New factions proposals: Steppes tribes and maybe more...

[Michael the Great]

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS

INFANTRY

• Generic Name: Sarmatian Spearman
• Specific Name: Sauromatae Arc Aexsaeg
  • Class: Spearman.
  • Hacker Armament: Spear (2.75m); Short Sword (ornamental).
  • Appearance:
    • Basic: No armor, no helmet, basic shield, spear and short sword, pants.
    • Advanced: No armor, no helmet, basic shield, spear and short sword, pants and shirt.
    • Elite: Simple round helmet, light chainmail, basic shield, spear and short sword, pants.

    [*]History: The Sarmatians relied principally on cavalry but in their armies there were many men on foot too.[*]Garrison: 1.[*]Function: Heavy close-quarter combat.[*]Special:

• Generic Name: Slavic Javelinman
• Specific Name: Voinu
  • Class: Javelinist.
  • Hacker Armament: Javelin; Short Sword (ornamental).
  • Appearance:
    • Basic: Simple, with tunic and pants, barefoot and bareheaded, and a bunch of javelins about 4 feet long.
    • Advanced: Tunic and pants, small shield, bareheaded, shoes and a bunch of javelins about 4 feet long.
    • Elite: Tunic and pants, large oval shield, bareheaded, shoes and a bunch of javelins about 4 feet long.

    [*]History: The Voinu were principally used by the northern sarmatian tribes of the Nauri and Boudinoi, they don't wear armor but are fierce javelinmen.[*]Garrison: 1.[*]Function: -[*]Special: -

• Generic Name: Sarmatian Foot Archers
• Specific Name: Sauromatae Fistaeg Fat Aexsdzhytae
  • Class: Archer.
  • Hacker Armament: Composite bow (higher range than Persian bow; about 120% of the Persian equivalent).
  • Appearance: Composite bow, no armor and sarmatian shirt and pants and short decorative sword, they have their quivers on their left leg.
    • Basic: Shirt, pants, composite bow, short sword.
    • Advanced: Shirt, pants, composit bow, short sword, light round helmet.
    • Elite: Light chainmail armor, composite bow, short sword, light round helmet.

  [*]History: The Sarmatian Archers usually fought on horses but in numerous cases some men preferred or had to fight on foot.[*]Garrison: 1.[*]Function: Good against Infantry.[*]Special: -

CAVALRY

• Generic Name: Aorsi/Sarmatian Cavalry
• Specific Name: Aursa Uaezdaettae
  • Class: Cavalry Spearman
  • Hacker Armament: Long Spear (1,80 m)
  • Appearance:
    • Basic: Shirt, pants, spear, no foot wear.
    • Advanced: Light asiatic armor, spear.
    • Elite: Asiatic heavy cuirass, spear.
    • Figure(s): -

    [*]History: The Sarmatian Cavalry is the backbone of all the sarmatian armies.[*]Garrison: 2.[*]Function: Good against Ranged Infantry only. He's PANTS against melee infantry.[*]Special: -.

• Generic Name: Sarmatian Horse Archer
• Specific Name: Sauromatae Fat Aexsdzhytae
  • Class: Cavalry Archer
  • Hacker Armament: Composite bow (higher range than Persian bow; about 120% of the Persian equivalent).
  • Appearance:
    • Basic: Pants, shirt, shoes, composite bow.
    • Advanced: Pants, shirt, shoes, composite bow, light round helmet.
    • Elite: Chainmail armor, pants, shoes, composite bow.

    [*]History: Sarmatian Horse Archers are the terror of all the villages near the steppes![*]Garrison: 2.[*]Function: Good hunter.[*]Special: -.

SUPPORT UNITS

• Generic Name: Sarmatian Woman
• Specific Name: (need to find name)
  • Class: Female Citizen.
  • Appearance: Long shirt, pants.
  • History: The woman in the sarmatian tribes is more important than in the Greek and Roman societies and it seems that sometimes there were tribes lead by a woman or more women that inspired the Amazon legend.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Good at gathering food. Has an 'aura' that boosts the productivity of citizen-soldiers around her.
  • Special: -

• Generic Name: Priest
• Specific Name: (need to find name)
  • Class: Healer.
  • Appearance:
    • Garb: Similar to the celtic druid.
    • Helmet: None.
    • Shield: None.
    • Figure(s): Old man. White hair. Optional beard.

