North African traditions

See also: Military traditions

The North African traditions concentrate on the strengths of the Phoenician merchant state of Carthage and the surrounding nations. The Carthaginians had a strong naval tradition built on centuries of Mediterranean trade, and made use of heavy infantry and African war elephants supported by light infantry and cavalry to smash through enemy formations.

Availability and focus[edit]

Availability

The North African traditions are available for countries with Punic culture or the following culture groups:

Numidian

Focuses

The traditions focus on strengthening the following unit types, and possibly unlock some new abilities:

−15% Ship building cost
Unit focus:
- Strong Trireme
- Good Light infantry
- Good War elephants
Possible ability unlocks:
- Cavalry Skirmish

Paths[edit]

Starting bonus

Seafaring People

−15% Ship building cost

Civilization in North Africa has long been tied to the coastal regions. The harsh Sahara desert precludes large-scale habitation, and so, our people have long used the fickle ocean as a medium of transportation.

Tribal path
Born in the Saddle +10% Light cavalry offense
The Berber people to the west, and the Numidians, learn their horsemanship at a young age. For a people always on the move, this skill is invaluable.
Man and Horse +15% Camel plains combat bonus +15% Heavy cavalry plains combat bonus +15% Light cavalry plains combat bonus
Generations of interdependency between horse, camel, and man, allow us to get the most out of our mounted warriors, without ever pushing them too far.
Sure-footed, as Wild Horses -15% Light cavalry cost
We have no need for theft or ownership, but live in harmony with the land around us. Where the oases and watering holes are, there will we find the wild beasts which will bear our armies.
Wild Charge Enables the "Cavalry Skirmish" tactic
To some, it may seem like a disordered, chaotic melee, yet our warriors revel in this battle dance, knowing the movements of friend and foe, and acting as one with the rhythm of war.
Local Knowledge -15% Army attrition
None know better than our people, the ways of the desert. Where others see a desolate plain, we see potential.
Call to Arms +10% National manpower
The fortunes of our people are called into question every time we are threatened - all must rise in defense of our culture. We live, or die, as one.
Ululating Cry +10% Light cavalry discipline
A single war cry on the lips of every one of our soldiers. This is the way of our people, and the way in which we will show our foes that we stand united, and ready to kill.
Bonus: To Each, Their Own +6% National tribesman output +8% National tribesman happiness
We impose no strictures on our tribal people. They come and go as they please, often bringing their spoils with them.

Naval path
Phoenician Heritage +10% Ship damage done
The ancient traders of Tyre settled tracts of land across the Mediterranean. Their legendary seafaring skills live on in the memory of our people.
Iberian Draft +10% Light infantry defense
Carthage, in an attempt to counter the lack of available troops associated with their sprawling, decentralized empire, employed vast quantities of foreign soldiers. The fierce Iberians made a valuable addition to their ranks.
Naval Dominance -20% Ship damage taken
The Carthaginian fleet was a constant presence in the seas around Sicily and North Africa. The safety and reassurance this provides our crews cannot be understated, leading to a calm knowledge of our superiority in this theater.
A Life at Sea +0.05 Monthly ship repair at sea
While some nations build bespoke fleets for tackling particular enemies, our navy is in constant use. As such, our ships always carry supplies to perform maintenance in-situ, making it much easier to recover from combat or general attrition.
Noble Warlords +5 Loyalty of generals +5 Loyalty of admirals
The noble heritage of our people lives on in our practice of appointing the elite to lead our men. Those with so much invested into our nation are hard to sway with offers of gold or land.
Imposing Edifices +15% Fort defense
The lighthouses, civic structures, and fortifications of our people are recognizable to all who enter our lands. The imposing walls of our cities, however, give pause for thought to those who enter with a mind for conquest.
Putting our People to Work -10% Navy maintenance cost
The reliance of the Carthaginian army on foreign soldiers, was not mirrored in the navy. The poor or disillusioned could always find cheap labor at sea, manning one of the many military vessels of the Carthaginian state.
Bonus: Maneuverability Above All +10% Liburnian offense +10% Trireme offense
The Greek penchant for huge ships was not shared by the Carthaginians. Experts in naval warfare, they favored smaller craft with enhanced adaptability, leading to numerous victories over their enemies. The Battle of Catana in 397 BC resulted in a crushing defeat for the Syracusan forces, who were outnumbered and outperformed by the Carthaginian armada.

Army path
Skilled Recruiters -10% Mercenary army maintenance -25% Recruit mercenary cost
Unable to supply enough fit soldiers for the needs of the state, Carthage resorted to employing all manner of foreign mercenaries in their army. Relying on the skill of their negotiators, Carthage became the first port of call for soldiers seeking paid employment.
Professional Marines +10% Morale of navies
Ships in the Carthaginian navy were outfitted not only with a crew of sailors, but a crew of battle-hardened marines. Boarding action was common in antiquity, and the presence of a cadre of armed men must surely have put the minds of sailors and oarsmen at rest.
The Sacred Band +10% Heavy infantry offense
Unlike the rest of the predominantly mercenary forces, the Sacred Band were a group of Carthaginian citizens, possibly of noble birth, armed and equipped with heavy armor and spears. This elite group operated in a similar style to the Greek phalanxes, but due to their small number, were destroyed and reformed on several occasions throughout Carthaginian history.
Uneasy Relations +10% Tribute income +10 Loyalty of subject states
The supply of troops to our armies by countries willing to pay, can have implications. Our nation could even be held to ransom by those unwilling to provide the necessary forces - this must not be permitted.
The African Elephant -15% War elephant maintenance cost
Immense beasts with thick skin and a variable temperament, elephants were utilized as shock cavalry in the Carthaginian army. As proven by Hannibal's crossing of the alps, they made excellent pack animals when not engaged in combat.
Numidian Cavalry -15% Heavy cavalry cost
The interior of Africa provides skilled riders, the likes of which our foes cannot match. Combined with our superior equipment, we can transform these nomadic warriors into fearsome heavy cavalry.
Devastating Charge +10% War elephant offense
The psychological effect of elephants on the battlefield was huge. Battle lines would break, men were trampled, and entire armies would surrender at the dust clouds created by an approaching army with an elephant contingent.
Bonus: A Hard Bargain -15% Mercenary army maintenance
Many nations were considered protectorates by Carthage, often providing troops in return for nominal protection. Whilst they were paid, this expectation of service drives down the costs compared with regular mercenary contracts.

Strategy[edit]

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