SotK's Spain Mod

[Son of the King]

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So, I mentioned I always thought it would be fun to play as Spain (Carthage crossed with barbarians seemed good). Phoenix said that they are bad, but I tried them out anyway. Sure enough, their unit selection made me want to cry. Just Carthage-lite with some naked guys. Oh and a couple of decent unique units, but they are only available from cities. When a nation that was famed for the prowess of its warriors has RTW's Iberian Infantry as their most easily accessible unit that isn't Town Militia/Peasants, and their only good troops come from a maxed out barracks or a single temple, there is a problem.

Problems are fixed by modding!

More info...

I renamed Spain to Iberia, and then this:

Spoiler

Barracks:

   - Town Militia
   - Caetrati

   - Town Militia
   - Caetrati
   - Scutarii

   - Town Militia
   - Caetrati
   - Scutarii
   - Scutarii Lanceari

   - Town Militia
   - Caetrati
   - Scutarii
   - Scutarii Lanceari
   - Heavy Scutarii

Stable:

   - Caetrati Cavalry

   - Caetrati Cavalry
   - Cantabrian Cavalry
   - Lanceari Cavalry

Range:

   - Slingers

   - Slingers
   - Archers

Celtiberian Barracks:

   - Celtiberian Swordsmen

Temple:

   - Bull Warriors

Skirmishers no longer exist, because they are superseded by Caetrati. These are a more historically accurate version of vanilla's Iberian Infantry. They are lightly armoured infantry who carry a number of pilum-style javelins, a falcata sword (historically adapted by the Romans into the gladius) and a small round shield (a caetra).

Caetrati

Also replacing Iberian Infantry are the Scutarii. These are in vanilla, but as the best mainline troops available to Spain (and as such only recruitable in cities). In my mod they are weakened, but still better than vanilla Iberian Infantry.

I added Scutarii Lanceari as there is a severe lack of spearmen available to Spain in vanilla. They can't form a phalanx (although I did toy with the idea), but are decent fighters and good against cavalry.

Heavy Scutarii are exactly what their name says. They are more heavily armoured and armed than the standard Scutarii, and so will be useful in the late game to hold out against more powerful enemies than the local competitors.

Heavy Scutarii

Caetrati Cavalry are essentially Round Shield Cavalry, but like the Caetrati they carry a few javelins. Similarly, Lanceari Cavalry are pretty much Long Shield Cavalry.

Celtiberian Swordsmen are exactly what their name suggests. Coming from the Celtic-influenced Celtiberian tribes, they have big swords and aren't afraid to use them. They will be recruitable by some factions in an AOR-style system in the minor city barracks too (in Celtiberia).

Screenshots later when I take some good ones .

I recently played the swap game with Thrace and was struck by their limited roster and similar to Spain they felt like Macedon-lite with a bit of Dacia thrown in. While this is a bit more exotic than Carthage and naked fanatics, they still didn't feel like they were a faction with their own identity that would give a memorable experience to play as. So I added some hoplites and some more cavalry. Then things escalated!

More info...

Veteran Hoplites!

Spoiler

Also, thureophoroi (read weakened heavy peltasts with spears as their secondary weapon). I think I will use these to replace militia hoplites. They are actually marginally better in my opinion (slightly better armour, has a ranged weapon, same spears, although lack phalanx ability) and therefore are more expensive. I'll play a campaign with them replaced and see what its like compared with my game with militia hoplites in instead. They'll have a stronger version (Thorakitai) available to fill the role that I would have used them for as heavy peltasts. They will be a high-level range unit though, rather than from a basic barracks.

Spoiler

First up on the cavalry list are the Getic Lancers (Thrace own Campus Getae, lets give them some Getae horsemen ). They fill a similar role to Macedon's light lancers, albeit with a weaker charge. Their shields make up for that difference though.

Spoiler

The second addition is the Thracian Noble Cavalry. I kinda cheated a little here, they are just the General's Bodyguard guys. Excellent shock cavalry, recruitable from a level 3 stables (Hippodrome?).

Spoiler

I'm removing the Greek cavalry, since that spot is filled by the Getic Lancers. However, Getic Lancers will be recruited from a basic stables alongside Militia Cavalry. The second level of stables will add some horse archers, as yet unimplemented. Then finally the third level will add the Thracian Noble Cavalry.

That gives the following roster:

Spoiler

Barracks:

   - Thureophoroi

   - Thureophoroi
   - Falxmen
   - Thracian Hoplites

   - Thureophoroi
   - Falxmen
   - Thracian Hoplites
   - Getic Warriors
   - Phalanx Pikemen

   - Thureophoroi
   - Falxmen
   - Thracian Hoplites
   - Getic Warriors
   - Phalanx Pikemen
   - Thracian Elite Hoplites
   - Bastarnae

Stable:

   - Militia Cavalry
   - Getic Lancers

   - Militia Cavalry
   - Getic Lancers
   - Getic Horse Archers

   - Militia Cavalry
   - Getic Lancers
   - Getic Horse Archers
   - Thracian Noble Cavalry

Range:

   - Peltasts

   - Peltasts
   - Archers

   - Peltasts
   - Archers
   - Thorakitai                  (Ultra-heavy peltasts)

The elite hoplites are those pictured earlier in the thread, they are similar to armoured hoplites belonging to the Greek Cities. Thracian Hoplites will be similar to the standard Greek hoplites.

[comrade_general]

Excellent work! Now that you've started you cannot stop! 

[Son of the King]

This is true. Hopefully I won't do my usual running out of motivation trick when I get round to adding these as a custom battle faction to Britannia BC .

[Phoenixguard09]

Good work SotK. Are you going to put it up for download when you finish?

Of course you'll finish. It's all psychological.

[Son of the King]

I will yes . Its only a small mod so I'm sure I will finish .

[Phoenixguard09]

As far as a Phalanx goes, the Turdetanii were heavily influenced by both Punic and Hellenic culture. Perhaps they might be a good way to get a phalanx in?

Regarding javelins, I take it you have increased the missile attack to represent that the soliferum was... nasty?

Can't wait to see what else you've been working on.

[Son of the King]

Hmm. It certainly could work. I know that there was Greek influence, that's why I was thinking about adding phalanx in the first place. You're right though, that's probably a good way to get them in .

As for the missiles, armour piercing and good attack .

[Phoenixguard09]

Very nice. Consider yourself repped.

[comrade_general]

You are definitely skilled in your marketing. I envy.

[Son of the King]

Thanks guys!

I was just thinking, would it be a good or bad idea to have more barbarian-style units and a special building to recruit them from rather than recruiting them from temples like in vanilla?

[Phoenixguard09]

Hmmm, well what units were you thinking?

But I do agree with having a barracks type thing rather than temples. Temples should be for the absolute elite I think.

EDIT* So just the Bull Warriors from the temples and have Celtiberian swordsmen and perhaps archers from some sort of Mustering Hall type thing.

[comrade_general]

I agree with the both of ye.

[Son of the King]

Spoiler

[Phoenixguard09]

Jubal or Marcus, if either of you read this, we need an excited drooling smiley...

[Son of the King]

Wish I hadn't looked into making it appear on the battle map though. Settlement plans what even?! D: