Now that the ban on new threads about Wallachia/Romania has been lifted thanks to @EliteRiflemann, I feel comfortable posting this concept, which I have had in the oven for almost 6 years now, making various tweaks for balance and flavor over time until I reached a stage where I feel satisfied enough with the result to bring it to you guys.
The Vlachs represent the people of Wallachia, Moldavia, and Romania (especially Transylvania). They would receive the existing Dracula campaign, which currently is played by the Turks, Magyars, and Slavs, none of which fit. An important element to note before we begin is that the Vlachs are designed as part of a hypothetical Balkan DLC, which retools the Slavs to the Ruthenians, replaces the Boyar with a new unique unit, and makes the Boyar into a regional unit. They would keep the same cost they have now, but are moved to the Stable and have less armor and attack. Keep that in mind as this concept progresses.
It’s also worth noting that like the Armenians and Georgians, the Vlachs have access to the Fortified Church, but with a unique model for it. They also have the Schemamonk design.
The Vlachs have the Eastern European architecture set, which is bloated now, but wouldn’t be upon their introduction, as a few Eastern European civs would get their architecture changed (the Bohemians would change to Central European and the Bulgarians would be part of a new Black Sea set). Their unique Castle would be Bran Castle, but would actually use the existing Poenari Castle model, which is clearly based on Bran.
The Wonder for the Vlachs would be Curtea de Arges Cathedral, a rather magnificent building compared to the one I originally assigned for their Wonder.
The specialties for the Vlachs are cavalry and defenses, and we’ll see why that is soon.
Enough foreplay. Let’s get into the civ design itself!
Civilization Bonuses
- Receive 1 free cow for every 5 farms built
This bonus references Wallachia’s agriculture, where cattle were very important. It became an essential breadbasket for Europe and the Ottoman Empire.
- Camps and Mills provide +5 population space
This bonus references several ancient and medieval Romanian gold and salt mines, a few of which formed towns centered around the key export. It also references Wallachia’s large forests and its prominent agriculture.
- Fortified Churches cost -25%; +5 garrison and population space
Fortified churches were very common in Romania during the medieval period, and several villages with one still survive today and are protected by UNESCO.
- Mounted units +10 HP starting in Castle Age
The Wallachian military often incorporated mounted soldiers to engage in hit-and-run tactics, and they eventually fought in pitched battles using lances and swords.
- Team bonus: Mounted archers +2 attack vs buildings
The Wallachian military also included men on horseback using bows to attack the enemy with raiding tactics.
Unique Unit 1: Strajeri
-
This is an infantry unit that wields a spear. It has 8 attack for regular and 10 attack for Elite. It has 65 HP and 1/1 armor, with 75 HP for Elite. It moves a little faster than swordsmen, at 0.99 tiles per second, and attacks a little slower, with a rate of fire of 2.3. It costs 45 food and 30 gold.
-
Its gimmick is that for any friendly unit within a radius of 1.5 tiles, it will absorb 25% of all melee damage not directly targeted at it. This includes other Strajeri being attacked. However, trample damage will behave as normal due to the Strajeri being damaged under ordinary circumstances anyway. The absorption effect doesn’t stack, so multiple Strajeri can’t reduce damage for the same unit multiple times.
-
Strajer is the Romanian word for “guardsman.” As noted earlier, spear-wielding infantry were often used as guards for important leaders in the Wallachian army.
Unique Unit 2: Viteji
-
The Viteji is an upgrade to the Heavy Cavalry Archer. The upgrade costs 1000 food and 600 gold, which is more than the HCA upgrade and almost as much as the Imperial Age upgrade, but the improvements are well worth the cost.
-
The Viteji is an improvement on the Heavy Cavalry Archer in almost every way; it has more attack, at 8, more pierce armor, at 1, more HP, at 65 (75 after the bonus), and more attack vs Spearmen, at +5. On top of that, it also has an attack bonus of +3 against gunpowder units. However, it has the same accuracy and firing rate.
-
The viteji were heavy cavalry troops that were equipped with brigandines or plate armor. It’s possible that they used bows in combat, as they were common weapons for Wallachian cavalry. The anti-gunpowder bonus is a reference to the fact that they were often used to harass Ottoman troops.
Unique Technologies
Voivode: Castles and towers built 100% faster; Fortified Churches +2 garrison arrows
-
Cost: 600 food, 400 gold
-
This technology causes fortifications to be built faster, with Fortified Churches receiving 2 extra arrows while garrisoned, including with a Relic, for a minimum of 3. This technology alone increases Vlach defensive potential by making it much easier to build important fortifications quickly. It also makes Fortified Churches, which are already cheaper, have more garrison space, and provide population, even more efficient with defending a town against raiders. More arrows means more damage, and more damage means enemy units are taken out sooner.
-
Voivode is a term for a military leader in several Eastern European countries. It was in use often in Moldavia, Wallachia, and Transylvania, and they were, as a matter of fact, voivodeships during the Middle Ages. Voivodes were responsible for ensuring the efficient and effective defense of their lands; castles and fortresses were built during this period to lay claim over these very contentious regions.
Romani Ironworking: Siege units deal 50% more bonus damage
-
Cost: 900 food, 600 gold
-
This technology makes all siege weapons, as well as Demolition Ships and Cannon Galleons, much more effective against units and buildings that they specialize against. After this technology, Bombard Cannons are capable of one-shotting Siege Onagers, and they also deal 300 bonus damage against buildings instead of only 200. Cannon Galleons have a similar improvement. Capped Rams are nearly as strong against buildings as Siege Rams, and Onagers end up with more bonus damage than Siege Onagers, though still with less attack. On account of all this damage, Siege Engineers is missing, resulting in less range overall.
-
The Romani, historically known informally and now controversially as Gypsies, are a prominent minority ethnic group in Romania, Hungary, and other Eastern European countries. Their bad reputation and foreign origin has led to frequent persecution over the centuries. However, Romani that had settled down in Romania after forcibly migrating there in 1370 quickly integrated into the local culture, often taking up trades as blacksmiths. Their metalworking skills became essential to local economies.
Tech Tree
Missing Units: Champion, Eagle line, Fire Lancer, Elephant Archer, Paladin, Camel Rider, Battle Elephant, Steppe Lancer, Siege Ram, Siege Onager, Fast Fire Ship, Heavy Demolition Ship, Elite Cannon Galleon.
Missing Techs: Gambesons, Parthian Tactics, Redemption, Heresy, Sanctity, Theocracy, Ring Archer Armor, Blast Furnace, Treadmill Crane, Bombard Tower, Siege Engineers, Crop Rotation, Dry Dock.