The Kingdom of Imerina as a whole lasted from around 1540 to 1897, so it fits neatly in the AoE3 timeframe. I’m going to focus on the “modernization period” of Imerina for now. For earlier periods, we can use King Ralambo’s period of rule.
From 1817, the central Merina kingdoms, Betsileo, Bezanozano, and Sihanaka, unified by Radama I were known to the outside world as the Kingdom of Madagascar (Imerina).
Under Radama’s rule and at his invitation, the first Europeans entered his central highland Kingdom of Imerina and its capital at Antananarivo. Radama encouraged these London Missionary Society envoys to establish schools to teach tradecraft and literacy to nobles and potential military and civil service recruits. They also introduced Christianity and taught literacy using the translated Bible.
A wide range of political and social reforms were enacted under Radama’s rule, including an end to the international slave trade, although this had historically been a key source of wealth and armaments for the Merina monarchy. Through aggressive military campaigns, he successfully united two-thirds of the island under his rule.
Choose Alliances to advance in Age. Euro alliance options can include French, British, and Portuguese.
Other Alliance options include Arabs (Omani), Indonesian groups, and various ethnic groups in Madagascar. There are options for HCC ally shipments too.
Plenty of pirates made their base there. Lots of potential for outlaw builds/shipments.
Worship of Sampy idols that provide healing and technologies. The player gets a free Sampy idol per age up.
Keepers of the Sampy - special “priest” units that can gather influence/XP by worshiping Sampy.
Ody (amulet) wearers that can buff nearby units.
Madagascar’s armies are trained at the war camp. They start with spear users and other archaic units. By Age 3, gunpowder units/artillery becomes available, referencing trade with gunpowder-using nations and industrialization.
Shared features with other African civs: Uses influence. Livestock markets, granaries, and fields are used for resource gathering. Mercenaries/native units trained at Palace. Levy at huts. Etc…
What does everyone think? Could this be good civilization for a future African DLC pack? This is mostly a beginner’s draft, but in the meantime, others can come up with more ideas regarding unique units/buildings, HCCs, and other civilization features.
You chose a really weird angle for the Malagasy… as in you didn’t pick anything that made the kingdom stand out.
Like why’d you focus on Radama and not Ranavalona to begin with?
Like sure Radama is the one who began the campaign to unify the island and welcome foreigners. It was Ranavalona who made Imerina the indisputable sole hegemon over the island and industrialized it in earnest. All while also just being a much “stronger” character overall.
The entire focus on sampy and the local religion instead of the fact that Madagascar had their own, native, industrial revolution is really bizarre to me dunno. What is so special about sampy to you that made you want it to be centerpiece of the civ? I’m not really seeing it here.
Also, this goes without saying, but the predecessor of Radama, Andrianampoinimerina, already had established muskets as the core of their army, by Ranavalona’s time they weren’t “trading” for it, they could fully stock themselves without the need of “trade with gunpowder-using nations”. Bro THEY WERE the gunpowder using nations.
Just really bizarre to me that you took interest in Madagascar but all of this went over your head.
Like I mentioned this is more of starting concept. I’ve never seen Madagascar suggested for an AoE3 civilization. Try looking for something online. The forum poll I saw for the potential civs didn’t even have Kingdom of Imerina or any Malagsy related options.
You thought of a Malagasy civ idea before, I’m sure. I’m bringing the topic up on these forums for discussion and exchange of ideas.
Queen Ranavalona I… she’s… certainly, a choice. Feel free to promote her as the potential AI personality. I won’t argue that she is certainly a strong character.
I selected King Radama because he fits better with the concept of alliances, welcoming foreigners and all that. I stand by my choice of him over Ranavalona I. Her isolationist policies contradict with the current African civ age-up mechanics of alliances. Sure, there was more industrialization during her time, but Radama also oversaw some of it. We can still reference it thru factories and adoption of other European technologies.
The general idea was incorporating the sampy’s role as spiritual objects of worship in Imernia. They were considered divine protectors and also influenced the Imernia royalty. King Ralambo had collected twelve of the most powerful sampy from neighboring groups, transforming them into divine protectors of the royal line.
