Hi all,
Intro
I like AoE 3 and believe that it has a great potencial of expansion as AoE2 did with its several updates and expansions. That said would be nice if some civs recieved a little bit of love, in the ways of graphics, units, etc.
This is a suggestion based on a quick research I did, since I like to read about cultures and History.
That said there are a few things that currently Ottomans have that are weird within Aoe3, so I ll touch a few things, units and architecture, its current culture group is âMediterraneanâ and share its buildings and villager models with Spain and Portugal.
Its People & Origin âThe Villagerâ
Ottomans aka Turkish people, were a tribe from Asia, near China that became Nomadic, then under the Seljuk empire circa 11 century were influenced by Persian and Muslim traditions, âsettledâ near Anatolia and eventually expanded and became the Ottoman Empire.
Well sorry, thats just very vague resume.
Taking that into account by 14 - 15 century they had mixed both racially and culturally with locals around them, I have to notice too that Ottomans had a system that incorporated all its people and tryed to convert them to Islam, they had heavy influence from Arabic and Persians shown in its food, culture, clothes and architecture.
Thus that leads to âthe Villagerâ, which should be more like Indian villager, the bast extension of the empire however allows to instead show 3 models: Indian (like), Russian & Mediterranean. Thus showing that Ottoman Empire held different cultures (Greek, Islamic (Persian, Turkish, etc), Balkan (Russian)).
Architecture
Althought Spain and Portugal Architecture was heavily influenced by Middle Eastern Culture, its not the same that the one in Middle East or that which is from Islam Art, effectibly speaking Spain and Portugal were European ânationsâ (kingdoms), were the Ottoman Empire which its Capital was in Istanbul, were âMiddle Easternâ.
Thus practically speaking, new buildings built by Spain would have influence from Islamic Art, but would weight more to the Christian side, the same contrary could be said for Ottomans. Thus is an injustice for both cultures to share the same models, having some commons but being way to different.
Military Units
The first thing to notice about the Ottoman army is, that was divided between Janissaries and Sipahis. Janissaries were christians with a status between slave-servant to the Sultan, while freeborn Islamic people.
First of all, Id like to notice that like Chinese civ, they should be able to create Horse archers since Age 2, instead of 3 since they were people that descended from Nomads, and early on before gunpowder thier main power was Cavalry, also that Cavalry Archer shares its model with Russian one, and Hussar with the rest of the European civs.
That said its 3 units:
Hussar (Rumeli Sipahis, aka Balkan Sipahis):
Equipment: Chainmail, round shield, lance and javelins, barded horse.
Cavalry Archer (Anatolian Siphais)
Equipment: Leather or felt armour, round shield, composite bow and arrows, turkish sword.
Note: That Ottoman cavalry could have, swords, axes or maces.
Sipahi (Kapikulu Sipahi, Silahtar, Sipahi)
Were the personal cavalry regiments of the Sultan, Silahtar âWeapon Mastersâ were chosen from the best warriors in the Empire, and the Sipahi were sons of nobles.
Equipment: Plated mail, chain mail, round shield, bow and arrows, mace or sword.
Instead of being a âonlyâ shipped unit, to be Max limit unit, buildable in the stable/fort that bost units around it.
Since Aoe3 starts with Age of Discovery circa 1400âs most civs should resemble this change from Plated/Mail armor to uniforms. Most of this descriptions of their equipments are from 1400 - 1600. Since lather on most nations stopped using armors and instead used uniforms. Also this Cavalry Divisions were dismantled in 1800 - 1900.
âIf you have read till here thanks, probably some would think this are many changes, and they maybe I just wanted to make an statement of what I think would enrich the game and altough I will try to mod it to bring the closest to this post, would be nice if Devs would change it. Since modding data is a Painâ.
Here are some links from were I read info: