The Yoruba represent the West African ethnic and linguistic group of the same name, but their design is based on the Oyo Empire, with some elements able to be interpreted as relating to the Kingdom of Benin as well. They are a cavalry and archer civilization, which is an unusual combination that should make them a good pick for either pocket or flank in team games.
The Yoruba have the African architecture set, which would be renamed to West African if there was a new African DLC that added new sets. They would have a unique Monastery design based on Shango shrines, but would have the existing African Monk. Their Castle would be inspired by Old Oyo stone walls, but would also include some pointy roofs from the Palace of the Alaafin, which is also their Wonder:
Let’s move on to their civ design in earnest.
Civilization Bonuses
- Markets available in Dark Age (tribute and trade unavailable until Feudal Age)
This is an incredible bonus that allows the Yoruba to corner the market (ha) and get good buy/sell rates long before anyone else. However, it’s also a temporary bonus, so it must be taken advantage of properly, especially since the Yoruba have no other economy bonuses to speak of. Early tribute and trade are disabled in order to prevent easy team game slinging.
This bonus references the way that Oyo became an important stop on the African trade route, and its people also practiced a form of rotating savings and credit association called Esusu.
- Cavalry units receive +1 attack for every Castle built (limit of +4)
This bonus reflects the fact that Old Oyo was well protected with walls and fortifications, and the military was similarly well-equipped with iron, where the surrounding areas were only equipped with lower-grade metalworking. The Oyo military was expected to protect the vulnerable areas of the city entrances from attack, and soldiers were highly disciplined as well. Oyo cavalry was especially powerful and professional.
- Gambesons affects all foot soldiers and is available in the Feudal Age
Oyo foot soldiers were all equipped with leather shields that protected them from enemy projectiles more thoroughly. This included both swordsmen and bowmen, with javelineers also being crucial to the Yoruba infantry force.
- Heresy costs -50%
This bonus does not reference any kind of religious fervor, though the Yoruba were very religious. Instead, it represents the Oyo total dedication to the military. Victory was mandatory, and defeat resulted in ritual suicide. The technology’s decreased cost leading to the easier deaths of converted units represents this dedication.
- Team bonus: Relics generate wood in addition to gold
This bonus represents the sacred groves that existed outside Yoruba cities and still exist today. Logging within these groves is strictly forbidden.
Unique Unit: Eso
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This is a lance-wielding cavalry unit with 80 HP, 1/2 armor, and 8 attack. The Elite version has 100 HP, 1/3 armor, and 10 attack. Both versions attack more slowly than a Knight, at 2 seconds per attack, the same as most infantry. It moves the same speed as a Knight and costs 55 food and 60 gold.
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The unit’s special ability is that it heals 5 HP for each attack (7 for Elite). This gives it greater longevity than its HP value would suggest, as it’s constantly recovering HP. Although its base attack is 8, it will in practice usually be 9, since it’s increased with each Castle built, and it’s trained from the Castle. Regardless, its lower attack than a Knight is actually a help, because the longer it takes to defeat enemy units, the more it will heal. However, bear in mind that this lower attack makes it even more vulnerable to Monks, which is why cheaper Heresy is helpful.
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The Eso were the semi-standing elite cavalry force of the Oyo Empire. They were made up of junior war chiefs who were recruited based on skill, not lineage. They lived by a strict code of honor comparable to the Japanese bushido or European chivalry.
Unique Technologies
Oyo Archery: Archer-line units, Cavalry Archers, and Castles deal pass-through damage
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Cost: 300 wood, 250 gold
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This technology causes archer units and Castles to be more effective against clumped-up units by making arrows pass through targets and hit units behind them. This is especially useful for Castles because their projectiles travel in a straight line instead of an arc; they hit the ground with a thud just like projectiles from Georgian towers with Svan Towers researched. Building many Castles is already incentivized through the bonuses and tech tree, and this technology makes defending with them much easier.
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Just like the rest of the military, Oyo archers were highly trained and exceptionally disciplined. From a young age, they were expected to learn the art of the bow until they could successfully shoot an arrow into a small hole from 100 yards away. This lifelong practice made them extremely deadly and renowned all throughout Africa.
Bashorun: Knights and Eso receive +4 attack vs cavalry
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Cost: 600 food, 300 gold
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This technology increases the population efficiency of Yoruba cavalry against other mounted units. When the Blacksmith attack upgrades, extra attack from standing Castles, and this technology are all factored in, Yoruba cavalry will be some of the best in the game and most difficult to contest head-to-head. While the Yoruba have access to Camel Riders, they cannot be upgraded to Heavy Camel Riders, so this technology can be a good replacement.
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In Oyo society, the Bashorun was a prime minister, second in power only to the Alaafin. One of his duties was to control the military forces of Oyo, particularly within the metropolitan area. He also led the Oyo Mesi, a 7-person council, acted as a check to the Alaafin’s power, and had the biggest role in the election of the next Alaafin. All in all, the Bashorun was an incredibly important position.
Tech Tree:
Missing Units: Champi line, Eagle line, Elephant Archer line, Hand Cannoneer, Slinger, Paladin, Heavy Camel Rider, Battle Elephant line, Steppe Lancer line, Siege Onager, Heavy Scorpion, Fast Fire Ship, Carrack, Elite Cannon Galleon.
Missing Techs: Parthian Tactics, Redemption, Faith, Sappers, Plate Mail Armor, Blast Furnace, Keep, Treadmill Crane, Siege Engineers, Arrowslits, Dry Dock, Shipwright, Carvel Hull, Siphons, Incendiaries, Crop Rotation, Two-Man Saw, Gold Shaft Mining, Guilds.
