Deep dive into the AoE2 DLC News!
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
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The twin camels with the catapult is a Boxi (although I have heard several different names). A siege unit used by the Tanguts, a group of people from what is now Western China. The castle in the same image is based on a set of Tangut ruins from Inner Mongolia. So I can be extremely confident that Tanguts are part of this DLC.
The big chunky green cavalry unit is the Iron Pagoda (if you google it, you can see the similarity in their dome-shaped helmets). A super-heavy cavalry unit used by the Jurchens, a group of people that lived in what is now Northern China. The castle in image two also has Jurchen flags draped from the sides near the bottom.
So I think we can be very confident that those two are part of this DLC. And I will add that do not pay attention to which units are depicted with each civ, as these promo images always shuffle units around to make for cooler shots. So ignore the Chinese Siege Onagers...
Also the ox carts and donkeys are already in the game and are scenario only models. And the guy with the ball actually looks like he is holding a grenade. There's rope wrapped around the ball.
In AoE 4 Chinese have Grenadiers, looks like this is indeed them.
Do you have any reference about the Boxi ? Can't find anything on the net
@@NeirPest sadly no. I looked it up once and found it, but can't find it again.
Best way to try and back-track is to find fan-made concepts for the Tanguts and see where they found them.
Probably in r/aoe2 "So....how much of this did the devs use, I wonder?"
Boxi is the name of their army/faction. In Chinese record, the thingy on the camel back is called Xuanfeng Pao(Whirlwind catapult), it is a kind of slinger/catapult. And that is all I can find on internet.
And I also think that it is probably a DLC about Western Xia - Tanguts, Jin-Jurchens and Song - Han.
Hi Viper, you pointed out some already existing Scenario Editor units, so let me just point that out:
* Donkey - basically a Trade Cart
* Ox Cart - eye candy
* Ox Wagon - eye candy
* Dragon Ship - Fire Ship like unit, won't be surprised it becomes playable
6:32 to me it looks like a grenadiers - also in the image there are little explosion's and trails from the dudes
a tiny mangonel like shot from an infantry, could be very interesting
I'm thinking either a super petard with more damage and armor or maybe throwing petard explosions from a short range.
1:37 I'm speculating that the Chinese castle has 6 Tesla coils for increased defence.
are u came from red alert？
Introducing the Camelchet.
And here I was thinking Spirit of the Law was out of line with his elephant units videos
Ah yes, the famous actor Timothy Camelchet.
I am so hopeful that Warcraft 3 is gonna get the same love that AoE2 and AoM are getting now that Microsoft own Activision-Blizzard. Am I insane, Viper? All these AoE2 expansions in recent times have been incredible.
More like solid for me
Designing a new civ for warcraft 3 would be real tough, but even just new campaigns would be more than enough
@@auberry8613 They already have the unplayable civ that is Naga. They are missing 1 or 2 units here and there but they are very close to completion. They can try to expand on that if they want to but hey, this is Blizshit we are talking about, they ain't gonna do it.
Given how the aoe 3 dlc got shelved i doubt we will see much more aoe 4 content and less likely to see warcraft 3 content.
@@TheBikeOnTheMoon Also the Draenei minor faction
They didn't just cancel the 3DE DLC; support ended abruptly. Bug reports were ignored for years. The game deserved a proper send-off. It deserved respect. It's just sad.
Does it? AOE3's terrible performance left AOE with little support for years and years. It took AOE2 HD to renew the interest and show them that the AOE franchise is still popular.
AOE3 was a disappointment from the get go. It almost killed off the AOE franchise. What "proper send-off" does it "deserve?"
Super Excited for the ranked civs!!!
I like how all of the major AOE2 RUclips people have different theories, and focus in on different units. The Devs were being wicked-smart when they released no real information on it… These speculations will probably keep going until the grand debut. Can’t wait!!!!
I had no idea what a "nest of bees" is (also called Huo Che apparently) so when people said that phrase, I seriously thought the guys carrying something looking like a ball are carrying bee nests to attack people with. xD
Same lol, i always referred to them as hwacha or huo che
架火戰車
Basically it fires with fire crackers lol in AoE4 they are pretty OP. I could see it be the same case here.
It's kind of an amorphous term which can be applied to several similar, but different devices as far as I can tell - one of them was a sort of basket of fire-arrows that a dude would literally carry around, point at the enemy, and then light a fuse.
