Second unique unit for every civ

In my eyes it would be great to see a second unique unit or unique upgrade (something like winged hussar or savar) for every civ that has only one unique unit. Feel free to join in with your suggestions/proposals - it can even be a new unit with only slightly changed paramteres in order to not influence the balance of the game radically

Civ list:
Armenians: N/A (warrior priest), would love to see some kind of unique knight upgrade though

Aztecs: monk upgrade or new unique unit in the castle and jaguar warrior as champion upgrade

Bengalis: no idea

Berbers: N/A (genitour)

Bohemians: N/A (houfnice)

Britons: billman? (better halbardier)

Bulgarians: no idea

Burgundians: N/A (flemish militia)

Burmese: no idea

Byzantines: fire ship upgarde or varangian guard

Celts: hobelar - unique skirm cav/light cav OR kern - skirmisher upgrade (plus replacement of woad rider with gallowglasses)

Chinese: unique cav upgrade?

Cumans: ??

Dravidians: N/A (thirisidai)

Ethiopians: ??

Franks: unique paladin upgrade

Georgians: khevsur - instead of THS and Champion

Goths: ???

Gurjaras: N/A (shrivamsha rider)

Hindustanis: N/A (imperial camel)

Huns: ???

Incas: slinger (or maybe slinger should become new meso regional unit)

Italians: N/A (condotierro)

Japanese: samurai cav archer or naginata/yari samurai?

Khmer: unique galleon upgrade?

Koreans: N/A (turtle ship)

Lithuanians: N/A (winged hussar)

Magyars: no idea

Malay: unique ship?

Malians: unique knight skin/light cav?

Mayans: unique infantry skin?

Mongols: no idea

Persians: N/A (savar)

Poles: N/A (winged hussar)

Portugese: N/A (caravel)

Romans: N/A (legionary)

Saracens: no idea

Sicilians: no idea

Slavs: new infantry update but druzhina is already UT

Spanish: N/A (missionary)

Tatars: N/A (flaming camel)

Teutons: unique paladin upgrade

Turks: Sipahi knight/cav archer? or unique galleon

Vietnamese: N/A (imperial skirmisher)

Vikings: N/A (drakkar)

5 Likes

Bunch of names that can help someone to craft units.

Aztecs: otomies
Bengalis: be line upgrade
Britons: routier
Bulgarians: BagaĂŻns
Burmese: Ahmudan
Byzantines: varangian guard
Celts: hobelar
Chinese: nest of bees unique upgrade to scorpion line
Cumans: SL line
Ethiopians: Chewa
Franks: Gendarme
Georgians: khevsur
Goths: Gadrauhts
Huns: Gadrauhts
Japanese: Teppo(hc upgrade)
Khmer: ph’kak warrior
Magyars: Szekely (cavalry)
Malay: orang laut (type of ship)
Malians: Horon cavalry
Mayans: war captain
Mongols: SL line
Saracens: Dhow ship
Sicilians: Almugavar(skirmisher)
Slavs: saqaliba
Teutons: Ritterbruder
Turks: akinji ca upgrade

3 Likes

I don’t think all civ having 2nd UU is a good idea. However some civs, especially some classical civs can have it.

I already asked for Britons and Celts. For Saracens, I’d recommend a new Unique Building. Byzantines may get a new ship replacing their fire ship. Historically fire ship is their unique unit. Then Teutons get a new knight line. And finally Japanese get a new CA UU named Mounted Samurai replacing generic CA.

1 Like

Why? They used the exact same knightly weapons armor and tactics as rest of western europe.

2 Likes

I wish Crusader Knight was in the game. I’m hesitant to give it to Sicilians as they have a unique building. And I don’t think we will see a dedicated crusader civ in the game. In fact I’ll oppose that. So Teutons is the best fit.

Siphonator, defense oriented & Ram utilizer flamethrower footman, a Fire Ship on land, for the Byzantines:

It’s better for the Byzantines to have an additional unit from Castle like this, or like the Varangian… than a cosmetic reskin to their Fire Ship which other than that will be a useless change… or than a unique spearman.

Byzantine “Castle drop” play (which currently is average due to Cataphract is highly situational in that age) will be skyrocketed with that additional defensive/counter choice, available to fill strategic gaps related to opponent’s attacking army composition; next to Cataphract.

3 Likes

Regional units are often like a second unique unit.
So I think every civ should either have a second UU or a regional unit.

In some ways regional units are cooler then UUs because they show the connection between civilisations.

3 Likes

If we take out regional units and once with 2 units already.

Bulgarians: BagaĂŻns
Byzantines: varangian guard (they already have dromons)
Chinese: nest of bees unique upgrade to scorpion line
Ethiopians: Chewa
Japanese: Teppo(hc upgrade)
Malians: Horon cavalry
Saracens: Dhow ship
Slavs: varangian guard
Turks: Dhow ship

Not sure if there is any common unit/unit line that can be shared between japanese chinese and koreans.
Bulgarians and Huns can also share a unit.

