Moon’s Hoplite and Legionairy Overhaul (overarm hoplite spear animations)

This mod adds 4 key things:
1. Overarm spear animations for hoplites.
2. Improved hoplite phalanx with new animations and better organisation.
3. New unit type, phalangites (holds long lances, not pikes)
4. Adds organised legionairy formations with new animations. With better battleAI, and improved charge animations.

See the screenshots and videos for examples!!!
Im excited to see the first examples of overarm hoplites, and phalangites.

===================================================================
Improved ‘Classical’ Hoplites
===================================================================
I’ve added a completely new hoplite phalanx ability. The front rows of the phalanx will hold an overarm spear, with the rear holding it tilted/vertically. They will also attack mostly with overarm thrusts (& occassionally underarm). The Hoplite Phalanx improves the organisation and cohesion of the unit significantly, and stays ON during combat and running. When the Hoplite Phalanx is flanked, the hoplites will draw out swords.

These are spear stances in side view of phalanx:
l l l l / – – –
rear front

-Added new animations
-New ability functions and formations
-Rebalanced hoplites

===================================================================
New Phalangite units
===================================================================
There’s a new unit type (similarly to legionairies, hoplites, pikemen, horse archers, etc.). Phalangites are hoplites which hold lances (shorter than pikse, but longer than hoplite spears). I’ve added new animations to fit them. They function similarly with pikemen, however, these are the Greek historical evolution of the Classical Hoplite.

Importantly, all the late tech hoplties, like thorax, are now phalangites, being a more advanced unit than classical hoplites.

-Added new animations
-Added new weapon usable for hoplites

===================================================================
New Legionairy formations
===================================================================
Legionaries have 3 brand new abilites which all have new animations. See screenshots.

1. The "Legionairy Formation". With this ability, legionaries move into an organised combat formation. The rear ranks of soldiers will raise their shield up, and the front several rows will be in a combat ready stance. This improves the organisation and cohesion of legionairies in combat. It also gives fatigue & combat bonuses.

2. The "defensive testudo". This ability has now been added to legionairies, with the correct/fixed front row animations. It’s wider than attacking testudo, but it’s immobile.

3. The "hollow square" formation. This ability wasn’t implemented in the original game, so I’ve added it & fixed it (with new animations). Now legionaries can use "hollow square", where the front rows will hold their pilum out against cavalry charges.

===================================================================
Battle AI improvement and animation fixes
===================================================================
The legionairy charge will now be smooth. In the original game, the first several rows will fire pilum, and then stop which blocks the soldiers charging from behind (thus breaking the cohesion of charge). I’ve fixed this animation, and now the charge animations will be smooth. The legionairies will charge in a cohesive formation block.

When the AI uses legionairies, it will now flank pikemen and phalangites. The AI will also throw pilum before combat properly. The AI using Hoplites will flank pikemen and phalangites.

Balance comments:
–

Changelog:
1. Rebalanced AI behaviour and pikemen stats
2. Major reblance. Hoplite spacing improved. Pikes less OP when used against AI.

My comments:
Battle mods (such as this) are save game compatible with campaign saves. I will update this mod as required when new patches arrive. I will continue adding new stuff and improving this mod based on feedback (so please give constructive feedback with helpful details/info)!

This mod is an improvement over my smaller mods (eg Improved Hoplite phalanx, improved roman formations, etc.) COMPATIBLE with mods that change graphics, campaign, etc. Not compatible with mods that change battle balance.

I personally use these mods:
Traits, Talents and Toadies: Character Overhaul
Aztecs Lighting Mod – Version 3
Faction Colours Remastered
R2:TW GEM – Graphic Enhancement Mod 4.2.1
Barbaric Rebirth
Eastern Resurrection
Hellenic Revival
Radious AI Mod
Radious Economy and Research Mod

HOWEVER, incompatible with radious battle mod and DEI. If a lot of people ask and like this mod, I can make a compatible version and upload it.

Feedback is welcome. If you want this in your overhaul, please ask for permission and i ll try to help out.

TW center link:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?642956-Moon-s-Hoplite-and-Legionairy-Overhaul-(overarm-hoplite-spear-animations)