Hello everyone,
This took a while for me to format and I spent about 2 weeks writing this so please be kind.
Historically, China was the master of the waves with their jaw-dropping naval tech and badass warships. It’s a shame that the game’s kinda overlooked this aspect. So, here’s my pitch: let’s bring in a unique naval unit, the ‘Dragon Ship’, embodying the ancient Chinese naval prowess.
Unit Specs:
Hit Points: 250
Armor: 6/6 (Melee/ Pierce)
Attack: 12 (splash damage over a 3x3 tile area, mind you!)
Range: 8
Special Ability: Fire Attack (sets targets ablaze, causing 5 damage per sec for 10 secs)
Technologies:
Let’s throw in a cool tech called ‘Celestial Navigation’ at the Castle. This bad boy boosts the Dragon Ship’s movement speed by 15% and line of sight by 4. A nod to the ancient Chinese mariners’ knowledge of the stars!
Balance Adjustments:
I get it, balance is key. So, let’s unlock the Dragon Ship only in the Imperial Age with a hefty resource cost and a longer creation time to keep things fair and square.
Historic Significance:
This isn’t just about shaking things up. It’s about painting a real picture of ancient China’s naval might. The Dragon Ship could just be the ticket to reel in more players to the Chinese civ, and hey, who wouldn't want to set sail with a fire-breathing dragon on the high seas?
This tweak is necessary to not only amp up the fun but to also tip our hats to the historic authenticity. The Dragon Ship could be the wild card that puts the Chinese civ back on the naval map, correcting a long-standing oversight in AoE2:DE.
The Archers from the castle need a buff too:
Unit Specs Reimagined:
Hit Points: Boosted to 40 (from the standard 30)
Armor: How about a solid 1/1 (Melee/Pierce) armor to start with? And maybe a tech to add more?
Attack: Ramped up to 8, to mirror the historic lethality of Chinese crossbows.
New Tech Alert:
Introducing ‘Silk Armor’ tech at the Castle: a nod to the silk-armored vests that provided added protection to Chinese archers back in the day. This tech could give our archers an additional 1/1 armor, making them sturdy and resilient on the battlefield.
Balance Adjustments:
Now, we don’t want to tip the scales too far, right? The upgrade could require a fair amount of resources and maybe limit it to the Imperial Age to keep things on an even keel.
Historic Significance:
The crossbow was a hallmark of ancient Chinese warfare. With these changes, we’re not only adding a pinch of realism but also honoring the skilled archers who wielded these deadly weapons with precision.
Gameplay Dynamics:
By beefing up the archers, we’re opening up new strategies for players rolling with the Chinese civ. Imagine coupling a strong archer force with the fiery might of the Dragon Ship on water maps. Now that’s a deadly duo, eh?
This overhaul isn’t just about making the Chinese civ more robust; it’s about crafting a richer, more immersive gameplay experience. A true AoE fan would appreciate the depth and strategy these tweaks bring to the table.
I know this might ruffle some feathers in the community. There’ll be folks worried about game balance, and the purists might not be thrilled with changing the classic AoE setup. But c’mon, who wouldn’t be excited to see a fire-spewing Dragon Ship sailing through the enemy lines, echoing the chants of ancient Chinese mariners? It’s about time AoE2:DE sails closer to history, and let’s face it, we’re all here for a thrilling voyage through time, aren’t we?