Dear AOE2 Lovers,
This may be a (really) long post. I know there is a lot of talk regarding improvements in terms of pathing and other quality of life features, while also certain comments explicitly state that new content should not be or not always be centered around DLCs with new civilizations. With the newest patch information released yesterday, get hopefully improved pathing, new QoL features, re-skinned buildings/units etc. but also we indeed get new civilizations based on the splitting of the current Chinese. While this is now the second time we see the separation/splitting of one Civilization into multiple ones, this inspired me to look into detail into the Italians as these are based on the multiple Republics in Italian Peninsula. Based on historical events & facts, not currently used Civilization Boni, I was inspired to split the Italians into the suggested/proposed Venetians, Genoese, Florentines and Vaticans, and attempted to come up with a potential Tech Tree.
First, all Italian-derived civilizations have a trade bonus (based off of silk road) and have access to Condottieri which, for each civilization, get either an attack, HP or armor boni/tech similar to eagle warries with Mesoamerican Civilizations. Condottieri are now only available for Italian-based civilizations;
Venetians Condottiero: ATK, Genoese Condottiero: HP, Florentine Condottiero: Armor, Vatican Condottiero: 20% Cheaper
Venetians
(Gunpowder and Naval Civilization)
Civilization Boni:
- 15% Cost reduction for fishing ship (current Italian bonus)
- Hand Cannoneers are affected by thumb ring
- Hand Cannoneers get armor +1/+1 Armor in Imperial Age
- Hindustaniâs Gunpowder Unit already receive +1/+1 Armor. Maybe change the current bonus in such way that only Hindustani Bombard Cannon benefit from the armor, since their Hand Cannoneer already benefit from the extra +2 range technology. Can give Hindustani hand cannoneer +5 or 10 HP as replacement.
- Trade Cogs and Trade Carts cost -25% or -33% (current Tech Silk Road)
- Costs have been reduced from -50% since this is now a free bonus
Team Bonus:
- Team gets access to Mounted Crossbowman
- Anti-Gunpowder Unit (like Condottieri with the idea that at least from one Italian civilization, other team members have access to one anti-gunpowder unit like they used to with the condottieri)
Unique Units:
- Condottiero (Barrack)
- Stratiote (Castle)
- Cavalry
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Mounted Mercenary recruited by Italians appeared to be a Light-Cavalry like-Unit with Melee Weapon and had access to Javelin/Spear.
- Galleass (Dock)
- Organ gun like ship, armored maybe like a turtle ship but mildly faster (or speed of cannon galleon) with similar but lower damage output due to multiple projectiles
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Galleass was a heavily armored but slow(er) galleon which was notorious for its firepower and any opponent vessel struck by the broadside of the galleass firearm was heavily damaged. Hence, multiple powerful projectiles shot by a galleass.
Unique Techs:
- Castle:
- Cernida
- Infantry Units are produced 20% faster and Condottieri have +4 ATK
- Cernida
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Typical training regimen for 2/10 men in Italy in the 15th century to allow for faster recruitment
- Imperial:
- Venetian Arsenal
- Upgrades docks to Fortified Docks/Arsenal
- Shipwright like upgrade; 45% faster production (no access to ship-right) and 20% wood discount. Tech may just confer 10 or 15% extra faster production in addition to the 2 Boni below and shipwright must be research separately
- Fortified Docks + extra 400 HP (Harbors have +200 HP)
- Shoots projectiles like harbor but missiles instead (like Persian Castle)
- Explanation for historical resemblance: The arsenal in Venice was the largest shipyard containing armories allowing for fast vessel production (hence extra +10% production speed on top of regular shipwright), shielded by large walls (hence fortification bonus), where also arms and ammunition are made, maintained and stored (hence shooting missiles)
Wonder:
St. Markâs Basilica
Genoese
(Archer and Naval Civilization)
Civilization Boni:
- Galleys and Galley Line are produced faster 10% Feudal Age, 15% Castle Age, 20% Imperial Age
- Explanation for historical resemblance: The city of Genoese also had an arsenal mainly functioning as shipwright but smaller in scale compared to the venetian one. Hence only galley line affected.
- Dock and University Technologies are 33% cheaper (current Italian bonus)
- (Automatically) Start with Crossbowman in Feudal Age (but only with 4 instead of 5 base range, but with base HP, attack and armor as regular Castle Age Crossbowman) OR Upgrade for Crossbowman is available in Feudal Age (but only with 4 instead of 5 base range (same as above)) and Arbalester being available one Age earlier as well.
- +1 Range for Crossbowman will be unlocked/available upon reaching Castle Age.
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Simply for the common use of crossbowman in Italian armies.
Team Bonus:
Trade Cogs and Trade Carts have 2x HP and +2P Armor (like Japanese Fishing Ships)
Unique Units:
- Condottieri (Barrack)
- Genoese Crossbow (Castle) (current Italian unique unit)
- Galleass (Dock)
Unique Techs:
- Castle:
- Thalassocracy (like Malay)
- Imperial:
- Barbutes
- Barrack Units receive +15 or +20HP
- Barbutes
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Typical war helmet worn by Italian soldiers in the 15th century
Wonder:
Genoa Cathedral (current Italian wonder)
Florentines
(Infantry and Gunpowder Civilization)
Civilization Boni:
- Advancing to the next age -15% (current Italian bonus)
- Gunpowder units are 20% cheaper (current Italian bonus)
- Archer-line and Condottieri +1/+1 Armor in Castle Age and Imperial Age, respectively (+2/+2 total) (derived from Pavese, current Italian technology)
Team Bonus:
Team players benefit from trade profits granted through Bank/Treasury.
Unique Units:
- Condottieri (Barrack)
- Gonfaloniere (Barrack)
- Infantry, replacement of champion (similar to legionary)
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Different Gonfaloniere positions existed. Gonfaloniere of milita or of justice. Typical for Florence.
- Da Vinciâs Tank (Castle)
- Gunpowder Unit/Siege Weapon
Unite Techs:
- Castle:
- Gentoturo (Towerâs will have 3 or 4 Tile Radius where adjacent Towerâs will be buffed)
- +1 or +2 Attack
- +1 Range
- +10% HP
- +5 Pop Capacity
- Gentoturo (Towerâs will have 3 or 4 Tile Radius where adjacent Towerâs will be buffed)
2 Towers adjacent to each other are minimally required for the Bonus to Work. Does not stack with multiple towers in the same tile radius (i.e. +2/+4 ATK, +2 Range etc).
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Cities like San Gimignano, Bologna are known for their towers which were thought to be to fulfill both residential and defense purposes
- Imperial:
- Interest/Interest Rate
- Have access to the unique building âBankâ or âTreasuryâ which increases the trade profit per building by 10% (max. 3). 150 stone, 250 wood (TBD).
- Interest/Interest Rate
While Spanish get a (free) 25% trade bonus, Florentines have to invest to get a trade bonus, thus get an extra percentage resulting in 30%. Having Spanish and Florentine in the same mean does not result in stacked Boni of 55%. i.e. Spanish and Florentines in the same team only need one bank/treasury to get to 30% or maybe max. 35%.
Explanation for historical resemblance: The Medici family dominated the Florentine Trade with their banking system and gathered their wealth through trade and interest). Hence, this is a Florentine bonus.