    [*]History: The art of medicine was known by the Sarmatians in a more spiritual way, similar to the druides of the Celts.[*]Garrison: 1.[*]Function: -[*]Special: -

• Generic Name: Merchant
• Specific Name: (need to find name)
  • Class: Trader.
  • Appearance:
    • Garb: Shirt, pants, shoes.
    • Helmet: None.
    • Shield: None.
    • Figure(s): Donkey caravan.
    • Mount: Donkey.

    [*]History: The Sarmatians (and especially the Schythian tribes) were very well known for their ability of using gold: a lot of statues and beatiful pieces of art in gold made by them were discovered.[*]Garrison: 2.[*]Function: -[*]Special: -

SIEGE UNITS

• Generic Name: Ram
• Specific Name: Brado
  • Class: Land Ram.
  • Appearance:
    • Shell: Ram operated by 4 men with no covering.
    • Figure(s): See above.

    [*]History: Sieges made by Sarmatians were very rare and so their unique siege weapon is a simple log made to open the enemy's city gates.[*]Garrison: 2.[*]Function: Lower than normal hit points.[*]Special: -

SARMATIAN CHAMPION UNITS

• Generic Name: Roxolani Cavalry
• Specific Name: Rauxsa-alanna Baexdzhyntae
  • Class: Super Cavalry Spearman Unit.
  • Hacker Armament: Normal Sword, small shield.
  • Appearance: No helmet, chainmail armor, Normal Sword, small shield.
  • History: The Roxolani were a powerful sarmatian tribe that lived near the modern day Crimean paeninsula.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Good vs. Cavalry and Infantry. Their Achilles Heel is definitely the spearmen.
  • Special: -

• Generic Name: Sarmatian Bodyguard Cavalry
• Specific Name: Aeldary Aembaltae
  • Class: Super Cavalry Spearman Unit.
  • Hacker Armament: Long spear (1,80 m)
  • Appearance: Round helmet, asian plate armor, horse with cuirass and decoration plumes on the top of his head.
  • History: These men work as bodyguards for the sarmatian generals, they are the elite of the steppes cavalry. They are the equivalent of the Parthian cataphracts.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Good against all units except Hoplites.
  • Special: 100% bonus against javelinmen, women, priests and every light infantry or simply light unit.

• Generic Name: Aorsi Raiders
• Specific Name: Aursa Baexdzhyntae
  • Class: Super Cavalry Archer Unit.
  • Hacker Armament: Composite Bow.
  • Appearance: Light chainmail armor, composite bow.
  • History: The Aorsi were a powerful sarmatian tribe that lived north of the Caucasus mountains.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Good vs. Cavalry and Infantry. Their Achilles Heel are definitely the archers
  • Special: -

SCHYTHIAN CHAMPION UNITS

• Generic Name: Schythian Foot Archers
• Specific Name: Skuda Fistaeg Fat Aexsdzhytae
  • Class: Super Infantry Archer Unit.
  • Hacker Armament: Composite bow.
  • Appearance: Thracian hat, persian like dressing, composite bow.
  • History: The Schythians were the most powerful sarmatian tribe of the west. They defeated the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Good against Infantry. Vulnerable to Cavalry.
  • Special: -

• Generic Name: Schythian Horse Archers
• Specific Name: Skuda Baexdzhyntae
  • Class: Super Cavalry Archer Unit.
  • Hacker Armament: Composite bow.
  • Appearance: Schythian hat, persian like dressing, composite bow, small shield on the left arm.
  • History: Schythian horse archers are one of the best horse archers units known in the world.
  • Garrison: 2.
  • Function: All around powerful unit, but best vs. Infantry. Fast mobile units. Only weakness is vs. enemy Archers.
  • Special: -

• Generic Name: Schythian Noble Cavalry
• Specific Name: Skuda Uaedzaettae
  • Class: Super Cavalry Spearman Unit.
  • Hacker Armament: Spear (1,30 m)
  • Appearance: Greek-ish round helmet with plume, greek armor, round medium shield, spear.
  • History: Schythian Noble Cavalry is an elite unit of the Schythian armies.
  • Garrison: 2.
  • Function: All around powerful unit, but best vs. Infantry. Fast mobile units. Only weakness is vs. enemy Spearmen.
  • Special: -

SARMATIAN HEROES

I have to think about them.

