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Thread: [C&E] Faction Preview: Governorate-General of Brazil

  1. #1
    Metal.Pigeon's Avatar Decanus
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    Default [C&E] Faction Preview: Governorate-General of Brazil

    Hi all! I've been given the go-ahead to post a faction preview, and while not everything is 100% finished yet, I figured that it's probably been long enough and showing at least something would be nice.

    There isn't much to say about the Portuguese campaign-wise, since a lot of that is still not set in stone. As of now, they two settlements: their capital, Forte de Sao Jose da Barra do Rio Negro in the Amazon, as well as Santo Pedro in Nova Scotia. To represent the fact that they exist outside the Colonies & Empires campaign map, they'll likely have a higher than normal king's purse and maybe the ability to form a horde if all their settlements in the campaign are taken.

    There's more solid information regarding their unit roster, though. The Portuguese will be one of the better factions for pike-and-shot gameplay, as they have a variety of powerful infantry and missile options. They also have good cavalry, making them tactically flexible. Do note that the current roster is a work in progress and still subject to change, especially visually.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Shipmen: Most ship crews are somewhat capable of fighting, as although it is not their occupation, their occupation demands it because of the ever present threat of pirates. These men are lightly equipped with little to no armour, and armed with only a hand weapon and small shield. While hardly true soldiers, they can take on lesser-skilled infantry in a pinch. Still a work in progress.

    Escudeiros: Portuguese unique unit. Iberian infantry are well-renowned throughout Europe for their exceptional skill and discipline. Soldiers armed with swords and shields are a key component of the Portuguese terço formation, acting as shock troops to aid friendly pikemen by disrupting the enemy formation. Escudeiros are versatile and mobile infantry that excel in close-quarters combat, though they are vulnerable to cavalry charges.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Piqueiros: Portuguese unique unit. Iberian infantry are well-renowned throughout Europe for their exceptional skill and discipline. These soldiers wear good armour and can keep enemies at a safe distance with their pikes, making them excellent defensive troops, particularly against cavalry. However, their lack of shields and the cumbersome nature of their formations makes them especially vulnerable when flanked or if their formation breaks.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Aventureiros: Portuguese unique unit. The terço dos aventureiros is an elite infantry formation made up of the Portuguese nobility. Their higher social standing means that they are better-equipped than most, and they are more than willing to prove their worth in battle. Few can make it past their wall of pikes.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Montanteiros: Portuguese unique unit. The montante is a Portuguese greatsword that exchanges some reach for ease of use and carry. While not intended for battlefield use, the mass and reach of the montante means that a particularly skilled user can easily break an opponent's guard, potentially serving the role of shock infantry quite well.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Besteiros: Portuguese unique unit. Despite guns becoming cheaper, deadlier, and more reliable, crossbows have not become obsolete just yet. In the Americas, the lack of readily available gunpowder meant that Spanish and Portuguese conquistadores often had many more crossbows than guns, which were still devastating against the lightly armoured natives. One advantage crossbows have over guns is the ability to arc shots over friendly troops and terrain, although a bow is more effective in this role.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Arcabuzeiros: Portuguese unique unit. Iberian infantry are well-renowned throughout Europe for their exceptional skill and discipline. Arquebusiers made up the ranged component of the Portuguese terço formation, and the penetrative power of their weapons were particularly important because of their ability to pierce through the steel breastplates that were now commonplace in Europe. While better in close combat than most gunmen, they are no real substitute for proper swordsmen and should be withdrawn before the melee begins.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Musketeers: The invention of the flintlock musket was a vast improvement over the earlier matchlock arquebus. They required fewer steps during the reload process, which could in theory improve the soldier's rate of fire slightly. More significantly, however, was that it was less likely for the user to make a mistake when loading, which made them more reliable. Muskets were also often more accurate than arquebuses, as they were lighter and thus easier to aim. Still a work in progress.

    Cuirassiers: A cuirassier is a generic term for European cavalry who are protected by a cuirass, or breastplate. These horsemen straddle the gap between light cavalry and heavy cavalry, being better-protected than the former while still having better mobility and being cheaper to equip than the latter. Armed with a lance and shield, these men are excellent at trampling enemy skirmishers and light infantry, but lack the sheer mass to inflict heavy damage on more heavily-armoured troops and can be easily skewered by polearms.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Encubertados: Portuguese unique unit. European full plate reached its peak by the 16th century. It is now possible to cover nearly the entire body, and it was easy enough to protect the few remaining weak points with chainmail. It was also much more durable than ever before; armoursmiths would often demonstrate this by shooting their work with pistols at point-blank range, with the dent being "proof" of their craftsmanship. The few who could afford such equipment were an extremely dangerous on the battlefield.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Cranequiniers: The cranequin is a small crossbow that was able to be loaded and shot from horseback, and was used since at least the 13th century. While less powerful than infantry crossbows, cavalrymen armed with these have the advantage of mobility, allowing them to ride into nearly point-blank range to maximize the power of their shots, before riding away to reload.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Conquistadores: Spanish and Portuguese unique unit. The Spanish and Portuguese explorers in the Americas are known as conquistadores, or conquerors. The first documented case of European mounted arquebusiers was in the Americas by the conquistadores, though they would be commonplace in Europe after a few decades.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Pistoliers: The prevalence of pikemen in European warfare caused shock cavalry to change tactics. To use a lance, a horseman had to get dangerously close to enemy infantry, and they were more often than not outranged by a pike. The pistol, on the other hand, could be fired just outside a pikeman's reach. Pistoliers would ride up as close to their enemies as they could to maximize the chances of their shots penetrating armour, before galloping off to reload, only charging in once their enemies were softened up enough.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Trebuchets: While certainly an archaic piece of siege equipment by this point, the trebuchet saw sporadic use in armies lacking in gunpowder. The last recorded instance of their use by European forces was when Hernán Cortés employed a few during the Siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521, though these were not well-made and proved ineffective.

    Bombards: Bombards were created in China and Western Europe in the early 14th century and spread to the rest of the Old World by the late 14th century. They are forged from bronze or iron, and designed to fire stone balls against enemy defences, or grapeshot in a pinch against advancing enemy troops. While hardly the most advanced artillery, they can still be useful for assaulting fortified settlements.

    Mortars: Resembling the iron bowl from which it gains its name, the Mortar was created to lob shots over intervening walls. Useful in dealing with units skulking behind walls for protection, or to whittle away besieging troops outside your own walls. The mortar's capabilities makes it an excellent siege weapon for both attacker and defender. They can use explosive or flaming shots.

    Culverins: The culverin is a type of bombard and a fearsome piece of artillery, first used in Germany. In almost all ways, it is a vast improvement, being more accurate, powerful, and with better range. They can fire iron or exploding cannonballs as well as grapeshot.

    Basilisks: The baslisk is the pinnacle of field artillery engineering, named so because the sight alone is supposedly enough to kill. It is extremely effective against all targets, and can fire standard or exploding cannonballs as well as grapeshot.
    Thanks to the following for letting us use their assets:
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Last edited by Metal.Pigeon; May 26, 2020 at 07:23 PM.

    Mod leader of One Ruler on Earth | Unit modeler for Colonies & Empires

  2. #2

    Default Re: [C&E] Faction Preview: Governorate-General of Brazil

    Very cool, great preview.

  3. #3

    Default Re: [C&E] Faction Preview: Governorate-General of Brazil

    Looking good!

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