Xia Dynasty
Faction mini-preview
The Great Xia Dynasty (posthumous known as the Western or Xi Xia) is an empire established by ethnic Tanguts in what is now Western China. This faction received some early attention from AUH, but has not been fully developed yet as we ran into issues of historical accuracy with their roster and other priorities took over. However, once the Dai Viet preview is released we'll focus on them again. In the meantime here is a preview of their map territory and two infantry units.
Faction territory
This is a new image that has been developed for the AUH's radar map. However, it is a still a WIP but will serve to show new factions' locations in previews.
Unit Previews
The "Foot-Treaders" or Bubazi a trained infantry division that specialised in fighting in the mountains. Typically drawn from fierce rugged tribesman on the fringes of their empire, these men are most noted for their natural ability to traverse difficult terrains with great ease. While not heavily armed, these skilled troops are used as very effective light infantries by the Xia in difficult terrain where cavalry can't be properly deployed. On occasion, the Tanguts practiced a tactic of drawing out their enemies to these mountainous areas and then engaging them with these highly-mobile infantry, pushing them back to the plains. Textures are based Dangxiang/Qiangic tribal costumes :- (credits to Rusichi for model parts )
Tangut "Commoners" (Xia Gongshou 輕騎) are auxiliary troops - similar in many respects to Jin Alixi units, they are the most numerically common troops in the Xia army. They are typically drawn from lower-class citizens of the ethnic Tangut tribes and thus their equipment reflects their economic status.
These men fight as foot archers, almost everyone in the service of the Xia army would have been issued bows and arrows by the Xia government, the Xia bow was noted for it high quality. :-