Greetings to all forum members. Today, I am presenting a minor rework for the Dutch civilization—similar to the adjustments the developers made to the Russian and Ottoman civilizations in AoE III. The main focus of this post is the modification and updating of all Dutch units, aiming for greater historical accuracy for the enjoyment of all players. As some may recall, certain Dutch military units—such as the Skirmisher—always possessed unique stats that set them apart from their counterparts. The same applies to the Ruyter cavalry unit; while they function as Dutch Dragoons, they were never given their due—lacking a visual upgrade when advancing to the Carabineer status and remaining quite weak compared to similar mounted units from other civilizations. I have also taken the liberty of completely redesigning the Hussar units to ensure they better reflect the historical accuracy of Dutch colonial armies. Without further ado, let’s dive into the new features this update brings for the Dutch.
1 - Schutterij:
We’ll start with the new—yet regrettably flawed—Dutch Burgher Militia unit, which is being introduced in the update accompanying the new Baltic Powers expansion. Thanks to beta access, I was able to test this unit; upon further research, I realized that it is unfortunately misrepresented. You see, the Home City card used to access this new militia unit is named Schutterij; once activated, you can recruit the Burgher Militia via Envoys for a small resource cost. However, the unit that appears in the game is not the authentic unit the Dutch should have—I have attached a photo of the real Schutterij below. I hope the developers will eventually replace this unit with the true Dutch Civic Militia—which is the actual translation of the card’s name.
Schutterij
2 - Blauwe Garde:
I took the liberty of looking into this unit further by extensively searching the web for a more up-to-date outfit, given that the current Dutch Musketeer unit does not change when advancing through the ages. The only relevant material I could find consists of the photographs attached below; these could serve as a basis for redesigning the Blauwe Garde when reaching the Industrial and Imperial Ages.
Blauwe Garde (Fortress Age)
Blauwe Garde (Industrial Age)
Blauwe Garde (Imperial Age)
3 - Grenadiers: The Grenadiers now hold Guard status and have been renamed the Garderegiment Grenadiers. This regiment was founded in the Netherlands in 1829 by order of King William I. It was created to replace Swiss mercenaries and serve as the royal guard. They also fought in the Belgian Revolution in the early 19th century.
Garderegiment Grenadiers
4 - Demi-Lancer:
Demi-Lancers played a crucial role in the Dutch wars of independence, achieving notable feats throughout their service in various significant military engagements during the early years of Dutch independence. (New Unit) The Demi-Lancers possess the Trample Mode ability. (Standard Hussars removed from the stables). New unit cost: 100 food / 100 gold
Demi-Lancer
Veteran Demi-Lancer
Guard Demi-Lancer
5 - Ruyter:
This cavalry unit features an updated appearance in its veteran state, more historically reflecting the military units of the early years of Dutch independence, alongside new combat statistics: 160 hit points, 17 ranged attack points, and 8 melee attack points, as well as a new creation cost of 45 food and 60 gold. Upon promoting to Carabineer, the Ruyter adopts new attire that more accurately represents the original unit; the rider wears a small breastplate that gives a more imposing look, along with a hat, brown boots, an embroidered red belt, and a striking, ostentatious blue jacket that stands out against the typical Dutch outfits of the era—thereby granting the Ruyters the status they have long deserved as a unique Dutch unit.
Veteran Ruyter
Carabineer
6 - Staatse Leger Pikeman: New update for pikemen. Pikemen now have Guard status, designated as “Staatse Leger Pikeman.” These new Dutch pikemen are more powerful and possess the “Nassau Linear Tactics” ability, which allows them to withstand the first gunpowder attack they receive from enemies.
7 - Klovenier:
Finally, we have the Dutch Skirmisher, now renamed the Klovenier; it sports a distinctively Dutch look—complete with a hat and an elegant cape—during the early stages of the match. Recruitabe in the Commerce Age, this new skirmisher retains the same base statistics as the original Dutch Skirmisher—which already differed from other early-game skirmishers—but now stands out thanks to its ability to upgrade to Veteran and Guard status. Upgrading the Klovenier to Veteran status grants a new appearance and improved combat stats, while advancing to the Industrial Age unlocks the Klovenier Guard status: the Flankeur. The Flankeur is a powerful, modern skirmisher capable of revealing enemies it has recently damaged. Thus, the Dutch Skirmisher gains new advantages and stats upon reaching Guard status, while its appearance now better reflects what one would expect from a uniquely Dutch military unit.
Klovenier
Veteran Klovenier
Flankeur