SCHYTHIAN HEROES

I have to think about them-

NEW UNIT TRAITS

None

CIV CENTRE UNITS

• Melee Infantry: Sarmatian Spearman.
• Ranged Infantry: Slavic Javelinman.
• Cavalry: Aorsi Cavalry.

FORBIDDEN CLASSES

• Swordsman.
• Slinger.
• Quinquereme.

STRUCTURE DESCRIPTIONS (need historical names)

VILLAGE

• Generic Name: Household
• Specific Name: Oikos
  • Class: House.
  • History: Sarmatian houses were really simple and most of the times were tents, because these people were nomadic or semi-nomadic.

• Generic Name: Granary
• Specific Name: Sitobolion
  • Class: Farmstead.
  • History: Grain was plentiful in the region of Schythia and in fact the greeks traded with the Schythians a lot to get grain for Hellas.

• Generic Name: Field
• Specific Name: Sitobolion
  • Class: Field.
  • History: Farming was well developed by the southern Schythians but the other Sarmatian tribes weren't so good in growing crops.

• Generic Name: Corral
• Specific Name: Stavlos
  • Class: Corral.
  • History: Basic animal pen. Also for horses, which were the main element of the Sarmatian life.

• Generic Name: Warehouse
• Specific Name: Anakeion
  • Class: Mill.
  • History: Resources and building materials were kept in warehouses.

• Generic Name: Outpost
• Specific Name: Pyrgion
  • Class: Scout Tower.
  • History: Towers were an important part of city fortifications. The defending troops shot arrows at the enemy and poured boiling oil over the assailants.

TOWN

• Generic Name: Civic Centre
• Specific Name: Agora
  • Class: Civic Centre.
  • History: The town center of the Sarmatian city was very simple: it was very similar to the other houses.

• Generic Name: Temple
• Specific Name: Naos
  • Class: Temple.
  • History: The Sarmatian temples were very simple as all the other building.

• Generic Name: Barracks
• Specific Name: Strategeion
  • Class: Barracks.
  • History: The Sarmatian train field is the necessary building to train an amry.

• Generic Name: Marketplace
• Specific Name: Emporeion
  • Class: Market.
  • History:

• Generic Name: City Wall
• Specific Name: Teichos
  • Class: Wall.
  • History: The Sarmatians very rarely used walls, that's why these walls are made of wood.

• Generic Name: Tower
• Specific Name: Pyrgos
  • Class: Tower.
  • History: Towers were an important part of city fortifications. The defending troops shot arrows at the enemy and poured boiling oil over the assailants.

• Generic Name: Gate
• Specific Name: Pyle
  • Class: Gate.
  • History: The gate for the city wall.

CITY

• Generic Name: Fortress
• Specific Name: Teichisma
  • Class: Fortress.
  • History: The Sarmatians rarely used defensive structures, but in case of need they could've built a small wooden fortress.

SPECIAL STRUCTURES

• Generic Name: Horse Farm
• Specific Name: (?)
  • Class: SB1.
  • History: Horse farms were very important in the Sarmatian society.
  • Requirements: None.
  • Phase: City.
  • Special:
    • All cavalry units are faster, have +2 attack and +1 defense.

• Generic Name: Hall of the warriors.
• Specific Name: (?)
  • Class: SB2.
  • History: The hall of the warriors is the place in which the warriors make feasts, train and tell theirs stories.
  • Requirements: None.
  • Phase: City.
  • Special: Trains all Super Units and Heroes.

NEW STRUCTURE TRAITS

None.

FORBIDDEN STRUCTURES

Dock.

