User blog:BattleGames1/BattleGames1's Season of War Episode 8 - Unique Units Showdown: Age of Empires II vs Rise of Nations



And so begins another epic showdown - this time between two of the biggest historical RTS video games to hit the shelves of video game nerds in the early 2000s. With the introduction of these games as well as that of Empire Earth and Civilisation came the introduction of a particularly 'unique' game mechanic - the Unique Unit, which basically represents a warrior or military force that played a very historical role for a particular faction/civilisation/empire. In this battle we will be examining at least 30 different types of them native to the medieval/renaissance-era (i.e. the Castle/Imperial Age in AoE terminology; the Medieval/Gunpowder Age in RoN terminology) of human history.

AGE OF EMPIRES II, the second installment of the iconic Microsoft series that saw the Age of Kings, the Rise of the Conquerors, the Forgotten Kingdoms, the African Kingdoms and the Rise of the Rajas  - taking gamers through a wonderful journey throughout medieval history around the world

vs

RISE OF NATIONS, the off-shoot Microsoft-rproduced hybrid RTS/TBS game that had gamers scrambling for territory and securing Thrones and Patriots in their never-ending quest to Conquer the World while taking them through the entirety of human history around the world

'WHO... IS... DEADLIEST?'

Age of Empires II Unique Units
These are the Unique Units exclusive to the Age of Empires II game Age of Kings and its expansions to date.

NOTE: Not included in this line-up are the shared UUs (Condottiero, Genitour and Imperial Skirmisher), the Ship UUs (Longboat, Turtle Ship and Caravel) and the non-combat UU (Missionary)

Melee Infantry
Woad Raider= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Throwing Axeman= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Huskarl= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Samurai= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Teutonic Knight= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Berserk= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Jaguar Warrior= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Kamayuk= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Shotel Warrior= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Gbeto= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Karambit Warrior= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour:

Ranged Infantry
Longbowman= Unique Unit for the Britons in Age of Kings

The longbow was very tall, 5 or 6 feet long, and crafted from a single piece of wood, commonly yew. It fired 3-foot-long arrows at a great range and, in the hands of an expert, could be extremely accurate. Edward I (Longshanks) of England grasped the value of this weapon and the English thereafter employed large contingents of longbowmen in their Middle Age armies. All sports other than archery were banned on Sundays in Britain to ensure that archers practiced. The long bow was used effectively in long-range barrages against massed troops, firing thin pointed arrows called bodkins that could pierce armor. Arrows were fired simultaneously by thousands of archers and aimed at a distant area rather than a specific target. Enemy troops within the area were forced to receive the barrage with no cover but their armor and shields. The barrage caused casualties and reduced enemy morale. The most famous examples of this tactic were the great English victories at Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt during the Hundred Years War. French knights recalled with horror the awful sound of thousands of arrows in flight and the sky turning dark from their shafts

Main Weapon and Ammo: English Longbow - Short Bodkin Arrows, Barbed Arrows

Armour: Chainmail Hauberk, Barbute Helmet Chu-Ko-Nu= Unique Unit for the Chinese in Age of Kings

The crossbow was invented in China in ancient times and the chu ko nu was an improved crossbow invented there during European Middle Ages. The chu ko nu was something like a semi-automatic crossbow. It was fitted with a magazine of bolts. When the operator pulled back the bowstring, a new bolt was automatically loaded. When the bowstring reached its limit, the weapon fired automatically. The operator pulled back as quickly as he could to maintain a rapid fire. The weaknesses of the weapon were a short range and weaker power compared to larger single-shot crossbows. The effective range of this weapon is around 60 m, although it can be fielded at a distance of 120 m. The bolts could be dipped in poison due to the low penetrating power of the arrows.

Main Weapon and Ammo: Repeating Crossbow - Crossbow Bolts

Armour: Bronze and Leather Lamellar Breastplate, Bronze Helmet Janissary= Unique Unit for the Turks in Age of Kings

Some of the best units in the Turkish armies were the janissaries. These men were slaves captured as children and raised under Islam to be fanatical warriors. They wore distinctive white headgear and marched into battle accompanied by music. They fought on foot with a variety of weapons, including early firearms when these weapons reached the Middle East. The military was their entire life and they took great pride in their ability. They led the successful assault into Constantinople and the unsuccessful Turkish attacks against Malta and Vienna.

Main Weapon and Ammo: Matchlock Musket, Musket Balls

Armour: Zirh Gomlek/Mail and Plate Coat

NOTE: Yes I know in-game they replace Hand Cannoneers but I highly doubt that even in real life the Janissaries used hand cannons for combat. Slinger= Unique Unit for the Incas in The Forgotten

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Genoese Crossbowman= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Plumed Archer= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Rattan Archer= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour:

Melee Cavalry
Cataphract= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: War Elephant= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Mameluke= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Tarkan= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Imperial Camel= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Huszar= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Boyar= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour:

Ranged Cavalry
Mangudai= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Conquistador= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Elephant Archer= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Camel Archer= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Ballista Elephant= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Arambai=

Special Weapons
War Wagon= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: Organ Gun= Unique Unit for the in

Main Weapon and Ammo:

Armour: