I like the concept. Some ideas could be improved, but overall, the idea of Authority is very cool, I suppose to represent the Spanish courts during the Reconquista and the Spain period. I quite liked many of the ideas for unique units, and the fact that you kept the tercios and pikemen of tercios for the Imperial Age.
Regarding balance and more about historical representation:
Economic balance
That said, I think that in the Dark Age (I) and Feudal Age (II), the Spanish seem to lack basic economic bonuses. Many of the advantages you mention are for the Castle Age (III), and in the event of a Rush in Feudal Age, the civ would be in serious danger.
I would suggest, given that Authority allows sheep production (I suppose representing the Mesta Council), that Mesta also be a unique bonus:
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Majada (Sheepfold) : A unique building, a shepherd’s hut, allows the generation of Merino sheep over time, which can be automatically sent to the city center, with a high movement speed. It doesn’t work “near buildings”; it has to be done outside the city.
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Vía Pecuaria (Livestock Path) (III) - Technology, improves Merino sheep production in the Sheepfold and its movement speed.
Knights in Alcazars
I think you meant to represent the Mesnada idea with knights limited to Alcazars. However, consider that the Rus also had Druzhina to represent their heavy cavalry, and they have no knight limit in the Feudal Age.
In fact, the knights in basic Spain weren’t limited to noble ranks or castles as in other kingdoms, and were even recruited from the civilian population as Villain Knights (who became their light cavalry unit) or Infanzones. Those who were generally noble were the Knights of Religious Orders, and they were usually assigned Forts (Alcazares) or Monasteries.
In fact, Alcazares would be a good idea to include religious military Orders, such as Calatrava or Santiago, and their control of forts. Instead of limiting the number of knights, a number of “Knights of Order” could be established as a special heavy cavalry unit, limited to the number of Alcazares.
In fact, the knights of Spain were not limited to noble ranks or castles as in other kingdoms, and were even recruited from the civilian population as Villain Knights or Infanzones. Those who were generally noble were the Knights of Religious Orders, and they were usually assigned Forts (Alcazares) or Monasteries.
The type of Order Knights could depend on the type of Order you upgrade the Keep to, and could have different protection abilities (more attack near sacred sites, bonus against camels, more gold for sacred sites, etc.)
Landmark: Castle of Olite
I know it’s nice, but it was from Navarre, not Castile. It passed to Castile when it annexed Navarre in 1512. In any case, if the civ were called Spain, it could be included, otherwise there are plenty of historical Keeps from Spain in the Castile area. It could very well be an Alcazar of the religious Orders, like Catatrava or Santiago.
Overall, it’s a good concept. I really liked many of the ideas, and the fact that you kept the tercios and tercio pikemen for the Imperial Age.
