Universal Unit Mod Idea 4th-18th Centuries

[Col. Tartleton]

WIP (Add as I go.)

Spoiler for Germanic Military: 

Spoiler for Germanic Infantry: 

Spoiler for Tier 1: Late Antiquity: 

[Tier 1] 4th Century Germanic Spear [Cloth, Scale, Short Mail, Full Mail]
[Tier 1] 4th Century Germanic Sword [Cloth, Scale, Short Mail, Full Mail]
[Tier 1] 4th Century Germanic Axe [Cloth, Scale, Short Mail, Full Mail]
[Tier 1] 4th Century Germanic Sling [Cloth, Scale, Short Mail, Full Mail]
[Tier 1] 4th Century Germanic Bow [Cloth, Scale, Short Mail, Full Mail]
[Tier 1] 4th Century Germanic Crossbow [Cloth, Scale, Short Mail, Full Mail]

Spoiler for Tier 2: Early Medieval: 

[Tier 2] 7th Century Germanic Spear [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Lamellar]
[Tier 2] 7th Century Germanic Sword [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Lamellar]
[Tier 2] 7th Century Germanic Axe [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Lamellar]
[Tier 2] 7th Century Germanic Sling [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Lamellar]
[Tier 2] 7th Century Germanic Bow [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Lamellar]
[Tier 2] 7th Century Germanic Crossbow [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Lamellar]

Spoiler for Tier 3: High Medieval: 

[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Spear [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]
[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Sword [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]
[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Axe [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]
[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Sling [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]
[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Bow [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]
[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Crossbow [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]

Spoiler for Tier 4: Late Medieval: 

[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Pike [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Partial Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Spear [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Partial Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Sword [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Partial Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Axe [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Partial Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Bow [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Partial Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Crossbow [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Partial Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Arbalest [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Partial Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 5 Early Renaissance: 

[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Pike [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Halberd [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Pavise [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Great Sword [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Sword [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Mace [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Hand Gun [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Bow [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Crossbow [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Arbalest [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 6: Late Renaissance: 

[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Pike [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Halberd [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Pavise [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Great Sword [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Sword [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Mace [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Harquebus [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Bow [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Crossbow [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Arbalest [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 7: Early Modern: 

[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Pike [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Halberd [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Great Sword [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Sword [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Harquebus [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Musket [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Bow [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Arbalest [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 8: Modern: 

[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Pike [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Halberd [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Harquebus [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Musket [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Fusil [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 9: Enlightenment: 

[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Pike [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Halberd [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Musket [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Fusil [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Rifle [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Grenade [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]

Spoiler for Germanic Cavalry: 

Spoiler for Tier 1: Late Antiquity: 

[Tier 1] 4th Century Germanic Spear Horse [Cloth, Scale, Short Mail, Full Mail]
[Tier 1] 4th Century Germanic Javelin Horse [Cloth, Scale, Short Mail, Full Mail]

Spoiler for Tier 2: Early Medieval: 

[Tier 2] 7th Century Germanic Spear Horse [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Lamellar]
[Tier 2] 7th Century Germanic Javelin Horse [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Lamellar]

Spoiler for Tier 3: High Medieval: 

[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Lance [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]
[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Javelin Horse [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]

Spoiler for Tier 4: Late Medieval: 

[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Lance [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Javelin Horse [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Bow Horse [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Crossbow Horse [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 5: Early Renaissance: 

[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Lance [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Heavy Horse [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Bow Horse [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Crossbow Horse [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 6: Late Renaissance: 

[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Lance [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Heavy Horse [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Bow Horse [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Crossbow Horse [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 7: Early Modern: 

[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Lance [Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Heavy Horse [Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Light Horse [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Bow Horse [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Crossbow Horse [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 8: Modern: 

[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Lance [Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Heavy Horse [Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Light Horse [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Dragoon [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 9: Enlightenment: 

[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Heavy Horse [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Dragoon [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]

Spoiler for Germanic Artillery: 

Spoiler for Tier 1: Late Antiquity: 

[Tier 1] 4th Century Germanic Onager [Cloth, Scale, Short Mail, Full Mail]
[Tier 1] 4th Century Germanic Ballista [Cloth, Scale, Short Mail, Full Mail]

Spoiler for Tier 2: Early Medieval: 

[Tier 2] 7th Century Germanic Onager [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]
[Tier 2] 7th Century Germanic Ballista [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]

Spoiler for Tier 3: High Medieval: 

