Let’s brainstorm the inaccuracies in Age of Empires 2 when it comes to History of the Civs.
Aztecs
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The presence of siege weaponry is anachronistic.
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Aztec units seem to speak an unrelated Mayan language instead of classical Nahuatl.
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Jaguar warrior were born from commoners, Eagle warrior were born from nobility, recruitability from castle and barracks should be reversed to reflect this.
Bengalis
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Rathas were not used in medieval age. The design of ratha is based on Egyptian war chariot rather than Indian which should have a frame at back and umbrella overhead.
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Bengalis have a lot of horse units while in reality they relied more on their superior infantry and only low number of mercenary horses.
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Bengali Wonder is sized 50% of what it should be.
Berbers
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Genitour is actually an Iberian unit, who fought against the Berbers.
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Language spoken by in game Berbers has some made up words by weird foreign pronunciation.
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The user interface displays the coat of arms of Nasrid Dynasty of Iberian Peninsula.
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The Hassan Tower (Wonder) was actually never completed.
Bohemians
- They should get the East European Architecture shared with Teutons.
Britons
- Historically Britons referred to Cornish and Welsh native to Britain. The proper term should be English.
Bulgarians
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Bulgarians speak a very similar language to Slavs. They represent turkic people in many campaigns. Would be good if they speak the extinct Bulgar Language.
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Stirrup was not invented by Bulgarians. The oldest recorded foot supports loop is in the second century BC on Sanchi, Mathura and Bhaja Caves.
Burgundians
NIL
Burmese
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Unique Unit Arambai is a Manipuri unit which was often at war against the burmese although sometimes also formed part of BUrmese Cavalry.
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Unique Tech Manipur Cavalry could have potentially come from the deadly raids the Manipuris made into Burmese lands in the 18th century when they ravaged much of the countryside, destroying villages and pagodas.
Byzantines
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The Byzantine Church should be orthodox not Catholic as in the Mediterranean Architecture Set.
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Byzantines speak Latin Language shared with Italian instead of their Greek Language.
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Cataphract was actually more commonly used by the enemies Persians but they don’t get it.
Celts
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Celts should be renamed to Gaels as they don’t represent the Gauls (mainland europe celts)
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They should not have paladins if they are only representing celts of british isle not the gauls. The Gaels represented by Celts lost to English because of their lack of good horses.
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Woad Raider is a ancient age roman era barbaric unit. Something like Gallowglass will be more approriate.
Chinese
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Despite being the inventor of gunpowder technology,they don’t get handcannoneers and bombard cannons.
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Chinese in game speak modern mandarin instead of the more appropriate old mandarian…
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Chu Ko Nu was actually very heavy to carry around in large numbers. It was often mounted on walls.
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On record Chinese never really used Camels in warfare, even though they get access to camel riders because they imported Bactrian Camels from Central Asia.
Dravidians
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Dravidian unique unit Thirisadai is built upon the Borobudur Ship of Javanese.
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Dravidian civ is mostly based on Tamils yet some ruler names are of Kannadiga origin who are historical rivals of Tamils. Kannadigas had good cavalry but Dravidians in game have the least horse-mounted units outside of Mesoamerican civilizations.
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The Dravidian theme music has a Punjabi tune midway
Cumans
- NIL
Ethiopians
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Ethiopians are using incorrect Sahel Architecture Style Mosque as their monastery even though they are Christians.
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Historically they should have Elephants in their army as they did use African Elephants
Franks
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Historically they utilized Arbalests though they lack this upgrade in game.
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Paladins were primarily used by Franks only but this unit they are sharing with other Civs.
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The wonder is St. Vitus Cathedral which should belong to Bohemians.
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The throwing axe (francisca) was not used in the medieval period. It is an ancient age weapon.
Goths
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Gothic units speak German Language shared with Teutons instead of their own Gothic Language.
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Goths were known for light/missile cavalry which is not part of their infantry based playstyle.
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Goths in game campaigns primarily represent their role in Italian and Iberian peninsula yet they do not get Mediterranean architecture.
