Sundiata

@wackyserious, I forgot, upper tier pikemen could have the Egyptian style cow-hide or hypothetical giraffe hide shields. But I guess that can be done easily enough later?

Nothing I can think of. They pass with flying colours!

Nah, those were just placeholders.. I think these oval shields should be the standard Nubian shield. It's the most basic, but probably most widely used, and most recognisably Nubian shield. I think they should keep it throughout all 3 tiers. Keep the fancy Egyptian looking ones for the more special units (especially Napatan).

The latest list of sources For those who wish read up some more. Or a lot more... A list of sources I've been working with for the past few months. I'll begin with one of the most valuable: 4 volumes, c. 1400 pages of text: Fontes Historiae Nubiorum: dealing with the written history of Kush, translations of countless Kushite stelae as well as discussions of Greek and Latin texts mentioning Kush (usually as aethiopia). Among it's writers, one of the world's most respected authorities on Kush, László Török. The texts were compiled in 1994, so it's a little outdated, which is something to keep in mind (many of the other sources I used are post-2010 research, and a lot of new things have come to light in the 23 years since its publication). https://digitalt.uib.no/handle/1956.2/3083#preview (Fontes Historiae Nubiorum) The rest: http://www.mfa.org/search?search_api_views_fulltext=MEROITIC http://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2016/02/01/sudan-archaeology-greco-roman-perspective-part-2/ http://www.earlheinrich.com/Ancient Nubia/_Private/FHN Harsiyotef.pdf http://artefacts.mom.fr/Publis/Welsby_2005.pdf http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeumdok/2883/1/Lohwasser_Tracks_in_the_Bayuda_desert_2013.pdf https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/search/index?utf8=✓&keywords=lepsius+aethiopen# http://www.jebelbarkal.org/frames/B200300.pdf http://www.jebelbarkal.org/frames/B500NapMer.pdf http://www.jebelbarkal.org/frames/B500Piankhyreliefs.pdf http://www.jebelbarkal.org/frames/B560561.pdf http://www.jebelbarkal.org/frames/B600.pdf http://www.jebelbarkal.org/frames/B700.pdf http://www.jebelbarkal.org/frames/B800.pdf http://www.jebelbarkal.org/frames/B1100.pdf http://www.jebelbarkal.org/frames/B1200.pdf http://www.jebelbarkal.org/frames/VisGuide.pdf https://archive.org/details/merocityofethiop00gars http://www.qsap.org.qa/images/doc/a-short-guide-to-the-ancient-site-of-naga.pdf http://www.qsap.org.qa/images/doc/Hamadab_en_2017.pdf http://www.qsap.org.qa/images/doc/kawa_qsap_english_booklet.pdf http://www.qsap.org.qa/images/doc/wadi-guide-english.pdf https://www.academia.edu/33697681/Mighty_Kingdoms_and_their_Forts._The_Role_of_Fortified_Sites_in_the_Fall_of_Meroe_and_Rise_of_Medieval_Realms_in_Upper_Nubia https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262141539_L'ile_de_Sai_dans_le_Royaume_de_Meroe https://issuu.com/sudarchrs/docs/s_n12_grzymski http://sfdas.com/IMG/pdf/rck_4_-_dunham_d._royal_tombs_at_meroe_and_barkal.pdf http://www.earlheinrich.com/Ancient Nubia/_Private/Welsby ch 9.pdf https://www.academia.edu/16628673/B_100_A_Little_Known_Palace_at_Jebel_Barkal https://www.academia.edu/19835739/Complex_M243-256_at_Meroe http://sfdas.com/IMG/pdf/rck_3_-_chapman_s._e._and_dunham_d._decorated_chapels_of_the_meroitic_pyramids_at_meroe_and_barkal.pdf http://sfdas.com/publications/ouvrages-specialises-en-ligne-ouvrages/article/rck?lang=en http://sfdas.com/IMG/pdf/livretmuse_etenglight.pdf https://www.kerma.ch/documents/Publications_PDF/Cinq_conferences.pdf http://en.wadi-abu-dom.de https://digitalt.uib.no/bitstream/handle/1956.2/3083/FHN I copy.pdf?sequence=1 https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/nubia1.asp https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01482774 http://www.meroiticnewsletter.org/MeroNews25h.pdf (EL HOBAGI) http://www.meroiticnewsletter.org https://issuu.com/sudarchrs/docs/s_n10_wilkins http://i-cias.com/e.o/nubia_rl_gods.htm https://www3.nd.edu/~asimonet/PUBLICATIONS/Buzon_et_al_2016_Amer_Anthro.pdf http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/3A*.html http://naga-project.com/en/ http://naga-project.com/wp-content/uploads/SMÄK_Naga_Guide_en.pdf http://naga-project.com/wp-content/uploads/Wildung_Naga_in_JPK_37.pdf http://journals.openedition.org/cel/383 SEBIUMEKER STATUE 3D https://sketchfab.com/models/be716b3f76044cdc8fb6c0fb1fc30a13 SPHINX OF SENKAMANISKEN 3D https://sketchfab.com/models/76766c7a1a9c4182b569a1b81340ca2b GRANITE STATUE OF AMUN PROTECTING TAHARQA 3D https://sketchfab.com/models/1d414e4b273d47d6a0cb4e5ce2bc8b29

