this is the type of content i wanted from aoe4 youtubers for a long time. i just love the time they put into making every civ have a unique look. This actually brought me from aoe2 to aoe4. Please make more like horseman, knight/lancer etc.
Varangian Guard look so cool in imperial age, especially with their cloaks. I'm always disappointed when I make them in castle age and I'm reminded that they look kinda mid in their base form. Plus, there's not much reason to use berserking before you get the speed upgrade so you never see them use their axe in castle age. They'd score several points higher for me if they still used their axes even in non-berserking mode. Like, when the devs changed the Knight Sabers tech to give Rus knights poleaxes instead, it made them way cooler even tho nothing changed about the tech gameplay-wise. Just having the V. Guard use the axe one-handed, and then stow their shields to use it two-handed for the extra damage would actually make more sense cos where did they even get the axe from lol?
Yeah they are upgraded with a sword called Kilij, I don’t know the graphics kind of look off, but it is a forward bending Sword much like the Turkish Kilij (Actually since it is a Indian or Sultanate version of Kilij so they should have named it Sosun Pattah as this the historical name but I guess they didn’t dive much into it)
I would probably move everyone one tier higher without changing order. I'd still keep Wyngaurd and Joan Guard at bottom, but OOTD is top for me. Most catching, most radiant, strikes fear in the enemy.
I have to say, Ghulam and Ottoman MaA in Imperial Age look super bad-ass to me. That covered face with only the bloodthirsty eyes being visible makes them super menacing and ominous.
True. I guess I just don't have strong images in my head of what heavy middle eastern armor looks like. It seems kind of vague and uniconic compared to some of the other armors (like plate armor, samurai armor, even chinese armor is more...distinct I guess)
Disgraceful, English MAA is the most badass! :P I think they 'get away' with the iconography because it's basically the St George's cross on the flag so it's basically the flag on the chest.
I quite liked that someone did this style of video. On the one hand, I prefer this approach to visuap design to the generic versions in AoE2, but the degree of detail and the intentionally simplified artstyle seem to be worsening with time(ie. Samurai, English landmark king mounted with a biddenhander and shield). The sheer size of arrows and weapons that people were complaining about from pre-release trailers made a lot more sense for readability. Pity they didn't use assets from the saxon warrior with an axe for the Wynguard man at arms. Honestly, just from this photo I have less of an issue with Joan's champion, but thats just me, probably could also have benefitted from the existing smaller axe asset. Obviously my differences in taste are subjective and I thought this was a fun video despite not fully agreeing with this video's ranking.
As mentioned in the video, the samurai's design was well thought out, but the visual style of the game clashes with what's being represented in a way so as to look "blocky" indeed.
Might be too much work but was hoping you'd jump into free camera mode for this. Still love the content! - (Edit) Got to the end of the video and the fact OOTD was not #1 is a tragedy.
@@ChillyEmpiredidn’t really notice that they alreay had a different sword compared to the other men at arms, but i do think that the kiliij looks great and sets them appart from the other nation’s men at arms
@@ChillyEmpire the helmet I can’t say for sure but the armor piece definitely reminds me of the armor used by the ancient kushites especially the royalty where it was commonly made of iron or gold, I think the queen Aminatore is the one who made it famous, yeah wrong culture but not unrealistic, or perhaps unrealistic since that’s from ancient times idk. For the helmet I beleive it’s meant to take inspirations from both the Bamana Janus helmet (there are multiple variants but some look very similar to the helmets we see) and the Dogon helmet however they seemed to have augmented it and take creative liberties with upgrading to fit the elite look of the unit which is most likely not historical which I don’t blame your take on that. Sorry if my comment seemed like those of salty commentators trying to argue against history.
Ah. Religious imagery. Just so you know, the English flag is literally saint george's cross. So, I mean, look at the shield as well. The English are covered in crosses.
Kamakura armour in imperal age just doesn’t make sense, wished they actually did sengoku for castle and imp. Don’t get me started with mounted samurai with Chinese shields lmao.
