Simple enough, what about one of the factions being the Chinese? It would open up another section of the "world" and china was one of the great empires of the time with a rich history that would make for a fun campaign as well.

Obviously anything is possible, might even be on the books already but we wouldn't be able to talk about it yet.

Quid Pro Quo, considering the breadth of modern-day Chinese culture, what subculture would you choose to focus on for the 5000-2000BC+ period?

What units and technology strengths would you give them to best represent that culture? What weaknesses?

- Servo

Spring and Autumn or Warring state period seemed to see the most interesting units

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_and_Autumn_Period

Besides, a unified dynasty doesn't serve as an online setting very well.

Well, if going for historically accurate (makes sense); I would have to adjust your dates to around 3300 BC (start of the Bronze age) to maybe 330 BC (Rome founded). The Nile valley wasnt settled till around 3500 BC; so it would fit the timeline of the civilizations already in the game. Interestingly enough, the start of the Bronze age signified the start of the Chinese Dynasties.

There were 4 major Dynasties between 3300 BC and 330 BC; Xia Dynasty, Shang Dynasty, Western Zhou Dynasty and Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Would be cool if those were the age progressions instead of copper, bronze, silver, gold (if western and eastern Zhou is too confusing, you could combine them and use the Qin Dynasty; it only lasted fifteen some years so you wouldnt have to worry about it extending too far to "modern day"). These dynasties were part of the eastern half of china (roughly), extending north near Mongolia and south near the present day Chinese southern border.

Although they were different dynasties (they also overlapped) and some were the most powerful families in the area (with others paying tribute and such) the overall culture remained quite steady.

Strengths:

- Villagers: The Chinese culture was known from early on to be able to get its peasant population mobilized in order to work on large projects.
- Farms (agriculture in general): Particularly Wet Rice Farming; although it was laber intensive it produced far more food than the local farmers needed.
- Walls: They do have the largest one of the face of the planet
- Philosophical: Confucianism rose during this time
- Educated: All but the lowest peasants had at least some kind of education
- Trade: Silk Road
- Large Population: China had the largest population during the BC years.

Weaknesses:

- Steppe horses (strong but slow)
- Not very religious (no priests)
- Not a naval presence (so weak navy)
- Quantity over quality (in regards to soldiers. Armies were mostly conscripted on short notice and dissolved at the end of the conflict)
- No major siege equipment (that I can find)
- No major fortresses (once again, havent found anything in that regard which may explain the lack of siege equipment, but then how they dealt with the abundance of walls? [Great Wall wasnt the only one, just the biggest] Might suggest ladders but dont think the AoE engine can do that)

Technologies of Note:

- Chariots (brought over sometime around 1200 BC)
- Standard Writing (many verbal dialects, but one written language)
- Steel (sometime 1000 BC if I recall)
- Chu Ko Nu (technically not perfected until 181 AD; some earlier forms were found in Tombs dating back to 300 BC or so)


Some ideas. Might add stuff later.

Edit: If it isnt obvious, im taking a history class on this...

Also known as the Eastern Zhou and Western Zhou Dynasties

pheasants are birds, peasants are people who work the fields
Repeating crossbows in the ancient era ? that would make short work out of just about ANY army.

I like your points so far. However chinese cities were fortresses ! maybe a citadel upgrade that increase firepower of TC depending on number of civilians garrisoned ?

Spell check isnt perfect... fixed though.

Well, obviously it would have to be balanced. I cant imagine the shots having the range or power of a standard crossbow and the reload time between volleys would also be larger. Also make it more expensive.

A standard gastro can kill an infantry in just a few hits. A volley could instantly gib any infantry that isn't geared hoplite - from half a screen away.

Now imagine a whole group of such units ... it would be pretty pointless to build infantry hmmm ?

It would be cool if the unit have the same range and DPS as gastros but have a ranged splash attack like some of the siege.

I'd like to add a notable technology "art of war". probably a star tech that greatly reduce the price of unit upgrades. (master and champion for example).

To reflect the temporarily nature of the army, perhaps instead of producing "professional" spearmen from barracks, they could convert any villager to spearman or back at any time for no cost ? fighting as spearmen then convert back to villager to build forward bases can be in integral part of the civilization's style. A champion upgrades could make Chinese villagers formidable warriors ... while they are not farming.

I honestly think that Gastrophates are currently not functioning "right." I think that they should fire way slower. An archer should get roughly 3 shots off for every crossbow bolt (cant source it atm, probably the history channel or something) and they currently fire at roughly the same speed. Crossbows were noted for their longer range and bigger punch.

As for the Cho Ku Nu, it wouldnt have the same punch as the Gastrophate (per arrow), nor would it have the same range AND it would have a longer reload time (counting my opinions in the above paragraph).

Edit: Could make it a unique unit that you need an adviser card or something.