Retrospectively, I think some DE civs were either hurried or recycled, and not all their designs were well-thought out.
Several people would want certain civs removed. That’s a different topic. Let’s assume we keep them here. Also, not considering business needs or practicality.
We are mostly talking about themes and mechanics here, not balance. That’s another topic too.
Swedes:
Okay. But since they are the “merc-as-regular units” civ, I’d make their basic roster maybe more limited with units roughly multi-purposed but specialized as none:
- Caroleans as the ranged cavalry counter with an all-round melee and ranged attack, but not very good at either.
- No crossbows. You have jaegers in age 3, and no counter-goon pressure in age 2.
- Hakkapelitt return to heavy cav with a ranged charged attack (like the Oromo) and replace hussars. No goon. You have black riders.
And then make their German merc access cheaper. Now they have a full barracks-stable roster without duplicating units.
Inca:
I’d rather prefer them to be a more streamlined non-cav, pre-gunpowder civ, like Aztec but with some more defensive bonus and other gimmicks (like Chimu’s ability and poisoned arrow)
No conversion
Their war hut roster is the same as Aztecs. That’s fine, but the Kallanka units don’t have to be “look like Aztec units but with roles and tags randomly shuffled ”:
- Huaraca could be a super skirm, not a culverin and mortar hybrid, like the jaguar is a super halb. Both giving them counter-infantry means since they lack artillery.
- Bolas warrior should be a regular ranged shock infantry with snaring and AOE, not a heavy infantry. They could also have more anti-artillery bonus since Incas don’t have arrow knight
- Maceman should be even more siege-oriented.
Ethiopians and Hausa:
Okay. I actually think they have the most coherent designs. Not too streamlined, not all over the place either
US and Mexicans:
Their federal state cards should be less diverse, and combinations should be more limited. Many designs should be scattered around natives/revolutions/other civs.
I don’t think they really need the inspiring flag.
They have a good base roster already, so they don’t need that many options to train European units either. Maybe tercio and cdb could remain.
Same thing with the natives. Unlike Africans who have a very lacking roster, their rosters are very good already. So their excessive access to extra natives is not necessary.
Visual and theme nitpicking:
They look 200 years ahead of every other civ.
Their age 2 unit designs should represent early colonies, not the revolution (1800s)
Gatling guns should replace horse artillery in age 4, not falconets in age 3.
Steamer should be an age 4 unit, or an upgrade of galleon (and give them galleon——that’s the staple “colonial ship”). Sloop is already better than caravel, and that is thematically more accurate: they relied more on swift, small ships most of the time rather than large European ships. Or steamers should be a shared European unit or upgrade.
Italian:
Mostly okay. But maybe some too state-specific units like papal units, schiavone (Venetian) and bersagliere (Sardinian) should be locked behind city state cards like native American allies——basically the same system as the NE mod.
Make the pavisier viable late game.
And things like “papal lancer” and “papal bombard” never existed. Too fantastical. Maybe they want to avoid reusing the elmetto and Li’l bombard which were originally meant for Italy in 2005. But we have so many mechanics of gaining strange access to units already. It shouldn’t be a problem if Italy is more merc-focused. Similarly, basilica units should all be mercs.
Maltese:
This is the least thought-out and obviously most rushed civ, both its theme and gameplay.
They need a serious re-design. So many re-used assets. “Consulate-like” mechanics are too overused at this point.
Commandery as a defensive building training consulate cavalry is fine. And not more than that. The Tongues cards should provide bonuses and one-time unit batches, not training. Could be re-sent.
Fixed guns and depots are too gimmicky and out-of place. Especially weird as they were all used by their “enemies” in the campaign.
Their defensive bonus should be more on TCs, commanderies, forts, walls and towers. That’s already a lots of options.
The overuse of charged attacks should also be restrained:
- Now fire throwers can have three attack modes in one stance. They could only get the flamethrower
- Sentinels don’t really need the rockets. Just buff their stats.
Maltese were famous for using thermal weapons in the Great Siege, and since their design has some Byzantine vibe, flamethrowers would fit. But rockets were more of an Indian, Chinese and later British thing.