The far east
2022-09-22 · Rex Basiliscus
Hello, everyone!
Today’s dev diary will take you into the far east. We have already shown you some glimpses of the new map and the regions of Iberia, Gaul, Germania, and Asia Minor. You have also probably already seen the Youtubers showcase Greece and Italy in their recent videos (if you haven’t, go check them out!).
Today, however, I will be returning to a region that has gone through many changes from the 0.4.0 release: Bactria.
What you see right now when you play RIS is this:
But we have gone further in detail than any Total War game or mod has gone before and created an amazing and visually stunning rendition of the regions of Bactria and Sogdiana.
This is how they will look like in 0.5.0
Bactria
Sogdiane
The river Oxus (modern Amu Darya), which flows through the middle of Bactria, is sacred to the local population which worships the Oxus River god.
From the mountains above Baktra Basileion (Ai Khanoum), the river shapes the valley and provides abundance and wealth to the Bactrian Greeks.
But, as much as the kingdom was a melting pot of different cultures and religions, where Greek gods were worshipped in the same temples as local Bactrian, or Zoroastrian Iranian, there is evidence that the people were segregated to some extent (see Holt, *Thundering Zeus – the making of Hellenistic Bactria*, 45-46).
The multitude of local Bactrians and Sogdians were most likely kept away from the highest positions in the army and administration. However, they would serve as soldiers in the armies of the Seleucids and Bactrian Greeks from the very start, and their importance only grew with time as the Bactrians had to deal with lesser and lesser numbers of Greek soldiers after the Diodotid revolt.
The RIS team is proud to show you the Greek units of the new Bactrian roster coming in patch 0.5.0!
Firstly, we will start with the missile infantry units. Similar to other Hellenistic factions, the Bactrians will have access to such typical units as Psiloi (1), Slingers (2), Archers (3) and Peltasts (4).
If you look closely, you can see the diversity which is possible to us with Rome Remastered, where some variants wear the kausia hat, others the petasos, still others have no hat; the clothing is also different among the variants, and it is sometimes glossed over by the simple fact that armour and weapons are the more interesting things to a Total War player.
If we move on to the melee infantry, here are the Hoplites (1), the Thureophoroi (2) and the Thorakitai (3).
I know our artists really enjoyed working on these helmets:
Here is also a stelle from Kampyr Tepe, which was a base for our Thorakitai unit model:
Ah, but here we come to the important bit – the phalanx. As we all know, Bactria was a region in which Alexander and the Seleucids settled many Greek colonists or *katoikoi*.
Especially the Seleucids invested strongly into Bactria, both economically and in terms of strengthening the defences with an influx of new settlers.
So (among all the other Greek units) the Chalkaspides, which will be available to you in higher tiers of recruitment, represent these settlers that have come here and made this region their home.
BUT, with the Seleucid empire being beset by rebellions (including yours) and dangers from without, this influx of settlers had in time diminished and ultimately been extinguished completely. No new incoming settlers meant the existing colonists and their offspring were becoming a smaller and smaller elite of outsiders, and the elite core on which the Bactrian kings could rely for their power. Their diminishing numbers also meant they became more and more valuable and irreplaceable.
In RIS, these next units will be reform units and will represent the offspring of the colonists of Alexander and the first Seleucids.
They are the royal guard, the *Epigonoi*.
Epigonoi Phalangites
Epigonoi Hypaspists
And finally, we come to the cavalry units. Similar to what I said about the phalanx/*epigonoi* units, the Bactrian Greek cavalry will also be pre- and post-reform era.
Before the reforms, the units of the Prodromoi (1) and the Xystophoroi (2) will be your light and heavy cavalry options (ofc, with the supporting regional units). The hetairoi, the elite Macedonian cavalry unit, is absent as they form the Seleucid Royal Guard in Syria. Remember, Bactria in this period is still a loyal Seleucid satrapy!
But, as you assert your independence, the Bactrian king mirrors the elite guard of the other Hellenistic kings. You will have at your disposal the powerful Cataphracts (1), and the elite (and special!) Epigonoi Hetairoi (2) – the upgrade of the Bactrian Greek heavy cavalry into the Royal Guard, equipped not only with a lance but also with a bow.
The inspiration behind the Epigonoi Hetairoi are the coins of king Hermaios and of king Hermaios and queen Kalliope, which have on the reverse a horseman (on one coin most likely the king, on the other the queen) armed in Macedonian fashion and equipped with a bow.
We also have the Early (1) and Late (2) General units for the Bactrians (note the adoption of heavier armour with the late general).
I hope you have enjoyed this little preview. As always, let us know what you think in the a channel channel, and don’t forget to tune in to the Terminator’s live chat with the RIS historians later today!
Until next time…