[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Onager [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]
[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Trebuchet [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]
[Tier 3] 10th Century Germanic Springald [Cloth, Short Mail, Full Mail, Advanced Mail]

Spoiler for Tier 4: Late Medieval: 

[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Onager [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Trebuchet [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Bombard [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 4] 13th Century Germanic Springald [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 5: Early Renaissance: 

[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Trebuchet [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Bombard [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]
[Tier 5] 14th Century Germanic Ribauldequin [Cloth, Chainmail, Brigandine, Transitional Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 6: Late Renaissance: 

[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Bombard [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Ribauldequin [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]
[Tier 6] 15th Century Germanic Grand Ribauldequin [Cloth, Brigandine, Partial Plate, Full Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 7: Early Modern: 

[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Falconet [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Saker [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Demi Culverin [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Culverin [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 7] 16th Century Germanic Mortar [Cloth, Brigandine, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 8: Modern: 

[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Falconet [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Saker [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Demi Culverin [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Culverin [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Demi Cannon [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Cannon [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Great Cannon [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 8] 17th Century Germanic Mortar [Cloth, Buff Leather, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]

Spoiler for Tier 9: Enlightenment: 

[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Falconet [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Saker [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Demi Culverin [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Culverin [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Demi Cannon [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]
[Tier 9] 18th Century Germanic Mortar [Cloth, Rich Cloth, Half Plate, 3/4th Plate]

Spoiler for Naval Units: 

Spoiler for Tier 1: Late Antiquity: 

[Tier 1] 4th Century Knarr
[Tier 1] 4th Century Monoreme Dromon

Spoiler for Tier 2: Early Medieval: 

[Tier 2] 7th Century Knarr
[Tier 2] 7th Century Monoreme Dromon
[Tier 2] 7th Century Bireme Dromon

Spoiler for Tier 3: High Medieval: 

[Tier 3] 10th Century Knarr
[Tier 3] 10th Century Cog
[Tier 3] 10th Century Hulk
[Tier 3] 10th Century Monoreme Dromon
[Tier 3] 10th Century Bireme Dromon
[Tier 3] 10th Century Trireme Dromon

Spoiler for Tier 4: Late Medieval: 

[Tier 4] 13th Century Cog
[Tier 4] 13th Century Hulk

Spoiler for Tier 5: Early Renaissance: 

[Tier 5] 14th Century Cog
[Tier 5] 14th Century Hulk

Spoiler for Tier 6: Late Renaissance: 

[Tier 6] 15th Century Hulk
[Tier 6] 15th Century Caravel
[Tier 6] 15th Century Carrack

Spoiler for Tier 7: Early Modern: 

[Tier 7] 16th Century Hulk (10-20 Guns)
[Tier 7] 16th Century Carrack (20-40 Guns)

Spoiler for Tier 8: Modern: 

[Tier 8] 17th Century First Rate Galleon (60+ Guns)
[Tier 8] 17th Century Second Rate Galleon (50-60 Guns)
[Tier 8] 17th Century Third Rate Galleon (40-50 Guns)
[Tier 8] 17th Century Fourth Rate Frigate (30-40 Guns)
[Tier 8] 17th Century Razee (20-30 Guns)
[Tier 8] 17th Century Pinnace (Under 20 Guns)

Spoiler for Tier 9: Enlightenment: 

[Tier 9] 18th Century First Rate Galleon (100+ Guns)
[Tier 9] 18th Century Second Rate Galleon (90-100 Guns)
[Tier 9] 18th Century Third Rate Galleon (60-90 Guns)
[Tier 9] 18th Century Fourth Rate Frigate (50-60 Guns)
[Tier 9] 18th Century Fifth Rate Frigate (30-50 Guns)
[Tier 9] 18th Century Sixth Rate Cutter (20-30 Guns)
[Tier 9] 18th Century Corvette (Under 20 Guns)

[Col. Tartleton]

This is just the idea bit, not a proposal or wip. It's not a mod just an idea.

I'm fairly certain using a reasonable amount of abstraction (although probably less than vanilla) and common sense one could accurately represent pretty much everything in one mod and of course enjoy numerous campaigns. Anyhow while I work it out I think I'll post it here. That's right, I've vaguely estimated you can follow the art and science of Total War from Emperor Diocletian's first Rome to Peter the Great's Third Rome, and all the countries from Ireland to Northwest India. You know, literally everything... Except the last 300 years of course, but they're not cooperative.

