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Sundiata

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Everything posted by Sundiata

  1. Sundiata
    Here's an idea: Add Stables to the building roster. A prerequisite for training cavalry, for all civ's (except maybe horse-cultures like Iberians who could train some from the CC straight away). Most cavalry related technologies should also be researched there. This is would obviously delay too early rushes, and presents the player with an interesting choice for the early game. Focus on econ and defence, vs rushing. Balancing is important, and I love the passion you guys put into choosing the right approach, but...: I kind of agree, that there is a too a great a focus on pleasing the relatively small, but vocal multiplayer community, as opposed to the large mass of relatively quiet single players. People who play single player, want options, possibilities, variation/diversity, an interesting and engaging AI, grandeur/scale, depth, a certain sense of realism and especially immersiveness and gorgeous aesthetics. Not limitting options, capping things like population or specific units, or restricting play styles. Adding stables is a nice addition that benefits both competitive players (delaying rushes), and single player (more eye-candy, immersiveness)
  2. Sundiata
    Hmmm, here's the real problem: Apedemak and Amun are totally separate, competing gods. The temple of Amun represents the theocratical nature of the Egyptian styled cult of Amun. The temple of Apedemak represents the increasingly secularised Kingship of Meroe. The establishment of Apedemak as a god represent the move away from the dogmatic Egyptian character of the Amun cult. But Amun remained very important throughout this period nonetheless. (this means upgrading from Apedemak to Amun is a no-go, seen as Apedemak came after Amun. This should be the other way around for your plan to work) What is more unique than having totally accurate and relevant 3D models of buildings never before modelled for a computer game?? Having these 2 temples (the most important two), represents the fundamentally theocratic nature of Kushite society very well. Apedemak was a war-god, so units could definitely be recruited there. Temple to Amun does indeed fulfil an important civic duty, and new, unique technologies should be researched there, as well as recruit the Napatan Temple Guard. Also, the textures of the king smiting his enemies on the front of the temples, is perfect for the Amun temple, BUT, for the Apedemak temple that texture will be replaced, in time, with Amanirenas and Amanishakheto smiting their enemies. This will be the perfect opportunity to showcase two of the most iconic (female) rulers of Meroitic Kush in their full glory. + those will be the actual reliefs from one of the lion temples. I also think the pyramids being tied to phasing and territory expansion is more than unique enough, if the Kushites weren't unique enough in virtually every other aspect... PS: If you really want to implement this mechanic in Delenda Est, that would be cool, to see different gameplay mechanics for the same civ. For vanilla though, I'd like to keep it as historical as possible.
  3. Sundiata
    The Kingdom of Kush: The Greek imports Boston Museum of Fine Arts collection This will be the fifth, and final post detailing the extensive archive of Meroitic objects from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Earlier posts on this collection can be seen here, in: Kushite Gold, Bronze, Pottery, Beads and Faience and Weapons. The matter of Greek, or better said Hellenistic influence in ancient Kush is a curious subject, highlighted very vividly by the Greek luxury imports, found buried beneath many of Meroe's pyramids. One example are the Mediterranean wine amphora found commonly in Meroitic graves. A column drum from the Royal Enclosure, inscribed with the Greek alphabet, tells us that Greek was even taught in Meroe. Many Greeks are known to have passed through, and even lived in the city, writing an array of reports on the region, people and customs of Meroe. Sadly, no extant versions of these records survive to this time. What we do have are the second hand accounts from the likes of Herodotus, Pliny, Agatharchides and Strabo. What is clear though, is that there was some level of Hellenisation going on in Meroe, be it only of a superficial nature... Want to know more? The following article is quite informative: Stanley Burstein, Frank M. Snowden, Jr. Lectures, Howard University, When Greek was an African Language, (Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington, DC. August, 2006) https://chs.harvard.edu/CHS/article/display/1301 The Greek imports: The source: http://www.mfa.org/search?search_api_views_fulltext=NUBIA GREEK
  4. Sundiata
    @wowgetoffyourcellphone Temple 300, from Musawwarat es Sufra (as a representation for the entire complex, which is way to big to model), which is the last one LordGood made. Should be called Aborepi. A small elephant statue next to the ramp would be perfect by the way.
  5. Sundiata
    Here's a modern example of Hamar (South Ethiopian, Omo Valley) women still wearing those quintessentially Nubian ochre red dyed locks. 4000 year old hairstyle yo... Units with this hairstyle ("Nubians") are the ones that get (ostrich) feathers. Either no feather, 1 feather, or 3 feathers.
  6. Sundiata
    Those are based on Ancient Egyptian hairstyles worn by nobility and young princes. I kind of like it.
  7. Sundiata
    Yeah, feathers are good, but should ideally be reserved for the "Nubian" units (both Nubian Archer, and Nubian Spearmen). They're an archaic residual from Kerma-period Kushites, not necessarily used by Meroitic units from the Butana heartland. LordGood is doing very good work here, once again. @Lion.Kanzen Yes, those are a lot less stereotyped! Loved that show...
