Here is a preview of the Scythian and Roxolani unit overhauls that can be found in our current 1.3.2 beta. Enjoy!
Category Archives: Previews
Previews and Sneak Peaks for upcoming content.
Mithridatic Wars Teaser
Hey everyone, hope your holidays are going well! I just wanted to drop a teaser image for our upcoming new campaign – The Mithridatic Wars! Set in between the first and second war during Sulla’s march on Italy, this campaign will focus on both a Roman civil war and the war with Pontus.
We will have more news soon about a public beta that will be coming. Have a Merry Christmas!
1.3.1 Edetani Roster Preview
Edetani
While the Celtic tribes who migrated into Iberia a few hundred years before the DeI timeframe came to replace, adapt and assimilate many Iberian tribes to form a new Celtiberian identity, they didn’t quite expand into the entire peninsula. The Iberian tribes along the coasts south of the river Ebro retained their language and culture. Many of these tribes had contact with the early Phoenicians and later Carthaginians, as well as Hellenic traders and explorers establishing trade outposts and colonies along the coast. Because of this and the higher degree of urbanization than their Celtiberian cousins of the inland, tribes such as the Edetani, Cessetani and Turdetani were considered the most “civilized” tribes of Iberia.
The Edetani roster is a versatile one, with solid options across the board and a particularly wide selection of very high quality cavalry. While the roster includes typically Iberian units such as the Scutarii or Caetrati and devastating skirmishers, their aggressive lower tier infantry should not be overlooked, expendable but capable of baiting and outpositioning enemies due to their light equipment and high stamina. Finally, the Edetani has some of the best cavalry in Iberia, with excellent options for deadly skirmishing, agile light shock and tougher melee fighting. They also have some of the heaviest cavalry in the western world, with riders covered in chainmail and horses clad in scale.
1.3.1 Maurya Roster Preview
Maurya Samrajya
The Maurya Samrajya or the Mauryan Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya, grandfather of Ashoka the Great, the famous Indian Emperor who ruled over the largest empire to ever span the Indian subcontinent. In 305 BC to 303 BC, Seleucus I Nicator initiated the Seleucid-Mauryan war in an attempt to re-establish the Indian satrapies of the Macedonian empire taken over by Chandragupta. The war ended in a Mauryan victory in which Seleucus ceded Gedrosia (Maka), the Hindu Kush, Punjab and parts of Afghanistan to Chandragupta. From this arrangement, Seleucus received 500 Indian war elephants, which subsequently influenced the Wars of the Diadochi. Seleucus and Chandragupta also agreed to a marriage alliance in which Berenice the daughter of Seleucus was offered as a bride to Chandragupta. It has been 20 years since the death of Chandragupta and his son Bindusara sits upon the Mauryan throne. Maka represents the Western most extent of the Mauryans who look to expand Westward on Persian and Hellenic factions that formerly antagonised them after Alexander’s conquests. As such, it has a special “Provincial Empire” government.
The Mauryan empire is also the only Hindu faction in-game with a Buddhist temple chain to signify the prevalence of Buddhism within their realm. Buddhism would become the major religion of the empire under the reign of Ashoka. The Mauryan faction boasts the best elephant units, long ranged archers and powerful armour penetration and shock infantry. While they lack in the cavalry and spearmen department, they do get access to the former with their unique reforms should they conquer the Nomadic lands of Transoxiana and Xvarazm to the North and spread the Hindu faith in those provinces. This is indicative of how subsequent Nomadic incursions into the Indian subcontinent influenced the Indians to adopt their own heavily armoured shock cavalry contingents.
1.3.1 Arevaci Roster Preview
The Arevaci
The Arevaci were a Celtiberian tribe occupying central Spain. Their capital, Numantia, was the focus of several major Roman campaigns during the late Second Century BC. They were famous for their metalworking, which gave their nation great wealth and power. As a Celtiberian tribe, the Arevaci combine Celtic and Iberian elements, although they trend more toward the latter. As a nod to their Celtic heritage, as well as their historically-attested use of an orange-sepia body paint, one of the Arevaci signature units is the Iberi Uirodusios (Celtiberian Painted Warriors), who are fast-moving, hard-hitting naked warriors. Other standout units include the Birikantinoi (Celtiberian Champions), who carry some of the finest swords available (benefits of excellent Iberian metalworking traditions). Like other Iberians, they also possess excellent missile units, with a special emphasis on javelins and slings. Their cavalry is excellent in quality and variety. In addition to excellent horse skirmishers, they possess light lancers and sturdy melee cavalry.
