We’ve got another expansion to make, so where to start! We’re all joyously filled with crazy, weird ideas, bouncing them off the wall and eachother. But we’ll have to squeeze those ideas into a proper game. So where to start? Just like last time, it starts with the core of the new content, the new civilizations.
A Theme
In Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten, we were presented with a rather obvious civ choice. Ensemble Studios had left hints behind on which civs they would’ve loved to add to the game. Some were nations that appeared in campaigns but were never turned into a proper, playable civ. Those were the easy choices, but now that we’ve used the most obvious ones, where do we go next? Over the last year(s), we’ve received a lot of feedback from players on possible new civilizations. Ranging from Medieval powerhouses like the Normans and the Khmers to less obvious or specific suggestions such as the Kingdom of Jerusalem or the Principality of Pannonia. But unlike our broader approach to AoF, we’ve decided to build out more of a thematic flair and pay a visit to a continent south of Europe with a rich history: Africa. We’ll be covering civilizations both born within the content, as well empires that held great power in the region – including one that has been requested many, many, many times by the fans.
But to keep things a bit exciting, they will all be revealed over the coming weeks, so feel free to speculate 😉
Oh except for the first one!
The Berbers
The Berbers (~700 AD) are the first African civilization to be seen in the new expansion pack. We caught a glimpse of them in the original El Cid campaigns in “The Conquerors”, where they are portrayed in a more generic term as Saracens. Berbers, however, are more than worthy of becoming an Age of Empires civilization. With dynasties across Northern Africa, the ancient Berbers will primarily be a Cavalry & Naval civilization. They’ll have 2 unique units and will also feature a unique technology that affects the entire team.
Since we’re early in development, we don’t have a lot of screenshots yet, but the Camel Archer is already properly functional in the game and looking good. As if it has always been hopping around in the Age of Empires II universe. It was of course teased with the overall expansion announcement.
And last but not least, the Berbers will have their own campaign, but we’ll share more on that later as well.
So this will be it for the first dev blog, it’s more of a tease than a proper “dev” blog, but we’ll certainly dig a bit deeper in the next episodes. We’re hoping to do these monthly, make sure you don’t miss out 😉
Wow. I’m like a child the night before Christmas. The top item on my wish list is the ability to jump in the recorded demos. And speed them up a lot, both forward and backward… Gl with work!
YES! make a Norman civ please! give them like free ”dry docks” (as they’re some badass invaders) french-like Cavalry line (badass heavy cavalry) and perhaps some cheap crossbowmen that cannot be upgraded in the imp-age? the same way the Incas have sligners that can’t be upgraded more. i suppose both the Britons and Franks are extremely similar… but maaan, i want it. kinda useless when you already have franks and brits, but so are Magyars whom have Huns and Slavs…
just suggestions 🙂
Normandy doesn’t relate to Africa, and this is a African centered expansion
well not too far off, they conquered much of Southern Italy so they may have had some influence in North-Africa too…
Well actually they do, they Conquered Southern Italy and later supposingly Conquered a area from Tunisia to the gulf of Sirte… so they do actually qualify just briefly! so an Italo-Norman civ could perhaps be plausible?
More Civilizations, cool. But we rather need another Age after Imperial Time.
I love new content for this game and the effort of many people behind working on it. For me, is important if this time the expansion comes with language audio like the originals. Can do the 2 expansion at time saving money. I think many people consider The Forgotten bored by this. I know this question is many times debated but i hope this time MS and Forgotten Empires LLC do something. Anyway this is a great news for fans! Keep doing. 😉
Yes please. Add audio to the campaigns. It feel very bad play campaigns without audio
So the conquerors had 5 new civs. The forgotten had 5 new civs. I guess this one will have also 5. Arabs, Berebers and Portuguese. The sarracens representing Egipto. I would like they divide the slavs in 3. Russians, Bulgars and Polish maybe. Also I would like to see Normands Guaranies and Iroqueses. Im worried about how multiplayer will be now. Divide it in 3 lobbies is terrible. I hope you patch the age of empires 2 civs to be the same as the forgotten. And let play all together with only the people who has the expansions play the… Read more »
Yes, great news. Berbers and maybe Portugese are there for this release. Other civs I’d love to see are Egypt and Russia
Actually right now, Egypt is represented by the Saracens and Russia is represented by the Slavs. I would like to see the The Slaves divided in Russia, Poland and Bulgar. And also creating the Berebers they can leave the Saracens to be Egypt and Maybe create an Arab civilization spliting the Muslim world in Arabia, Egypt, Magreb and Turkey.
Portuguese must be in the game
Ah yes, thanks for pointing. I’d like to replace Egypt with a more central/Eastern African civilization then. Your point take about the Russians.
Lucho, solo como observacion.
El plural de Slav es Slavs
Slaves significa “Esclavos”.
fixed
Here’s hoping for Mali, Kilwa, Abyssinia, Kongo and Zimbabwe, all of them have their merits within the period, though odds are about half of those will make it in. I guess time will tell…
The faction you brought aren’t civilisations but countries, which is a bit different since at least half of the civilisations already playable in AoE2 built several countries. Mandinka, Swahili, Habesha and Shona would be more accurate (Kongo would work, but I’d rather like Bakongo). However, I’d also like to see Nubians in the game.
The Aksumites should be a shoe-in. Whomever you choose, I’m sure it’s going to be another fantastic addition to one of the best games ever made!
implement 1v1 matchmaking
Hello Cysion. Emmm, how about the voice of unit for berbers? Whether to use the voice of the Saracens.And how about model of Wonder? Are there any further plans.
Im sure they have all the voice files and a new wonder building done.