@@BalbazaktheGreat correct
I see iron pagoda (heavy Liao Calvary)
3 eyed gun ( 3 Gun on a stick that’s also a mace)
A palanquin
Nest of bees
Either a flail or grenadier
And also siege camels
I think that camel unit might replace the bombard cannon. This looks super interesting.
I didn't even think about that, but this makes a lot of sense. 🙂
4:56 And there are some beautiful towers
The steplancer looking one holds his weapon in a way that indicates a swing, which means it will be a kinda like a coustillier
The explosions and smoke puffs around the ball guys makes me think it might be a grenade thrower.
Chill music
AOE launching on PS5 is huge, that means its’ available to an additional 70 million console owners!
The main thing is will it support keyboard and mouse, otherwise they can't get the real experience
the console war would also be expanded, can't wait for a PS5 player to match against Xbox one
@@samosa9488they have a well done controller interface for AOE 4
@@samosa9488 I assume so, the Xbox version does
I wonder if slavs will also get split into more civs
In my opinion, they are the next dlc maybe next year. The balkan dlc with the slavs split in ruthenians and wallachians + serbians it's always the second most wanted dlc in the official forum. The first one was the chinese dlc.
I hope the same for the incas and some more of Africa
Not sure if anyone has mentioned but the first image red player has a unique infantry unit as well. Instead of the ball looking weapon they have a long polearm. Simmilar armour between the two units.
regional skins would also be great
The boats in dragon shape is called... the dragon boats :)
Thank You for the update Viper!
Tanguts and Jurchen
Camel trebuchet = Tangut UU
Bomber = Jurchen UU
Heavy cavalry = Paladin replacement, available to both
Fire lancer = Regional equivalent to hand Cannoneer that is better against cavalry, may fire only once in a while with a charged attack
Nest of bees = Regional replacement for the Mangonels line (though the Chinese use mangonels in this scenario, I will be very disappointed if they new civs get them but not Chinese and Koreans)
I expect Chinese to lose heavy camel or both camels in exchange for getting fire lancers
A DLC closer to the Vikings will be divided into Svear Daner Normen MM :) :) :)
6:22 It’s a Chinese grenadier unit. It throws grenades. Short-ranged unit with a damage radius.
I was always surprised why the Chinese never had gunpowder units. I think a civ becomes specialized when I see the feilon che or huo che. or the thick tubes that were fired.
On the second picture there is a weird looking mangonel on yellow side, just next to those 2 ships
Decor item
The dragonboat might be from the trinity kindom which they use to steal the arrows with dummys on the boats.
Chinese used to go into battle with gongs. There should be some kind of 'gong' unit that gives an aura that increases attack of all melee units by +1.
擊鼓進軍，鳴金收兵。
鑼是退兵的信號，你需要的是鼓手，兄弟。
There's even weirwood trees. So I say that a Game of Thrones map would be available to play. Yes, yes, that's what it is.
Looks very cool...Might get me to start playing again!
Missed opportunity to call it a Camelpult.
the green mounted unit is more likely to be a mounted samurai and the camel should something related to a mangonel...
the rocket cart is hawcha, which appears in ghost of tsushima game, with the description that they were invented by the koreans on later 1300~ 1400~
F AoE3 DLC. We will never forget you Q.Q
For multiplayer sure but it'll probably come with new campaigns aswel so single players will have their fun aswel, I hope. I never mind new dlc's.
Considering the DoI teaser had gurjara units with a bengali castle, I wouldn't fret much about which player has what units/architecture.
Im mostly looking forward to the Camel Trebs.
I'm hoping for the Uighurs and Tibetans if they are more focused on the early middle ages and not later.
im excited for the ball swingers
Finally new civs, can't wait ❤
These are 4 clearly distinct civs.
feels more like they have re-worked Chinese + Mongols into these 4 civs.
Green seems to be based on the nomadic region of China (Mongols are part of China).
The camels are probably only faster moving Onager, keeping that faster mobility the mongols are known for.
Red (first Image) Is probably based on the old imperial capital of China (Xi'an) The castle is basically a miniature version of the old capital you can now walk on.
The spear looking unit is very similar to the terracotta warriors that are also from Xi'an, however these are probably Hand Gunners, because they are carrying rockets, although this was not really used like this due to its unreliability.
As for the lancers, Mongol territory is just on the other side of the mountain range from Xi'an. So it would make sense they had access, though this was probably a balance decision.