Neat concept.

Consider:

Aztecs: Otomi - Melee unit that attacks at range. Start with French throwing axeman, but instead of axes it throws rocks. Not a slinger - just deals base damage with no bonus of any kind. Same stats as elite throwing axeman, but with 10 less hp and no bonus damage. Gains +1 range from atlatl, but not a second projectile. Available in age 4.

Bengalis: Flail elephant - unique upgrade to siege elephant. Available in age 4. Grants + 20 class armor from siege weapons, +40 damage vs siege and heavy siege, and increases speed to 0.7.

Britons: Dismounted Knight - Champion replacement. +1 attack, and +2 melee/pierce armor. Bonus damage of +6 vs hussars. Available in age 3

Bulgarians: Baghatur - Unique hussar variant. 5 less hp, base attack of 10, 1/2 armor, +5 vs building and villager, no bonus vs monks.

Burmese: Royal Battle Elephant - Grants +50 hp, +4 attack and improves blast damage to 0.5 tiles (33%). Available in age 4.

Byzantines: Limitanei - Additional spear line unit in barracks (generic spear line NOT replaced). Available in age 4. Lower bonus vs cavalry, but better attack rate and pierce armor. Attack rate of 2, 7 attack, bonus +15 vs cavalry, armor 1/3, speed 0.85, cost 45 food 5 gold. Benefits from gambesons.

Celts: Ranger - Unique arbalester replacement. 60 hp, 6 attack, 6 range, 1/2 armor, 0 frame/attack delay, 100% accuracy, benefits from civ infantry speed boost and gambesons.

Chinese: Sea Hawk - Unique fire ship replacement. Has 10 ship armor and extra +5 line of sight.

Cumans: Camel Lancer - Unique upgrade to camel rider. Bonus vs cavalry remains at +9, gains +9 cavalry armor instead, gains + 0/2 armor.

Ethiopians: Tamed elephant - unique battle elephant line. Available in age 3, upgrades to elite. 400, 500 hp;14,16 attack with 33% splash in 0.5 tiles; armor is 0/2, 0/3.

Franks: Kings Paladin - Unique paladin upgrade. Grants +5 bonus vs infantry.

Georgians: Crusader Knight - Unique cavalier replacement. 100 hp, 4/5 armor, 16 attack.

Goths: Saxon Raider - Penultimate militia line upgrade on top of champion. Trades sword for 2 handed axe. +10 hp, +1 attack, and +6 vs buildings and villagers.

Huns: Shaman - Unique monk replacement. Has +20 hp and moves at 1.4 speed.

Japanese: Flaming Arrow - Unique scorpion upgrade. 50 hp, 14 damage, 0.8 movement speed.

Khmer: Village Guardsman - Additional spear unit in barracks - does NOT replace basic spear line. Costs only 55 food and takes 0.7 population. Less effective vs cavalry, but excels vs elephants. Spearman with 40 hp, 4 attack, +16 vs cavalry, +11 vs camel, + 50 vs elephant.

Magyars: Black Rider - Heavily armored horseman, good vs ranged units. Monaspa stats, no regen, 2/8 armor, 1.45 speed. Unique stable line, starting in age 4.

Malay: Cetbang galleon - Galleon upgrade. +4 pierce damage, +4 vs ship, +12 vs buildings, and +5 ship armor.

Malians: Donso - Additional skirmisher-type unit at archery range. Does NOT replace basic skirmisher. Costs 35 food, 20 gold. Skirmisher stats, deals + 2,3 vs cavalry and camels, +6,9 vs elephant, +2,4 vs infantry, nothing vs archers.

Mayans: Feathered spearmen - Penultimate spear line upgrade on top of halberdier. Grants +2 attack and increased movement speed to 1.2.

Mongols: Laminated cavalry line - Upgrades scout cavalry → Laminated Cavalry (light cavalry, but with +1 melee armor) → Heavy Laminated cavalry (laminated cavalry, but adds another +1 melee armor) .

Saracens: Hakeem - Unique monk upgrade. Available in age 3. +30 hp, and rides a camel. Itself and units being healed are immune to conversion (even the heresy death thing).

Sicilians: Carrack - Unique galleon upgrade. Available in age 4. Same stats as Elite cannon galleon, but has speed of 1.35 and 14 range.

Slavs: Cossack - Additional barracks infantry unit. Weak melee unit that fights with sword. Costs 45 food, 10 wood. Available in age 3, upgradable to elite in age 4. 55,60 hp, 5,6 attack with 1.7 attack rate, + 8 vs spearmen, +2 foot archers, 1.2 speed.

Teutons: Dragoon - Stats of an Arambai, but shoots bullets like a conquistador. No bonus damage. Armor classes same as conquistador. Range of 3,4, accuracy of 20%,30%.

Turks: Cebelu - Replaces camel line. Available in age 3, upgradable to elite. Steppe lancer-like unit, swapped armor (2/0 instead of 0/2) +9 vs cavalry and camel, +15 vs elephant. Elite upgrade gives +1 melee armor and +12 class armor. Benefits from sipahi.

