Here is a pack for classical era nomads that invaded northern India and established a lasting state. Bakuel's own description:
First off a blurb about the Kushans,
Spoiler :
The Kushan rulers originated in the Yuezhi confederacy. The Yuezhi were a eastern Indo-European tribe living in the Tarim Basin, probably related to the Tocharians. Due to a conflict with the Xiongnu which turned out worse for them, a large number of Yuezhi began to move west to escape domination sometime around 174 BC. First settling in the Ili valley were they defeated the Saka and pushed them south were they eventually became the Indo-Sakas. Due to another fight with the Xiongnu and their allies the Wusun, the Yue Zhi were pushed into Transoxiana by 126 BC were they were visited by a Chinese diplomatic party led by Zhang Qian who wished for a military alliance with the Yue Zhi against the Xiongnu. Naturally they declined, having had enough with the Xiongnu by this point. Sometime soon after this the Yuezhi's fortunes would be reversed and they would move south and conquer Bactria and expand into the Hindu-Kush conquering the Indo-Greek Kingdoms there, this was probably all completed by 70 BC but no one knows for sure on some of these dates. During these times, one of the five tribes of the Yue Zhi, the Guishauang, began to gain renown and grow in power, they would later become known in the west as the Kushans. Kujula Kadphises (Chinese Qiujiu Que) (30 AD-80) was the first Kushan ruler of the Yuezhi that we know of for sure through his Indo-Greek style coinage. It also from these coins that most believe that the Kushans had absorbed a lot of the Hellenic culture of the areas they conquered. According to Chinese sources, his son, Yan Gaozhen conquered northern India and enriched the empire. During the 1st and 2nd centuries the Kushans returned north and occupied parts of the Tarim Basin again and battled against their old enemies the Xiongnu often in alliance with the Han general Ban Chao. However, after cordial relationships with the Han the Kushan ruler was still denied the hand of a imperial Chinese princess to cement the alliance. The Kushans attacked Ban Chao but were defeated and forced to give tribute for a time. Afterwards the Kushans and Han would have a rocky of relationship, each trying to dominate the Tarim Basin.
Due to their foothold in both India and Central Asia, the Kushans influenced many empires in both the east and the west, having contacts with both China and Rome and controlling important positions in the silk road. The Kushans were known for spreading Buddhism from India into central Asia and China, with the Kushan Buddhist monk Lokaksema translating the Buddhist Mahayana scriptures into Chinese sometime around 170.
Around 225 the empire begun its downward spiral and it was split into western and eastern halves. The west was later conquered by the Sassanids and the Indian regions of the eastern half started to become independent under local dynasties. The final minor Kushan states would be ultimately defeated and absorbed by the Hephthalites (White Huns) or absorbed by the Islamic invasions.
In a way, the Kushan dynasty can be viewed as the last really important eastern Indo-European steppe state east of the Aral sea, or even in Eurasian in general. While the Hepthalite confederacy may or may not have been Indo-European, it was short lived and did not leave a major legacy as the Kushans did.
The Kushan dynasty was the greatest dynasty since the Mauryans. The equestrian military revolution in India started by the Indo-Sakas was completed by them and from here on out the Northern Plains would have a fine equestrian tradition, with the later Rajput states being well known for fielding fine cavalry. They also had a drastic effect on military dress, with stitched garments such as shirts and trousers became popular and having a large influence on the Gupta Empire.
The military system of the Kushans probably depended on the area, on the steppes the Kushans probably fought in the time honored tradition of hordes of Light Horse with a core of cataphracts. In India and more mountainous regions inside of the Hindu Kush/Afghanistan, they probably still fielded heavy and light horse, but supplemented by native levies. Reflecting this, the cavalry of this pack has a strong Kushan flavor, but the infantry often shows more of a Indian or Afghani tribesmen influence.
Now onto the unit list,
Spoiler :Indian Kushan Infantry (Osrpey, DBA Online, Gandhara,)
Indian Kushan Indo-Bowman (Osrpey, DBA Online, Gandhara,)
This is a native Indian soldier in Kushan service wearing scale armor and sporting a large turban. The armor they wear shows some Hellenic influence with the shoulder and "skirt" parts on the bowman, these are based off of the art of the Gandhara Buddhist complex. This armor type seems to have carried over into the Gupta Dynasty so these are two units which could also be used for the Guptas as well.
Kushan Spearman, (Han Artifact, DBA Online,)
Kushan Bowman, (Han Artifact, DBA Online,)
Kushan Light Horse, (Han Artifact, DBA Online,)
Kushan Horsearcher (Tall Cap) (Han Artifact, DBA Online,)
These units are all based off of a artifact of Han organ showing what may be a northern Indian or Afghani soldier sporting a awesome hat and DBA's art based on it. The art is generically eastern-Iranian enough that I used it stand for the native tribes of the Hindu Kush and other mountainous regions which the Kushans held sway over. The art also mirrors much of EB's art for eastern Iranian levies anyway so it can't be that far off. They are all based off the same model, I have no idea why I made so many of them. Oh well.
Maybe I should make some Afghani unit packs.
Kushan Crossbowman, (Terracotta figure, Kushan? Fresco)
Kushan Horsearcher (Leather Cap) (Terracotta figure, Kushan? Fresco)
These two units share the same model and are based off of a terracotta head of probable Yuezhi origin. The head features a leather or felt cap and a interesting armor like turtleneck which is mirrored in a picture of a fresco I had which I think is from the Kushan or Gupta dynasty. The Kushans didn't really use crossbows as far as I know, the unit is merely here to complete the set for vanilla civ. However, due to their military struggles with China they almost certainly knew of it.
Kushan Horsearcher (Ponytail) (Internet Image, DBA Online)
Kushan Horsearcher (Noble Headband) (Kushan Art)
Kushan Horsearcher (Noble) (Osprey)
These are the last of the horse archers and they are drawn from a wide variety of sources. The noble with a headband is based off of a image of a coin, the head band betraying obvious Indo-Greek influences.
Kushan Cataphract (Fancy Helmet) (Internet Image)
Kushan Cataphract (Round Helmet) (DBA Online)
Kushan Cataphract (Noble) (Internet Image)
These are the cream of the crop of the Kushan's cavalry force and the cataphract tradition would continue into the Gupta period.
