I'd like each civ to have at least a couple of unique units. This is just brainstorming -- I'm sure in the beta testing there will be some adjustments needed for game balance. As with the wonders, some of my concepts might not be doable, so this is a wish list for now until I get to refining it.
Russians and Americans get cossacks and F-15s as UUs as per the normal game, in addition to the new UUs in the mod. There are also a few units that will be unique to the mod that will be buildable by all civs. Native civs may get their own flavor units (bowmen, warriors and riflemen).
All civs
Unit: Dogsled
Description: Scout unit (does not replace Scout though) -- some defense ability, can move over glaciers, higher cost. Available with Domestication, upgrades to Dog Team.
Unit: Dog Team
Description: As with Dogsled but allows 1 or 2 unit transport. Available with Mushing. Alternatively, this could be a Snow Machine unit (we never call them snowmobiles here) that does the same, available with Combustion.
Unit: Territorial Guard
Replaces: Guerilla
Description:Guerilla unit that can move over glaciers. Available with Nationalism. Learn about the ATG here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Territorial_Guard
Russians
Unit: Promyshlenniki
Replaces: Musketeer
Description: Lower defense, but cheaper. I'm considering not making saltpeter a requirement as well. See here for a brief historical description:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promyshlenniki
Unit: Sloop of War
Replaces: Frigate
Description: Smaller and faster than a frigate, with fewer guns (lower bombardment).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloop-of-war. Perhaps have limited attack ability as well.
Canadians
Unit: RCMP ("Mountie")
Replaces: Cavalry
Description: Mounties were the main law-enforcement unit in the Klondike -- even occasionally stretching their jurisdiction into American-owned Alaska in its pre-territory days. What I'd really like is for the RCMP unit to have an increased ability as an MP unit (i.e., fewer of them needed to quell rioters) but I'm not sure if this is possible. If it's not, maybe I'll just give it the advantage of removing the movement penalty over mountains and forest.
There's already a Mountie unit posted on the boards; I will post a link at a later time.
Unit: P-38
Replaces: Fighter
Description: Fighter with longer range. P-38s have been posted on the boards.
I think Canada used these in the Aleutian campaign, but I'm not certain (it may be more appropriate as an American unit). Maybe there's a Canadian infantry unit that would be more appropriate? I gladly welcome suggestions by anyone who's up on Canadian military.
Americans
Unit: Steamer
Replaces: Not a replacement unit.
Description: Transport vessel available with Steam Power. Pictures to be posted.
Unit: Revenue Cutter
Replaces: Frigate
Description: Frigate with higher defense. Here's a historical description:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue_cutter. Upgrades to U.S. Coast Guard Cutter.
Unit: USCG Cutter
Replaces: Revenue Cutter
Description: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Coast_Guard_Cutter
Not sure what the equivalent would be in game terms...maybe a version of a cruiser?
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Unit: Alaska Road Commission Crew
Replaces: Worker. Available with Industrialization.
Description: Builds faster roads and rail, has some defense.
Unit: Catalina "Flying Boat"
Replaces: Fighter
Description: Fighter with ability to see subs. Yes, I know this is tricky...if it's problematic, I may make it an earlier air transport unit. Catalinas have been posted on the boards.
Spanish
Unit: Goleta or Corvette
Replaces: Galleon
Description: A Spanish schooner. Faster than the galleon, but with fewer transported units.
Athabaskans
Unit: Atlatl
Replaces: Bowman
Description: Allows limited bombardment. Description and images to be posted.
Unit: Ahtna Spearman
Replaces: Pikeman
Description: Higher attack bonus. Requires copper. Description to be posted.
Aleut
I feel like there should be at least one additional UU -- maybe a javeliner or harpooner with marine attack, since the Aleut culture is so sea-oriented.
Unit: Bydarka
Replaces: Trireme
Description: Faster than a trireme, with deep water safety. Description to be posted.
Yup'ik
Unit: Kayak
Replaces: Trireme
Description: Better defense than trireme
Inupiat
Unit: Armored Warrior (need to look up the Inupiat name)
Replaces: Warrior
DescriptionWarrior with better defense. Inupiat used bone slat armor; pictures to follow.
Unit: Umiak
Replaces: Trireme
Description: Holds 3 units.
Alutiiq
Unit: Toion
Replaces: Swordsman
Description: War leader, armed with shield and war club. Does not require iron. Allow amphibious attack as well?
Tlingit
Unit: S’aati (“Captain”
Replaces: Medieval Infantry?
Description: A light armored warrior with ring-studded leather armor. Available with Trade Routes. Images to be posted. Heavier defense than standard med. infantry. Requires copper.
Unit:X’aan Koondyi (“General”
Replaces: Medieval Infantry?
Description: Heavy armored warrior with carved helmet and slat armor. Images to be posted. What I'd really like to do here -- since the purpose of the helmet was to inspire fear in the enemy (this will be more clear when I post pictures) -- is have the effect of actually lowering the defense of enemy units when attacked. I don't think this is possible though, so I may fall back on just having a higher attack than standard med. infantry.
Unit: Yaakw (War Canoe)
Replaces: Caravel
Description: Transport capacity 2, but offers attack and defense. Also available to Haida. I think someone might have done a graphic for this?
Tsimshian
Unit: Secret Society
Replaces: Maybe Knight?
Description: The Tsimshian had four secret societies: Mila (Dancers), Nulim (Dog Eaters), Ludzista (Destroyers), and Xgyedmhalait (Cannibals). These could be represented as a single unit, or as four individual units -- I'm thinking maybe four individual units but with identical abilities in game terms, done as a Phase 2 project. I haven't worked out yet what their abilities will be, though invisibility is certainly one option that comes to mind.
Eyak
I don't know what UU I would put here, but I'm thinking of some sort of stealth unit (maybe a shaman).
Siberian Yup'ik
Not sure, but I did come across this somewhere:
As among the Chukchi, interclan warfare was common, and a sort of armor was made from double strips of toughened sealskin or dried whale baleen encased in sealskin. Shin guards were made of mammoth tusks. Wooden shields covered with dried animal skin were sometimes worn around the head and shoulders for defence. Warfare with the Chukchi was endemic, and there is evidence that over the past several centuries the Chukchi took over more and more territory from the Yupik, leaving them with only a tiny fringe of land along the Bering seacoast.
So maybe some sort of armored warrior -- similar to what I'll use for the Inupiat.