Essentially the way it works is that 1-3 centuries are assigned a "Tier" of 1-9. Tier 1 is called Late Antiquity. This is approximately going to represent soldiers from 300-600 AD. Tier 2 is called Early Medieval. This is going to approximate soldiers from 600-900 AD. Tier 3 is of course High Medieval this is going to approximately soldiers from 900-1200 AD. These three collectively represent the early periods. This period predates the rise of the Mongols and gunpowder. The periods are 300 years each because this 900 year period is primarily the "Dark Ages" and as a result developments were gradual. Things rapidly speed up from there on, the next 600 years have roughly twice as many developments as the first 900.

The second period covers Tiers 4-6. Tier 4 is called Late Medieval and covers the years from 1200-1300. Tier 5 is called Early Renaissance and covers the years from 1300-1400. As you can imagine Tier 6 is the Late Renaissance and covers the years from 1400-1500. This period is generally what we think of as being the Renaissance. This relatively short period sees the transition from antiquity to modernity and really encapsulates the quintessential medieval army.

The third and final period covers Tiers 7-9. Tier 7 is called Early Modern and covers the years from 1500-1600. Tier 8 is called Modern and covers the years 1600-1660, that is to say the first part of the 17th century. Tier 9, the final era is called Enlightenment and covers the years from 1660-1720s, possibly 1750 at a stretch. This period is quite different from the early periods, the harquebus replacing the spear as the primary weapon.

So anyhow, my idea is that the seven cultures: Romantic, Germanic, Slavic, Altaic, Arabic, Iranic, and Indic will each have appropriate units sorted into them. For example while Germanic is a complete list from Tier 1 to Tier 9 with a plethora of units for each, other cultures will not. Romantic Culture abruptly came to an end in what is Tier 6. As such the Byzantine Roster would adopt the most similar (Slavic) Roster in Tier 7 on to fill it out. This saves space and makes sense as opposed to inventing what 16th, 17th, and 18th century Byzantines look like. Had the Byzantine Empire done better it would due to the way the culture was heading, most likely have been similar to what we see in the related Russian Early Modern society. Other factions like Poland would naturally combine the Slavic and German rosters as Poland is Middle Europe, the easternmost part of the Latin West, what with their writing, Catholicism, and general style. Initially Slavic, then German, then Slavic again.

What I thought was important is standardizing the Tier models. For example if you look at the Germanic units, Tier 1 has 6 different units: Spearmen, Swordsmen, Axemen, Slingers, Bowmen, and Crossbowmen. My idea is to keep is simple, they're all basic men, out of the box they're meant to be green troops at the muster, experience is in the game for a reason, to be trained or gained, and you can obviously upgrade their armor. As such I concluded that men should start off in their culture's period clothing as if they walked in off the farm, then you as their lord, can bestow upon them proper arms and training via the appropriate buildings. So all six units would use the same default Cloth model, the same +1 Scale Armor model, +2 Short Mail Armor, and +3 Full Mail Armor. It's not Rome, so that still means a hell of a lot of variation. Their attachments of course would be weapons and so forth, which are more specific to the unit type. So your foot options as a German faction in 300 AD-600 AD are infantry armed with javelins and spears, infantry armed with javelins and swords, infantry armed with throwing axes and hand axes, infantry armed with slings and long knives (seax), infantry armed with self bows and long knives, and for flavor of course the late roman crossbow and long knives.

Tier 2 offers you the same six units except they're 300 years forward in time. Instead of Germanic Barbarians they're now proper dark age Germans/Vikings. Their style of hair and dress is different, their armor and weapons are different, but their roles are admittedly similar. Spearmen are still going to be burly shield wall types with throwing and thrusting spears. Swordsmen will be similar as well. The armor differences will move you ahead somewhat. Scale Armor is out, a thing of the past, therefore increasing the availability of the period's mail armors while proper Lamellar is added in as a sort of proto-cuirass over the full length mail. Metal mind you, none of that leather steppe crap. In that period in history you don't really get much heavier than that armor wise. Full length hauberk and a lamellar cuirass. So on the first level they basically look like militia or raiders and by the last level they look like heavy infantry.

[Roboute Guilliman]

Biggest problem will be the unit limit set at 500 for this mod.

[Col. Tartleton]

Biggest problem will be the unit limit set at 500 for this mod.

I think I can get under it. That's why I'm planning the units out.