Ethiopia has mountain monasteries that represent traditional Ethiopian Orthodox beliefs. Why can’t we use the sampy to represent traditional Malagsy faiths and allow for unique techs/buffs?
I would also include options in the alliances with the British to send church wagons, representing the growth of Protestant Christianity thru the teachings of the London Missionary Society. Another reason to choose Radama BTW, as Ranavalona I was infamous for restricting Christianity and kicking out foreigners.
Meh, I hadn’t thought much about the army composition. I couldn’t find pictures of the Imerina army to get good feel of how it would look. I’m aware muskets were used at various points. I was keeping with the current African civ guideline of archaic units Age 1-2 and Fortress Age onwards access to more gunpowder units. Alliances would provide additions to the army comp as well. HCCs can also provide new units like how Hausa has the card to recruit Akan Ankobia. Not sure why you made a beeline for that sentence hahaha.
As always, everyone is free to add ideas to the concept.
I feel like a Polynesian civ would be cool. They could have traditional style warriors and buildings for ages 1 and 2. Then they get gunpowder style units in age 3 onwards.
Given they then had contact with Europeans in 1778 and Kamehameha implemented gunpowder weapons into his military during the 1780’s / 1790’s, this works well with the AOE3 time setting.
Also, I think they could have a super cool navy. Apparently they also used to fit cannons (which they called red-mouthed guns) onto their ships and then afterwards deploy the same cannons on land. So a cool mechanic would be a cannon unit which turns into a small armed vessel, and vice versa.
also maybe it could also benefit from export system that TAD civs use in order to get European shipments etc.
Given that this is a company producing these DLC as products, I think they’ll stick to releasing material on civs that are more readily familiar. People know what to expect with a Japanese, American, etc civs. I don’t think sadly that the average person would know about the Mapuche sadly, and therefore it would be likely to get passed over. Even Morocco got passed over in TAR.
What’s truly most likely are the two of those for natives civs, Tupi was already a stretch in AgeII
What you suppose is the alternative or the “most likely?”
Yes, but it was released for AOE2. Which has both a higher demand for DLC than AOE3, and also is generally easier to make DLC for.
Also I didn’t say they’d be better received than guarani. I think you maybe got me mixed up with another poster I agree with you actually that Mapuche are better known than Guarani. But there’s no way you can argue that they’re better known / as well known as any of the current aoe3 DLC civs.
A lot of South American regions are already broadly represented by revolts. The devs are more likely to release DLC for civs that have no representation at all. Example: Hausa, Inca, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Malta, etc etc.
Again, AOE2 is a much different player base to sell to than AOE3. And has a bigger pool. If I was the devs, I’d give AOE2 anything they ask for cos they just buy on mass and is way more popular.
Also - are you really saying that Mapuche are more globally well known than Denmark? Or Italy? It just isn’t true. I do agree that Morocco being dropped was a surprise. If it was the old school way of releasing 3 civs at a time for AOE3, Morocco would’ve made it. But ah well.
I’m not being negative lol. And these are some of my first posts so I don’t know how you’ve kept saying in the forums that I’m being negative… I said a Polynesian civ would be awesome, but I sadly can’t see Mapuche happening. I would love it, we all would. Also Malta is historically well known over here in Europe, and they representing it pretty well in my opinion. I suppose it’s down to where we live which influences which civs and cultures we think are well known.
A lot of South American regions are already broadly represented by revolts. The devs are more likely to release DLC for civs that have no representation at all. Example: Hausa, Inca, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Malta, etc etc.
Good grief. I’m not saying the broad sweep they’ve used is good - it completely ignores tonnes of massive indigenous cultures which would make excellent material. But personally I can’t see it happening soon, as they will likely get passed over for another possibly more well known civ.
but anyway I’m done arguing, this wasn’t at all what I wanted to get into. If you wanna believe that Mapuche are the next best known and most logical choice then fair enough, you’re completely entitled to. You could be right! Just not in my personal opinion. But there we have it.
I agree with you actually that Mapuche are better known than Guarani. But there’s no way you can argue that they’re better known / as well known as any of the current aoe3 DLC civs.