After 955, the Magyars gave up steppe-style raids and adopted Western European-style warfare. For most of the time they exist in the timeline, they exist as settled Hungarians. Even though they have the fact that they are from the steppes, I don’t think they need the Steppe Lancers. On a less serious note, I think they’re too European and it’s a bit weird to have a unit with distinctly Asian characteristics for them.
The Huns, on the other hand, exist as just nomadic raiders from Asia for most of the time they exist in the timeline. Of course, one can say that the history of the Huns ended very early, but precisely because of such a short period, the steppe-style military is all they should have.
Hungarians used cuman mercenaries so them having SL to represent those is perfectly fine.Besides ingame magyars represent all eras of the magyars similar to how truks represent both seljuk and ottomans.
They exist in the game as an UT of the Cuman civ. To me this means that other civs do not contain Cuman mercenaries. If the in-game Magyars want to hire Cuman mercenaries, they have to ally with the Cumans, and the Cumans can research the technology.
For a civilization that had a nomadic form at the beginning, and then remained in a settled form for a long time and completely, how to reflect that relatively short nomadic period and what extent does they reflect?
Everyone may have their own opinion on this issue. I just personally think it is enough that they emphasize scout cavalry and have very good cavalry archers. It’s a bit strange to have them have a signature nomadic cavalry unit in the middle or even late game, when they should already be a very settled kingdom.
As for the Turks, since you mentioned, I prefer not to give them Steppe Lancers too. There are still potential steppe civs, such as Gokturks, Sogdians, Khitans, and Jurchens, and they all undoubtedly deserve Steppe Lancers. We don’t have to increase the number of Steppe Lancer civs by giving them to some old civ that has given up on steppe style military or no longer lives in the steppes.
However, in the game’s timeline, compared to the Magyars, the Turks were just an Asian civ, had a longer nomadic period, started to settle much later, and retained more steppe characteristics culturally (Hungarians are too European). Honestly, I would have less resistance to give them ordinary Steppe Lancers (no elite) than to give the Magyars .
Normal SL without elite upgrade would fit nice for Magyars. With the free attack upgrades, they would also get a good way to break walls so the unit would be some kind of a high mobilty light version of the ram in CA. Elite upgrade does not matter for Magyars, since their late game options are among the best already and elite SL wouldnt find much use anyway. Besides that, CA is the weakest period on Magyars anyway, so a
slight buff in this time wont hurt the balance.
Any decisions like this should be more based on game balance, not historical accuracy. Weaker civs could benefit from SL but some civs are already strong enough and don’t need them.
I am not sure it is wise in game terms to give the civilization that gets melee attack bonuses free the Steppe Lancer. They already have a powerful Light Cavalry or Knight transition should they choose to not go CA or even Xbow.
The Georgians should also gain Steppe Lancers as a nod to their ties with the Kipchaks. That’s what I did in my concept, and it would give them more unique cavalry options.
Come on that will only give SL units to saracens turks persians georgians ########## ##### lithuanians bulgarians magyars huns byzantines chinese and make it the same as camels
Do not open for Steppe Lancers plz.
As far as I leanrned, the reason Celts have Paladins is based on the excellent Gallic cavalry, though it is ancient.
I won’t mind they lose Paladins in exchange for something else.
And Koreans, Armenians, Hindustanis, etc. Too awkful.
The Steppe Lancers are supposed to be part of identity of the steppe civs, reflecting the rapid raids and loots in their warfare. No existing civ other than the Huns is truly and undoubtedly worthy of them.
I don’t even see why #### ####### , Liths, and Byzantines should get them. What historical basis do they even have with Steppe riders? It sounds like they aren’t Steppe anymore. (Censored: Slavs and Chinese)
Bulgarians and Magyars are understandable because of their Steppe nomadic roots. Missing Elite would be fair.
All of them had stepp people living in thier land or used them as mercenaries or auxiliaries.Byzantines used pecheneg people to fight other enemies slavic and lithuanians both overlap with modern ukraine and cossack lands which were a mix of horse people like tatars.
Hindustani got also censored.Did koreans and armenians use nomads in thier armies?
The Celts having Paladins has never really been an issue. The same with Byzantines. The introduction of Bloodlines and Halberdiers has had a profound influence on the balance of AOE2 since Conquerors. Byzantine Paladin play works considerably differently than that of other civilizations, and Celt Paladin play is a form of Hail Mary that can be brutal when it is pulled off.
Maybe Celts mirror where your opponent is likely not going to invest in anti-cav unit. There was a match in hidden cup where celt paladin caught off opponent guard. But I cant remember who was the player.
