New Unit ~ Hand-Axe!

[Stonecutter9]

So, a while back, during the PAX East Demo (oh...memories) we had this picture of a barbarian unit with a previously and since unseen icon:

Spoiler :

Until today, we hadn't seen any new evidence to indicate what this was. But now, with all nine civs revealed, it apparently isn't a unique unit (but it could be...?). But, we at least know its name, the Hand-Axe. It is seen below in the units bar at left.

Spoiler :

Of course, this could be ANOTHER new unit, but I'm pretty convinced it's the mystery unit from earlier.

PS~28 days until US release, 31 days for you international folks!

 

[kaspergm]

Good find. We also see the Slinger in the unit list. Indication that Inca will be included as part of BnW?

 

[Sloud]

The Maori Warrior is also in the list so it's more likely that this version used to leak the information had BNW, G&K and all the DLCs in the build.

 

[Verified_Confection_Being]

Apparently it is a barbarian unique unit which IMO is the worst possible outcome for it. I can't believe how backwards they've turned on native americans with this expansion...

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

We didn't see any new ancient era units in the Tech Tree. Is it purely barbarian then?

 

[Stonecutter9]

Good find. We also see the Slinger in the unit list. Indication that Inca will be included as part of BnW?

Thanks! But probably not. Considering the presence of all the DLC civs it means the reviewers (with their oh so generous photos) are playing with all 43 civs included. Plus, the only reason Spain was included in G+K was the ItR scenario. However, we did see a while back a Conquest of the New World DELUXE scenario, which presumably brings the civs added since December 2010. There is a possibility The Inca will be included there.

 

[TimeWeaver]

Speculation: Perhaps Hand Axe is a true UU for a dlc not yet announced, say Sioux? It would fit to have such a dlc with the civil war scenario and all. Perhaps there will be a double pack with Pueblo as the other dlc civ. A civ fan gotta dream sometimes - scratch that! A lot!

 

[Inhalaattori]

Apparently it is a barbarian unique unit which IMO is the worst possible outcome for it. I can't believe how backwards they've turned on native americans with this expansion...

Nothing wrong with it, except the weird name. They really should change the name. If we have barbarians, they should be ethnically varied.

Shoshone was maybe weird choice for a Civ (which NA Native Civ is not?), but at least the leader choice could have been much worse. Lets hope they have decent speaker for this new leader.

Im personally ok with their choices. Could have been worse.

 

[Human Crouton]

New one hex ranged unit for barbarians? Don't know. New barbarian units seem pointless unless they gave an old civ a way to hire or control them.

 

[Hyperion529]

from this post of the guy who leaked the civilopedia screenshots:

Units
Axeman (Called Hand-axe): I just saw one of these guys methinks. Civiped says they are Chariot Archer replacement (barb UU!). Yep, they attack from range. In fact, they cant melee. 9 Combat, 9 Ranged attack, 1 Range, 2 movement. Says it requires wheel and upgrade unit is Knight.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

It's not offending Native Americans since they aren't calling it a Tomahawk. Sure, there is a resemblance, but nothing rings out definitively. That's why we could never pin down one culture for it.

 

[MadDjinn]

New one hex ranged unit for barbarians? Don't know. New barbarian units seem pointless unless they gave an old civ a way to hire or control them.

What's wrong with Barbarians getting an upgrade? They had a rather varied composition depending on where they came from, so why not give them a little something in game?

 

[Menzies]

Apparently it is a barbarian unique unit which IMO is the worst possible outcome for it. I can't believe how backwards they've turned on native americans with this expansion...

It's an axe unit, if you feel that it looks like a Native American unit that is your own interpretation. Considering that most of the barbarians in the game look European I'm surprised that nobody has said that's a bit culturally insensitive.

Also, how have they "turned backwards" when they actually added another Native American group to the game, instead of a host of considerably better options?

 

[Inhalaattori]

Well the original definition of Barbarian is someone who does not speak Greek (or later Latin), so pretty much all people are barbarians.

I dont really understand these politically correct people, but whatever...

 

[SnowKomodo]

Also, how have they "turned backwards" when they actually added another Native American group to the game, instead of a host of considerably better options?

Remember, we're playing "Civilization: Please the Fans" and not "Civilization: The Most Worthy Civs, so CivFanatics Won't Complain"

With that in mind, I think Shoshone/Comanche is the better option

 

[Gali]

Even if they were identified with Native Americans a bit more, how is that racist? We have a civ identified with barbarians, Germany. So its okay to associate Europe with barbarians but not the native Americans. What about the Ottomans since their ability is heavily tied to barbarians as well. They have the Iroquois, Shosone, Inca, Aztec, and Maya civilizations to represent their accomplishments as civs. This is a small way to add more unique non European flavor to the game, something which people have been asking for. Give the AI a unit to replace a strategic resource unit which they are barred from using.

CiV was far more faithful to native civs than CIV, no Native American civ, and respected the beliefs of the Pueblo not to include their civ.

 

[TimeWeaver]

If MadDjinn says it's a barbarian upgrade, then we can probably bank on it!

And what Menzies said: the Khmer and the Scythians are but two civs that would rank higher than Shoshone, if we are talking a classical definition of "civilization", so I reckon Firaxis has been quite fair.

 

[Inhalaattori]

I would like to see more Native Civs from Central- and South-America. After all Civilizations of Central- and South-America were MUCH more advanced than North-Americans.

Its kind of unbelievable that we had Iroquois, but not Inca in the Vanilla Civ. Its like having Monaco as a Civ instead of Russia. Inca Empire had probably as many as 20 million people and area of 2 million km². Iroquois did not have even 1% of population or area on Inca Empire.

 

[Willowmound]

Whatever it is, it is a ridiculous name. "Hand-axe", as opposed to what? Foot-axes? Free-standing machine axes? What axe isn't a hand axe?

 

[Hakan-i Cihan]

Whatever it is, it is a ridiculous name. "Hand-axe", as opposed to what? Foot-axes? Free-standing machine axes? What axe isn't a hand axe?

Probably referring to that it is a ranged unit.