XC5 Preview #2 - Epirus and Tukhara Unit Rosters news - Extended Cultures (XC) mod for Rome: Total War

I'll split up the rosters of the new factions into two previews, Epirus and Tukhara will be shown in this post and the Massylii and Gandhara will be shown in the next.

Side Note: The vanilla Marian reform event will be used generally in XC5 in phase out various early game units, and bring in late game units. Because this event now affects the rosters of many factions, not just Rome, efforts have been made to ensure that it fires successfully every time. Instead of the Romans having the burden of triggering it, it will now be up to the Greek factions to build that imperial palace in one of their settlements. There are 6 Greek-culture factions, so failure of the reform to trigger is almost impossible (aside from scenarios of the player blitzing the map).

EPIRUS

Epirus sports a standard hellenic roster with some Illyrian units plus their own elite cavalry. Here's a sample:

Greek Hoplites are an early game unit that has undergone a makeover courtesy of Nicolai Lanjane, and now have curtains hanging off their shields. Historically the purpose of these shield-curtains was to protect the legs from missiles.

Also courtesy of Lanjane the levy phalangites from vanilla have been replaced with these new Militia Phalangites for western greek factions.

Agema Phalangites


Akontistai


Thracian Thorakitai


Tarentine Cavalry


Epeirote Agema



TUKHARA

Living on the very edge of the Iranian world, Tukhara has a roster of persian-style foot units backed by powerful nomad cavalry. Tukhara has two factional barracks chains - a nomad chain which can only be used out on the steppe that gives access to the various types of nomad cavalry; and an urban barracks whose purpose is to give access to Baktrian and Indian units, to try to emulate the army of the Kushan Empire (which Tukhara formed historically).

Tocharian Elite Cavalry is the unit which serves the role of the Tukhara general's bodyguard.

They are backed up my many types of fast cavalry units like the following.

Tocharian Horsemen

Tocharian Raiders


Tukhara can get some particularly heavy cavalry from the nearby tribe of the Saka.

Saka Heavy Cavalry

Saka Raja Asvanikam


The grunt work on the ground is done by the Sparabara (spearmen) and the Takabara (axemen).

Tocharian Foot Archers provide additional firepower.

Once Kas (Tukhara's starting settlement) becomes developed enough, it will become possible to construct one of the Wonders in XC5, the Jade Gate:

This will establish diplomatic relations with China. Han China had various western protectorates and allies which it fought alongside for example in the Battle of Zhizhi. The Kushan Empire itself had a varying relationship with China. They were mostly trade partners with China however the two states did go on several joint military campaigns for example against the Sogdians in 84 AD and against Turpan in 85 AD. Possible military cooperation will be represented in the mod by the Jade Gate allowing for the recruitment of Chinese units. They will bring a fighting style which is quite different from that of every other faction in the game.

Sinicii Halberdiers

Sinicii Crossbowmen

Sinicii Carriage Ballistae


Final note: Playing on the BI exe gives all nomadic factions and many barbarian factions in XC5 the ability to horde. This will obviously allow for a much different strategy with Tukahara. You will be able to horde straight with them if you want as they start with only one settlement.