Wonder:
⢠Palazzo Vecchio OR Florence Cathedral
Vaticans
(Civilization of Monks and Infantry)
Civilization Boni:
- Cogs and Trade Carts move 15-25% (exact % TBD)
- Defensive Technologies in the University are upgraded Faster (40%): Masonry & Architecture, Fortified Wall, Tower Upgrades
- Condottieri costs reduced by -20%
- Militia-Line receives +1/+1 armor in Castle Age and +1/1 in Imperial Age (+2/+2 total)
- ** compensation for loss of Plate Mail Armor; see unique unit Swiss Guard)
Team Bonus:
(Fortified) Monastery costs less wood and have more HP (-50 or -75wood, HP TBD)
Unique Units:
- Pope (Monastery)
- only 1 at a time
- Swiss Guard (Barracks)
- Condottieri (Barrack)
- Swiss Mercenary (Castle)
- Infantry
Unite Techs:
-
Castle:
- Ancient Architecture (Fortified Monastery automatically shoots a small sets of arrows without units garrisoned), OR
- Tiara (gives Monks +20 or +25 HP, then no sanctity available)
-
Imperial:
- Pontifical Oath,
- Enables access to Swiss Guards
- Pontifical Oath,
Wonder:
St. Peterâs Basilica
Tech tree/ore detailed Civilization Info for Italians
Venetians
Unique Units:
- Stratiote (Castle)
- Mounted Mercenary, Light-Cavalry like-Unit with Melee Weapon and had access to Javelin/Spear. Can receive a charge attack like Coustillier but instead of extra attack the charge attack confers stratiotes one attack with +1 or +2 range. Other ideas could be a Karambit-like mounted worrier or mounted Shotel-Worrier with high Attack, medium HP. Currently, stratiote exists in krakenmeister civ builder website.
- Mounted Crossbowman
- Anti-Gunpowder Unit with a set range e.g. +5 (like gunpowder unit). Like gunpowder units the mounted crossbowman affected by archer amor upgrades (Padded Archer Armor etc) but not Fletching etc (maybe affected by extra ATK but not extra Range of Upgrads). Thumb ring and ballistic affect Mounted Crossbowman given that this unit shoots bolts like an archer.
- Base Attack +6 (all TBD)
- +7 ATK vs Gunpowder Units
- +2 vs Cavalry Units
Barrack.
- Units: Champions/Two Handed Swordsman, Halberdier, Condottieri
- Techs: Lacking Gambeson, maybe Elite Champion Upgrade
Archery Range:
- Units: Crossbowman, Elite-Skirmisher, Hand cannoneer, Cavalry Archer
- Techs: Lacking Arbalester Upgrade, Parthian Tactics, Heavy Cavalry Archer Upgrade
Stable:
- Units: Light Cavalry, Cavalier
- Techs: Lacking Hussar-Upgrade and Paladin Upgrade
Siege Workshop:
- Units: Capped Rams, Onager, Heavy Scorpions, Bombard Cannon
- Techs: Lacking Siege Ram, Siege Onager Upgrades
Monastery
Lacking Heresy, Sanctity and Theocracy
Black Smith
All Upgrades available
University
Lacking Keep, Heated Shot, Arrow slits and Architecture (maybe Masonry to balance around Fortified Dock/Aresenal)
Dock
Units & Techs: Dock Tech Tree same as current Italians but + Galleass
Eco Upgrades
Lacking Gold Shaft Mining, Two-man Saw as well as Crop Rotation.
Genoese
Unique Units:
Genoese Crossbow. Stays as is.
Barrack.
- Units: Champions, Pikemen, Condottieri
- Techs: Lacking Gambeson, Halberdier Upgrade
Archery Range:
- Units: Arbalester, Elite-Skirmisher, Hand cannoneer, Cavalry Archer
- Techs: Lacking Parthian Tactics, Heavy Cavalry Archer
Stable:
- Units: Hussar, Cavalier
- Techs: Lacking Paladin Upgrade
Siege Workshop:
- Units: Capped Ram, Onager, Scorpions, Bombard Cannon
- Lacking Siege Ram, Siege Onager and Heavy Scorpion Upgrades
Monastery
Lacking Heresy, Fervor, Illumination
Black Smith
Techs: Lacking Blast Furnace
University
Techs: Lacking Architecture, Fortified Walls, Treadmill Crane and Arrowslits
Dock
Units & Techs: Dock Tech Tree same as current Italians but + Galleass
Eco Upgrades
Lacking Gold Shaft Mining and Crop Rotation.
