I’ve been reading some posts about spliting Saracens, and most of them are kind of controversial since they are considering creating civs as Umayyad, Abassid or Fatimid, and I thought maybe there is a better way to do it without considering all the different Empires/Caliphates and use the AOE’s core: civilizations. And by mentioning that, Cysion consider this civ as an opportunity to split like the Indians, I think we can expect one DLC in some years.
Actually we had the first Saracen split at 2015 with The African Kingdoms with the inclusion of the Berbers civilization. That civ can include The Almoravid Caliphate, The Almohad Caliphate or The Marinid Dynasty. Covering the left North African area.
So, for this idea of a new DLC for the Islamic World I propose 3 new civs and a rework for Saracens. Adding the Oriental Warrior as a regional unit since it’s already present in the game.
So, covering the Left North Africa for the already existing Berbers, Right North Africa by Egyptians. North Arabs by Saracens and South Arabs by Yemenis and Omanis.
THE EGYPTIANS, THE YEMENIS & THE OMANIS.
Geographical distribution for the Saracen split civilizations
THE EGYPTIANS
The Egyptians will represent the Tulunid Emirate, the Ikhshidid Dynasty, the Fatimid Caliphate and the Mamlukes Sultanate. I choose this civ because even when they were islamized they had a strong regional identity that can be separated from the Arabs from the peninsula.
For this civilization I think they’ll have as UU the traditional Mamlukes.
And for campaign we can use Baybars (1223-1277), yes the one apearing in Edward Longshanks and in AOE4.
For the Wonder we can use the Al-Azhar Mosque, made by the Fatimids in 970 or the Qalawun complex built during the Mamluk Sultanate between 1284 and 1285.
THE YEMENIS
The Yemenis represents the Sulayhid Dynasty, Rasulid Dynasty, the Tahiri Sultanate, and the different Tribes of Yemen like the tribal confederation known as Yaman. I selected this civ trying to differentiate North Arabs (Saracens) and South Arabs, but the Yemenis are so different from Omanis that I separated these two.
The Yemenis have a strong local tribal identity, for the UU I didn’t find anything specific maybe something as a Himyarit Warrior or Rasulid Warrior.
For the campaigns, Saif ibn Dhi Yazan (516-575) can be used since he is well-known in the Aksumite-Persian wars for his role in expelling the Aksumites (Ethiopians) out of Yemen and is considered as the liberator of Yemen.
The Wonder can be designed after the Ashrafiya Mosque being completed at 1275 by the Rasulid.
THE OMANIS
The Omanis represents the Imamate of Oman (749–1959). This is a very distinct civilization within the Arab world because they are the only country where the Ibadism is really a thing and practiced since the Middle Ages. The Islam has principal 2 branches: Shia and Sunni where the Shia is practiced in Iran, some parts of Iraq and Afghanistan and the Sunni is practiced in almost all the rest of the Arab world but then we have Oman, they follow Ibadism, the 3rd Islam branch.
I think this is enough to be differentiated from the classic Saracens. Apart from the identity given by the Ibadism, they had a strong naval and commercial culture, and proyection into the coasts of East Africa.
For the campaign could be Al-Julanda bin Masud, he ruled from 749 – 751 the Imamate of Oman. He was an Ibadi religious leader who was elected the first Ibadi imam of Oman, until his death defending against an Abbasid invasion.
The wonder needs to be Bahla Fort, it is now declared World Heritage by UNESCO. The fort is believed to have been built between the 12th and 15th century.
The Saracens after losing the Mamluk as UU I think they will have a Faris Knight or something related being heavy chivalry. The wonder should be the same as it is located in Iraq and now the Saracens are representing all the North Arabs including the Levantine people, Iraq, Syria, Kurds, etc., including the powerful Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate and the Abbasid Caliphate.
CAMPAIGN CHANGES
With these civilizations we can think about some civ changes in the actual campaigns or scenarios:
SALADIN
- An Arabian Knight (Egyptians) From Saracens to Egyptians
FRANCISCO DE ALMEIDA
-
Ruins of Empires (Zanzibar) From Saracens to Omanis
-
A Son’s Blood (Mamluks) From Saracens to Egyptians
YODIT
-
The Right Partner (Ikshids) From Saracens to Egyptians
-
A Fallen Crown (Alodian Rebels) From Saracens to Egyptians (Note: This is an opportunity for another change if Nubians are added into AOE2)
TAMERLANE
- Scourge of the Levant (Mamluks) From Saracens to Egyptians
EDWARD LONGSHANKS
- A Man of God (Mamluks) From Saracens to Egyptians
KOMNENOS
- (Fatimids) From Saracens to Egyptians
Please give me your opinions about this, I think is a matter of time having this Saracen split so I hope the devs go this way and don’t create Umayyad, Abbasid civs, etc. I know the weakest one could be the Yemenis but maybe if they include Nubia in the Arab world and not a future split from Ethiopians maybe there is an opportunity for Egyptians, Nubians and Omanis being added in a single DLC.
Oh and almost forgot it. Right now we have 4 civs with the Middle Eastern architecture set so this is the perfect time to move Persians into Central Asia, and leaving Middle Eastern to 6 civs: Berbers, Saracens, Turks, Egyptians, Omanis and Yemenis.
And if someone complain about leaving Saracen classic name and not changing it, it’s one of the original civilizations I think they can conserve the name, we have Italians, Romans and Sicilians in the game guys, and I won’t even want to talk about the 3K and Chinese…
