I don’t think this game is, which is why I now have the opinion that they shouldn’t. I have zero faith in the devs to be able to create a Native American civ with any accuracy, and I feel they’d end up creating a useless stereotype with zero regard for historical accuracy because it’s difficult to find.
It took them how long to get a simple color picker that cannot override an options menu setting?
I love the game, I want it better, but…
Slingers need to be a worldwide unit. They existed in most regions in medieval times. Very accurate and hard hitting
The devs can’t even create old world civs accurately it’s sad to say.
Realistically speaking, technically, they would sooner or later simply buy know-how from old world civs.
And in various situations they did ally themself with an old world Civ.
Maybe the market could act as mercenary building for natives, where you can buy units like “Siege Experts Engineers”, who could simply build for natives siege weapons. Or get access for some kind of Spanish expedition force.
As pure civ:
wooden shields for cover. while as any civ, even Aztec did have siege ladders to climb walls
Canoes were sometimes used both for cover and as ladders for scaling the walls.
Chichen Itza siege tower
source
Aztec also had access to dig tools.
A very common tactic was to dig under enemies walls.
This is a case where the lack of an animated siege crew really hinders the game. For native siege the crew would be a much bigger part of the unit. A native siege unit could be a crew protected by a mantlet that would undermine walls and smoke out defenders. It could also possibly have ranged attacks with flaming arrows and projectiles hurled by lacrosse sticks.
The Incas used boulders to smash through walls. Boulders could be an option for emplacements on outposts and the outpost could then be used to attack enemy walls by rolling boulders at them.
Adopting European technology could also be an option. The Spanish used a trebuchet against the Aztecs. Trebuchets can also be made from simple materials.
From what I’ve remember, there won’t ever be a Native American civ in AoE4 because they would be too complicated to create considering how difficult it is to learn from them.
Azttecs, Mayans, Incas - yes
North Americans - no
Hi! I just made 4 threads drafting my ideas around Native American civs and how they could work for AoE4!
AoE4 Civ Concept: Inca
AoE4 Civ Concept: Aztecs
AoE4 Civ Concept: League of Mayapan
AoE4 Civ Concept: Native American Overview spreadsheet
I have there a very simple suggestion,
instead to balance Natives, Nomad vs Empires, why not simply make it Natives vs Natives?
In a Historical game, it’s maybe not the best idea to make gimmicks to compensate:
Stone walls, Castles, gunpowder, siege equipment, Advanced Ships and Horses.
It might be in the end result very odd.
Instead, we could have various scenarios where natives simply fight vs other natives, either in their native habitat or from other parts of the world. With own gameplay mechanics. There are various possible factions across north Asia, America, Oceania and South Africa, who could fight on equal terms with each other.
What if canoes were treated like siege weapons, that could be crafted by units as well as a dock. Regular canoes could be used by villagers for fishing and transport, and larger war canoes for fighting and transport. If soldiers could even take them out of the water then this would really lend to a raid style game play. Send your soldiers on the water to raid fishing vessels, and escape onto land if you’re quick enough.