Florentines
Unique Units:
- Da Vinciâs Tank
- Similar to bohemian Hussite Wagon in function and gameplay. While the Hussite Wagon can reduce the damage to units behind them, the medieval tank could garrison 2-3 Units, even though historically soldiers were garrisoned in the Hussite wagon as well.
Barrack.
- Units: Longsword (->Gonfaloniere), Halberdier, Condottieri
- Techs: Access to all, besides Champion upgrade.
Archery Range:
- Units: Arbalester, Elite-Skirmisher, Hand cannoneer, Heavy Cavalry Archer
- Techs: Lacking Parthian Tactics and maybe Thumb Ring
Stable:
- Units: Hussar, Cavalier
- Techs: Lacking Paladin Upgrade
Siege Workshop:
- Units: Siege Ram, Siege Onager, Scorpions, Bombard Cannon
- Techs: Lacking Heavy Scorpion Upgrades
Monastery
Lacking Herbal Medicine, Faith, Block Printing and Illumination
Black Smith
Lacking Ring Archer Amor, Plate Barding Armor
University
Lacking Siege Engineers, Heated Shot and Architecture
Dock
- Units: Missing Elite Canon Galleon and Dromon
- Techs: Lacking Dry Dock and Elite Canon Galleon Upgrade
Eco Upgrades
Lacking Gold Shaft Mining and Town Patrol
Vaticans
Unique Units:
- Pope (Monastery)
- only 1 at a time, costs 200 gold (therefore double HP)
- 70 HP (unaffected by Sanctity)
- +2 extra pierce armor
- confers Monks Aura Boni
- In castle age confers small boni of castle upgrades (without them being upgraded)
- +5 HP (derived from Sanctity)
- +5% movement speed (derived from Fervor)
- +5 Conversion Resistence (derived from Devotion)
- In Imperial Age confers small bonus of imperial upgrades (including those from castle)
- Continue to give aura boni from castle age plus
- +1 range (derived from Block Printing)
- so Vatican monks will have in Imperial Age a max range of 13 (12+1 from Pope)
- +5% Rejuvenation (Derived from Illumination)
- Similar to monk in all white/gold + papal- Mitra & Ferula + cape in player colour
- In castle age confers small boni of castle upgrades (without them being upgraded)
- Aura Boni Confers Swiss Guard +5 HP, +1 Attack (optional)
- Swiss Guard (Barracks)
- Replacement of Hellebardier (requires Imperial Age Upgrade)
- Same Stats as Hellebardier but +5 or +10HP and +1 range (like Kamayuk).
- **Since this is wood and food requiring and barrack-produced unit, Vaticanâs donât hace access to scale mail armor. Lack of armor is thought to balance spearmen-line, champions however should not be effected by this, hence given extra armor. Ultimately champions receive +2/+2 extra armor ultimately resulting in +1 extra melee armor in imperial age.
- Inspired by accurate Swiss guard. Metal Chest plate covering the traditional blue, yellow red color scheme. Helmet for in game units can be modified by player color.
- Swiss Mercenary (Castle)
- Heavy armor infantry unit.
- Conversion resistance Boni.
- As Unit not as strong as Teutonic Knight but more tanky than a Seargent. Stats TBD
- Castle: 75HP, ATK 9, 4 melee and 3 pierce
- Imp: 90 HP, ATK 13, 6 melee and 4 pierce
- Inspired by Assassinsâ Creed II Swiss Guard
- As Unit not as strong as Teutonic Knight but more tanky than a Seargent. Stats TBD
Unite Techs:
- Castle:
- Ancient Architecture,
- Fortified Monastery automatically shoots a small set of arrows without units garrisoned
- OR
- Tiara
- Gives Monks 20 or 25HP (#Then no sanctity available).