The Kingdom of Kush, Random Things I still have a few random references that didn't fit well with the previous posts or were sourced after posting, but still deserve honourable mention:

@stanislas69 I have a final (I think) unit-prop requests: the Kushite skullcap (if you have time of course) Currently I believe you're using a retextured mesh of the padded cotton skullcap for the bronze skullcap. I think the mesh works well for the padded cotton, but looks a little awkward and unrealistic as a bronze skullcap. The skullcaps are supposed to be really tight fitting, with more rounded edges and cut-outs for the ears: Here are examples of simple skullcaps, as well as elaborate royal skullcaps. I opened an issue on github for it

@wackyserious 1st tier swordsmen could start out with linen corselet, but if you prefer bare chest, that's also fine. Just thought of something: you could give him one of the variations of Wowgetoffyourcelphone's Blemmye tunic for the camel units. Would be nice to see some more of that. Maybe give him that wicker round shield LordGood made (but scale it down a bit to be the same size as the rhino hide shield.

@wackyserious Nice!! Remember, 2nd tier should have a single simple necklace. How does this guy look on the units? Should go well with the linen or scale corselets..

@wackyserious, could be a nice variation for the upper tier Meroitic swordsmen and Kush cavalry.

@Alexandermb actually did this for the camels and it looks great! I second this idea

Chief Memes I put to use some pictures I took of the local chiefs over here in Akuapem, during our traditional Odwira festival in 2013...

They look fantastic! I think they actually look better than the robed version I was suggesting earlier.. This unit texture looks perfect to me as it is. I'm satisfied I was really tired yesterday and didn't even notice you using the simple necklaces... They look awesome, and much more appropriate than the large royal ones... Thanks! Kushite units are really coming into their own... Thanks for all the hard work people!

@wackyserious An artist friend has another good idea for quilted cotton armour for the pikemen: I need to go to sleep very soon... Any more questions you can think of?

@wackyserious, yeah, the attire looks great! Longer loincloth/garment/robe would be nice, but I'm not going to loose any sleep over it...

@stanislas69, on second thought, looking at the size of the original Egyptian cow hide shields, maybe a slightly smaller version is indeed desirable for the pikeman... Up to you

Same mesh, not necessarily smaller either, see Egyptian phalanx:

@wackyserious Simple necklaces, more variants (I personally like the 1st and last ones): Cow hide shields with thureos mesh will be for Nubian spearman (Kush_infantry_spearman), the most basic citizen soldier. They keep the same type of shield throughout all 3 tiers.

@stanislas69 & @wackyserious Here's some giraffe textures for the Egyptian style shields for the top tier pikeman. I'm thinking we can mix the cow hide and giraffe hide variants. Maybe the top tier pikeman could use an Egyptian style shield without shield-boss.

Yes, sounds good! I thought those shields were the shoulder shields, just not attached to the shoulder? All pikemen should have their shields attached to the shoulder, even the elite rank Egyptian style cow-hide shields should be attached to the shoulder... I think it would be best if all of the small round shoulder shields would use the giraffe texture or cow hide texture.

It could just be a wooden frame. I'm not sure about this (whatever you think is best). So you're removing the zebra texture? No zebras in Kush...

Oh, and avoid a shield-boss for the small round shield.. Great work though!!! From everybody!!! Art Development is on fire!

Cool, but please, I beg you, remove the zebra hides (black and white shields). If you want something exotic, giraffe-hide is actually ok. Giraffes lived in Kush, and were hunted and exported. They sometimes wore the fur, like leopard pelt. Also, attach it to the shoulders please (both hands free to hold the pike when attacking) Here are giraffe hide textures for round shields (public domain: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=39132&picture=giraffe & http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=231351&picture=giraffe-skin)

Yeah, I think royal necklaces (the big ones) should ideally be reserved for champion units and heroes. I'll try to make some more simple necklace variations a little later if they're useful.

Pikemen: Euhm, the tier 1 & 2 versions should have a small round shield, not modelled yet... Tier 3 should get the Egyptian style cowhide shield. I don't know what the shield is made of or how it's decorated :/ I have no idea.. Just the shape I know: round... And it's attached to the shoulder! Napata relief

@wackyserious Simple necklace version 2: Necklace only Perfect shield! Perrrrrfect! Reminds me that we need a different type of prop for the horse crown thing... This example is from Napata: