Auto-Upgrades + Unit Counters = Unfair Advantage?

Age of Empires III: DE III - Discussion
1

Some civilizations (let’s call them “S”) have several units that automatically upgrade, whereas “normal civilizations” (“N”) do not. For instance, the Ottoman civilization has units like Spahis, Nizam Fusiliers, and Great Bombards that automatically upgrade, and the Hausa civilization has Akan Musketeers and Yoruba Cavalry that do the same.

Because of unit counters, having a diverse army is generally more advantageous—this allows you to effectively counter the enemy’s units. However, if a normal civ (N) only relies on a single unit type, it tends to lose against S. On the other hand, if N tries to field multiple unit types, it faces another problem: the high cost of upgrades, especially “Guard” upgrades in the Industrial Age. These costs can severely limit N’s military strength, leading to defeat. Consequently, whether N sticks to one unit type or attempts to use multiple ones, it remains at a disadvantage against S, which is quite unfair.

I believe the solution should be one of the following: either all units auto-upgrade, or all units require a paid upgrade. That would be fairer overall. What do you think?

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What you call “Auto Upgrades” are generally referred to as Shadow techs, so I will refer to them as such.

That term covers everything from the free Veteran techs given to Dragoons and Skirmishers upon reaching Fortress, to Spahi, Nizams, and Consulate Units.

Interestingly, Great Bombards, Heavy Cannons and Rockets don’t fit into that category as their baseline stats are simply industrial ones.

The short version is that most “shadow teching” has been balanced in over the last 15 years, and it wouldn’t be an easy change. Some strong civs would be hit hard, but so would some weaker ones. Meanwhile other strong civs would only be slightly effected (which would benefit them since others are weakened more).

6 Likes
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Just add a shadow tech unit to every civ. The majority have one but not all I think

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shadow techs also includes a lot of funny things

All hero stats are shadow tech

Pets, disciples (which is what makes that china age 4 build so strong), Skull knights, Tokalas, incan chasqui, USA Legion shipments, Mexican fort shipments, Maltese Order units, Papal Units, Indian Urumis, spies, native scouts, French Old guards, Dutch Blue guards, Port Ordinance tech

Chinese flying crow artillery also gets shadow teched, alot of it

Its actually hard for me to think about civs that doesnt get access to shadow teching or some kind of fast upgrade shenanigan. I think its only Spain, Sweden, French but even then all 3 gets access to stuff like blood brothers

I dont mind what the devs did for some civs allowing fast guard level upgrades through cards like Beaver wars for Haud, Gentlemen of the pike and Roger’s Ranger for Brit, Seven Council fires for Lakota, The russian church techs, Port order techs etc.

Edit: There is also stuff like the papal guard age up for some euro civs which reduces cost of guard techs, can just make those be free ( i think they were but were completely busted)

edit edit: forgot outlaws also effectively shadow tech now after getting vet

Not all civs need it, more for niche strats and like prolonged age 2 civs that needs a catchup mechanism if they decide to skip through age 3 and go to age 4

2 Likes
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This is mainly to compensate for natives being very unaffordable due to their influence cost. A good way to tone it down slightly would be to remove the automatic upgrades and instead bundle it into their War Camp upgrades for no extra cost. That would be a nerf to them getting immediate upgrades upon age up, but wouldn’t harshly penalize them with a ton of extra costs.