1 Like

Incas need Bolas representation. Slingers can be made into a regional unit.

3 Likes

That’s… Actually a pretty good idea. Have it as an Incan unique upgrade for the slingers.

Bolas from what I understand were used to entrap animals by tying up their feet. Such an upgrade would be odd, since it would involve a complete change in role for a unit as Slingers are diet hand cannoneers, while a Bolas thrower would likely have anti cavalry and/or slowing properties.

They were used against infantry as well; I honestly could see them like a Houfnice, basically a supercharged UU version of the regular thing. Whereas the normal slinger only has an infantry bonus, this unit could have both infantry and (more substantially) cavalry bonuses, and would still die pretty fast to archers and siege due to being a slinger but upgraded.

1 Like

Without harming balance, some ideas for AoK civs -

Japanese = Mounted Samurai replacing CA. Stat is same as Japanese CA which means +2 attack bonus archer except Skirmiaher. Civ bonus is removed.

Celts = THS+Champion combined into Gallowglass. Cost and time for the two upgrades combined.

Teutons = Ritter, Elite Ritter, Crusader Knight replaces Knight line. Stat is same as Teutons Knight, Cavalier and Paladin. Civ bonus wording adjusted.

Byzantines = New Fire ship replaces Fire Ship. New ship attacks 20% faster as default. So civ bonus wording is adjusted to Dromon only.

Mongols = Light Cavalry and Hussar replaced by new unit that have the +20% HP on default stat. Civ Bonus wording adjusted for SL only.

As for changing balance, I have some ideas for 10 out of 13 AoK civs. The 3 that doesn’t come to my mind are Goths, Vikings and Franks.

2 Likes

Uniqueness Tierlist

https://tiermaker.com/create/age-of-empires-2-definitive-edition-civilization-tier-list-15808040

It’s obviously very subjective but I used some metrics:

  • More unique units = more unique
  • More regional units = more unique
  • Land is more important then water
  • Units are more important then buildings
  • Big holes in the techtree are unique
  • Very rare generic unit combinations are unique (Paladin + Heavy Camel Rider for example)
  • Civilisations bonuses are mostly ignored (it’s not about numbers)

Observations about unique civs:

  • The 4 Indian civs are all very unique
  • Eagle civs are very unique, but Inca are the most unique
  • The only European civs in the top 2 Tiers is Armenia (and some wouldn’t even consider them European)

Observations about boring civs:

  • All East Asian civs are low on the list (Chinese, Japanese and Koreans)
  • A lot of Paladin civs are low (Teutones, Franks, Celts)
  • Both Subsaharan African civs are boring
  • Most boring civs are European

I think one nice thing would be to turn some current unique units into regional units. So the civs that currently have them as unique units can get something new.
Huskarls are a good candidate since they are already trained at the Barracks anyway.

Those are just unique skins.
I’m absolutely in favour of unique skins. Generic unit skins are my single biggest issue with AoE2DE. It just feels wrong to play almost any civ that is not European.

But I don’t think the game should have “unique” units that are just generic units with a bonus.

If the Teutones get a Knight replacement, maybe it should be a little slower then a Knight without husbandry and maybe be a little more expensive in favour of more armour and immunity to conversion.

That makes it harder to balance, but this can be done 1-2 civilisations at a time so it doesn’t ruin overall balance.

1 Like

How Incas are the most unique tier and Bulgarians is the least unique tier?

Yes. I forgot that term.

Who would Huskarls be regional for, though? The only civs I can really see having Huskarls are Goths, Vikings, and maybe Britons (because Anglo-Saxons ruled by French people). I don’t really think the Teutons fit for them theme-wise, even if they do historically (Saxons). None of the Franks, Celts, or anything else near there works, really.

Organ Guns are definitely another, though. I’d specifically make it a Pan-European siege unit in the siege workshop, give those who used them excessively (Polish, Slavs) civ bonuses to do with them, and call it a day.

Inca have 2 unique units and a regional unit but they are also missing the entire stable.

Bulgarians should not be in the bottom Tier, I forgot they have a unique building.

Talked a bit about that here a while ago:

That is a good candidate too.
Nothing Portuguese about Organ Guns. This mistake was just copied over from AoE3.

2 Likes

Malians at the bottom? The only civ to lack blast furnace, bracer and siege engineers while still managing to be balanced? (Although UU doesn’t make sense)
Incas do not feel that unique to me, they’re as unique as bohemians I’d say (middle tier). Burgundians are quite unique too for the good or the bad.
The three Indian civs are easily the most out there in terms of design. I think Dravidians should be at the top and Hindustani are not that unique after the Persian rework.

1 Like

In the history, Japanese teppo was the same thing to Portuguese one. Japanese got how to make it so Japanese used teppo.

I think it’s just chemistry. Idk historical Japanese scorpion.

I think CA or pike unit is better for Japanese 2nd unique unit.