As we all know, our beloved AoE2 is getting another Eurocentric expansion.
I’m not going to argue and assert why imo its a bad thing, but i was wondering about the future.
Afghans (other names can be used) once had a sizeable empire, which they gained using similar tactics to the Mongols (hence why the Dehli Sultanate, a remnant of the empire was able to deter the Mongols). Eventually after the empire’s fall, they adopted gunpowder and used it.
The Afghans have all the qualifications to be a civ, so if there is ever a less Eurocentric expansion, why not make one for them? Or at least rename the current Indians to Afghans if that doesn’t spark controversy (most people agree the current Indians is a representation of the Dehli Sultanate)
So if they ever do get considered, here’s what i think they could be like:
Bonuses:
Every villager gives you a small amount of gold upon creation or gold mines last longer
Camels get bonus damage vs infantry or Camels have bonus damage resistance
Elite Skirm and Heavy cav archer is free
husbandry and bloodlines are free or are researched instantly
Team Bonus: Advancing to Castle/Imp gives you 5 cav archers or camels from each TC (Maximum 3)
Alternative: BBC faster and fires faster or more anti-building damage for BBC
Architecture: Central Asian
What they miss from their tech tree:
Barracks: Arson, Supplies, Champion, Eagle line, Pikeman
Archery range: Crossbow
Stable: Cavalier, Elite Battle Elephant, Elite Steppe Lancer (Maybe)
University: architecture, heated shot, fortified wall, keep, treadmill crane
Castle: hoardings
Blacksmith: last infantry armor tech
siege workshop: heavy scorpion, siege onager
market: guilds
mill: crop rotation
Mining camp: stone shaft mining
UTs:
Castle age: Camels are faster or deal trample damage or every TC you destroy you get 5 Cav archers
Imperial age: Camels become trash units or BBC has more attack or is faster
UU(s):
Possible Castle UUs:
Pashtun or Ghurid Raider: nimble cavalry archer which turns into a melee cavalry when it dies. Would be more of a novelty raiding unit. Hard to counter when you have good micro.
Camel raider: nimble camel that could be a trash unit, would take on the role of the light cavalry line and there would be no hussar. Would allow you to spam camels for days just like with the hussar, comes with its own upsides and downsides
Pashtun or Ghurid Camel/Rider: A slower but tank like camel, would be ~midway between the normal camel line and a battle elephant in stats. Might deal trample damage. This would add a more powerful punch to your army that would help you deal with trickier units or buildings
Possible Secondary UUs:
Elite BBC: upgrade to the BBC, but an unlikely concept
Camel Drawn BBC: it’s in the name, would probably be unlocked by the imperial UT. This would essentially provide siege that can catch up with the rest of the army, allowing the player to quickly rampage through towns
Zarambuk: out of the time frame but still a possibility. Would be a Camel mounted gunner which needs the camel to sit before it can start shooting, but can shoot with good range or attack. Its role would clash with the cav archer, so it makes the player decide whether they are raiding, and need a mobile unit, or a having a full on war, needing a tanky unit
The civ’s weakness: Halberdiers, however they can be countered by the skirms
The civ’s strategy: If going for an early rush, (which is probably the best strategy), scouts are an obvious choice, but they do lack good archers, so if you’re waiting for castle age, camels and cav archers with some UUs in the mix should deliver good results. Add in some skirms once you know the enemy is making an army, since they’re about the only anti-anti-cavalry unit the civ has.
Good Teammates: Any archer civ would be a perfect synergy with this civ
Good Counter Civs: Any civ that can produce enough halberdiers to neutralize the whole army (like goths) would be great against the Afghans, unless the Afghans play to their full potential