- Ancient Architecture,
- Imperial:
- Pontifical Oath,
- Enables access to Swiss Guards
- Pontifical Oath,
Barrack:
- Units: Champions, Pikemen (-> Swiss Mercenary), Condottieri
- Techs: Lacking Gambeson, Halberdier Upgrade
Archery Range:
- Units: Arbalester, Heavy Skirmisher, Hand Cannoneer, No Light Cavalary
- Techs: Lacking Parthian Tactics and maybe Thumb Ring
Stable:
- Units: Hussar, Paladin
- Techs: Lacking Blood Lines
Siege Workshop:
- Units: Siege Ram, Onager, Heavy Scorpions, No Bombard Cannon
- Techs: Lacking Siege Onager Upgrade
- Alternatively:
- Units: Siege Ram, Onager, Scorpions, Bombard Cannon
- Techs: Lacking Siege Onager and Heavy Scorpion Upgrade
Monastery
- Units: Monk + Pope
- Techs: Lacking Herbal Medicine. #Maybe lacking sanctity, see Unique Tech Tiara
Black Smith
Lacking Plate Barding and **Plate Mail Armor
University
Lacking Siege Engineer, Treadmill Crane
Dock
- Units: Galleon, Fast Fire Ship, Demolition Ship, missing Canon Galleon line and Dromon
- Techs: Lacking Heavy Demolition Ship, and Dry Dock
Eco Upgrades
Lacking Two Man Saw and Crop Rotation.
While doing my research, I came up with more potential ideas for Civilization Boni and kept reading about bygone civilizations and came up with 4 additional civilizations. Two are African-inspired as these are currently quite underrepresented: Ghanaians and Beninese. During my reading I encountered that the current Malian Civilization may represent a big chunk of the West-African Culture/Civilizations and that there is a certain overlap between the Malians with the two proposed Civs; the Ghanaians and Beninese, I think they were, even historically, a different Kingdom and are thus worth getting differentiated from the Malians which we Developers can keep as they are. In addition to the Ghanaians and Beninese I also would like to suggest the (Pannonian) Avares and the Siamese. Starting with the African-based civilizations:
Ghanaians
based on the Ashanti-Empire
Civilization Boni:
- Advancing each age grants gold (100, 200, 300)
- equals Ethiopians in total resource received via their bonus.
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Gold wealth and thus resulting gold trade.
- Archer line walks faster
- either gradually (like cumans): +2% Feudal, additional +3% Castle, additional +3% in Imperial (totaling 8%)
- set speed (like celts) e.g. 5%
- Gunpowder units fire 18% faster
- Current Spanish civilization bonus. Given Spanish have already a total of 5 boni, the faster attack could be given to a new civilization. For compensation purposes, conquistador have faster attack speed as default (to keep Conquistadors as they are), but as a result hand cannoneers would be simply/rather more generic. Give attack speed bonus to Spanish bombard cannons.
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Ghanaian trade import was a largely made of hand cannons.
Team Bonus:
- Loom can be researched twice
- Second loom upgrade may only confer 50% of the stats but still cost 50 gold.
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Due to the widespread production of kente cloth.
Unique Units:
- Ashanti Guardian (Castle)
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Referred to as the Gyase, these soldiers were the personal bodyguards of the king or high rank military personal.
- Slow(er), armor-ignoring infantry unit
- Inspired by Destroyer in Age of Mythology. Sub-Saharian version of the Destroyer with wooden/brown shield with a gold covered edge with the center depicting the âGolden Stoolâ the divine throne of the Ashanti kings.
Unique Techs:
- Castle:
- Batakari
- Camel line +4 pierce armor
- Explanation for historical resemblance: A traditional garment worn by Ashanti military forces in the 19th century. Thought to be bulletproof when containing talismans.
- Batakari
- Imperial:
- Kyretwie
- Gives all units (except siege units & monks) +1/+1 armor and +1 OR +2 ATK.
