What technological era of infantry does the Rifleman unit represent?

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I'm stuck here. I can't really decide which era the Civ 3 Rifleman represents. I've always thought of it as being roughly an American Civil War-era infantry unit. But it could also be an 1870s needle gun infantry, or maybe earlier. I think Napoleonic Era might be too far back, though.

What do you think? Which technological era does the Rifleman unit represent?

 

[Taras Bulba]

I'd say that is most likely an American Civil War infantry. Doesn't really strike me as a European Line Infantry type unit (that unit would look more like the one in the PTW Extras)

Possibly a Needle gun infantry, but I think the type of cloths is the deciding factor here

 

[Mathias]

The descrition of the Rifleman in the Civilopedia makes it quite clear:

Riflemen were first employed in large numbers during the American Civil War.

 

[Sweetchuck]

Civil War.

 

[Lord Emsworth]

All of them.

 

[Ninja Dude]

The descrition of the Rifleman in the Civilopedia makes it quite clear:

Yeah, Civil War hands down.

 

[capnvonbaron]

I think napoleonic era soldiers were still largely using muskets, yeah. I'd say riflemen hit the scene around the 1840's and were around right up until a few years before WWI. They definitely played a huge part in the American expansion westward as well (as did the cavalry, which is basically a rifleman on horseback. I sometimes wish the american UU was the Rough Riders. But I guess the cossacks are already a cavalry based UU...)

 

[Taras Bulba]

....I sometimes wish the american UU was the Rough Riders. But I guess the cossacks are already a cavalry based UU...)

that hasn't stopped other UUs from being what they were.

there are several UUs that replace the knight, such as:
the Chinese Rider
the Indian War Elephant
the Mongolian Keshik
the Japanese Samurai

I think there may be another.. but I can't remember off the top of my head

 

[Turner]

Sipahi replace Cavs for Ottomans.

 

[capnvonbaron]

Yeah I sorta thought of that after I hit "submit reply". Immortals, Legionary = swords; hoplite, impi = spearmen, and of course all the aforementioned kinght replacements... just seems like a lot of the UUs are based in the Ancient/Middle ages. Once you hit the IA, not too many UUs. Cossacks, Panzers, F-15s (worthless) and man'o'war (next-to-useless) are all in vanilla, and two of those can really be considered late-Mid units...

 

[CarthageFTW]

That's the one complalint I've always had about Civ III. Too many UU's were based around the same era. I'm still suprised about the UU for American's being the F-15. i would have picked a special Settler unit (for western expanison), the Alamo, American Infantry, or the Atomic Bomb or something like that. (dang it, as I typed like, my "k" button popped off. dang it... )

 

[Argetnyx]

in the Franco-Prussian War, they used rifleman that looked like that.

 

[Quintillus]

I also think it's supposed to be American Civil War, but it does seem they come a bit early in the tech tree - being at the same place as Steam Power (Railroads), one would think it were a bit earlier in the 1800s, maybe 1820s-1840s era. And Nationalism could certainly refer to French nationalism in Napoleonic times - though it also could refer to Italian/German nationalism in the 1870s. I would guess the former, despite the anachromism that introduces with the Riflemen.

 

[ecuwins]

The fact that it does not require a saltpeter resource indicates mid to late industrial revolution era. This is when methods for creating the compound were discovered. This is also the time period that ushered in breech-loading weapons. This made rifled barrels viable.

I think the American Civil War is a little early for this. Maybe late Civil War? I see the Rifleman more as a WW1 trench fighter. As I see the Infantry more of a WW2 style unit.

 

[Vind2]

Also there was an old wallpaper that was undeniably from the civil war

 

[Snarkhunter]

This is also the time period that ushered in breech-loading weapons. This made rifled barrels viable.

Actually, that would be Capt. Minie that made rifled barrels viable, not breechloaders. The expanding conical bullet allowed an easier muzzle load than the traditional rifle would, but still engaged the rifling when the weapon was fired & the bullet expanded. That would be something like the 1840's or so, IIRC. Don't know if it was a factor in the Crimean War, but certainly there were large numbers of riflemen in the Civil War.

kk

 

[Exwing17]

I think the American Civil War is a little early for this. Maybe late Civil War? I see the Rifleman more as a WW1 trench fighter. As I see the Infantry more of a WW2 style unit.

No way man! The infantry is WWI! Bolt action rifles, heavy defence, reliance on artillery, slow moving, its all about WWI. WWII does lack a sort of infantry, but the Marines & Paratroopers kind of offer that, as they are flexible, WWII offered more flexibility.

I see the Rifleman as Napoleanic - US Civil War - Crimean - Franco/Prussian War era. From 1810 to 1900. Cavalry truely represent the traditional view of the era, but became very redundant whereas the foot soldier doesnt. Thats, it would be totally inconcievable to have a foot/horse unit for every stage of a timescale, especially after the Renaissance when so much changed in military ability so quickly.

There is a cool English Civil War mod with some amazing graphic designs of troops. Really old-post knights pre-cavalry guys with single shot pistols & lances! demi-lancers i think...

But other than including a load of mods, it would be really hard to accurately represent each war with an accurate unit. I think Civ represents each "era" with a unit that empitimises the military conflicts of the time. Hence the nice little quick moving industrial era...

- Rifleman (1800-1900)
- Infantry/Arty (1900-1960)
- Cruisers (1890-1970)
- Destroyers (1880-present)
- Battleships (1890-1944)
- Tanks (1935-1970)
- Airpower (1939-1955)
- Amphibious (1941-present)
- Airborne (1939-present)
- Mech Inf (1960-present)

Just roughly guessing there! I am playing a game currently where there is a naval arms race going on, I am at peace with most people, but there is a huge mix of alliances and I keep watching lots of battleships/destroyers leaving their cities! Its very interesting!

 

[anaxagoras]

I also think it's supposed to be American Civil War, but it does seem they come a bit early in the tech tree - being at the same place as Steam Power (Railroads), one would think it were a bit earlier in the 1800s, maybe 1820s-1840s era.

Well, it depends on how literally you take Steam Power. The American Civil War was the first time that railroads were used for major strategic movements of combat units, so I think the coincidence of rifles and railroads plays rather well, actually.

 

[The_Schwam]

I've always thought it was Civil War era judging by the dress, but I suppose it could be open to interpretation.

 

[Vind2]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4kLw71D7lo

if you look at about :50 it should put this to rest