Hi everyone!
What other civilizations might be brought into the game in the future is a hotly debated topic. There are numerous concepts (and also playable mods) of civilizations such as the Aztecs and the Celts online that could easily find space in a future expansion. But without traveling too far, why not think of a concept of the ancient Nuragic civilization, originating from my homeland, Sardinia!
It’s still a Work In Progress, but I hope the community appreciates it!
Overview
The Nuragic civilization, rooted in the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, lasted from the 18th century BC (Middle Bronze Age), up to the Roman colonization in 238 BC. This culture, known for their most characteristic monument, the Nuraghe (or Nurhag, a tower-fortress type of construction), would be a great addition to Age of Mythology due to its unique architectural styles, religious traditions, and interaction with neighboring cultures such as the Phoenicians and Carthaginians. The Nuragic civilization would bring then a fresh, Mediterranean-inspired culture with a mix of indigenous and foreign influences. The combination of their megalithic constructions, religious and maritime traditions, and the blending of their pantheon with that of Phoenician-Carthaginian deities would provide both gameplay depth and aesthetic variety to the game.
Key Features
- Buildings are more resistant against crush damage, but take longer to build.
- They get 5 towers instead of 4 to protect their starting town center.
- They have a unique drop-off point for resources, the Pinnetta.
- Nuragic people were mostly organized in clans and tribes with a chief: you get a Clan Chief hero for free for each town center built. Clan Chiefs are versatile heroes that become stronger in each age.
- Nuragic lack of heavy cavalry, but their native units are light and versatile. Specialized units can be recruited as mercenaries, while elite infantry units and unique heroes are available in the Mythic age.
- They obtain Favor by building Menhirs and Holy Wells. Holy Wells require a Priestess to practice a Water Ritual at them to produce Favor. Priestesses are effective against myth units, but must be protected behind the lines.
Nuragic Pantheon
The four triads of the Nuragic Pantheon represent different phases and influences in Sardinian history, from ancestral Nuragic roots to classical heroic mythology, and finally to Phoenician and Carthaginian influences. Each triad reflects religious and symbolic values tied to nature, fertility, and commerce, showcasing the cultural and spiritual evolution of the island.
Archaic Age: Ancestral Nuragic Deities
- Mamai: Mother Goddess, symbol of fertility, the earth, and life.
- Babai: Father God, symbol of strength, power, and protection.
- Maimone: Deity of rain and water, associated with agricultural prosperity.
Association: This triad represents a deep connection with nature, fertility, life, and water. It is rooted in the primordial worship of the Nuragic and pre-Nuragic Sardinians.
Classical Age: Heroic and Mythological Sardinian Figures
- Sardus: Eponymous god of Sardinia, symbolizing protection and Sardinian identity.
- Norax: Legendary founder of Nora, representing Phoenician influence and urbanization.
- Iolaus: Companion of Heracles, representing Greek influence and the founding of colonies.
Association: This triad symbolizes Sardinian identity in relation to external influences (Phoenician and Greek) and the historical evolution of the island, reflecting heroism, urbanization, and maritime commerce.
Heroic Age: Phoenician Deities
- Melqart: God of trade, navigation, and colonization.
- Astarte: Goddess of love, fertility, and war.
- Eshmun: God of healing and medicine.
Association: This triad reflects Phoenician culture, strongly tied to commerce, navigation, and prosperity, with deities embodying love, fertility, healing, and expansion.
Mythic Age: Carthaginian Deities
- Baal Hammon: Supreme deity associated with the sun and fire.
- Tanit: Goddess of the moon, fertility, and maternal protection.
- Reshef: God of war and plagues, symbolizing protection against destruction and calamities.
Association: The Carthaginian triad is strongly linked to themes of fertility, protection, and sacrifice, reflecting Carthaginian religious characteristics with powerful deities tied to controlling natural elements and destructive forces.
Villagers
Nuragic villagers are called nurhagers; players start with 4 nurhagers. They gather resources at an average speed, but they are a bit slower at building. Nuragic have a unique drop-off point for all resources, called Pinnetta.
Heroes
Nuragic civilization features three types of heroes: Clan Chiefs and Priestesses, available from the Archaic Age, and three unique Mythic Age heroes, one for each Mythic Age minor god.
Clan Chief: Players start with a Clan Chief; another is generated for free after 60 seconds in each new Town Center that is built. They become stronger each age and do not cost any population, and in case they die they are respawned for free after 60 seconds in the same Town Center. Clan Chiefs can fulfil three roles in game:
- They have an average good LOS and speed for scouting, and they can pick up relics.
- They can build Menhirs for generating Favor.
- They have statistics similar to Archaic Age Greek heroes, ideal for countering myth units.
Priestess: Priestesses are trained at Temples and Town Centers. They are good at fighting myth units at a distance dealing divine damage, but they are weak against other units. Their main role is to practice Water Rituals at Holy Wells for generating Favor.
Mythic Age heroes: They are unique heroes similar to Mythic Age Greek heroes in cost and strength that can be recruited at Town Centers and Fortified Nuraghes. Each Mythic Age minor god has its own hero:
- Hampsicora (Baal Hammon): Hampsicora was a Sardo-Punic political leader and landowner of Sardinia, and the leader of the major anti-Roman revolt in the province of 215 BC.
- Hasdrubal the Bald (Reshef): Hasdrubal the Bald was a Carthaginian general in the Second Punic War. In 215 BC, Hasdrubal was sent by Carthage to support Hampsicora in the anti-Roman revolt in Sardinia.
- Dido (Tanit): Dido (or Elissa) was the legendary founder and first queen of the Phoenician city-state of Carthage.
Favor
There are two ways to generate Favor for the Nuragic civilization: Menhirs and Holy Wells.
Menhirs: Menhirs are upright monolithic stones that can be built exclusively by Clan Chiefs with a limit of 10. For some aspects they are similar to Egyptian Obelisks in usage. Menhirs generate a small amount of Favor over time (1 per minute), with a mechanic similar to Atlantean Oracles LOS overlap. Cost: 15 wood, 15 gold.
Holy Wells: Holy Wells are hypogean structures for the worship of the waters that nurhagers can build in each age. Holy Wells generate Favor (5 per minute) only when a Priestess is performing a Water Ritual at them (in a similar manner to Greeks with villagers praying at Temples). Only one Priestess can be assigned to a Holy Well at a time. During Water Rituals, Holy Wells bless the player and its allies with additional effects nearby that depend on the selected major god. Cost: 50 wood, 50 gold.
Military Units
Nuragic civilization brought together indigenous units and specialized mercenaries coming from the territories under the domain of the Phoenician-Carthaginians. Nuragic military system is similar to the Greeks, with standard units available in the Classical Age, counter units in the Heroic Age, and elite units in the Mythic Age.
Nuragic Barracks: Available from the Classical Age, the Nuragic Barracks is where the player can train native Nuragic units.
Nuragic Warrior (Classical Age)
Standard infantry unit, soft-counter against cavalry.
The Nuragic warriors were the core of the military forces in Nuragic society. They were responsible for defending their settlements, controlling territory, and engaging in conflicts with rival tribes or foreign invaders. These warriors likely fought with weapons like spears, swords, and axes, and some may have worn bronze armor and helmets, as evidenced by archaeological finds. Their primary role was to protect the nuraghe and the surrounding settlements from raids and attacks.
Nuragic Archer (Classical Age)
Standard ranged unit, soft-counter against infantry.
Archers were a specialized class of warriors responsible for ranged combat. They protected the nuraghe and settlements from a distance, engaging enemies before they could reach the fortifications. Their skill with the bow made them essential for defending high ground, such as the nuraghe towers, and in providing cover for melee troops. Nuragic archers would have been crucial in both defense and offense, especially in mountainous terrain where long-range attacks were advantageous.
Nuragic Boxer (Heroic Age)
Hand-to-hand infantry unit, hard-counter against infantry.
Nuragic boxers, often depicted in ancient bronze figurines, were likely a specialized warrior class. These figures, typically shown with raised fists wrapped in bandages or wearing leather thongs (similar to early forms of boxing gloves), suggest that boxing was a form of martial training and sport in Nuragic society. Boxing was possibly used as a form of ritual combat, demonstrating the physical prowess of warriors and preparing them for hand-to-hand combat.
Mercenary Barracks: Available from the Classical Age, the Mercenary Barracks is where the player can recruit Phoenician-Carthaginians mercenary units.
Numidian Cavalry (Classical Age)
Ranged-melee light cavalry unit, soft-counter against ranged units.
The Numidian Cavalry were renowned light cavalry units from Numidia (roughly modern Algeria and parts of Tunisia). They were famous for their speed, agility, and expertise in hit-and-run tactics. They rode small, agile horses, typically without saddles or bridles, and were lightly armed with javelins and small shields.
Liby-Phoenician Spearman (Heroic Age)
Mercenary infantry unit, hard-counter against cavalry.
The Liby-Phoenician spearman was a significant type of infantryman used by Carthage during its various military campaigns, particularly during the Punic Wars against Rome. These troops were often of Libyan (Berber) and Phoenician descent, representing a fusion of Carthage’s native and colonial populations.
Balearic Slinger (Heroic Age)
Mercenary ranged unit, hard-counter against ranged units.
Balearic Slingers were elite missile troops from the Balearic Islands. They were known for their exceptional skill with the sling, able to launch stones or lead bullets with great force and accuracy over long distances. Their training began in childhood, and they were able to utilize different types of slings depending on the distance of their target.
Sacred Band Infantry (Mythic Age)
Elite heavy infantry unit, with bonuses against human soldiers.
The Sacred Band was an elite heavy infantry unit of Carthage, typically composed of Carthaginian citizens (unlike much of the Carthaginian army, which was primarily made up of mercenaries and allied troops). They were heavily armed with long spears, large shields, and wore heavy armor, possibly inspired by Greek hoplites.
Fortified Nuraghe: Available from the Heroic Age, the Fortified Nuraghe is where the player can train Siege Weapons, Nuragic Guards, and Mythic Age unique heroes.
The Nuragic civilization is not widely documented as having used advanced siege weapons. Nuragic civilization was primarily focused on defense rather than offense, as evidenced by the numerous nuraghe structures that dot the Sardinian landscape. Nuraghes were designed to protect their people from raids and smaller-scale warfare rather than to conduct large-scale sieges or offensive campaigns against fortified cities.
The Phoenician-Carthaginians, who established settlements and eventually exerted significant control over Sardinia during the first millennium BC, did indeed introduce more advanced military technologies to the island, including siege weapons. The Carthaginians were influenced by the Greek, Egyptian, and Near Eastern cultures, which had already developed sophisticated siege warfare technologies such as rams and ballistae.
Nuragic Ram (Heroic Age)
Siege weapon, only good against buildings.
The Nuragic Ram is a wooden battering ram capped with a bronze ram’s head, decorated with spiral motifs for divine protection.
Nuragic Ballista (Mythic Age)
Ranged siege weapon, only good against buildings.
The Nuragic Ballista is a portable torsion-powered ballista made from olive wood and bronze, adorned with spiral carvings and animal motifs, capable of firing heavy wooden bolts or stone projectiles with deadly precision.
Nuragic Guard (Mythic Age)
Elite defense infantry unit, with bonuses against ranged units and siege weapons.
Nuragic Guards were elite warriors responsible for the defense and maintenance of Nuragic settlements. These guards manned the Nuraghe, keeping watch for potential threats and maintaining the fortifications.
Naval Units
To be done…
Archaic Age Major Gods
Mamai: Mother Goddess, symbol of fertility, the earth, and life. Focus: Nurhagers and pinnettas.
Bonus
- Mamai generates a nurhager for free every 10 trained.
- Pinnettas cost and build time reduced by 30%.
- Pinnettas technologies are 50% cheaper, but take longer to research.
- Blessed Holy Wells make nearby nurhagers move 15% faster.
God Power
Sacred Soil: Creates a sacred area around a Pinnetta where your nurhagers cannot be attacked and gain a 10% bonus to all resources dropped. Last for 45 seconds.
Myth Units
Dove: Doves are Nuragic myth units exclusive to Mamai. They serve as scouts and respawn for free at temples.
The dove is often linked to the goddess of fertility. The bird symbolizes life, renewal, and the nurturing aspects of the earth.
Techs
Abundance: Mamai raises the fattening rate of herdable animals by 15% and makes a goat spawn near your Pinnetta for every economic technology researched.
Babai: Father God, symbol of strength, power, and protection. Focus: Nuragic units and defense.
Bonus
- Sentry Towers and Wood Walls are automatically upgraded to Watch Towers and Stone Walls in the Classical Age.
- Nuragic units can build Towers and Walls.
- Nuragic units have 5% more hack and pierce armor.
- Blessed Holy Wells protect you against enemy God Powers.
God Power
Shepherd Dogs: Babai summons a pack of loyal shepherd dogs to fiercely defend a Town Center or Pinnetta, automatically attacking any enemy units that approach. Last for 45 seconds or until the dogs are defeated.
Techs
Fortified Foundations: Your buildings gain an additional 10% hit points, making them sturdier and harder to destroy.
Maimone: Deity of rain and water, associated with agricultural prosperity. Focus: Holy Wells and farms.
Bonus
- Holy Wells cost and build time reduced by 30%.
- Farms are available since the Archaic Age at 20% less cost.
- Blessed Holy Wells produce Favor 15% faster.
- Blessed Holy Wells make nearby farms produce food 15% faster.
God Power
Ritual of Maimone: Maimone increases the area and the effect of blessed Holy Wells. The area and the effect are increased more in the later ages. Last for 40 seconds.
Techs
Healing Spring: Blessed Holy Wells heal nearby human units.
Minor Gods
To be done…