As I promised…
House of Medici
I didn’t find good concepts for House of Medici military units that really fit the AoE3 royal house mechanics. I realized that it would be better to lean into the Medici’s focus on finances and sponsorship of the arts and sciences. There was also potential with the Medici popes and their rule of the Papal States.
*Royal House Native Units*
Florentine Merchant - Financially savvy merchants from Florence. These native villager units can gather coin from all sources 20% faster. Also regenerates health. Train limit of 5.
Apostolic Legate - Personal representatives of the Pope. Heals injured units and converts enemy units. Each Apostolic Legate gives an aura that increases the HP of all infantry units. Train limit of 3.
*New Technologies*
Galileo Tutorage - All technologies research 25% faster
High Renaissance - Gives a trickle of 1.00 food, 1.00 wood, 1.00 coin, and 1.00 XP/sec.
Medici Bank - Sends 3 Lombard Wagons. Also ships 300 food, 300 wood, and 300 gold.
Arte della Lana - Villagers gather coin 10% faster. Sends 2 Estate Wagons.
*Royal House Ability*
Medici Pontificate - Ships various Papal units that are normally available at the Basilica. This ability gets stronger as you age up: additional types of Papal units are sent per Age.
Age 2 spawns 3 Papal Guards and 1 Schiavoni.
Age 3 spawns 3 Papal Guards, 2 Schiavoni, and 2 Papal Lancers.
Age 4 spawns 3 Papal Guards, 3 Schiavoni, 2 Papal Lancers, 3 Papal Zouaves
Age 5 spawns 4 Papal Guards, 3 Schiavoni, 2 Papal Lancers, 3 Papal Zouaves, and 1 Papal Bombard.
(These Papal units automatically get their Papal Arsenal HCC upgrades: Papal Bombards get the ‘Holy Fire’ action, Papal Guards get the ‘Pistol Attack’ action, Papal Lancers get the ‘Lance Charge’ action and Papal Zouaves get the ‘Carbine Attack’ action)
A new HCC would be added for the Italians:
Medici Signoria - Delivers 1 Royal Embassy Wagon; enables Royal Embassy to be built. The House of Medici grants access to its royal units (Florentine Merchant, Apostolic Legate), unit upgrades, and three technologies (High Renaissance, Medici Bank, Arte della Lana) in the Royal Embassy; Medici units now cost population slots when acquired from the Royal Embassy or the Home City.
All done… if I do another royal house concept, it would probably be the House of Orange-Nassau.