Personally I would have liked to see something similar to Khmer houses, because Ancient buildings from this area were all designed to also be used as static defenses in-case the walls were breached. So would be great if we could garrison military units in houses or something.
Red (second image) seems more based around the new capital of China & the Great Wall, while Yellow seems to be based on Western China with clear West Asia influences
All of them look great though.
Jurchens for sure
in the 1st picture nobody noticed the fallen cavalry on fire? that seems new
imagine units running around on fire losing HP for some time, or till they get to the water
the camel trebuchet defies the laws of physics lol; ADD TO CART; i'ts prolly like a mini mangonel with lower dps if i were to guess
It's two northern empires Xi Xia and Liao/Jin Dynasty. Xi Xia is Tangut leadership which held vast territories in north west China. Liao/Jin Dynasty was military strongest empire at the time before the Mongols united, they were Khitan and later Jurchen/Manchu led. They were contemporaries of the Song Dynasty and Mongol Empire. Liao/Jin Jurchen Manchu could turn into Qing Dynasty in imperial age. These empires were cavalry heavy armies but also Gunpowder empires.
Chinese will probably stay almost the same but with few changes, as an original civ the devs will likely be very cautious with changing such an iconic civ. They might be able to give gunpowder back to China though as Chinese infamously misses Hand cannons in aoe2 when they were the inventors of it. With so many civs around the balancing is very different to when the game came out
I'm obviously looking forward to a DLC that will bring something back to multiplayer, but I also think that the game could use changes in other areas, especially in:
- Water battles. There is no counter system like on land, or like in AOM. Mass wins here and that's super boring.
- Maps. We've been playing the same maps in the rankings for years, even though we see much more creative Maps in tournaments (NAC, Hidden Cups, Red Bull wololo, others)
They should definitely expand the Mappool here, also because of the variety.
- Meta, especially at high-elo, where I'm also part of, you always see the same openings and the same units in the castle age. (Scouts->Archer->Crossbow/CA) This could be remedied with a few balance changes.
- OP Civs, Mongols and Georgia stand out here because they are extremely dominant and their winrate is only reduced by bad matchups (Gurjara, Hindustani).
(Chinese will be reworked so they will be fine soon)
I think Nest of Bees are the Mangonel line replacement, as with AoE4.
In one word? Exiting!
There's fire on the ground and it's not a building on fire. Could the guys carrying around a mace, actually be fire throwers?
yeah Chinese had a flamethrower type unit in AOE3. This could be an incendiary bomb perhaps? not sure how the balance would be done though
sounds really exciting and well structured dlc. am i the only one who wishes the slavs be divided into couple civs, too. wish i finally see Rus in campaigns, as well as reworked Bulgarian civ and campaign
3 kindoms in Chine war
Surprised you didnt mention the bridge.
Great video! Although I’m still waiting for britons to come back to glory
Camelpult
6:45 Viper has been watching too much Dave recently.
Vipi I love you! You are my lord and king!
I really hope Age of Empires 4 adds an East expansion eventually with the Jurchens, Khitans, Koreans, Tanguts, and the Tibetans. An Indian dlc with Tamils, Kalingas, Bengalis, Rajasthanis, and Kannadigas (Vijayanagara) would be sweet too.
Those rocket carts that you saw are definitely none other than Korean Hwachas. There is not a single thing that looks like that in other historical militaries. (no. the Chinese one only comes with 1 wheel)
Rocket carts? Nest of Bees is feature in AoE4. Probably being added to AoE2.
Did you know that this kind of rocket weapon called "Hwacha" by Koreans was passed from China?
Finally! Devs should split Slavs and Vikings in the next dlcs as well🙌🏻
after mules conquered competetive AoE now its time for the Camel to shine
8:45 I'm tired and want to sleep, but I'll just watch one more RUclips video...
Also: really excited about this DLC! I hope there will be a campaign attached to it. And I hope Viper will play it and actually finish it. 11
They brought Atlantean Villagers to AoE2 basically
I love it. Hope it brings more new Chinese players into the game as well!
It does seem impressive that they're able to keep putting out new content for AoE2!
they need to money to pay for the server upkeep
I hope they one day split the Saracens as well. From a historical sense, I've always felt they where under-represented. A Fatimid and Abbasid division, could work. Maybe though in there the Mamluk or Andalusians.
4:20 the "gunpowder spearboy" stands right next to the barracks and the twohanded... looks like it spawned from the barracks. is this a unique halb?
