So, the Alans...
This is a topic of much debate. Not often brought up, but subject to much dissent and disagreement with their current portrayal when it is. The Alans are the remnants of the Scytho-Sarmatian steppe nomads, a group of East Iranian peoples most closely related to modern Pashtuns, who live on today as a settled people known as the Ossetians. The Alans were always a point of interest, as they were, more or less, portrayed as Tengri Russians, with access to Russian graphics and music, Byzantine cultural decisions and music, and with Horse Lords, they had the benefit of being non-Altaic nomads. Other than the Magyars, they are the only ones.
The general agreement on the forums is that the Alans need to be more Iranian. Some have suggested using the Persian portraits and units. The units are very fitting, as the horse archer especially resembles a Scythian fighter. Portraits would certainly make sense, as the Persian portraits do indeed capture the look of Ossetians, although not, perhaps, the excessive fur they also wore. Some have said to put them in the Iranian culture group. Some have said to make a whole new religion just for them.
Me? I like to think portraits, units, and Zunism are all they need. Zunism is representative of Iranian paganism in Crusader Kings 2, lying vaguely on the verge of Hinduism and Zoroastrianism, possessing features of both in truth, just as Iranian paganism would. The sun-worship was still sensible for a steppe people, the majority of which historically loved the sky. My only concern was that Sky Burial, something that the Alans most certainly would've done (as not everyone can have a Kurgan) would be lost. I thus proposed that Zunists should be able to do sky burial if they are a nomad, as both Dharmic and Mazdan nomads can do so, and Zunism lies between.
I have noticed something rather peculiar in my most recent game, though:
You see that right. There is now a Zoroastrian prince among the Alan nobility. Is this Paradox subtlely addressing concerns over Scytho-Sarmatian paganism, and the nature of the Alan religion?
This is why we all love Paradox. They put so much effort and passion into their projects, delivering great products again and again, and, as seen here, they likewise listen to the community and respond. Whether they tell us or not, whether they make it explicit or not, Paradox really does care about the fanbase, and this tiny detail here really makes my day.
I suppose this means I should play as Zoroastrians instead of Zunists from now on?
This is a topic of much debate. Not often brought up, but subject to much dissent and disagreement with their current portrayal when it is. The Alans are the remnants of the Scytho-Sarmatian steppe nomads, a group of East Iranian peoples most closely related to modern Pashtuns, who live on today as a settled people known as the Ossetians. The Alans were always a point of interest, as they were, more or less, portrayed as Tengri Russians, with access to Russian graphics and music, Byzantine cultural decisions and music, and with Horse Lords, they had the benefit of being non-Altaic nomads. Other than the Magyars, they are the only ones.
The general agreement on the forums is that the Alans need to be more Iranian. Some have suggested using the Persian portraits and units. The units are very fitting, as the horse archer especially resembles a Scythian fighter. Portraits would certainly make sense, as the Persian portraits do indeed capture the look of Ossetians, although not, perhaps, the excessive fur they also wore. Some have said to put them in the Iranian culture group. Some have said to make a whole new religion just for them.
Me? I like to think portraits, units, and Zunism are all they need. Zunism is representative of Iranian paganism in Crusader Kings 2, lying vaguely on the verge of Hinduism and Zoroastrianism, possessing features of both in truth, just as Iranian paganism would. The sun-worship was still sensible for a steppe people, the majority of which historically loved the sky. My only concern was that Sky Burial, something that the Alans most certainly would've done (as not everyone can have a Kurgan) would be lost. I thus proposed that Zunists should be able to do sky burial if they are a nomad, as both Dharmic and Mazdan nomads can do so, and Zunism lies between.
I have noticed something rather peculiar in my most recent game, though:
You see that right. There is now a Zoroastrian prince among the Alan nobility. Is this Paradox subtlely addressing concerns over Scytho-Sarmatian paganism, and the nature of the Alan religion?
This is why we all love Paradox. They put so much effort and passion into their projects, delivering great products again and again, and, as seen here, they likewise listen to the community and respond. Whether they tell us or not, whether they make it explicit or not, Paradox really does care about the fanbase, and this tiny detail here really makes my day.
I suppose this means I should play as Zoroastrians instead of Zunists from now on?
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