Hello everyone, this is my first post in the forum, hope I’ll have a great time in the community. I’m a big fan of this game cause I’m a big fan of history and I love every game that is based on history, and I think this game has become a legend now, since it’s more than 20 years old and is still getting new expansions.
Right now I think we have too many European civs, and with the upcoming DLC we will have two more European civs (the Sicilians and Burgundians), Europe will become saturated with civs, and I feel this would make the game appear somewhat Eurocentric. There were also many splendid civs in other parts of the world, in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, that should have been added into the game, yet haven’t really got the chance. Since I’m Asian and I’m rather familiar with Asian history (I’ll leave Africa and America to those who’re familiar with the history of those two regions), I came up with a proposal of 5 Asian civs that could possibly make up a new expansion, perhaps we could call this new expansion Silk and Spice Kingdoms, since all 5 have played an important role in medieval trade and commerce. In fact I originally posted my proposal a few months ago on Reddit, yet it didn’t get any attention, so I’ll paste it here to see if we could have some interesting discussions. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into it.
Nanzhao (738 - 1253)
Civilization type: Monk and Archer
Architecture: Generic East Asian (a new generic East Asian architecture set shared with Chinese, Vietnamese, and Koreans; Japanese would continue using the current East Asian set, while Mongols would use a new Inner Asian set along with the Tanguts)
In-game language: controversial, the ethnicity of the ruling elite of Nanzhao is still hotly debated in the academic circles, with some saying they spoke a Loloish language (a close proxy would be Burmese) while others saying that they spoke a Daic language (a close proxy would be Thai). Chinese would also likely have been used by the literati or the court officials of Nanzhao. In my opinion, if you wanna be historically accurate, then let them speak Burmese or Thai, however if you wanna avoid potential political troubles, then Chinese would be an option.
Wonder: the Three Pagodas of the Chongsheng Temple
Civilization bonuses:
Start with a free water buffalo
Monastery provides +5 population
Starting from the Feudal Age, all Archery Range units gain +1 pierce armor with each advancement in age (Feudal Age +1 / Castle Age + 1 / Imperial Age +1), for a total of +3 pierce armor
Have access to the unique economic building Tea Garden after researching the Imperial Age UT
Team bonus:
Monastery +2 LOS (8 instead of the normal 6)
Castle Age UT: Lacquered Leather Armor, monks and battle elephants gain +2 pierce armor (Food 200 Gold 250)
Imperial Age UT: Tea and Horse Road, gains +70 gold with each newly built Stable, and grants access to the unique economic building the Tea Garden (Food 500 Gold 500). The Tea Garden auto-generates resources just like the Feitoria, and takes up 15 population. However unlike the Feitoria it only generates food and gold but not wood and stone. It costs 200 gold and 200 stone to build a Tea Garden.
UU1: Luojuzi, a skirmisher with high HP and the speed of a Eagle Warrior, and unlike normal skirmishers this one costs gold to train. According to Xin Tang Shu (new records of the Tang Dynasty) compiled by the Song historian Ouyang Xiu, Luojuzi was the title given to the elite troops of the Nanzhao army. These troops were trained for speed and endurance, wore a red lacquered leather helmet and a bronze buckler shield. They were likely skirmishers since the javelin was a common weapon among the tribal peoples of southern and southwestern China.
Stats
Cost: 40 Wood 40 Gold
HP: 50 / 55 (elite)
Attack: 4 / 5 (elite) pierce
Attack bonuses:
+4 / +5 (elite) vs Archer
+3 vs Spearman
+3 vs Cavalry Archer
+2 / +3 (elite) vs Cavalry
Rate of fire: 3.05
Frame delay: 5
Range: 5
Minimum range: 1
Accuracy: 95%
Projectile speed: 7
Melee armor: 0 / 1 (elite)
Pierce armor: 5 / 6 (elite)
Armor classes: Archer, Unique Unit
Speed: 1.2 / 1.3 (elite)
LOS: 7
UU2: Rattan Trooper, trained at the Barracks when Castle Age is reached, has no elite upgrade. It’s kind of similar to the Condottiero, but with higher pierce armor and lower attack bonus against Gunpowder Unit, and it’s not a shared unit among allies. The most unique feature of this unit is that on land it has a speed of 1.15, but its speed increases to 1.3 on shallows. This is to reflect the fact that compared to metal armors rattan armor is lighter and water-proof.