I think the disrespect on the English man at arms and mongols man at arms is crazzzyyyy, the Malians to sorta as the historical fantasy bothering you more than me is just taste I think. Great video format tho
Kinda disappointed you didn’t rank woman at arms with the men at arms even if they’re totally made up. That way we’d know how they stack up against the rest.
this is the type of content i wanted from aoe4 youtubers for a long time. i just love the time they put into making every civ have a unique look. This actually brought me from aoe2 to aoe4. Please make more like horseman, knight/lancer etc.
AoE2 was born out of a time when there were no AI tools, and people were being pushed to produce a game every 1 or 2 years.
@@meilinchan7314 yea i know that. i still like that game and i have over 3000 hours in aoe2de. i like both games aoe4 and aoe2
I really like the OOTD's Guilded Man at arms, looks so giga and tanky
Varangian Guard look so cool in imperial age, especially with their cloaks. I'm always disappointed when I make them in castle age and I'm reminded that they look kinda mid in their base form. Plus, there's not much reason to use berserking before you get the speed upgrade so you never see them use their axe in castle age. They'd score several points higher for me if they still used their axes even in non-berserking mode. Like, when the devs changed the Knight Sabers tech to give Rus knights poleaxes instead, it made them way cooler even tho nothing changed about the tech gameplay-wise. Just having the V. Guard use the axe one-handed, and then stow their shields to use it two-handed for the extra damage would actually make more sense cos where did they even get the axe from lol?
English Knights and French Men-at-Arms are so much better looking than they should be.
FACTS
LOVED THIS CONCEPT !! PLEASE make more of these video with ARCHERS or KNIGHTSSS or CORSSBOWMEN keep it up !!
Continue this series loved it alot
I really like Delhi as well - also i love how the honed blade upgrade changes the look of their swords!
Yeah they are upgraded with a sword called Kilij, I don’t know the graphics kind of look off, but it is a forward bending Sword much like the Turkish Kilij (Actually since it is a Indian or Sultanate version of Kilij so they should have named it Sosun Pattah as this the historical name but I guess they didn’t dive much into it)
I would probably move everyone one tier higher without changing order. I'd still keep Wyngaurd and Joan Guard at bottom, but OOTD is top for me. Most catching, most radiant, strikes fear in the enemy.
3:52 "Nordic helmet"
Me: (hisses in Old Slavic)
LOL What would you call it?
I have to say, Ghulam and Ottoman MaA in Imperial Age look super bad-ass to me. That covered face with only the bloodthirsty eyes being visible makes them super menacing and ominous.
heavy armor has been in the middle east for a llllooooooooonnngggg time
True. I guess I just don't have strong images in my head of what heavy middle eastern armor looks like. It seems kind of vague and uniconic compared to some of the other armors (like plate armor, samurai armor, even chinese armor is more...distinct I guess)
I didn't know I needed this lmao
wasnt expected,but deffinitely an interesting topic
Mongol units don’t have unique Imperial Age skins because in pre-release they originally couldn’t advance to the Imperial Age.
Ohh...that's interesting
I would place mongols much higher - probably equal with RUS for mine. Apart from that pretty spot on. Cool video!
Disgraceful, English MAA is the most badass! :P I think they 'get away' with the iconography because it's basically the St George's cross on the flag so it's basically the flag on the chest.
Interesting video.. I kinda like French and Otto maa. If Rohan from LOTR had locally trained Gondor soldiers that would look like Otto maa
For mongol some of their units dont have imperial look because their were nit supposed to advance to imperial age in pre alfa build
I quite liked that someone did this style of video. On the one hand, I prefer this approach to visuap design to the generic versions in AoE2, but the degree of detail and the intentionally simplified artstyle seem to be worsening with time(ie. Samurai, English landmark king mounted with a biddenhander and shield). The sheer size of arrows and weapons that people were complaining about from pre-release trailers made a lot more sense for readability. Pity they didn't use assets from the saxon warrior with an axe for the Wynguard man at arms. Honestly, just from this photo I have less of an issue with Joan's champion, but thats just me, probably could also have benefitted from the existing smaller axe asset. Obviously my differences in taste are subjective and I thought this was a fun video despite not fully agreeing with this video's ranking.
