This was a thread from last Sep, since then I’ve changed a lot of ideas about this potential civ, and I’d like to do a new civ proposal about the Nanzhao.
Nanzhao
Archer and Monk civ
Civ Bonuses:
Mills will auto-generate a water buffalo every 3 min of game time, starting from Feudal Age
Gains +10 gold for each successful conversion (pushes for aggressive monk play in the Castle Age)
Archers move 5%/10%/15% faster in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Team Bonus:
Monastery provides +10 population
Unique Techs:
Castle Age:
Lacquered Leather Armor
Team unique units +1 pierce armor (Food 200 Gold 250)
Imperial Age:
Tea and Horse Road
Trade Carts bring back both gold and food, and team players can buy Knights at their markets. (Food 500 Gold 500)
Unique Units
UU1: Luojuzi, a skirmisher with the speed of an Eagle Warrior and with a small bonus attack against cavalry, and unlike normal skirmishers this one costs gold to train.
Stats
Cost: 40 Wood 20 Gold
HP: 35 / 40 (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 (base speed) / 1.32 (Castle Age after civ bonus) / 1.38 (Imperial Age after civ bonus)
UU2: Raeu Tribesmen, trained at the Barracks when Castle Age is reached, and has no elite upgrade. It attacks 20% faster on elevated and marshy terrains.
Stats
Cost: 30 Food 15 Gold
HP: 60
Attack: 8 melee
Attack bonuses:
+3 vs Ship
+3 vs Fishing Ship
+2 vs Eagle Warrior
+1 vs Standard Building
Rate of fire: 2.0 / 1.6 (on elevated and marshy terrains)
Melee armor: 1
Pierce armor: 5
Armor classes: Infantry, Unique Unit
Speed: 1.2
Nanzhao Tech Tree
Barracks: missing Eagles
Archery Range: missing Hand Cannoneers and Parthian Tactics
Stable: missing Steppe Lancer, Paladin, and Camel Rider; have access to Battle Elephant, but without the elite upgrade
Siege Workshop: missing Siege Onager and Bombard Cannon
Castle: missing Hoardings
Dock: missing Shipwright, Fast Fire Ship, Elite Cannon Galleon, and Heavy Demo Ship
Blacksmith: full
Monastery: missing Heresy
Market: full
University: missing Siege Engineers, Bombard Tower, and Treadmill Crane
Mining Camp: missing Gold Shaft Mining
Mill: full
Basically, I envision this civ as a rather aggressive civ that focuses on Castle Age aggression. In the Castle Age they have many options, their unique unit Luojuzi deals bonus damage against archers and also somewhat counters cavalry, the other unique unit Raeu Tribesman can serve as a meat shield in front and counters anti-archer units (such as Eagles). And combined with some Knights, Battle Elephants, and Monks, their army can be quite intimidating in the Castle Age. And it reflects actual history quite well (since the Nanzhao was quite expansionist in the late 8th and throughout the 9th century). However, in the Imperial Age they start to fall behind, since they lack strong units in late game (missing Paladin, Elite Battle Elephant, Bombard Cannon, Siege Onager, etc.). This again reflects actual history (Nanzhao’s successor Dali was more peaceful and conservative, and got conquered by the Mongols in 1253).