Stats
Cost: 35 Wood 35 Gold
HP: 75
Attack: 8 melee
Attack bonuses:
+6 vs Gunpowder Unit
+4 vs Eagle Warrior
+4 vs Swordsman (new armor class, comprises of militia and its upgrades)
+3 vs Ship
+3 vs Fishing Ship
Rate of fire: 2.0
Melee armor: 1
Pierce armor: 5
Armor classes: Infantry, Unique Unit, Rattan Trooper (new armor class that only comprises of this unit)
Speed: 1.15 (on other terrains) / 1.3 (on shallows)
LOS: 6
Tech tree:
Barracks: no Eagles and no Champion
Archery Range: no Hand Cannoneer and no Thumb Ring
Stable: no Camels, no Paladin, no Steppe Lancer, have access to the Battle Elephant but without its elite upgrade
Castle: no Hoardings
Siege Workshop: no Bombard Cannon and no Siege Onager
Dock: no Fast Fire Ship, no Heavy Demo, and no Elite Cannon Galleon
Blacksmith: no Leather Archer armor, no Ring Archer Armor, and no Bracer
Monastery: full
University: no Bombard Tower and no Treadmill Crane
Tanguts (7th century AD - 1227)
Civilization type: Monk and Cavalry
Architecture: Inner Asian (new architectural style shared with the Mongols)
In-game language: the Tanguts spoke a Tibeto-Burman language closely related to Tibetan and to the various Qiangic languages still spoken in Gansu and Sichuan today. Unfortunately the Tangut language had already become extinct, and hence Tibetan could work as a close proxy. However, if Tibetan doesn’t work due to political reasons, then Chinese could be an option as well.
Wonder: Pyramid-like tower of the Western Xia mausoleum
Civilization bonuses:
Herdable animals +2 LOS (5 instead of the normal 3)
Blacksmith techs cost 50% less food
Block Printing is free
Heavy Camel upgrade available in the Castle Age
Team bonus:
Market work rate +100% faster
Castle Age UT: Cold-Forged Armor, cavalry and cavalry archers gain +1 melee / +1 pierce armor (Food 300 Gold 200)
Imperial Age UT: Tangut Script, monks 50% more resistant to the conversion of enemy monks (Food 500 Gold 450)
UU: Camel Slinger, a mounted slinger on a camel, kind of like a combination of the Incas’ slinger and the Berbers’ camel archer. Its attack bonuses are similar to the Inca slinger.
Cost: 50 Food 60 Gold
Hitpoints: 60 / 65 (elite)
Attack: 4 / 5 (elite) pierce
Attack bonuses:
+10 vs Infantry
+10 vs Condottiero
+3 / +4 (elite) vs Ram
+1 / +2 (elite) vs Spearman
Rate of fire: 2.0
Frame delay: 5
Range: 5
Minimum range: 1
Accuracy: 70% / 80% (elite)
Projectile speed: 7
Melee armor: 0 / 1 (elite)
Pierce armor: 1 / 2 (elite)
Armor classes: Archer, Cavalry Archer, Camel, Unique Unit
Speed: 1.4
LOS: 5
Tech tree:
Barracks: no Eagles and no Supplies
Archery Range: no Hand Cannoneers
Stable: no Battle Elephants, no Paladin, but have access to the Steppe Lancer and its elite upgrade
Castle: full
Siege Workshop: no Bombard Cannon
Dock: no Shipwright, no Fast Fire Ship, and no Elite Cannon Galleon
Blacksmith: full
Monastery: full
University: no Treadmill Crane
Champa (192 - 1471)
Civilization type: Navy
Architecture: Southeast Asian
In-game language: the Champa people spoke Chamic languages, which are a sub-branch of the Austronesian languages, hence Malay would be a close proxy.
