Unique Unit Ideas

Here are my ideas for new unique units that I think would benefit the countries below.



Summary



Portugal: Guerrilla Band

Spain: Guerrilla Band, Mountain Gun

Denmark: Gunboats

Poland: Uhlans

Austria: Grenzers

Ottomans: Janissaries

Egypt: Albanian Mercenaries



The Ideas



Guerrilla Band (A unique infantry unit for Spain and Portugal)






Historical Context

• During the Peninsular War, the Iberian Peninsula was constantly in a state of rebellion against the French. While the French Army was unbeaten in open battle, rebels plagued the countryside. These rebels would harass French supply lines using guerrilla/hit and run tactics and their superior knowledge of the terrain to avoid retaliation. These rebels would have much success, causing the Junta Central Suprema to fully endorse them.
  

Special Abilities

• Engineer (Already in game): Can build military defensive facilities
  
  

• Reasoning: I imagine this unit as a cheap infantry unit like the Highlanders, Dominion Militia, and Patriotic Army. These units all have engineer, so I’ll give the Guerrilla Band this ability.
  
  

• Hit and Run: Enemy has a certain possibility of being unable to counterattack
  
  

• Reasoning: Guerrilla Bands employed hit and run tactics to avoid retaliation by the superior French forces.
      
  

What does it bring to the table?

• These units can be spammed like militia/line infantry to protect cities and can be used to chip away at the enemies’ HP. This will blunt an enemy offensive and pave the way for a successful counterattack.   
  

Source

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_warfare_in_the_Peninsular_War
  

Mountain Gun (A unique artillery unit for Spain)






Historical Context

• During the Peninsular War, the Spanish Army used Mountain Guns. They were specially designed for use in the mountains where wheeled transport was not possible. They could be broken down into smaller pieces for easier transport.
  
  

Special Abilities

• Bombard (Already in game): Certain possibility that enemy cannot fight back when being attacked
  
  

• Reasoning: Every artillery unit in the game has this ability.
  
  

• Mountain Warfare: Increase attack by 25% when fighting in mountains and mobility is not affected by mountains
  
  

What does it bring to the table?

• I imagine this unit as a cheap artillery unit, costing a little bit more than light artillery. The French-Spanish border is filled with mountains. You can use Mountain Guns to blunt the French offensive and counterattack. There are also mountains all around France’s southern cities and Italy’s northern cities. Mountain Guns can also be useful here.
  

Sources

• www.littlewars.se/spanish/artillery.html
  
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_gun

Gunboat (A unique naval unit for Denmark)






Historical Context

• The British attacked Copenhagen and captured the Danish fleet in order to not let it fall into Napoleon’s hands. In response, Denmark decided to build tons of gunboats to compensate for the loss of the fleet. This was possible because gunboats could be produced rapidly and cheaply. On several occasions, the gunboats were able to raid British convoys for cargo ships. However, gunboats were weak and likely to sink from a single hit.
  
  

Special Ability:

• Raid: Increase attack by 25% when fighting against carriers
  

• Reasoning: Gunboats raided British convoys for cargo ships. Carriers are cargo ships because their cargo is the troops they carry.
  

What does it bring to the table?

• I imagine this unit as a cheap naval unit, costing a little bit less than a clipper. They can be used to protect your coastal cities by defeating British, Prussian, and Swedish carriers. They can also be used to control the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to pave the way for a naval invasion of Britain, Prussia, and Swedish Finland.
  
  

Source

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunboat_War
  
  

Uhlans (A unique cavalry unit for Poland)






Historical Context

• Uhlans were Polish light cavalry armed with lances, sabres, pistols. They fought with the French in many battles across Spain and Germany, spreading the popularity of uhlan regiments across Europe. Russian, Prussian, Saxon, Austrian and other armies would form their own uhlan regiments. Napoleon said that one Polish Uhlan was worth ten French soldiers.
  
  

Special Abilities

• Victory Rush (Already in game): Certain possibility to attack again after defeating the enemy
  

• Reasoning: Every cavalry unit in the game has this ability.
  

