Happy that we will get the Saxons in the new DLC.
It is pretty clear that they are meant more as a supporting Civ for the Vikings campaigns, and I dont know if the devs put much brainstorming into their design. However, if they would, two things would be absolutely needed:
I would in fact like this campaign.
A campaign of what? A single monk wandering around?
Also, didn’t you make this suggestion before?
Ah, Martin Luther, warrior hero of the Hanseatic League! Well known for leading an army into exactly five or six battles, he would make an ideal protagonist for an AoE2 campaign.
A campaign set during the wars of the reformation would be a nice addition, though probably better to find a military leader to frame it through.
I can imagine a scenario similar to Joan of Arc 1 that would take place when Luther is branded an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor, so Frederick the Wise sends masked highway robbers to “kidnap” him and escort him to the safety of his castle.
I suppose you could do a scenario inspired by AoE 1’s Babylon 1 “Holy Man” scenario, but even then, converting people to have them attack an enemy doesn’t really fit Luther’s life.
I’m having a hard time imagining anything else that would fit in the Age of Empires formula. He’s not ruling a civilization or raising an army in battle. Luther was involved in the German Peasants’ War (started due to peasants being inspired by Luther’s writings to overthrow the aristocracy, but Luther eventually condemned the rebellion and sided with the aristocracy) , but murdering hordes of Villagers just isn’t going to be a good scenario.
A whole campaign? I just don’t see it.
I think the way I would do a Martin Luther campaign would have him be the focus in the “cutscenes”. But the actual missions would be a different character (or a few) battling over areas that Martin Luther did something important in. Like the town where he was born, the city where he was educated, the place he went to after being exiled; that sort of thing.
I don’t think it would be a great fit for an official DLC, religion would have to be a significant focus, but a custom campaign could make it work.
But the actual missions would be a different character (or a few) battling over areas that Martin Luther did something important in.
Who would that character be though? I don’t think there is such a character during Luther’s lifetime that is doing the Age of Empires thing of building a base and killing enemy armies (aside from the aristocrats slaughtering peasants during the German Peasants’ War, which is just too depressing to feature). If you extend to the European wars of religion where you do have civilizations attacking each other over Luther’s ideas after he died, you’re getting out of the medieval period and into the Age of Empires III timeframe.
In fact they didnt murder harmless villagers but villagers on weapons, something like the burgundians have, or a militia.
1000s of farmers with forks knifes and swords are not an army for you?
The German Peasants’ War resulted in 100,000 to 300,000 peasants dead and minimal casualties from the aristocracy.
To put in AOE2 terms: this wasn’t Paladins and Champions versus thousands of Flemish Militia, this was Paladins and Champions versus thousands of Villagers.
I just don’t think a scenario where you are wholescale slaughtering Villagers is a good idea, and I don’t see a way to spin it in a way that would work with AOE2’s gameplay formula.
There are two great options
Read this Story, he would be a great fit
Ulrich, Duke of WĂĽrttemberg - Wikipedia Ulrich, Duke of WĂĽrttemberg - Wikipedia
It likely wouldn’t be during Luther’s lifetime it would be shortly after, likely being told from the perspective of one of his converts/followers. It could also be before Luther’s lifetime and be about how the places of his lifetime got to be how they are: like the last big battle or something.
Also, I think that could be a really fun campaign.
Microsoft proudly presents AoE II DE: The Peasant revolts.
A brand new unique DLC featuring three exclusive civs (Farmers, Swineherders, Nomads).
Command Farmer’s scythmen and torchmen to unleash fear into the feudal lords. Use the Swineherders unique pitchfork tactics to counter knights and noblemen. Or unite all pasturing nomads into a giant horde and rule the world!
(/s)
Yes, because they had really, really bad war strategists. This is why AoE2 needs you as a player, to lead the uncontrolled masses of the farmes to victory on the battle field! Will you make your people proud or be an example of misery for generations to come?
Jan Zizka already covers the theme of proto-“protestant” heresy revolt with the hussites, and he actually led armies
I agree it’d be cool if Saxons get some Hanseatic elements (and if other DLC civs in general aren’t limited to the Viking Age in inspiration) but Luther just isn’t a campaign material. Widukind, Henry the Lion or one of the Anglo-Saxon kings would fit the game best.
Now why would anyone want a campaign about that… hmmmmmmmm
Yes, like A Holy Man but as Renaissance version…
It may be Götz von Berlichingen or Götz of the Iron Hand (1480-1562)…
He was born around 1480 into the noble family of Berlichingen in modern-day Baden-Württemberg (in Swabia). Götz bought Hornberg Castle (Neckarzimmern) in 1517, and lived there until his death in 1562.
He was active in numerous military campaigns during a period of 47 years from 1498 to 1544, including the German Peasants’ War (Europe’s largest and most widespread popular uprising before the French Revolution in 1789), as well as numerous feuds; In his autobiography he estimates that he fought 15 feuds in his own name, besides many cases where he lent assistance to his friends, including feuds against the cities of Cologne, Ulm, Augsburg and the Swabian League, as well as the bishop of Bamberg.
His name became famous as a euphemism for the vulgar expression (also known as the Swabian Salute): “Er kann mich am Arsch lecken” (lit: He can lick my ass). This saying was attributed to him by writer and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832), who wrote a play based on his life.
Sure, that would be a nice tribute… you start with a monk, you convert a city or a couple of cities with that monk (he has to survive, of course) and after that you face the entire Holy Empire…
Yes, that would be more for AoE 3 (although that game already has the Thirty Years’ War historical map)…
That’s why I would do it the other way… you amass dozens of villagers and then they become Flemish militia (although it’s not 100% historical, it would fit better into the gameplay)…
Yes, those are good options too…
Yes, that’s if they include the Swabians as a civ in the game alongside the Austrians and Swiss…
I don’t think we need a Martin Luther Campaign.
However I see nothing wrong with talking about it. It was a historical Figure. The stuff happened back then is well documented and even if the campaign would be one of “division”,
This would hardly be received as divisional content, AS people in Germany of bide sides of the outcome of that conflict live happy together and it is no grudge between them left.
However - a Martin Luther Campaign just doesn’t fit in AOE2 . More the stuff that happened after.
