicted about the Ardiaei. I really love the mercenary bonuses they get as a balkan culture but I don't like them sharing the same culture with the Thracians. Maybe in dei they could give them an Illyrian culture that have those same bonuses?

[Dresden]

At the moment, this is how we are handling it -

Rather than Balkan, we have the Daco-Thracian culture. This will include factions in Dacia/Thrace but not the Illyrians. However, Tylis is still Celtic.

The Ardiaei will still be contained under the Greek faction group but will have their new faction traits. The Illyrian factions will be their own subculture, use the Barbarian buildings (I am not a huge fan of this either but CA made this change so its how it will be for now), but they will have the Hellenic culture (religion).

Perhaps in the future we will add a custom Illyrian culture. To us, the Balkan culture made absolutely no sense and was anachronistic.

[pyccos]

At the moment, this is how we are handling it -

Rather than Balkan, we have the Daco-Thracian culture. This will include factions in Dacia/Thrace but not the Illyrians. However, Tylis is still Celtic.

The Ardiaei will still be contained under the Greek faction group but will have their new faction traits. The Illyrian factions will be their own subculture, use the Barbarian buildings (I am not a huge fan of this either but CA made this change so its how it will be for now), but they will have the Hellenic culture (religion).

Perhaps in the future we will add a custom Illyrian culture. To us, the Balkan culture made absolutely no sense and was anachronistic.

cool thx for the info

[rem123456]

Great, all that you say makes perfect sense.

The Ardiaei will still be contained under the Greek faction group but will have their new faction traits.

You mean just the 3 faction traits or is there a way to give them the cultural mercenary bonuses too? I think the 200% bonus to raiding income and the cheaper mercenary recruitment really compliment each other to make the Ardiaei a pirate faction.

[suras333]

Very good ideas Dresden!

[dom385]

So do we have to have the dlc for these changes to take affect or does it just mean that the factions will be made unplayable unless you have the dlc?

[chadwicknight]

So do we have to have the dlc for these changes to take affect or does it just mean that the factions will be made unplayable unless you have the dlc?

I am curious about this too. I really don't want to give CA money any more for a broken game.

[Dresden]

Unfortunately for the factions in the paid DLC pack, if you don't have the DLC they won't be playable. Nothing I can do about it.

[Dresden]

For 0.9 we will probably move the Ardiaei into the same faction group as the Dacian/Thracians. That way they will get the new faction trait that is raider oriented.

The Illyrians will still be Hellenic culture and have their own subculture, though.

[rem123456]

For 0.9 we will probably move the Ardiaei into the same faction group as the Dacian/Thracians. That way they will get the new faction trait that is raider oriented.

The Illyrians will still be Hellenic culture and have their own subculture, though.

Sounds great! This raider faction traits really enrich the game in my opinion.

[Augustusng]

So Tylis will still get the Celtic faction traits?

How about the Daorsi? If you're moving the Ardiaei into the Dacian/Thracian group, it would make sense to move the Daorsi too - if only so that you can no longer make them part of a hellenic league. I always thought it was a bit odd that the Illyrians were "hellenic" enough to join a Greek confederation.

And thanks for all the great work you guys are doing on this mod. Can't be easy with all this DLC getting thrown out with little warning.

[aljo]

the Illyrians however were a culture in itself.

[Dresden]

Yes, in the future we may add more custom cultures. For now, the Illyrians will remain their own subculture (so they can't confederate with Greeks) but they will be Hellenic in culture.

[Wallachian]

Well there are some theories that the Thracians, Dacians and Illyrians shared some linguistic similarities. So having them in the same cultures might not be that far fetched.

[BalrogOfMorgoth]

So we have to pay to play as Illyrians now. Could you please make the Delmetae or the daorsi playable ?