As mentioned in the video, the samurai's design was well thought out, but the visual style of the game clashes with what's being represented in a way so as to look "blocky" indeed.
I can’t tolerate this disrespect for the Palace Guard. The guandao itself is enough to put it into the beautiful people tier
Might be too much work but was hoping you'd jump into free camera mode for this. Still love the content! - (Edit) Got to the end of the video and the fact OOTD was not #1 is a tragedy.
I wanted to do free camera mode for this...but cheats are broken in the free camera mode rn. It's way too tedious rn.
@@ChillyEmpire yeah, that makes sense. Here's hoping they just unlock the camera in all replays.
yeee!!! Nice video!
that is the right content!
Even before watching the video my first thought was the French's MAA, those guys looks sooo cool
French Barracks need to get the Keep influence buff. Like why not?
4:59 *vaguely gestures at the shield*
LOL. I guess the flag cross counts. It's just...different tho...
Aye nice vid bro, Spearman next?
I like the plate armoured MAAs the best(HRE, French) but I have a soft spot for the Varangian Guard!
This is my kind of tier list
Delhi men at arms look good but with the honed blade upgrade they re just perfect
Really? I prefer them with the Khanda-style sword (flat and rectangular looking). It's more...unique. The Kilij just looks like a basic scimitar.
@@ChillyEmpiredidn’t really notice that they alreay had a different sword compared to the other men at arms, but i do think that the kiliij looks great and sets them appart from the other nation’s men at arms
PLEASE DO LANCERS NEXT!!!
Don’t ghulams have rectangular shields?
They should have adarga shields. The image is outdated
@@ChillyEmpire I shed a tear for the lost beauty
teutonic and templar maas....we need them
make a vid on how to play rus fam like rn.😢
Love it although I feel like you were a bit unfair for the mali unit in terms of it looking “fantastical”
oo how come? If you happen to know what they based the designs off of I'd love to learn. To my knowledge the Musofadi warrior is an original design.
@@ChillyEmpire the helmet I can’t say for sure but the armor piece definitely reminds me of the armor used by the ancient kushites especially the royalty where it was commonly made of iron or gold, I think the queen Aminatore is the one who made it famous, yeah wrong culture but not unrealistic, or perhaps unrealistic since that’s from ancient times idk. For the helmet I beleive it’s meant to take inspirations from both the Bamana Janus helmet (there are multiple variants but some look very similar to the helmets we see) and the Dogon helmet however they seemed to have augmented it and take creative liberties with upgrading to fit the elite look of the unit which is most likely not historical which I don’t blame your take on that. Sorry if my comment seemed like those of salty commentators trying to argue against history.
Ah. Religious imagery. Just so you know, the English flag is literally saint george's cross. So, I mean, look at the shield as well. The English are covered in crosses.
Touche LOL
Kamakura armour in imperal age just doesn’t make sense, wished they actually did sengoku for castle and imp. Don’t get me started with mounted samurai with Chinese shields lmao.
Lancers next!
swear castle MAA look so much better in most cases.
The gold trim in the Imperial age looks pretty tacky when you zoom up close. Looks fine when zoomed out though.
I think the disrespect on the English man at arms and mongols man at arms is crazzzyyyy, the Malians to sorta as the historical fantasy bothering you more than me is just taste I think. Great video format tho
Kinda disappointed you didn’t rank woman at arms with the men at arms even if they’re totally made up. That way we’d know how they stack up against the rest.
the imp HRE helmet is an armet i think
Yep! I figured out while editing the video doh
aint no way you put samurai mid as hell😭
5:05": "I thought this game tried to stay away from blatant religious imagery?"
Lol oops
U love design 😂😂
wrong opinions
Opinions can’t be wrong 😑
@@Bradboss10 theese ones are wrong