[Yayattasa]

I think it's pretty possible to do it under 500 units. Maybe you should concentrate first on Germany. You can ask for permissions for most units and do a proof of concept.

[Hrobatos]

This would be huge amount of work, if you want it to be anything more than recolored vanilla. A bold task indeed. Good luck!

[paradamed]

I think it is an interesting idea. it would be something like a mix of Age of Empires and Total War. It has never been done before and probably very challenging but very cool idea.

[Col. Tartleton]

I think it's pretty possible to do it under 500 units. Maybe you should concentrate first on Germany. You can ask for permissions for most units and do a proof of concept.

Yeah I think the 500 units will be enough. I'm currently operating under the presumption that ships count towards the unit cap, but I'm not 100%. If not this would be even easier. Note I'm also fleshing out naval rosters, arguably more than would be needed upon revision. You'll note that some ships have multiple tiers as different which seems strange, but I'm trying to represent that different ships are evolving. A 4th century longship was not built as well as a 7th century longship and a 10th century longship is going to be larger. Likewise the early Hulk is a totally different than a late Hulk. The engineering changes, the ships get bigger, and eventually they go from using crossbows and melee to adding cannon to the mix. Some Hulks were huge and festooned with cannon atop floating castle crenelations. The early ones were barely sea worthy and you had some archers aboard. Obviously that's going to mean something in game. Also the names are naturally work in progress, ideal I'd name everything more specifically. "10th Century Germanic Sword" doesn't satisfy, but in the planning state they're intended to be as generic as possible so that it's neutral.

My total number of Germanic units was 126 battle units and 27 naval units. However it needs to be clear that that means most of the Iberian units, French units, British units, Scandinavian units, French units, and Italian units, and a lot of the polish units, and a lot of mercenary types, so that's probably more than 10 factions being done. For example "Varangian Guard" wouldn't necessarily be a Byzantine unit, you'd just train 10th Century German Axemen through the Byzantine system and given the highest upgrade level they're going to look appropriate for the task as the Byzantine's crack troops.

This would be huge amount of work, if you want it to be anything more than recolored vanilla. A bold task indeed. Good luck!

Yeah it would be a very extensive. But that's sort of the point.

I think it is an interesting idea. it would be something like a mix of Age of Empires and Total War. It has never been done before and probably very challenging but very cool idea.

I was thinking basically I'd envision 5 campaigns: 300 AD, 600 AD, 900 AD, 1200 AD, and 1500 AD. Each one spanning about 300 years. The first three would pretty much be limited to the tier they're in, but the last two would have a more evolutionary game play within reason. Arguably more campaigns could be devised beyond the 5. However in Custom Battles everything is on the table, you could have Frankish Barbarians facing off against Prussian line infantry. Ideally balanced against each other to what would be realistic. That would be the interesting thing. However in a campaign that's kind of ridiculous, it wouldn't be quite like age of empires, it would be vaguely historical you can't just spam tech upgrades and have Romanos Diogenes get 60 pound great cannons in the 11th century to shatter Turkish aggression as Manzikert. In a custom battle, yes, of course.

But I should think you can within reason press your advantage from Late Medieval to Late Renaissance faster than history allowed. Maybe get from transitional armor to Gothic level armors by diverting your energies into armor development or something. That's not crazy. That's very plausible. There'd also be a historical options. You could continue to put period aesthetic appropriate 3/4th armor on 18th century line infantry or whatever. They'd benefit a lot in close combat, but muskets and cannons are still going to take them out. Like in history it isn't cost effective when you're going to want to focus on mass production of troops. One of my other thoughts is to have a completely different way of raising troops. You aren't limited by turns, not really at least. You're limited by your training facilities and population. So in the 18th century you might build a "Battalion Barracks" which would give you 8 line infantry, 4 pikes, and 1 unit of grenadiers with a number of turns for replenishment for the troops, but you can raise a whole battalion of infantry that turn. A half stack would train that turn. A regimental barracks would say double or triple those caps, so you'd be able to train like 2 full stacks of troops in a turn at a city. With a sizable economy you can call on hordes of soldiers and spam automated battles until your heart's content, or if crazy, fight them out on the field.

Once I figure out the full rosters, I would naturally try to figure out the infrastructure required and system that as well.

- ... ... ...
- ... ... ...

It's a mod idea. I'm not saying I'm going to do it (all) myself. I'm laying out a big picture and then figuring out if it's workable and modifying it as needed to fit within the constraints. It's a universal unit mod. Obviously it's important that it could be doable. It's a bunch of research and planning.

