Why is Egypt so... egyptian?

[Mongol The Unwise]

During this time period Egypt would be one of the successor states of Alexanders empire, yet there is little to no sign of this. Instead Egypt is much more like the older kingdoms before the Ptolemaic dynasty and military reforms that made the faction closer to Seleucid and Macedon with heavy phalangites forming the infantry core and the native egyptians acting as light infantry/skirmishers. The whole faction seems as if it was plucked out from a different era and just dropped in midst of this one.

Did they even use chariots in this time anymore? I thought their usage pretty much died off with Persian empire...

Im just curious as to what might have influenced such designs choices for the developers of this game all those years ago. Surely they wouldve known better?

[Lebhleb]

Its like more time periods in 1 time period, but its okay, they get better with historical accuracy as games advance, well, sorta.

[MN Fats]

http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=Historical_Accuracy_of_Rome_Total_War

They took "creative license" for gameplay variety.

[Mongol The Unwise]

Originally posted by MN Fats:

http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=Historical_Accuracy_of_Rome_Total_War

They took "creative license" for gameplay variety.

"Without doubt, Egypt is one of the most historically inaccurate factions in the game. It is probable that since Egypt is a well-known civilization, the developers wanted to portray them as uniquely “Egyptian” as possible, even though by the game’s timeframe, Egypt had been conquered by the Macedonians and adopted a large amount of Hellenistic culture, especially in its military. Egypt, more correctly known as the Ptolemaic Empire, for the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled it, also had a number of territories in Asia minor and the Eastern Mediterranean missing in the actual game.

The portrayal of Egypt’s army is highly inaccurate. Instead of having units equipped in Macedonian gear, Egypt’s army in the game resembles an Egyptian army centuries before the depicted time period. Units such as chariots, desert cavalry, and axemen are all anachronistic. Chariots had largely fallen out of favor since the Macedonian conquest and were replaced by cavalry. The Pharaoh’s guard and bowmen are both inaccurate units designed to look more like pre-Macedonian warriors rather than proper Ptolemaic units. The depiction of the Egyptian army is so inaccurate that it is hard to find anything that is correct, other than perhaps slingers and the use of phalanx formation."

Ah. So they simply threw historical accuracy out of the window in order to make Egypt appear more unique rather than just another successor kingdom. You know what? Id actually be fine with this, if just they would not use the Phalanx formation. It is so wrong it hurts

[Sgt¹.Dαєɱφɳ |NL|]

Its basically bronze age Egypt, before greek influences.

[Cpt. Kid]

The game doesnt have to be accurate. I actually like it the way it is but Im use to the newer Total War games now. I forgot all about replenishing units with barracks not region/province.

[Lebhleb]

Both have their ups and downs, i wouldn't mind a mix actually.

[Vi]

Originally posted by Darth Mongol The Unwise:

Originally posted by MN Fats:

http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=Historical_Accuracy_of_Rome_Total_War

They took "creative license" for gameplay variety.

"Without doubt, Egypt is one of the most historically inaccurate factions in the game. It is probable that since Egypt is a well-known civilization, the developers wanted to portray them as uniquely “Egyptian” as possible, even though by the game’s timeframe, Egypt had been conquered by the Macedonians and adopted a large amount of Hellenistic culture, especially in its military. Egypt, more correctly known as the Ptolemaic Empire, for the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled it, also had a number of territories in Asia minor and the Eastern Mediterranean missing in the actual game.

The portrayal of Egypt’s army is highly inaccurate. Instead of having units equipped in Macedonian gear, Egypt’s army in the game resembles an Egyptian army centuries before the depicted time period. Units such as chariots, desert cavalry, and axemen are all anachronistic. Chariots had largely fallen out of favor since the Macedonian conquest and were replaced by cavalry. The Pharaoh’s guard and bowmen are both inaccurate units designed to look more like pre-Macedonian warriors rather than proper Ptolemaic units. The depiction of the Egyptian army is so inaccurate that it is hard to find anything that is correct, other than perhaps slingers and the use of phalanx formation."

Ah. So they simply threw historical accuracy out of the window in order to make Egypt appear more unique rather than just another successor kingdom. You know what? Id actually be fine with this, if just they would not use the Phalanx formation. It is so wrong it hurts

I mean it doesn't really hurt a game like RTW, when most of the eastern part of the map is just hellenistic cultures, it adds some nice flavour. There are mods that make it realistic if you're autistic, i guess. At least it isn't black German soldiers on the european front levels of idiocy.

[Lebhleb]

Its not swordsmen beating tanks.

[Mongol The Unwise]

Sure, throwing in wrong kingdom from different era adds a little variety. You know, who cares about unit design being off, what? A millenia? Sure it isnt just Egypt thats wrong, many other factions are aswell, just not as badly.

[Lebhleb]

Hey, could have gone a fantasy route, now that would have been real intresting.

[The Last Monke]

I would enjoy a more accurate Egypt because the Egyptian units now look ridiculous. LOL

[NekRon99]

Originally posted by Lebhleb The Flaxman:

Hey, could have gone a fantasy route, now that would have been real intresting.

Oh no here come the beaked sphinx riders!

[heonmiousse]

Well, yes they were inspired by ancient Egypt, but they are not as surreal as many people make it sounds. Chariots were used by the Seleucid at the Battle of Magnesia and are reported used by the Britons and Pontus as late a 47BC by Julius Caesar. So, if they were employed by other Hellenistic faction in the same theatre at the same time, it is not impossible they could also have been employed by the Egyptian of this period.

The Ptolemaic Kingdom scale down their use of Macedonian Phalanx following the defeat at Panium in 200BC and were therefore relying more on local troops or mercenaries.
The Nile Infantry could very well be represent by the Machimoi who began to take more and more place in the egyptian army following the Battle of Raphia. The Pharaoh Guard could be the experience remaining Macedonian Phalanx, kind of the equivalent of the Silvershield.

Even though Battle Axe are more associate with the bronze age, and the Nubian mercenaries are also associate with ancient Egypt. But, it is not impossible that Nubian mercenaries could have been hired by the Ptolemaic Kingdom, and it is not impossible that axe was employed by other mercenaries, (just very unlikely they were forming a unit).

[Brazidas]

To say "oh such historical errors do not compromise the game" is not any excuse to the simple fact they should had done it better !

Yes, even Dareios III used chariot against Megas Alexander but as command vehicle and also as a special unit in an army of some say 1 million ppl ! Despite that even the more restrained relates of 265,000 make that unit a drop. Not a basic core unite like we use w Britons and Egypt in RTW

Others said : the Egypt depicted is the Bronze Era Egypt which was in fact a Macedonian kingdom by the RTW times and should be called Ptolemaic or Lagid exactly the same way they had the decency of calling Seleucid to the large extension of mixed Macedonian/Persian inheritance.

[Karussell Veteran]

let me explain the greek used brass weapons and fighted in hoplit formations or bands or brotherhoods. no iron weapons.they did know iron but they didnt use it to expensive and corrosive in the climate (wet and warm ) .mazedon fight as phalanx and seleucid too.only like the romans did use iron and carthage too from spain and africa.iron or the britons(celt) and germans.aegyts did know iron like form hatti and summer like 1500 before greek and romans even did visit them.but it was too expensive.and again corrosive rust etc not favourble to climate in the nil delta. they use copper and brass.in this time aegypt was biggest copper smelter in the whole knowed world.and brass and copper dont rust.easy to hadle lower temperatur to smelt than hard iron ore..aegypt dont have brotherhood .gang.or massive troops formations.they did figth in lose farmer groups like with axe and spears.only the greek brink new armor mix with fiber and leather and copper.so the game is correct in this.and no hardship wood was for them availible. no hardwood in aegypt and correct.chariots are 2 men with 2 horses.very fast and easy to handle with archers.only hatti .summer babylon,seleceud did used heavy chariots. 3 men 4 horses no archer but javelin .heavy in armor .need good plane side to handling and manouver in battle. like chariot games in rome late era.not so much horses they are a small bread ,bad riding good to moving.europen horses big strong good for riding and moving.again right showing of aegypt.