  8. Sundiata
    Sundiata's unit proposals (so far) Historical Kushite unit-concept art, still eligible for revision. Suggestions are welcome. Meroitic Axeman: Meroitic Pikeman: Meroitic Cavalry Lancer: (This one is actually more suitable for a ranked version of the Meroitic Spear-Cavalry) Kushite War-Elephant: @wackyserious
  9. Sundiata
    Wooooow.... Historical reconstructions for the win! This is so rare, and so valuable, LordGood, thank you!
  10. Sundiata
    I'm looking forward to it
  11. Sundiata
    Well, I think Kush is the only place in Sub-Saharan Africa that Romans actually sent armies to fight...
  12. Sundiata
    @niektb although I appreciate the respect, you really don't need my permission to add the Kushites... They belong to all of us + I'd be honored to see them in TM!
  13. Sundiata
    @Lion.Kanzen Quite literally, "Hollywood Kushites" lol...
  14. Sundiata
    Apart from the (still optional) merc camps, you've pretty much finished the entire Kushite architecture set... All-round amazing work @LordGood! You can be very proud of yourself! Really... Wow!
  15. Sundiata
    Ooooh, perfect!
  16. Sundiata
    I just think it's better to take that artistic licence when you really need it/don't have a choice. But if you guys really like it, I'm not going to oppose it. It's not ugly or anything, it looks really cool. I'm just nitpicking to get as many details right.
  17. Sundiata
    I'm just nitpicking here, but maybe a teeny weeny Temenos wall (in sections?), reaching around all the way to the ramp, with date-palms planted in-between the walls and the temple, to represent the gardens/holding pens. I know I'm asking a lot, please forgive me This way it would be more like Musawwarat, instead of one temple from Musawwarat.
  18. Sundiata
    Your conversation made me lol... Very, very nice!
  19. Sundiata
    @LordGood, good question. In temple 300's case, it does indeed seem like a bit of a stretch... In temple 100's case though, in the center of the complex, the entire structure was surrounded by colomns that were probably spanned. You could combine features of both temples, or choose one. I'll leave that to you.
  20. Sundiata
    By the way, I still fully support debuting a much more complete Kushite civ in Terra Magna, but I think Terra Magna's real future lies in a focus on Far Eastern civs (by adding Koreans and Steppe-peoples) and Pre-Colombian civs (by adding Mayans and Olmecs).
  21. Sundiata
    @niektb Ok, I see, but most casual gamers don't use mods so much. And the mods could/should get a whole lot wilder than just adding totally relevant civs that would really be perfect in the vanilla game. In terms of mods, I'm thinking of different time-periods, different gameplay, different aesthetics, different possibilities altogether, like Delenda Est, Ponies Ascendant, Millenium A.D. and Hyrule are currently demonstrating. @wowgetoffyourcellphone: Cult Statues:
  22. Sundiata
    It's regrettable the Chinese didn't make it through, but there were arguable reasons, in terms of historical connectivity to the existing civs. Adding minicivs or full blown civs like Xiognu & Scythians connects them. The same line of argument doesn't apply to the Kushites. They had at least three wars, against three civs already in the game! They fought Persians, Ptolemies and Romans. In addition, Greek and Galatian mercenaries fought against Kushites in the deserts of Sudan, and Kushite mercenaries fought as far as the Greek mainland during the Persian invasion of Greece. They also fought wars against the Neo-Assyrian Empire and Saite Dynasty Egypt. Alexander the Great even received an embassy from Kush. None of the other civilisations that were proposed are comparable to Kushites (architecture, units, political coherence, relevance, level of sophistication, gameplay...). The others were all lacking in one department or another. Kush is simply the last remaining powerhouse from classical antiquity that hasn't been added... "The Forgotten Kingdom". "no new factions will be added for 0 A.D. part 1" (sounds oddly dogmatic and irrational when the faction in question will be finished in a matter months) Let me quote the late Ken Wood when he said: "The fate of 0 A.D. is in the hands, of those who have vision and perseverance" I believe adding the Kushites demonstrates both vision and perseverance.
  23. Sundiata
    @wackyserious I'm really loving the work! Great job! Large oval shields like that, would have had a pole running down the middle of it, for stability purposes, so the central spine really isn't that bad.. But why the zebra hide? I've never seen any kind of reference for Kushites doing anything with zebras whatsoever... It looks more like a stereotype. Zebras never inhabited that part of Sudan, only the southern tip of South Sudan, south of the marshes, called the Sud, South of Kushite control. The cowhide is 100% perfect! The cowhide shield is what most base level infantry would have used, and should be the standard shield.
  24. Sundiata
    You're definitely not the only one thinking this... They're very relevant, add a nice cultural balance, and look absolutely gorgeous. Good luck with Musawwarat, by the way!
  25. Sundiata
    "and it still rivals the temple of edfu lol" Actually: temple of Amun at Napata became over 150 meters long. Temple of Edfu was 137 meters long... It did actually rival Edfu Clerestory windows eh? I'm not opposed...
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