Arabian Unit Line Workshop

[Sandris]

I would like you to help me in completing the Arabian unit line for Civ III.


1. The eras:

Tribal Era (before 3000 BC)
Bronze Age (3000 BC - 1000 BC)
Iron Age (1000 BC - 450 AD)
Dark Ages (450 AD - 1000 AD)
High Medieval Ages (1000 AD - 1300 AD)
Later Medieval Ages (1300 AD - 1500 AD)
...can be continued later


2. Possible unit types (depending on timelines):

Clubman
Archer
Slinger
Javelineer
Spearman
Swordsman
Axeman
Maceman
Pikeman
Halberdier
Horse Spearman
Horse Archer
Horse Swordsman
Horse Javelineer
Crossbowman
Horse Crossbowman
Camel Archer
Camel Spearman
Camel Swordsman
Camel Javelineer
...the list can be expanded

3. All Arabian dynasties (Civs) are welcome.

4. Also, I would like you to pay attention on Arabian units which are already made for Civ III and are not needed to be made again.


I`ve made some preliminary sketches for 3 eras, but I would like you to add your suggestions and requests for Arabian units for the timeline mentioned above.

Here is the picture pack, which can be used for CivIII Arabian unit line:

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[Stormrage]

Did the arabs use pikes or halberds? I`d like to see one with a pike. Or atleast some sort of Heavy Guard, that can have the Pikeman`s stats..

The last guy, bottom right, any chance of a mounted version? Looks perfect for a knight.. Also, love what you did with the color, the unit is pure gold

Oh, and everything is awesome, and you rock!

PS - not a fan of the horseman`s colors.. looks like one of those posionous mushrooms.. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Virote_Considon]

Oh, wow!

A couple of these may even fit for an Indian civ!

@Stormrage: I don't think we really need a pikeman- we have those 2 spearmen embryodead made, plus that pikeman Dom Pedro II made a while back

That said- the more units the merrier!

 

[Stormrage]

You see, pikeman and spearman are really not the same thing. And those 2 by ED have very little or no armour.

DomPedro`s is already in use, I need another one

Which could fit for India, btw? (skin color )

 

[Cimbri]

x1000


The Bronze Age line is perfect!

A proposal for the Iron Age would be a Yemenite (Sabean, these guys were good blacksmiths) noble heavy infantryman/archer. Maybe a variation of the hauberk-clad guy on the lower far right, with a spear/sword/bow. Don’t know how easy it is to make an archer/spear combo in a single infantryman, but it appears that this sort of warfare was common.

And an Axeman (maybe instead of the iron age swordsman) using his clothes, shield, headgear etc.

In the late Iron Age, the north Arabians of Hatra and Palmyra in Mesopotamia (Iraq), had armoured lancers/bow (though not entirely cataphracts, as the horses were unarmoured), in the Parthian-Iranian fashion, causing grief to the Romans and Persians alike.

Perhaps some sort of slinger too, to replace warrior in the unit tree? A variation of the Bronze Age javelinman with 1-1 AD stats (javman could have 2-1 AD stats or something)


Dark Ages line is also perfect.

 

[Virote_Considon]

Which could fit for India, btw? (skin color )

Some of the Iron Age ones could fit in for Northern Indian civs, IMO.

 

[Steph]

Those seems perfect!

Now, you just have to make the middle ages, the renaissance, the 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, Napoleonic times, early 19th century, late 19th, WWI, WWII, cold war; modern, and advance era, and do the same for 20 other civs, and i can finish my mod!

Almost there!

 

[ShiroKobbure]

Nice but before the Turkic invasions (about 1000ad) Arabs mostly used straight double edged swords. After they used Saifs, the curved swords.
Also, shouldn't the Bronze Age swordsman have a bronze colored sword?

 

[Sandris]

Those seems perfect!

Now, you just have to make the middle ages, the renaissance, the 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, Napoleonic times, early 19th century, late 19th, WWI, WWII, cold war; modern, and advance era, and do the same for 20 other civs, and i can finish my mod!