Iweriu Roster Overview
The Iweriu
Iweriu is the proto-Indo-European name from which Éire in modern Irish derives and is believed to have been a Gaelic matron goddess of the island’s sovereignty. One theory states that Her name is tied to fertility and Iweriu could mean “abundant land.” The island was shrouded in mystery for the earliest classical writers, some making sensationalist claims about wild barbarian practices such as ritual cannibalism and incest; or, that while growing grain is hard due to the harsh climate, “grass grows so richly that cattle burst if unrestrained from eating it.”
Iweriu tribes such as the Eblani, Iverni, and Coriondi were prolific ringfort builders, famed metalworkers and traded extensively with continental Europe and the British mainland. This trade continued and flourished during the Roman conquest of Britannia. While evidence suggests Rome briefly considered invading Hibernia also, the island remained free and sovereign until Roman decline and exodus from the Isles many centuries later.
As a faction lacking in heavy armor and cavalry, their focus is primarily about skirmishing and raiding with excellent javelin units who can make a good account of themselves in melee as well. They also possess decent options for shock infantry and many units adept at using terrain to their advantage to catch their enemies off guard.
1.3 Iceni Roster Preview
The Iceni
The Iceni were a British tribal group who lived in East Anglia, occupying areas of Norfolk, northeast Cambridgeshire, and the northern parts of Suffolk. They may be the same as Caesar’s Cenimagni who were interpreted as the Iceni Magni, or “great Iceni,” one of five “tribes” that submitted to Caesar after the Trinovantes came under his protection. In DeI, the Iceni are the representative type of the great British tribes inhabiting southeastern England.
The Iceni appear to have been a wealthy people interested in metalware and horses since archaeological finds of horse-related objects are common in their former territory. Like their neighbors, the Trinovantes and Catuvellauni, they were closely related to and heavily influenced by Belgic immigrants from across the English Channel. Throughout this era, there was a constant exchange of goods and people across the Channel, as seen by numerous items of Continental metalware found throughout this part of England. Additionally, burial practices common throughout eastern France and Belgium are also found in southeastern England, alongside native traditions. In DBG, Caesar reported that some of the British tribes supported the Belgae in their resistance to his invasion. Numerous Belgic and Gallic chieftains would later flee to Britain following Caesar’s conquest of Gaul. The impacts of this cultural exchange are seen throughout the Iceni and Nervii rosters.
In terms of gameplay, the Iceni are the most typically Celtic of the Britannic factions, with the best spears, swords and cavalry of the Isles, supplemented by chariots and slinger-spearmen. In return, they lack good shield wall units, armor penetration and other ranged options.
1.3 Caledonian Roster Preview!
The Caledones
One theory states that the name Caledones comes from the Proto-Celtic roots kal- (“hard”) and φēdo- (“foot”), alluding to steadfastness and endurance. Whether true or not, the name seems fitting for the remote Celtic tribe of farmers and hillfort builders at the cold, harsh far northern end of the known world who famously resisted several Roman invasion attempts. Eventually, this prompted the construction of great walls to contain instead of conquer the northern tribes. The Antonine Wall and Hadrian’s Wall stretched from coast to coast across narrow necks of northern Britannia and were manned by Roman garrisons, but they failed to stop the northern tribes from retaking territory several times, likely augmented by tribes from southern parts of Britannia fleeing Roman conquest. Cassius Dio for instance records that the Caledonians inflicted 50,000 Roman casualties due to attrition and unconventional tactics such as guerrilla warfare against a military expedition personally led by emperor Septimus Severus. After emperor Severus died to illness in Eboracum a few years later, the Romans were pushed back south of Hadrian’s Wall and no further Roman attempts at conquering Caledonia were ever made.
Sources such as Tacitus and Jordanes describes Caledonians as large, athletic, pale and red haired. The former author speculates that they were related to Germans and while there’s no evidence of that, some aesthetic inspiration has been from the similarly remote, rugged and inhospitable Germania. These visuals emphasize the otherness of Caledonians compared to other Celts and indeed, fellow Britons. For instance, unlike most Celtic nobles who went clean-shaven at the time, the Caledones sport full beards and rely on heavy pelts and leather from their agriculturally based economy and simpler to produce scale, rather than mail armors to a higher degree than other Celts.
The Caledones are designed to be a slow but strong defensive faction, featuring excellent spear units using Defensive Formation or Shieldwall, complemented by decent melee infantry and archers, but weak cavalry due to the difficulty to raise horses in such harsh lands.
1.3 Barbarian Overhaul – Scordisci Roster Preview!
We hope you enjoy another Divide et Impera 1.3 preview from Q_Sertorius and CEMN, this time featuring the Scordisci! We also will have some news in the near future about a combined public beta for everyone to try out. Currently, you can find various sections of the beta available for testing on our Discord.
The Scordisci
The Scordisci were a Celtic tribe formed after the Gallic invasion of the Balkans that mixed with the local Thracians and Illyrians. Their tribal name may be connected to the Scordus, the Šar mountain. Extensive La Tène type finds of local production are noted in Pannonia as well as northern Moesia Superior, which attest to the concentration of Celtic settlements and cultural contacts. They controlled the various Pannonian tribes in the region, extracting tribute and enjoying the status of the most powerful tribe in the central Balkans. Their power was centered on Singidunum. They subjugated a number of tribes in Moesia, including the Dardani, several west Thracian tribes, and the Paeonians. From 141 BC, the Scordisci were constantly involved in battles against Roman-held Macedonia. Between 56 and 50 BC, the Dacians defeated the Scordisci, and became subject to the powerful Dacian ruler, Burebista. In 15 BC, Tiberius crushed the Scordisci. They became Roman subjects, providing valuable support for later campaigns against the Pannonians and Breuci. They started receiving Roman citizenship during Trajan’s rule (98–117 AD). With their Romanization, they ceased to exist as an independent ethno-political unit.
Visually, the Scordisci cross-cultural mix runs throughout the roster, from the lowest levy spearman to the noble Cordinau Orca, elite nobles wielding unique curved longswords. However, the Thracians stand out particularly in the Scordisci javelin units, and the Illyrians have a heavy presence in the Scordisci navies.
Check back soon for more beta news!
1.3 Barbarian Roster Overhaul – Nervii Roster Preview!
We are back again with another preview from Q_Sertorius and CEMN featuring the Nervii! These changes will be implemented in our upcoming mod update and can already be experienced in our current submod betas available on our Discord.
The Nervii
Caesar reported that the Belgae were the bravest of all the Gauls. Among the Belgae, the Nervii were particularly noteworthy in this category. For this reason, DeI uses them to represent the various Belgic tribes. The Nervii were reportedly very strong in infantry and this is reflected in their roster. The Nervii have solid and respectable infantry in each major category, possessing capable spear, axe, sword, phalanx, and missile units. Additionally, thanks to their fellow Belgae tribes, the Remi and Treveri, they also have very powerful cavalry (although not on the same widespread scale as the Arverni). On the whole, while the Nervii do not particularly excel in any given area, they have solid options across a broader range than most Celtic factions. The Nervii are probably the most well-rounded of any Celtic tribe in this overhaul.
Geographically, the Belgae lived in Northern France and Belgium. From this area, they spread across into southeastern England. Throughout the DeI time period, cultural influences followed trade routes back and forth. This is described not only in the historical sources, but can also be seen in the archaeological record. This cultural exchange is heavily reflected in the Nervii aesthetic. Additionally, the Belgae were also greatly influenced by their contact with Germanic tribes across the Rhine. These cultural connections are reflected throughout the faction in the appearance, equipment and way of fighting. For instance, some men grow long beards as a sign of manliness like the Germans, or lyme it to appear taller and frightening like the Britons, and use woad to paint their bodies in elaborate patterns to showcase their bravery and devotion to the gods.
More previews to come soon!
