CAVALRY ARCHER replacement that focuses on the YUMI use and fits the theme of horses being restricted to SAMURAI in feudal Japan.
KYŪSENSHI or KISHA would function as the unit’s name, with, for simplicity, being upgraded into ELITE or HEAVY to indicate unit progression. YUMI, being a larger bow, would have a larger draw power similar to the ENGLISH LONGBOW with good penetration but slower.
TEPPO functions as a replacement for the HAND CANNONEER, representing a conscripted firearm unit known as the TEPPO ASHIGARU. These units emerged during the Sengoku period, when ashigaru foot soldiers were trained in the use of matchlock firearms (tanegashima), introduced to Japan in the mid-16th century. To avoid confusion with the SCOUT CAVALRY, the unit is referred to simply as TEPPO. Reflecting their use of volley fire tactics, the unit fires faster than the HAND CANNONEER, but due to lighter armor and their role as common conscripts, they have lower HP and ARMOR, making them less durable in direct combat.
STABLE
YARI MUSHA is a replacement for the KNIGHT that emphasizes the yari, a long-reaching polearm used by SAMURAI both on foot and horseback for powerful thrusting attacks.
ONNA-BUGEISHA serves as the KNIGHT upgrade into CAVALIER, representing mounted female SAMURAI of FEUDAL JAPAN who wielded the versatile naginata polearm to defend and fight alongside male warriors.
In the context of game design, this allows the SAMURAI KNIGHT-LINE to have an initial power spike in the FEUDAL and CASTLE AGE before leveling out in the late CASTLE AGE. A good comparison would be the STEPPE LANCER and its ELITE counterpart.
ASHIGARU and ELITE ASHIGARU are inexpensive mounted units replacing SCOUT CAVALRY and LIGHT CAVALRY. ASHIGARU represent lightly equipped soldiers conscripted from peasants, with lower attack and armor reflecting their status. ELITE ASHIGARU serve as a stronger, better-trained upgrade for gameplay balance and progression.
I do think that Japanese could do with something (e.g. a new unique unit) to help them feel more Japanese. A unique cavalry archer is a possibility, although personally I find it’s their crossbows/arbalests that make them feel wrong. But this proposal would give them, I think, 5 unique units, which is way too much – even Gurjaras only have 3.
Also, I’m confused by some of the suggestions. It sounds like the knight replacement is a man that upgrades to a woman, and my understanding is that yari were infantry rather than cavalry weapons. The ashigaru replaces scout cavalry but it’s not clear whether it’s a cavalry unit or an eagle warrior style infantry unit. Having two very different units called ashigaru (the teppo and scout versions) seems like a bad idea.
I’m just a curious Japanese person who happened to stop by here because I was interested in how the DLC was being received. It’s moving to see how people are moving away from the old, mistaken interpretations of Japan that were born from past misunderstandings, toward a clearer and more nuanced understanding.
Fun fact - Out of all the civs, Japanese share all of their unit lines (not all upgrades) with … Georgians, and vice versa. Yep, you have read it right.
How is the inclusion of Scout Cavalry justified when horse riding was historically restricted to the samurai class in Japan, and there is no clear historical Japanese analogue for a light cavalry unit like the Hussar?
The tradition is maximum two unique units per civ. For more variety, you just remove techs or give bonuses. Like the Spanish cannon galleon which is a totally different unit.
We must strike a balance between historical accuracy and practical game design — though I’m sure this is preaching to the choir for those far more knowledgeable than I am.
I think we can simply make a unique upgrade for their cavalry archers.(Mounted samurai) Then allow it to deal +2 dmg vs archers but remove that +2 in civ boni. We can give it a cool skin while Japanese Kipchaks get unaffected.
I looked on jisho.org – it seems kyuu means bow and senshi means warrior, although whether a Japanese speaker would actually use kyuusenshi as a single word in this context, I don’t know. Kisha means mounted archery, so doesn’t make sense as a unit name.
Samurai didn’t exist until the 12th century. Which Japanese people rode horses/fought as cavalry before them? (Genuine question.) Scout cavalry are available in the Feudal Age, before samurai are available and (presumably) before the 12th century, inasmuch as the ages actually represent different time periods.
I may have butchered the translation, but it’s really about the intention. A purpose-built cavalry archer replacement centered around the use of the yumi, the distinctive Japanese longbow that was a mainstay of samurai warfare in feudal japan.