• Veteran (Already in game): Reduce received damage by 25%
  
  

• Reasoning: Uhlans were experienced veterans, fighting with Napoleon from the creation of the Duchy of Warsaw in 1807 to his fall in 1814.
  

What does it bring to the table?

• I imagine this unit as an expensive cavalry unit, like Cossacks and Mamluk Cavalry. Poland needs to survive until France can send sufficient forces to relieve them. Uhlans can be used to clear out enemy spam and are more durable than most other cavalry.
  
  

Source

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uhlan
  

Grenzers (A unique infantry unit for Austria)






Historical Context

• Grenzers were light infantry who guarded the Austrian-Ottoman Border. The border was subject to Ottoman raids, so the Grenzers were militarized and ready to repel any attack. They were suited to scouting and skirmishing and Napoleon had a good opinion of them. After Austria’s defeat in 1809, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th Grenzer Regiment went into French service. They served for Napoleon until 1814.
  
  

Special Abilities

• Engineer (Already in game): Can build military defensive facilities
  
  

• Reasoning: I imagine this unit as a cheap infantry unit like the Highlanders, Dominion Militia, and Patriotic Army. These units all have engineer, so I’ll give the Grenzers this ability.
  

• Frontiersmen: Increase damage of counterattack by 50% when attacked within own country
  
  

• Reasoning: Grenzers were always ready to repel any Ottoman attack on the border.
  
  

What does it bring to the table?

• These units can be spammed like militia/line infantry to protect cities and can be used to punish enemy units attacking cities. This will blunt an enemy offensive and pave the way for a successful counterattack. 
  

Source

• napoleonistyka.atspace.com/Austrian_infantry.htm#_grenzers
  

Janissaries (A unique infantry unit for the Ottomans)






Historical Context

• Janissaries were elite infantry units that made up the sultan’s household troops, bodyguards, and were the first modern standing army in Europe. They were formed from kidnapped young Christian boys who were converted to Islam. They made extensive use of early grenades. They became famed for strict discipline and order when holding the center of the army even if encircled.
  
  

Special Abilities

• Bomb-dropping (Already in game): Increase damage when attacking fortresses and cities
  
  

• Reasoning: Janissaries extensively used early grenades.
  
  

• Discipline: Morale will not drop when encircled
  
  

• Reasoning: If encircled, Janissaries would continue to fight, maintaining their morale with strict discipline and order.
  
  

What does it bring to the table?

• I imagine this unit as an expensive infantry unit, like the Old Guard. Units attacking cities can be easily encircled by an enemy unit created in the city and a flanking enemy unit. Janissaries can be used to attack cities without receiving the negative effects of being encircled.
  
  

Source

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janissaries
  

Albanian Mercenaries (A unique infantry unit for Egypt)






Historical Context

• When Napoleon pulled out of Egypt after an unsuccessful campaign, he left a power vacuum. It lead to a 3-way civil war between the Ottomans, Egyptian Mamluks, and Albanian Mercenaries. It ended in victory for the Albanian Mercenaries led by Muhammad Ali, who seized power. The Albanian Mercenaries would form the backbone of his new army and participate in many of his campaigns.
  
  

Special Abilities

• Engineer (Already in game): Can build military defensive facilities
  

• Reasoning: I imagine this unit as a cheap infantry unit like the Highlanders, Dominion Militia, and Patriotic Army. These units all have engineer, so I’ll give the Albanian Mercenaries this ability.
  
  

• Urban Warfare: Increase attack by 25% when fighting in cities and buildings
  
  

• Reasoning: On several occasions, Albanian Mercenaries were able to lure enemy forces into a choke point in an urban area. This tactic allowed them to decisively destroy enemy forces.
  
  

What does it bring to the table?

• These units can be spammed like militia/line infantry to protect cities and can be used to punish enemy units attacking cities. This will blunt an enemy offensive and pave the way for a successful counterattack.
  

Sources

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali%27s_seizure_of_power
  
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanians_in_Egypt