- Kyretwie
- Explanation for historical resemblance: A kente cloth pattern notorious for the Ashanti known as the âthe lion/leopard catcherâ. The pattern thus stands for bravery, extraordinary success and inspired leadership
Wonder:
Aban Palace
Beninese
based on the kingdom of Dahomey
Civilization Boni:
- Villagers can garrison in military buildings (Barrack, Archery Range, Stable)
- Fire Galley-line produced faster.
- Archer-line receives +1 melee armor per Age (+3 total)
- Camel Riders take less (bonus) damage from spearmen line.
- Barrack costs -75 wood
- similar to cuman stable and archery range (or just -50 wood thus 125wood overall)
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Overall, kingdom of Dahomey was characterized as military-based to aggressive. Hence Boni should give Beninese the incentive for an aggressive play.
Team Bonus:
Relics generate 0.5 wood/s in addition to gold.
Unique Units:
- Agojie (archer)
- woman archer who can, similar to Rathas, switch between melee and range mode
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Well-trained woman soldier during the time of the Dahomey empire.
Unique Techs:
- Castle:
- Xwetanu
- Villagers work 10% faster and have +3 - +5 carry capacity when surrounded by additional 9 villager in a given tile radius.
- Tile radius could be 9x9 such that 9 farmers in a square with perfectly placed farms boost farming villagers.
- Georgians get a +10% work rate from âjustâ a Fortified Monastry, Beninese thus get extra carry capacity (TBD) as they will require a Castle being build.
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Xwetanu was the annual Festival of the Dahomey.
- Villagers work 10% faster and have +3 - +5 carry capacity when surrounded by additional 9 villager in a given tile radius.
- Xwetanu
- Imperial:
- Poisonous Speer
- Agojie in melee stands ignore armor. Receives +1 range for Agojie in archer stands.
- Poisonous Speer
Wonder:
Statue of Agojie nowadays located in the city of Cotonou OR statue of Gbehanzin (aka Behanzin) nowadays located in the city of Abomey.
Tech tree/more detailed African Civilization Info
Ghanaians
Barrack.
- Units: Champions, Halberdier
- Techs: Access to all
Archery Range:
- Units: Arbalester, Elite-Skirmisher and Hand Cannoneer, Cavalry Archer
- Techs: Lacking Thumb Ring, Parthian Tactics, Heavy Cavalry Archer
Stable:
- Units: Light Cavalry, Knight, Heavy Camel Rider
- Techs: Lacking Hussar, Chevalier and Imperial Camel Rider Upgrade
Siege Workshop:
- Units: Capped Ram, Siege Onager, Scorpions, Bombard Cannon
- Techs: Lacking Siege Ram and Heavy Scorpion Upgrades
Monastery
Lacking Heresy, Atonement, Block Printing, Faith
Black Smith
Lacking Scale Barding Armor, Ring Archer Armor
University
Lacking Siege Engineer, Bombard Tower, Arrowslits, Architecture, Treadmill Crane
Dock
- Units: Galleon, Fire Ship, Heavy Demolition Ship, Cannon Galleon
- Techs: Lacking Fast-Fire Ship Upgrade, Elite-Cannon Galleon, Shipwright.
Eco Upgrades
Lacking Banking and Crop Rotation.
Beninese
Barrack.
- Units: Champions, Halberdier
- Techs: Lacking Arsen
Archery Range:
- Units: Arbalester, Elite-Skirmisher, Cavalry Archer
- Techs: Lacking Parthian Tactics, Heavy Cavalry Archer
Stable:
- Units: Light Cavalry, Cavalier, Heavy Camel Rider
- Techs: Lacking Hussar-Upgrade and Paladin Upgrade
Siege Workshop:
- Units: Siege Ram, Onager, Scorpions, Bombard Cannon
- Lacking Siege Ram, Siege Onager and Heavy Scorpion Upgrades
Monastery
Lacking Heresy, Fervor, Illumination
Black Smith
Lacking Blast Furnace
University
Lacking Architecture, Fortified Walls, Arrowslit and Bombard Tower
Dock
- Heavy Demolition Ship and Dromon
- Lacking Heavy Demolition Ship Upgrade
Eco Upgrades
Lacking Gold Shaft Mining and Crop Rotation.
