Italians

The Italians are a Mediterranean civilization featured in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten. They are an archer and naval civilization and are based on the medieval states in modern-day Italy, such as Venice, Genoa, Florence and the Papal States. The Italian's unique unit, the Genoese Crossbowman, is an anti-cavalry archer and the foot archers have enhanced armor. Highlight the other unique unit: the Condottiero is an anti-gunpowder infantry. Situated in southern Europe in modern-day Italy, the Italians were a prime center for European trade due to their strategic location of key port cities, in the game Fishing Ships have +2 Line of Sight. As a result, Italian cities became one of the wealthiest in the world during that time. To reflect their economic productivity, the Italians feature cheaper trade units, as well as cheaper upgrades from the Dock. The Italians were best known for being a center of culture and knowledge at the city of Florence during the Renaissance which revolutionized the way Europeans think. This made them ahead of other European kingdoms at that time as a result of trading with the more advanced Islamic and Far Eastern kingdoms, therefore the Italians can advance through the ages cheaper than other civilizations. Italians' gunpowder units cost less.

Overview
The Italians are mainly an archer and naval civilization. The Archery Range is pretty fit with Arbalest, Elite Skirmisher and Hand Cannoneer, but weak Cavalry Archers. They are able to research Thumb Ring and all Blacksmith upgrades. Their Castle Age unique technology, Pavise, makes the foot archers more durable and effective. Moreover, they enjoy an archer unique unit: the Genoese Crossbowman is a versatile unit trained at the Castle that has a bonus against Cavalry, making them powerful against cavalry based civilizations like the Franks, Berbers, Huns and Persians. At the Barracks, they don't get Halberdiers, but they do get the Champion, all Blacksmith upgrades plus Tracking and Squires. In the Imperial Age, the Condottiero, a quick infantry unique unit with a bonus against gunpowder units, can be trained at the Barracks. This unit is also their team bonus, which means that the Condottiero will be available for all their allies at the Barracks, once they are in the Imperial Age. The Stable looks very narrow without the Paladin and Camels, leastwise they might gain all the upgrades from the Stable and the Blacksmith. The Dock has no Heavy Demolition Ship, but everything else is available. The Siege Workshop lacks the Siege Onager, the Siege Ram and the Heavy Scorpion. The Monastery is fine with all the upgrades except Heresy. Due to their bonuses they have a vigorous economy, only lacking Gold Shaft Mining. Their Imperial Age unique technology, Silk Road, makes their trade units 50% cheaper. The Italians will endure a tight time with the Celts and Goths, as the Italians' archers and infantry are overwhelmed by fast moving Celts' infantry and Goth's anti-archer/anti-gunpowder nature of their Huskarls. The Italians are first-rate against the Turks, owing to Italians' unique units counter gunpowder and cavalry units.


 * Unique Unit: Genoese Crossbowman (Archer with bonus against cavalry), Condottiero (Infantry with bonus against gunpowder units)
 * Unique Technologies: Pavise (Foot archers +1 melee armor/+1 pierce armor), Silk Road (Trade units 50% cheaper)



Civilization Bonuses

 * All dock technologies cost -50%
 * Fishing ship +2 LOS
 * Gunpowder units cost -15%
 * Advancing to the next age 10% cheaper
 * Team Bonus: Condottiero also available in allies' barracks in the Imperial Age

Changes in African Kingdoms

 * Advancing to the next age 15% cheaper (instead of 10%)
 * Condottiero no longer requires Castle
 * Condottiero +1 attack, +0.2 speed
 * Receive Hussars
 * Pavise now affects all foot archers (instead of just Genoese Crossbowmen)
 * Pavise cost changed from 550f/300g to 300f/150g

In-game dialogue language (Medieval Latin)
Their in-game language is Medieval Latin, which is also spoken by the Byzantines. Historically, however, they spoke their own Italian language, which was related to Latin.
 * Ain? (Yes?)
 * Impero? (I command?)
 * Presto (I'm ready)
 * Salve! (Hello!)
 * Correctus (Right)
 * Ago (I do)
 * Sane (Certainly)
 * Caedo (I cut [tree])
 * Pabulo (I forage)
 * Venatus (Meat, hunter)
 * Capto (I catch [fish])
 * Colo (I cultivate)
 * Fodio (I dig/extract)
 * Condo (I build)
 * Reficio (I repair)
 * Deleo! (I destruct!)
 * Comitta! (Commit! or Comita! Follow!)
 * Pugno! (I fight!)
 * Porro! (Forward!)

Trivia

 * The Mediterranean Monastery features architectural elements of both Gothic and Romanic architecture. This combination is typical in Northern Italian churches and cathedrals, as well as in some chapels through Tuscany, Marche and Umbria.
 * The background emblem at the bottom centre of the User Interface is the coat of arms of Genoa.