The thing you called Nest of Bees, inspired by AoE4, it is best to be called Hwacha'a, and they fit more Koreans/Mongols than chinese
The Hwacha'a is Korean, but the Chinese had their own invention used largely during the Ming and Song dynasties referred to as the Nest of Bees, Fire Cart, or Huo Che 火车 depending on the source. It's unclear from my cursory research if the Chinese inspired the Koreans, the Koreans inspired the Chinese, or if the two were developed independently. The core technology of gunpowder propelled arrows definitely originates from China, but records of the carts and mass firing mechanisms I'm not sure about.
That being said they Hwacha used in Korea was the most widely used implementation of the technology which is why its the most well known, while Huo Che were from my understanding relatively briefly used as other gunpowder weapons were prefered in China.
3 Chinese civs all different Castle architecture and 4 different Indian civs all different Cadtle architecture, meanwhile Vikings and Huns share the Castle architecture and Ethiopian Villagers look like Briton.
Not bad
Camangonel maybe? 🤔
So something along the lines of the Han, Jurchen, Tanguts, and maybe Tibetans?
Exciting news! Myth Chinese look even better tho, and Age 4 is getting TWO DLCs!!!
Boxi!? Tanguts!? Does RobbyLava know about this?!
I can say that the Xbox vs PS 5 war's victor will be decided by an AoE 2 match
I wonder if Koreans will get the Hwach'a?
Camapult
I think the guys with the 'morningstar' looking weapons might be carrying a big pack of explosives. Maybe a unique more powerful petard with extra armor. Or potentially a ranged petard that will throw that pack at short range instead of blowing themselves up.
Stoked but also hope they don’t change original Chinese too much.
I wish teutons get a rework to make them more viable
Te amo Viper
🥁🥁🥁🥁👏👏👏
Camel treb OP
Siiick
I would love to see the Tibetans
last missing DLC: split Slavs into Rus, Romanians and Serbs
I would be sad if we lost the chinese as they are now. I only started playing them 2 weeks ago
I realle want the same treatment to the japanese, old civs feel very underwhelming lore wise and getting that special treatment is so fun
Washed up, lazy and pushed around by a crazy gal. Whats left to work with?
HYPE!
Commenting for the boost
I predict t90 is going to lose his mind
Can't escape from Pokemon 😂
Justice for Age 3
Wtf is this music in the background @3:29 LOL
Tanguts because of the Camel siege unit, and I think maybe Ming, becuase of the castle at 2:08 and the armor at 2:14. The weapon that looks like a ball on a chain at 6:21 might be a meteor hammer (though it looks rather large, and only one ball, maybe a grenade?), which could be Ming or Yuan maybe... but what looks like a Hwacha points more to the Yuan, or a Korean civ.
Did you know that this kind of rocket weapon called "Hwacha" by Koreans was passed from China?
Come on Shu, Wu and Wei, let Liu Bei in aoe2
AoE4 love it
Chinese aren't being split. Tanguts and Khitans aren't chinese, they were different polities historically.
I'll guess they split the current Chinese in four different civs, like they did with the Indians. Though I do hope the one civ that remains what the Chinese were will be mostly untouched, as it is a classic civ.
So if they split up the chinese what happens if I don’t get the dlc? Do I just play as the old Chinese against the new civs?
Afaik there has always been a kind of rework of existing civs in the past. I would imagine that you will be able to play the one reworked Chinese civ thats closest to OG Cinese. But ofc you wont get access to the new civs and you wont be able to play the OG China if they change it. That would be ridiculous bc as Viper said, its one of the strongest civ in the game - keeping it in the game would be a reason to NOT buy the DLC 11
It's going to be like with the indian dlc. Before you had a civ called Indians that then turned into the Hindustani. Basically the same civ just a different unique unit since the elephant archer was turned into regional unit. Similarlly the Chinese currently in game will be renamed to another ethnic group and realisticly stay the same civ, maybe get access to a new "chinese" regional unit. Anyone who doesn't buy the dlc can still play this civ since it replaces the old chinese.
99% sure you will be able to play as OG Chinese with some possible visual changes and some (but not super major) reworks. Can be still called Chinese or maybe Han (Han Chinese)
i think they need unique architecture too. Tori gates for chinese is a joke. . it is as absurd as indian civs having mosque as monk building. The roof of buildings should resemble the roof on the castle no like that Y thing japanese have.
Hype