Wonder: Po Klong Garai Temple
Civilization bonuses:
Galleys +1 attack in Feudal / +1 in Castle / +1 in Imperial Age, for a total of +3 attack
Dock techs and upgrades cost 20% less food
Shipwright available in Castle Age
Team bonus:
Archers +3 attack against ships
Castle Age UT: Sea Marauders, Mong Dong (their unique naval unit) +10% speed and +1 range (250 Food 200 Gold)
Imperial Age UT: Champa Rice, player and allies each receives +1000 Food (450 Food 300 Wood)
UU1: Champa Pirate, a light infantry armed with hooked spear and shield, fast and 50% more resistant to conversion than other infantry units
Cost: 60 Food 25 Gold
HP: 65 / 70 (elite)
Attack: 9 / 12 melee (elite)
Attack bonuses:
+5 / +6 (elite) vs Civilian Unit (new armor class comprised of Villagers, Trade Carts, and Trade Cogs)
+5 / +6 (elite) vs Monk
+4 vs Ship
+4 vs Fishing Ship
+3 vs Eagle Warrior
Rate of fire: 2.0
Melee armor: 0 / 1 (elite)
Pierce armor: 2 / 3 (elite)
Armor classes: Infantry, Unique Unit
Speed: 1.2
LOS: 5 / 7 (elite)
UU2: Mong Dong, a fast ship that fires hand cannons against enemies and has a bonus attack against infantry, basically can be seen as a hand cannoneer on water. It’s available at the dock in the Castle Age and doesn’t have an elite upgrade, though it benefits from the Castle Age UT.
Cost: Wood 90 Gold 40
HP: 130
Attack: 17 pierce
Attack bonuses:
+10 vs Infantry
+6 vs Ship
+6 vs Fishing Ship
+5 vs Ram
+3 vs Spearman
Rate of fire: 3.45
Frame delay: 15
Range: 7 / 8 (after researching Sea Marauders)
Accuracy: 65%
Projectile speed: 5.5
Melee armor: 0
Pierce armor: 8
Armor classes: Ship, Gunpowder Unit, Unique Unit
Speed: 1.43 / 1.57 (after researching Sea Marauders)
LOS: 8
Tech tree:
Barracks: no Eagles and no Champion
Archery Range: no Parthian Tactic and no Heavy Cavalry Archer
Stable: no Camels, no Hussar, no Paladin, and no Steppe Lancer, but have access to Battle Elephants and Elite Battle Elephants
Castle: no Hoardings
Siege Workshop: no Siege Ram and no Siege Onager
Dock: no Dry Dock
Blacksmith: no Plate Barding Armor
Monastery: no Heresy
University: no Arrowslits
Siamese (13th century onward)
Civilization type: Gunpowder and Elephant
Architecture: Southeast Asian
In-game language: Thai
Wonder: Wat Chedi Liam
Civilization bonuses:
Receive 100 Wood and 50 Stone when advancing age
Gunpowder Units +10% speed
Elite Battle Elephant upgrade costs 30% less and is researched 50% faster
Battle Elephants attack +15% faster
Team bonus:
Bombard Cannons and Petards +2 pierce armor
Castle Age UT: Krabi Krabong, infantry units (that is to say, all units belonging to the infantry armor class) gain +2 attack vs infantry (300 Food 300 Gold)
Imperial Age UT: Phrai Luang, villagers created +100% faster, and War Elephants (that is to say, all units with the War Elephant armor class) cost 20% less gold (500 Food 400 Gold)
UU1: Elephant Gunner, an elephant with a small cannon mounted on its back, and shoots a similar projectile as the one fired from Hand Cannoneers or Janissary. However, unlike the other two its projectile has an area of effect. It deals bonus damage against infantry, rams, and defensive structures.
