MTW Byzantine modifications

[Setzer]

After reading the MTW2 thread, I've noticed I'm not the only one who's sick of using obsolete units when playing as the Byzantine Empire. I generally have little difficulty resestablishing the pre-Manzikert borders, or even the former borders of the Eastern Roman Empire (with a few extra territories on the side), and I manage to hold on to them despite everything from rebellions to Crusades. I've recently been toying around with unit creation, and although I haven't been able to make it work yet, I think there's potential here.

So, what kind of units should a revived Empire field?

I like the idea of updated hoplite formations, equipped with Halberds. They definately need an indigenous spear unit after spearmen.

[Shortie]

After reading the MTW2 thread, I've noticed I'm not the only one who's sick of using obsolete units when playing as the Byzantine Empire. I generally have little difficulty resestablishing the pre-Manzikert borders, or even the former borders of the Eastern Roman Empire (with a few extra territories on the side), and I manage to hold on to them despite everything from rebellions to Crusades. I've recently been toying around with unit creation, and although I haven't been able to make it work yet, I think there's potential here.

So, what kind of units should a revived Empire field?

I like the idea of updated hoplite formations, equipped with Halberds. They definately need an indigenous spear unit after spearmen.

Did you ever try out the Medmod? Nice update of just about everyone's units. There are other major conversions, but that was the best IIRC.

That said, winning with the vanilla Byzantine units isn't all that hard, as their infantry is always a useful basic line, so long as you've got Varangians and Cataphracts coming round the flanks.

If you crush the Turks and then the Egyptians fast enough life becomes pretty easy .

[Thanas]

BKB's mod for MTW was also a great mod, enhancing the Byzantines a lot and actually making the game a Challenge.

But then again, I never understood this "outdated" thing. Even in the high period in MTW, Byzantine infantry was still one of the strongest infantry units, as well as the varangians ant the Katatanks.

One unit I would like to see in a mod would be a dedicated siege unit. In history, siegecraft was the defining feature of Byzantine warfare. So maybe something like the heliopolis (a heavy, heavy trebuchet version ) or a gunnery corps (provided your empire is huge enough to have the resources for it).