[Vladyvid]

It's not a mod just an idea.

- ... ... ...
- ... ... ...

[Mr Kriegtooth]

Hmmm, sounds interesting! Eras: Total Conquest or whatever its called is sorta like that in terms of different campaigns. Not sure how good the units are since I aint got it yet

Sounds very doable though...and neat!

[Col. Tartleton]

Okay I've laid out what the Germanic factions would look like. "Frankish" would be a better description than Germanic, but I'm being intentionally vague at this point. The Frankish civilization basically equates to European once you account for the reach of their trade goods. What was stylish or proven in France has generally been how things have gone in Europe.

The Late Renaissance offers a lot of infantry and cavalry, but artillery gets crazy in the modern period with all the various guns. I actually have to add some mortars and howitzers, but I need to do more research into what those would be like so I can determine what's appropriate to include.

[Mr Kriegtooth]

That works I see what youre doing!

There would still be some unique units and such for each faction though, no?

Also with the armour levels, could you make the units all LOOK unique?

[Col. Tartleton]

It depend if there's a need for them. I mean I'm not sure how historical that sort of thing is by and large. I mean at the end of the day any unit of soldiers is defined by their weapon's role, how well they're armored, and to a lesser extent what they look like in terms of place and time, and how much experience they've been imparted by training regimens or real combat.

Crusading factions would have access to Turkopoles. But they almost certainly wouldn't be called "Turcopoles", they'd just be your bog standard Byzantine styled period Horse Archers as that's what they were, Turkish and Greek Christians fighting on horseback with steppe bows. The same units the Romans and others use. How you recruit them is what makes them Turcopoles.

This is just tech tree overview stuff.

For example let's imagine we're talking my notion of "Early Medieval German Axe."
Base (Unarmored):


Short Mail:


etc.

So as you can imagine they'd progressively get more bad ass looking. Ideally there would be minimal faction coloring or uniformity. But in general yes, different units within the same "tier" would have different looks within reason. The soldiers equipped with Dane Axes will be slightly more danish looking. Probably with Norse styled gear, but most of the units would be Frank inspired and fairly uniform from unit to unit, but fairly non uniform within units.

[Mr Kriegtooth]

Yay!

Yeah, I wouldnt care too much about the name as long as everything looks different within reason(Dont need Danish and Norwegian Axemen looking too completely different!), especially in such a widespread mod.

But need some different looks. I'd say true unique units would probably be really really unique. Like the English Billmen or something(unless you make a polearm unit)

[Col. Tartleton]

Yay!

Yeah, I wouldnt care too much about the name as long as everything looks different within reason(Dont need Danish and Norwegian Axemen looking too completely different!), especially in such a widespread mod.

There really needn't be any differences IMO.

But need some different looks. I'd say true unique units would probably be really really unique. Like the English Billmen or something(unless you make a polearm unit)

Right now I'm reforming the German Roster to a more practical true to life breakdown, "Billmen" or "Voulges" would be dismounted Sergeants while proper halberdiers and lucerne hammers would be dismounted knights in the correct periods. Just working on the 300 AD Map (it's interesting how many of the late Roman provincial capitals stay major cities up to the modern day) and I'm supposed to be helping dmcraanen with a little stuff for The High Road . I think I'm just going to roll India into Persia having some elephants and other stuff. There's probably only a few Indian provinces on the maps, tops.

So for example 15th Century generic Germans (Late Renaissance) looks like this (Infantry and Cavalry) now (ideally it will be translated into the appropriate Middle French, this has the potential to be fairly educational as even little things like unit names would evolve with the times as would city names, etc.):

100 Mounted Knights
100 Mounted Sergeants
100 Mounted Squires
100 Mounted Bowmen
100 Mounted Crossbowmen
100 Foot Knights
100 Foot Sergeants
100 Foot Squires
100 Foot Bowmen
100 Foot Crossbowmen
100 Foot Culveriners
100 Foot Pikemen

A real world Company of Ordinance in France is mounted or dismounted 1 Knight, 1 Sergeant, 1 Squire, 3 Bowmen.
A real world Company of Ordinance in Burgundy is mounted or dismounted 1 Knight, 1 Sergeant, 1 Squire, 3 Bowmen, 1 Crossbowman, 1 Culverin, 1 Pikeman.
Other countries used identical divisions but they weren't as regulated as formations.