Almost there!

Sounds optimistic !

 

[Sandris]

Nice but before the Turkic invasions (about 1000ad) Arabs mostly used straight double edged swords. After they used Saifs, the curved swords.

That`s why I`ve opened this thread in order to develop the unit line correctly.

Also, shouldn't the Bronze Age swordsman have a bronze colored sword?

I`m not sure if ancient (Bronze Aged pre-Arabs) have used shields at that time. There was not much difference between Tribal and Bronze Aged Arabian warriors.

 

[Blue Monkey]

Some of the Iron Age ones could fit in for Northern Indian civs, IMO.

"Could", except that the clothes are wrong. I'm working on a set of concept art to a lay out a similar thread on India for Sandris (etc.) to work from. Let him make all the Middle Eastern units first, then we can start him on South Asia.

Sandris - Once the Islamic era begins (about 600 CE) avoid civ-colored turbans for Islamic civs. A green or black turban will indicate a Sayyid - a direct descendant of Muhammad. Someone may want a UU with a green turban, but I don't think they should pop up at random.

 

[Stormrage]

I would also suggest avoiding civ-colored shoes. For any unit. Ever. Cos it really looks weird. IMHO, anyway.

 

[Quinzy]

Here is my current progress list for the Arabs, focusing on the main peninsula. Dates are rough.

Prehistory - 2000 BC A'ad
2000 BC - 500 BC
500 BC - 200 AD Himyar
200 AD - 500 AD Kindah
500 AD - 800 AD Umayyad
800 AD - 1200 AD Abbasid Empire
1200 AD - 1500 AD Shadow Caliphate
1500 AD - 1600 AD Ottoman Empire
1600 AD - 1800 AD First Saudi State
1800 AD - 1900 AD Second Saudi State
1900 AD - 1930 AD Third Saudi State
1930 AD - 1950 AD Saudi Arabia
1950 AD - 1960 AD
1960 AD - 1970 AD
1970 AD - 2000 AD

I fully support the slingers and axemen too.

That Fatmid City Militia, 11th Century, 8th picture, looks pretty cool too, with the glaive.

All in all, I really deeply thank you for these Sandris!

 

[Maimonides]

Camel units should definitely not be used for the Copper/Bronze Age unless you're planning a fantasy scenario. The Bronze Age in that area was limited to horses. Chariots were used in battle gradually being replaced by horsemen as horses were bred that could support more heavily equipped warriors.

The 1st historical & archaeological record of domesticated dromedary camel riding appears several centuries into the Iron Age when camel-mounted Arabian tribesmen helped the Assyrians invade Egypt. Other than that, the unit pack looks fantastic!

 

[Sandris]

I would also suggest avoiding civ-colored shoes. For any unit. Ever. Cos it really looks weird. IMHO, anyway.

Medieval Russian warriors were wearing red boots.

 

[Stormrage]

Yes, well, thats them. The point is, if you make ME Russian warriors with civ-colored boots they will be red only if you modded Russia`s civ-color to be red. IIRC, vanilla Russians were brown so thats fine in this case. But there is a ton of other examples where they, and other units could end up looking bad.

I would suggest sticking to brown and black with shoes, but thats just it- a suggestion.

 

[Steph]

Sounds optimistic !

For someone as skilled and fast as you, it should only be a matter of weeks, a few months at most

 

[Mithadan]

I don't really know much about Arabic history (although I'm all ears!), I do have some pics of Semitic nomads of various sorts in and around the Fertile Crescent. Palmyrenes and whatnot. I'll scan them if I get the chance tonight (otherwise, it'll be next week). It would be cool di give one of the Bronze Age guys a "duck-billed" axe, or whatever they're called.

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

A very promising array of Arabian units that would find it's place in my new mod, when I get a chance to start it! Thanks again, they look great!

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

These would be excellent for so many mods and scenarios. These units are (or will be) simply awesome!