Talk:Malians/@comment-76.241.134.27-20160401000937

The Malians are a nice addition to the game, but there is an error in their inclusion. The Malian empire (Manden Kurufaba) rose in the 1200's. The game's first age begins in the 300's/400's. The renaissance (in game Imperial age) began around the 1300's. That places the Malian empire at a sub-dark age level of tech during the ingame castle age, and previous to that they would be a nomadic tribe at best. It wasn't until the 1300's or so that Manden created a rough feudal system, something that began in the late Dark ages of europe (400's). Although the Malian empire grew rich on gold and salt, they hardly fit the time period.

A properly accurate tech tree for them would lack most militia-line, upper archer-line, knight-line, seige, and ships. The Malian army was large but was largely spearmen and archers. As such, their technology would fall short at a sub-feudal level. It was a great thought to include the unique empires of Africa, but I fear 'balancing' has pushed history out of the game.