# Please fix Italy: Balance ideas inspired by Denmark's mechanics **URL:** \ **Category:** III - Discussion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2026, 2:23am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/please-fix-italy-balance-ideas-inspired-by-denmarks-mechanics/289619 "2026-09-15T02:23:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 10
**Author:** ![Soaring\_Crow](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/soaring_crow/32/214096_2.png) [@Soaring\_Crow](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Soaring_Crow)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 6:14am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/please-fix-italy-balance-ideas-inspired-by-denmarks-mechanics/289619/10 "2026-09-17T06:14:02Z")
> [@zeppelino24](#): > > The Italian Risorgimento should receive the same treatment as the Meiji Restoration by updating a large portion of Italy’s military units; Hmmm… interesting. You might be cooking something there. Italy is bit of “composite civilization” right now. It’s a blend of the various Italian states and has a wide timeframe of Renaissance to Risorgimento eras. AoE3 timeline starts around late 15th century and ends around the mid-late 18th century; so, it was a given. Italy might benefit from a Meiji-style modernization overhaul though some units would remain pretty much the same apart from some name changes here and there. I’ll focus on the tech first and then the units themselves. This is a general concept so it won’t be very balanced, but it’ll be cool. First off “Classic Italy” would remain as how it works now. Select the Age V politician, get to Age V, unlock Imperial Upgrades, make a Capitol, and all that. No changes. ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/f/9/f960ec75792801e1e6cf85c79a46d9d7b2c658be.png) * * * Now the alternative Age-up option. I could make it a revolution option but that would require a whole new HCC deck. If someone wants to make a **Kingdom of Italy** revolution deck, be my guest. For the sake of simplicity, I’ll update the Risorgimento church tech to do a similar effect. It would be an alternative age up, but the tech would cost 5000 food/5000 coin. _ **Risorgimento** _ - _Advances the player to the Imperial Age. Overhauls the Italian military among other bonuses and drawbacks._ Flag would change to the _ **Kingdom of Italy** _ flag. ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/6/c/6cb225da870e028f1ccd8374a4999cdc9b9143ba.png) - All Italian Infantry, Calvary, and Grenadier units are upgraded to _ **Guard** _ level automatically for free. All Imperial upgrades can be researched at their regular costs. - _ **The Capitol can be built and has some unique techs** _: _ **Regia Marina** _ - _Replaces Galleons with Steamers and Monitors with Ironclads at Docks; Ironclad train limit +2._ ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/b/9/b92f43e86f8d6ce2bef1fe91fb55671761b92f42.png) _ **Terni Steelworks** _ - _Sends 1 Factory Wagon and 1 Coal Prospector Wagon._ ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/e/4/e459ca2ef910414567f9c55922b35500dcc8be15.png) _ **Pater Patriae** _ - _Giuseppe Garibaldi joins the battle alongside his Redshirt Revolutionaries! Sends 1 Italian General (Giuseppe Garibaldi) and 20 Redshirt Revolutionaries. Redshirt Revolutionaries can be trained at Town Centers. Italian General is a mounted unit that can receive shipments and build Forts. Fort build limit +1_ ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/8/1/815287e7be3e2c842d75e8f6a4f2eddb3b28e6b7.jpeg) * * * _Pavisiers_ are replaced with _ **Alpini Riflemen** _, more or less following the template that other Crossbow skirmisher replacements do. We already have Bersagliere. _ **Alpini Riflemen** _ - _Italian skirmisher specialized in alpine combat. Inflicts higher base damage and moves quickly but has less range than regular skirmishers (18 instead of the usual 20)_ ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/8/9/89fa74310b3de7d69b3acd953a2d11f6445e99b9.png) - The Alpini HCC would be updated to affect the Alpini Riflemen. _ **Alpini** _ - _Bersaglieri and Alpini Riflemen get +15% attack. They both now prioritize their ranged attacks on Heavy Infantry and Light ranged cav_alry * * * Italian Hussars are replaced with _ **Lancieri** _ _ **Lancieri** _ - _Italian heavy cavalry that are very effective against infantry (x3)_ ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/7/b/7b6ea7567eeba6f33164464764a89c5343e0b6eb.jpeg) * * * Italian Dragoons are replaced with _ **Carabinieri** _ _ **Carabinieri** - Italian ranged light cavalry equipped with a carbine repeater. Good against Heavy Cavalry and Artillery. Does bonus damage against outlaws and mercenaries (1.5x)._ ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/7/f/7f769e21a5154aa858adaf44b3faaa0b97cf696e.jpeg) * * * _ **Redshirt Revolutionaries** _ can be trained from town centers after researching the _ **Pater Patriae** _ tech. These Revolutionaries retain their current bonuses including _2.0x bonus damage against heroes_. ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/9/6/96e6ee05b3efb10da7d51b6bbaf40feb347e0adf.jpeg) * * * We already have _ **Bersagliere** _ unlocked. They remain fully trainable. _Bersaglieri_ get stat increases of +5% HP, damage, and ranged resistance from the _ **Risorgimento** _ tech. ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/d/9/d9925891861607532098e2d4abec674efe3288a8.jpeg) * * * Same deal with Musketeers. I will include the concept I made for a Royal Guard upgrade for the Italian musketeer but tweaked a little bit. The RG upgrade is available even without doing the _Risorgimento._ _ **Garibaldino** _ - Upgrades Musketeers to _ **Garibaldino** _ _ **Musketeers** _ (Guard Musketeers with +10% hit points and damage, and +1 range) ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/8/c/8cde29c975cd1c6d2b03e851d3301f6a4092fc8f.jpeg) * * * Italian Grenadiers are replaced with _ **Sardegna Granatieri** _ _ **Sardegna Granatieri** _ - _Heavy siege infantrymen armed with hand mortars to defeat infantry or buildings. Benefits from Valor Promotions for extra hit points and faster attack speed._ ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/8/5/85f3277d3def914ba6d01462053d93c3464a5872.png) (The effects of the _Grenades Launchers_ HCC are automatically obtained after the _ **Risorgimento** _ tech is complete: Grenadier Line of Sight +2, replaces ranged attack with mortar attack. The Arsenal tech _Incendiary Grenades_ is automatically researched) * * * At the Italian Artillery Foundry, the RG upgrades remain the same for Culverin (_Spingarde_) and Mortar (_Galilean Mortar_). Falconets and Horse Artillery are still trainable. Italian Halberdiers and Pikemen are unchanged at the Barracks. You can still train them and unlock their Imperial upgrades, but they don’t gain any benefits from the Risorgimento. Papal Bombards at the Factory are replaced by _ **Heavy Cannons** _, which can still be upgraded to Imperial. * * * _ **DRAWBACKS** _ - _ **Basilica shipments arrive 75% slower** _ - _ **XP trickle rate is reduced by 30%** _ - _ **Pavisiers are no longer trainable** _ - _ **Papal Bombards can no longer be made from Factories** _ - _ **Architects build buildings 65% slower** _ * * * I could add more techs at the Capitol, but I wanted to keep it focused on the military. The core Italian army will be strong enough to where it doesn’t have to rely so much on Papal units. As always, feel free to give suggestions. --- _[View the full topic](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/please-fix-italy-balance-ideas-inspired-by-denmarks-mechanics/289619)._