CIV BONUSES

• CB1
  • Name: Sacking
  • History: The Sarmatians were raiders and every village and town near their lands feared them.
  • Effect: +5 iron and food for every enemy killed unit and +10 iron and lumber for every building destroied.

• CB2
  • Name: Nomadic Tribes
  • History: The Sarmatians were nomadic tribes and so all the buildings are very cheap and simple.
  • Effect: -30% building cost. The buildings have 50% less health than the other civilizations' buildings.

TEAM BONUS:

• TB
  • Name: Alliance of the Tribes
  • History: The Sarmatians were a league of tribes, not a united nation.
  • Effect: All units and allied units have increased LOS. ~ 10%

TECHNOLOGIES

• Infantry: Mediocre to poor.
• Cavalry: Best Cavalry in the game (defeat even the persians)
• Naval: None.
• Siege: Poor.
• Economy:
  • Farming: Good.
  • Mining:Very Good.
  • Lumbering: Mediocre.
  • Hunting: Good.
  • Land Trade: Good.
  • Naval Trade: None.
  • Architecture: Very, very poor.
  • Defences: Poor.

SPECIAL TECHNOLOGIES

SARMATIAN SPECIAL TECHNOLOGIES

• ST1
  • Name: Advanced Composite Bow.
  • History: The Schythians were very good archers and they soon developed a better composite bow.
  • Effect: +2 attack of Archers (mounted and dismounted).

• ST2
  • Name: Sarmatian League.
  • History: In case of danger the Sarmatian tribes united in a league.
  • Effect: Cavalry Spearmen have +1 speed and defense.
  • Alt Effect:

SCHYTHIAN SPECIAL TECHNOLOGIES

• ST1
  • Name: Advanced Farming
  • History: The region of Schythia was well known for its fertility, It was even the granary of Hellas.
  • Effect: +20% more food from farming.

• ST2
  • Name: Hellenised Armor
  • History: The Schythians sometimes wore greek armors (not lynthorax, bronze) and soon became a classic armor for the Schythian nobles.
  • Effect: +2 defense of Cavalry.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Possible "standard" technology
  • Name: Steppes horses
  • History: The Sarmatians and Schythians used powerful horses from the eastern steppes, which were faster than the european ones.
  • Effect: Cavalry moves faster.

Edited August 25, 2011 by Michael the Great

[Wijitmaker]

Sarmatians are a pretty sweet civ. The Roxolani Cavalry was slated to be a super unit for the Dacians in Part II.

Michael The Great, where does your interest in the Sarmatians/Schythians come from? Why do you think they would be a good civ to add in 0 A.D.? What makes them unique from the other civs?

[Michael the Great]

Well, I'm interestede in all of history and when I playied 0 A.D. I thought that maybe the Sarmatians would fit well in the game.

These are their unique elements:

1)Structures cost less and have less defense than those of the other civs.

2)Their armies will be formed almost completely by horsemen because their infantry units (except archers) will be really poor in both attack and defense.

3)They won't have a navy, because they lived in the steppes and didn't live thanks to fishing and sailing,

It would be wonderful to defend a small schythan fort from a great roman legion using powerful horse archers and spear cavalrymen.

[Thorfinn the Shallow Minded]

These are some thoughts. Perhaps the Scythians could literally move their around like the Mongols typically did. Likewise, it might be better for their horse farm to be able to coral horses. This could make horsemen be cheaper, faster to train, and have a better stamina and charge bonus. Good work by the way.

[Michael the Great]

Thank you very much Thorfinn.

Here are some images of Schythian/Sarmatian warriors from a mod for Rome Total War called Europa Barbarorum to show you the Sarmatian/Scythian equipment:

Sarmatian Spearman

Sarnatian Foot Archer

Slavic Javelinman

Sarmatian/Aorsi Cavalry

Sarmatian Horse Archer

Roxolani Cavalry

Sarmatian Bodyguard Cavalry

Aorsi Raiders:

Schythian Foot Archer:

Schythian Horse Archer:

Schythian Cavalry

[Mythos_Ruler]

This isn't bad. It would probably be better to make this a more generic "Steppes" civilization, then branch into Sarmation and Scythian sub-factions (like the Greeks). Because the Scythians, as far as I know, weren't just a simple branch off of the Sarmations. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Michael the Great]

No, you're right.

I'm happy to see that you're interested in this faction.

Edited August 25, 2011 by Michael the Great

[Michael the Great]

I even thought about a Germanic civ, because they were enemies of both Romans and Gauls.

Edited August 25, 2011 by Michael the Great

[Mythos_Ruler]

I even thought about a Germanic civ, because they were enemies of both Romans and Gauls.

Actually, we hope to have these factions in the 0 A.D. sequel (more like an expansion pack), tentatively titled '0 A.D. -- Part II.'

• Imperial Romans -- The era of "The 5 Good Emperors."
• Eastern Romans (Early Byzantines) -- A mix between the armies of Constantine and Justinian. Heavy cataphractoi, foedorati, limitanei, comitatenses, Scholae Palatinae, et al.
• Huns (perhaps a generic "steppes" faction with Scythian, Hun, and Sarmation sub-factions?) -- Ox Cart dropsites, buildings that can "pack" and move, etc. Looting bonus.
• Parthians -- Uber horse archers, silk road.
• Germans (Goths, Vandals) -- Cheap, fast-building wooden buildings.
• Dacians -- Falxmen, defensive, reverse-engineered Roman siege equipment.

[Michael the Great]

Interesting...

Hope you could add the Steppes Nations to that expansion!

[L'ethu]

Arabs, Nubian or even Indians could be a good choice.

[Spahbod]

We can split the Parthians into Sassanids/Armenians. In fact, Sassanids emerged before the split of Roman Empire.

[L'ethu]

Why don't we just merge Parthian and Sassanid into one big Persian Pack and merging Imperial Roman and the two Imperial Roman into one big Roman Pack?

Edited September 19, 2011 by L'ethu

[L'ethu]

Avars and Bulgars would be perfect if they show up in 0 A.D.

Edited September 19, 2011 by L'ethu

[Mythos_Ruler]

Avars and Bulgars would be perfect if they show up in 0 A.D.

Have any ideas for units and stuff? I admit to not knowing much about them.

[L'ethu]

Actually, i just give the idea but in fact i know nothing about them. If they really appear in 0 A.D. it would be in expansion pack. I think Saka, Kushan and Yuezhi suit current time line.

[L'ethu]

These are the Saka army:

1. Payai Dunai (Saka Foot Archers)

2. Halstehveyyau (Saka Spearmen)

3. Duna Asya (Saka Horse-Archers)

4. Assa-Barai (Saka Riders)

5. Asya Badarai (Saka Heavy Cavalry)

6. Ysaninu Aysna (Early Saka Nobles)

7. Ysaninu Aysiramjä (Saka Cataphracts)

8. Spatahaura Hadabara (Saka Armored Nobles)

9. Yancai Uaezdaettae (Alan Nobles)

10. Sahiya Hadabara (Saka Late Cataphract)

11. Hoplitai Indohellenikoi (Indo-Hellenic Medium Infantry)

12. Peltastai Indohellenikoi (Indo-Greek Peltasts)

13. Hoplitai Hellenikon (Saka Heavy Hoplites)

14. Indohellenikoi Eugeneis Hoplitai (Indo-Greek Noble Hoplites)

15. Agema Hellenikon (Indo-Greek Royal Guard)

16. Agema Hippeon Hellenikon (Indo-Hellenic Heavy Cavalry)

17. Elephantes Indikoi (Indian Elephants)

18. Elephantes Kataphraktoi Indikoi (Armoured Indian Elephants)

From the unit roster, Saka rely on cavalry archer, cataphracts, and foot archer while Saka infantry was weak but as soon as they annex Bactria and Northern India they will have access to Indo-Greek hoplite and Greek heavy hoplite while India provide war elephants because Saka lacks siege equipment.