Cost: Food 120 Gold 90 (72 Gold after researching the Imperial Age UT)
HP: 260 / 300 (elite)
Attack: 17 / 20 pierce (elite)
Attack bonuses:
+10 vs Infantry
+8 vs Wall and Gate
+6 / +8 (elite) vs Stone Defense
+6 / +8 (elite) vs Ram
+6 vs Castle
Blast radius: 0.1
Rate of fire: 3.49
Frame delay: 15
Range: 8
Accuracy: 60%
Projectile speed: 5.5
Melee armor: 1 / 2 (elite)
Pierce armor: 4 / 5 (elite)
Armor classes: Cavalry, War Elephant, Siege Weapon, Gunpowder Unit, Unique Unit
Speed: 0.88 (originally 0.8, but +10% speed as a civ bonus for gunpowder units)
LOS: 7
UU2: Imperial Battle Elephant (could also be called Naresuan’s Elephant), an upgrade of the Elite Battle Elephant. The upgrade costs 1400 Food and 1000 Gold, and takes 120 seconds to complete.
Cost: Food 120 Gold 70 (56 Gold after researching the Imperial Age UT)
HP: 400
Attack: 16 melee
Attack bonuses:
+12 vs Building
+12 vs Stone Defense
Blast radius: 0.4
Rate of fire: 2.0
Melee armor: 2
Pierce armor: 4
Armor classes: Cavalry, War Elephant
Speed: 0.85
LOS: 6
Tech tree:
Barracks: no Eagles
Archery Range: no Parthian Tactic
Stable: no Camels, no Paladin, and no Steppe Lancer
Castle: full
Siege Workshop: no Siege Ram and no Siege Onager
Dock: no Heavy Demo
Blacksmith: full
Monastery: full
University: no Arrowslits and no Siege Engineers
Tamils (3rd century BC - 1279)
Civilization type: Navy and Elephant
Architecture: Indian
In-game language: Tamil
Wonder: Brihadisvara Temple
Civilization bonuses:
Receives 1 free villager in Feudal, 2 in Castle, and 3 in Imperial Age
Guilds and Banking are free
All ships cost 15% less wood and are created 20% faster
Battle Elephants +5 attack vs Cavalry
Elite Battle Elephant upgrade available in Castle Age
Team bonus:
Farm returns half its cost (that is to say, 30 wood) when destroyed
Castle Age UT: Wootz Steel, swordsman (the militia line) +4 attack (400 Food 300 Gold)
Imperial Age UT: Watertight Compartment, ships auto-regenerate lost HP (similar to what Maghrabi Camels do to Camels) (700 Food 400 Gold)
UU1: Urumi, a ranged melee infantry with splash damage
Cost: 40 Food 40 Gold
HP: 40 / 50 (elite)
Attack: 11 / 13 (elite) melee (5 damage to adjacent units in a 1 tile radius)
Attack bonuses:
+2 vs Infantry
+2 vs Eagle Warrior
+1 / +2 (elite) vs Siege Weapon
Rate of fire: 2.5
Range: 2
Melee armor: 0 / 1 (elite)
Pierce armor: 0 / 1 (elite)
Armor classes: Infantry, Unique Unit
Speed: 1.1
LOS: 5 / 6 (elite)
UU2: Thirisadai, a heavy warship that throws stones at the enemy, basically an onager on water, available only in the Imperial Age, and has no elite upgrade. It also has the ability to attack ground and kill trees just like an onager.
Cost: Wood 190 Gold 200
HP: 200
Attack: 50 melee
Attack bonuses:
+45 vs Building
+12 vs Siege Weapon
+10 vs Ship
+5 vs Turtle Ship
Blast radius: 1.25
Rate of fire: 10
Frame delay: 0
Range: 8
Minimum range: 3
Accuracy: 90%
Projectile speed: 3.5
Melee armor: 2
Pierce armor: 8
Armor classes: Ship, Siege Weapon, Unique Unit
Speed: 1
LOS: 8
Tech tree
Barracks: no Eagles, no Champion, and no Supplies
Archery Range: no Heavy Calvary Archer
Stable: no Heavy Camel, no Cavalier and Paladin, and no Steppe Lancer
Castle: full
Siege Workshop: no Heavy Scorpion
Dock: no Shipwright and no Elite Cannon Galleon
Blacksmith: full
Monastery: full
University: no Treadmill Crane, no Arrowslits