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Huskarl or Houscarl is actually an Anglo-Saxon warrior not Gothic which was primarily armed with an Axe not Sword.
Gurjaras
- Shrivamsha Rider model is designed after Sindhi Horseman, while the horse itself is the correct one. Gurjara Rajput Cavalries wore armour instead of going bare bodies.
Huns
- Well this civilization is problematic no matter how you design it. Hunnic Language is unknown, no Architecture Set fits them, they are not a correct civilization for time period.
Hindustanis
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The female villager uses a very strong western accent and the king dialogues are garbled.
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The Indian Civs do not get ship sails, king graphics and UI graphics.
Incas
- Incan Architecture is very different from Mesoamerican Architecture. Incan Religion is Inti not Nauhatl, so the Monk model is also incorrect.
Italians
NIL
Japanese
- The Samurais were actually famed Mounted Archers rather than fighting on foot.
Khmer
- Historically Khmer were good at Navy but in game they are average.
Koreans
- The War Wagon is a non-sensical uni## It was probably inspired by Hwacha which is a very different unit.
Lithuanians
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Historically Lithuanians used Light while Poles used Heavy Cavalry but in game Lithuanians get Paladins while Poles do not.
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Leiciai carry tower shield while Halberdiers do not carry any shield but Tower shield tech affects the later.
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Hill Forts were found around the world, not unique to Lithuanians.
Magyars
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In game Magyars speak Modern Hungarian Language which is very different from the Medieval Hungarian.
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Magyar Black Army included gunpowder units but Magyars don’t have access to Hand Cannoneers and Bombard Cannons.
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Magyar were Roman Catholic.
Malay
NIL
Mongols
- Mangudais are actually units of the Golden Horde / ##### Horde instead of Khalkha Mongols which the civ represents.
Persians
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War Elephants were never the main roster of Persian Armies. Finest Elephants were imported from outside but used in small numbers.
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Persians have the least number of unique civ bonuses and unique units. They can probably use a Cataphract like cavalry Aswaran/Savaran or Cataphract Camels.
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The civ needs to use the Lapis Lazuli Central Asian Architecture which is based on the Sassanid Style upon which the civ is based on.
Poles
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They used the famed Winged Hussars which is actually available to many other civs as the generic hussar has wings.
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Obuch should be renamed to Nadziaki based on the actual weapon it is carrying. It was used in small numbers by nobility never in large numbers as in most games.
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They should have Catholic Church not Orthodox.
Portuguese
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Organ Gun was not a Portuguese weapon, it was primarily used in Anglo-French war.
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In-game they speak modern Portuguese with Brazilian Accent. Medieval Portuguese will be a dialect of Iberian Language.
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They do not get Conquistadors even though it was used by them as well. Inversely their UI contains Carrack and their unique ship Caravel both of which was used extensively by Spaniards as well.
Romans
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The Centurions were usually dismounted.
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In-game Centurion helmet looks like from Early Roman Period, while Legionary helmet looks like from Late Roman Period.
Saracens
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Saracens means Muslims used by Crusaders to refer to the common enemy which is odd. Would be appropriate to rename them to something like Arabs.
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Mamelukes did not use Bactrian Camel in Hot Desert throwing Schimitar at Enemy.
Sicilians
NIL
Slavs
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Slavs should be renamed to Ruthenians.
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They use a wonder which is very anachronistic even though a more accurate wonder is available in the scenario editor.
Spanish
- Conquistadors used crossbows more often than guns.
Tatars
NIL
Teutons
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Would be cool to rename them to Germans as they are representing the HRE instead of the order based on their appearances in game.
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They do not get their UI unique to architecture set.
Turks
- Janissary should get their hats as in Royal Janissary unit model, it was their iconic identity.
Vietnamese
- They speak modern Vietnamese instead of Middle Vietnamese.
Vikings
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Berserkers didn’t have horns on their helmet.
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Might be a good idea to rename them to Scandinavians/Norse. Vikinger was a profession.