In practice you have a body of heavy lance cavalry, medium lance cavalry, medium sword cavalry, and several light missile cavalry, or they can be dismounted (IRL) as heavy polearm infantry, medium polearm infantry, and light missile infantry. Then you've got the Squires who serve a shield bearers (lugging around the siege pavise and a sword) which the missile infantry form up behind them and fire over or between them while the Pikes are there to fight off cavalry. The Unit's Commander is a Knight Banneret, a guy with 100 Lances under his command. ie. a fairly important nobleman.

Essentially a "company" is a self contained battalion of 600-900 soldiers.

[Dex-starr]

This is the mod I've been wanting, I'll have to keep an eye on this one. Any idea if you could implement a research tree like empire (the one thing I actually did like from that game)?

[Col. Tartleton]

This is the mod I've been wanting, I'll have to keep an eye on this one. Any idea if you could implement a research tree like empire (the one thing I actually did like from that game)?

As much as sense allows. I'm not sure if it will be more building or research based, but a more historical research/building tree would be my goal. I want the mod to be vaguely historical and things to make sense. The research tree idea as presented seems a bit unrealistic, but a similar mechanism would be ideal. The thing is it's intended to be played as either 5 300 year (2 turn per year) segments or 15 100 (6 turn per year) segments depending on how many different campaigns the game can handle (I'm not sure how it works on that end.) So that would limit how much research can be carried out.

You wouldn't play a single game from the 4th to 18th centuries.

Let's say you choose 10th century (either the 3rd of 5 or 7th of 15 starting point) your army roster looks like this (I might add slinger:

Ancien Retenue à cheval [Spear and Kite, Arming Sword and Kite] [Cloth, Gambeson, Short Mail, Full Mail] (Early Mounted Retinue)
Anciens Chevaliers à cheval [Spear and Kite, Arming Sword and Kite] [Cloth, Gambeson, Short Mail, Full Mail] (Early Mounted Knights)
Anciens Escuiers à cheval [Arming Sword and Kite] [Cloth, Gambeson, Short Mail, Full Mail] (Early Mounted Squires)
Anciens Serjeants à cheval [Spear and Kite, Arming Sword and Kite] [Cloth, Gambeson, Short Mail, Full Mail] (Early Mounted Sergeants)
Anciens Chevaliers à piés [Spear and Kite, Arming Sword and Kite] [Cloth, Gambeson, Short Mail, Full Mail] (Early Foot Knights)
Anciens Escuiers à piés [Arming Sword and Kite] [Cloth, Gambeson, Short Mail, Full Mail] (Early Foot Squires)
Anciens Serjeants à piés [Spear and Kite, Arming Sword and Kite] [Cloth, Gambeson, Short Mail, Full Mail] (Early Foot Sergeants)
Anciens Archiers à piés [Longbow, Arming Sword and Kite] [Cloth, Gambeson, Short Mail, Full Mail] (Early Foot Archers)
Anciens Arbalestiers à piés [Crossbow, Arming Sword and Kite] [Cloth, Gambeson, Short Mail, Full Mail] (Early Foot Crossbowmen)

That's Old French naturally, although if anyone is a scholar of the language and can correct me that would be great. West European stuff is in the contemporary variations of French because French is de facto the universal language of "western" Europe. So I will take (ideally Old Franconian but if I can't work it out I'll use Late Latin), Old French, Middle French, and Modern French in coming up with unit names for Western European units.

In terms of "Tech Tree" you should need to have the appropriate civic institutions and military facilities properly established before you can train the different sorts of soldiers (you obviously can't train your own knights or squires without developing the institution of knighthood.) Furthermore to improve them you would further develop the appropriate chains. "Cloth" is default of course, whatever is the appropriate fashions of the time with the basic weapons, but no military equipment (I believe the shield can be added (visually speaking at least) with armor upgrades although without the shield they'd still fight as though they had one). Your knights would basically look like they were going on a pilgrimage, not a military expedition, or were caught with their pants down riding in the country. One should hope a proper ruler could find men with proper arms. Then "Gambeson" would mean they were going to have the quilted armor, a metal helmet, and a proper shield, essentially "ballin' on a budget" but battle ready. Then short mail would add a nice haubergeon, a tunic of mail. Then finally with a better suit of full length mail you're starting to look more like proper Norman Knights, arrayed for Hastings. Would there be research? Perhaps. If not, something mirroring it.