Other Civilization
Avares
(Cavalry Civilization)
In English referred to as Pannonian Avares, 5th â 9th century.
Civilization Boni:
- Each garrisoned Relic gives +10HP to Knights and Khagan (maximum +40HP)
- No bloodlines
- Cavalry Archer +20HP
- Thumb ring can be researched twice.
- Similar to the Ghanaian 2x Loom, the second Thumb Ring Upgrade may only confer 50% of the increased firing rate but at the regular cost of Thumb Ring.
Team Bonus:
- The deer patch closest to the own town center is visible on the map from the game start.
- Written so that in land or regular nomad maps, the entire map is not almost completely scouted by the visibility of deer. In Nomad maps one deer patch will be revealed upon completion of the town center, similar to the Vietnamese bonus.
Unique Units:
- Khagan
- Melee Cavalry Unit
- Explanation for historical resemblance: Known as the leader of the Avars. The civ builder website by Krakenmeister.com presents a clibinarii which is a byzantine high armor soldier which has a promising look for a Khagan but should wear typical lamellar helmet.
- Melee Cavalry Unit
Unique Techs:
-
Castle:
- Composite Bow
- Cavalry Archer +1 Range, +1 Attack
- Similar to Recurve Bow but accessible in Castle Age at a lower cost (for example 400 wood, 300 gold compared to 600/400). This gives Cavalry Archer one extra attack like bohemian archer with chemistry and equalizes the range to non-British crossbowmen in Castle Age. This gives avarian cavalry archer a power-spike in Castle Age but with the lack of bracer this results that cavalry archer are rather generic in Imperial Age - besides attack speed due to 2x thumb ring. The Avares were succeeded by the Magyars and therefore there is some overlap between these civ, for sure in terms of their Castle Unique Tech.
- Cavalry Archer +1 Range, +1 Attack
- Composite Bow
-
Imperial:
- Pannonian Weaponry
- Khagan and Scout-Line* +1 Range
- Pannonian Weaponry
Wonder:
⢠TBD, Ideas: Horse Statue or another version of a Grant Tent similar to Mongolian wonder.
Siamese
Elephant Civilization
inspiration taken from the Ayutthaya Kingdom
Civilization Boni:
- Wood choppers donât carry wood but rather add it directly to the stockpile without any drop-off but work 5% slower.
- For each converted unit a monk gains +5 HP
- Also counts if opponent has researched heresy.
- Fervor and Illumination can be upgraded twice.
- Consistent with other civilizations who can upgrade certain techs twice, the second upgrade may confer only 50% of the stats but still costs the regular price.
Team Bonus:
- Unique Units get +2 Line of Sight.
Unique Units:
- Chaturongkhabat
- Infantry Unit, inspired by
- Thought to exert a âelephant guardianâ function and gains extra attack when fighting with Battle Elephants while battle Elephants gain extra HP (absolute value for either unit TBD).
- Fast moving, low(er) HP
Unique Techs:
-
Castle:
- Ivory Arrows
- Elephant archers gain +2/+3 range
- Lack Bracer meaning less ATK but compensated by range. +2 or +3 can be determined whether Siamese lack Ring Archer Armor as well or not.
- Elephant archers gain +2/+3 range
- Ivory Arrows
-
Imperial:
- Devaraja
- Battle elephants create 50% faster and cost -15 or 20 food.
- Devaraja
-
Explanation for historical resemblance: Devaraja stands for divine king. In the context of a faster battle elephant production it could be interpreted such that a king in southeast asia had to rely on a good army size/reinforcements as often local battles were decided by the army size.