Edited September 20, 2011 by L'ethu

[L'ethu]

These are the Sassanid units:

1. Payâhdag-î Nîzagân (Paighan that we know, pathetic and cheap and always work for the cavalry)

2. Kamândâr-î Payâhdag (Archers, staple of the Sassanid army)

3. Sêlâbgandân-î Kôrdîg (Kurdish people serve as light infantry and provide missile support)

4. Arteshtâr-î Gêlânîg (Foot soldiers from Ghilan province, expert on hand-to-hand combat)

5. Paighân-î Sassâni (Regular Sassanid infantry well armed and drilled, better than Sassanid levies)

6. Arteshtâr-î Daylamîg (Strongest among the Sassanid infantry, although they are not really regular troops but they are dreaded by the Romans)

7. Kamândâr-î Shahi (Royal archers)

8. JangAvaran-i Sassani (Sassanid heavy infantry, possibly dismounted cavalry)

9. Tabargân-î Daylamîg (Daylami guards, elite from Daylam Province also known as Jund Shahanshah by the Arabs during Arab conquest of Mesopotamia)

10. Pîlbân (Indian war elephant)

11. Jân-Âvspar (warrior priest with zeal, good on archery and hand-to-hand combat)

12. Zhâyedân Grivpânvâr (Immortals)

13. Savârân-î Grivpânvâr (Savaran)

It is common if anyone (including me) consider Sassanid infantry are junk and trash but after searching some rare information i change my thoughts on Sassanid infantry.

Here's more Sassanid units:

1. Savârân-î Kûshânshahr (Kushan(Saka) cavalry, saw action during the Siege of Amida and the bravest among the foreign cavalry unit that served the Sassanid army)

2. Aspet-i Armeni Cavalry (Armenian cavalry, valuable asset for Sassanid commander)

3. Al-wada'i3 (litterally means "appointed men" special unit send to the Lakhmid Arab as aid from the Persian King)

4. Aspet-i Armeni Lancers (Armenian Lancers, fierce warriors from Armenia)

5. Azat Infantry (Armeian foot soldier with swords and maces)

6. Azat Spearmen (Ordinary Armenian foot soldier serving Sassanid army)

7. Kushan Infantry (Kushan infantry with sword, shield and javelin)

8. Kushan Axemen (Kushan Infantry with Sagaris)

These are the allied unit, it seems that Sassanid have no concern of manpower shortage and they have no need to field native light cavalry.

Edited September 20, 2011 by L'ethu

[L'ethu]

Sassanid and Parthia should join Persia as one faction, to create a Parthian faction and a Sassanid faction is an act of dividing Persia.

[Mythos_Ruler]

Sassanid and Parthia should join Persia as one faction, to create a Parthian faction and a Sassanid faction is an act of dividing Persia.

I don't see why there couldn't be two factions. In the end we will have Republican Rome, Imperial Rome, and Eastern Rome factions. This is a "what if?" game after all.

[L'ethu]

I just express my opinion that Persia, Parthia and Sassanid should merge into one big faction.

Edited September 20, 2011 by L'ethu

[Pedro Falcão]

I've got lost with all those -ans you guys said... I didn't know even some of these existed...

I must say these last units seem heavy-armored and well-ornamented, i'd dare to say too much for antiquity civilizations, of course not doubting your knowledge, guys.

And just taking the opportunity, i'd like to see germans too, if possible...

[Mythos_Ruler]

Germans will definitely be there in Part 2.

[L'ethu]

If you talk about the Sassanids and Saka i posted, for the Sassanids i have much doubt but from 0 A.D. articles that dismiss general opinion about Sassanian infantry, i begin actively searching information about Sassanid infantry from Ammianus Marcellinus, Letter of Tansar, and Al-Tabari that indicates Sassanid did field such unit. But in this case, some mod like Invasio Barbarorum: Somnium Apostatae Iuliani (IB:SAI) have exaggerated the role of the Sassanian infantry. While the Saka tribes in Central Asia have such unit but these are rare and expensive and some of these unit needs a deeper research, but i hope that game development team consider my proposal.

Edited September 21, 2011 by L'ethu

[Mythos_Ruler]

The plan is for only one Middle Eastern faction in Part 2: The Parthians. However, we could add more if others were to do the work.