-
Alternative name could for the technology could be Phrai . Ramathibodi II established the corvee system in which men had to be registered as Phrai (servant) which were then subject to conscription.
Wonder:
Wat Chai Watthanaram
Tech Tree/More Infos
Avares
Unique Units:
- Khagan (Castle)
- High Armor Melee Cavalry Unit (90HP, 9ATK & Elite 100 HP, 11ATK. Armor maybe 2/3 for both regular and Elite Khagan. Balance TBD.
Barrack:
- Units: Two-Handed Swordsmen, Halberdier
- Techs: Lacking Champion-Upgrade and Squires
Archery Range:
- Units: Crossbowmen, Elite-Skirmisher and Heavy Cavalry-Archer
- Techs: Lack Arbalester Upgrade
Stable:
- Units: Hussar*, Cavalier, Elite Steppe Lancer
- *or Light Cavalry instead due to extra range despite already lacking bloodlines. Balance to be tested
- Techs: Lacking Blood Lines, Paladin Upgrademaybe Hussar Upgrade
Siege Workshop:
- Units: Siege Ram, Onager, Heavy Scorpions, No Bombard Cannon
- Techs: Lacking Siege Onager Upgrade
Monastery
Lacking Redemption, Heresy, Block Printing, Theocracy
Black Smith
Lacking Bracer and Plate Mail Armor
University
Lacking Fortified Walls, Treadmill Crane, Architecture, Keep, Bombard Tower, Arrowslits
Dock
- Units: War Galley, Fast Fire Ship, Demolition Ship, Dromon. Missing Canon Galleon line
- Techs: Lacking (Elite) Cannon Galleon and Shipwright
Eco Upgrades
Lacking Stone Shaft Mining, Crop Rotation, Banking, Guilds
Siamese
Unique Units:
Chaturongkhabat
Barrack:
- Champions/Two Handed Swordsman, Halberdier,
- Techs: Lacking Gambeson, maybe Elite Champion Upgrade
Archery Range:
- Units: Crossbowmen, Elite-Skirmisher, Hand Cannoneer, and Elite Elephant Archer
- Techs: Lack Arbalester Upgrade
Stable:
- Units: Hussar, Cavalier and Elite Battle Elephant.
- Techs: Lacking Paladin Upgrade
Siege Workshop:
- Units: Battering Ram, Onager, Scorpions, Bombard Cannon
- Techs: Lacking Siege Ram-, Siege Onager- and Heavy Scorpion Upgrades
Monastery
Lacking Herbal Medicine and Faith
Black Smith
Lacking Bracer and potentially Ring Archer Armor
University
Lacking Bombard Tower, Keep, Fortified Wall, Treadmill Crane.
Dock
- Units: Galleon, Fast fire Ship, Heavy Demolition Ship, Cannon Galleon
- Techs: Lack (Elite) Cannon Galleon
Eco Upgrades
Lacking Stone Shaft Mining, Two-Man Saw, Banking, Guilds
In terms of utility of this campaign players, the Avares could be featured in a Campaign where they conquer the Pannonian basin, establishing their realm and knocking at the door of the byzantine empire as they sieged Constantinople (spoiler: but never succeeded which could be e.g. the last mission of that campaign).
Moreover, for the African-based civilization there were local conflicts between a variety of different kingdoms seeking for power., e.g. The Beninese under King Agaja were fighting the Oyo Empire for over a decade. Lastly, for the Italian-based civilizations the current Sforza campaign could be re-edited but also ideas can include the conflicts between the Republics, Venetians vs. Milanese or the Genoese in conflict in the 11/12th century with Arabic contestants who settled in the Iberian peninsula seeking to dominate the western Mediterranean sea. There were also battles between the French and Italian Republics in 16th century.
With all this presented here, I am happy to get any feedback, can elaborate some of my thoughts if requested and of course I hope that some of our/community-based ideas get picked up by developer team and thus may translate into incorporation of the game because I would be lying if I say otherwise.
Best.
