Indians (Age of Empires III)

The Indians are one of the three civilizations available in the Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties expansion. They require Wood to train their Villagers, therefore, playing them will require an overhaul of the usual tactics used by traditional civilizations, making them essentially the "Dutch of the East". The Indians in-game are based on the Mughal Empire, which controlled the vast majority of present-day India and surrounding territories, under its illustrious ruler Akbar the Great, under whom the empire reached its greatest extent.

Advantages & Unique Units
Like the Spanish, the Indians main advantage in battle is a wide and balanced selection of different types of units. The Indians have one of the most well-balanced army in the game. The Indians have a unit to fulfill every role in war - their Sepoys fight well as musketeers, the Gurkhas provide good skirmisher support, and Rajputs help shield the light infantry and assault enemy lines. The Indian hand cavalry, the Sowar, is fast, even when compared to other cavalry, although fairly fragile. The Indians have another hand infantry unit, the Urumi. The Urumi can only be sent from the Home City as it is one of the most vital constituents of any Indian force. The Urumi has bonuses against heavy infantry and ranged cavalry, although it is a hand infantry unit. The Indian dragoon is the Zamburak, equally quick footed as the Sowar, though just as fragile.

All Indian units are unique, although most are modelled after a particular European civilization's troops. The Mansabdarunits can be visually identified easily during combat, protecting them is an important endeavor if they are trained.

Elephant Mounts
In order to re-balance the generally fragile camel units of the Indians, the Indians primary shock troopers are their mighty elephants - powerful cavalry units with incredibly high hitpoints and splash damage. The Indians have four distinct elephant units, excluding their monks, each with a different role.


 * Howdah - Powerful dragoon unit. Expensive with very high hitpoints, it is excellent for its primary purpose - sniping enemy cavalry. It is also suitable for taking out artillery.
 * Flail Elephant - The cheapest elephant available. Has a good siege attack and is suitable against Artillery. With its high ranged resistance, it can bring down most fortifications without much cost of life and limb.
 * Siege Elephant - Basically a cannon on an elephant's back. As the name implies, the Siege Elephant is excellent at siege. However, it is also encompasses other artillery abilities, such as anti-artillery and ship bonus. Despite this, the Siege Elephant performs very poorly against troops, although they do have high hitpoints.
 * Mahout Lancer - This elephant unit is the strongest of all the elephant and the strongest cavalry in the game. Like the Cuirassier, it has high hitpoints, high resistance and a wide splash area. Although not that effective against Heavy Infantry but can defeat them, this unit is devastating against archers and skirmisher, they can defeat many with just one strike. Also effective against buildings.

Mansabdar units
The Charminar Gate wonder acts as a barracks and stable, however the units produced here are special and take on the name Mansabdar. They increase the attack and hitpoints of similar (Mahout Mansabdar boosts Mahout Lancers, etc) nearby units by 10%.

Economy
The Indians main economic distinction is that their villagers costs wood, rather than food. Thus, instead of sending villagers to forage berries or hunt, an Indian player would be mostly chopping wood. This leaves them somewhat weakened if they are in a map with little trees. The Indian civilization will also need to distribute the wood stock between building houses or training villagers early in the game. Fortunately, Indian players will receive free villagers with every shipment, much like how Germans receive Uhlan with every shipment, although the Indians lack any villager shipment cards. Due to this unique ability, Indian players are considered to be far too reliant on the Home City card deck, thus, a blockade would be devastating.

The Indians are unable to slaughter cows due to religious reasons, but this is viewed as a bonus rather than a handicap (they are also free to slaughter other animals for food). When a cow is obtained it generates experience, it generates even more when tasked on a Sacred Field. The total bonus from two full Sacred Fields is comparable to the Spanish experience bonus.

Wonders
Indian wonders are among the best in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties. Like other Asian civilisations, the Indians advances in age by buildings wonders. Below is a list of Wonders available to the Indians and the bonuses they provide:
 * Tower of Victory - This wonder sends a shipment of Wood once built. It also unlocks the Inspiration ability, which boosts land units speed, hitpoints and damage for 15 seconds.
 * Agra Fort - Acts as a European Fortress. Initially, it can only train barracks units, but an upgrade available in the Fortress age and the Industrial Age can unlock the training of Stable and Castle units respectively. Sends Sepoys after construction
 * The Karni Mata - Has the ability "Keeper of Rats" which boosts villager gathering within 36 range of the wonder. Sends all three resources once completed
 * Charminar Gate - This wonder sends Sowars if built to advance to the Colonial Age, but sends Mahouts if built later. Able to train Mansabdar units.
 * Taj Mahal - Once constructed, this wonder sends crates of coins. It also unlocks an ability, known as "Cease Fire". When activated, all units on the map cannot attack for 20 seconds.

In-game dialogue language (Modern Hindi)
General dialogue:
 * adesh - command
 * tayyar - ready
 * ha? - yes?
 * hello? - hello?
 * main ja raha hoo - I am going
 * main karunga - I will do it
 * ha - yes
 * sahi - right
 * kisaan - farmer
 * lakad hara - lumberjack
 * shikari - hunter
 * khurak dhundne wala - forage
 * kamane wala - earner
 * makan banane wala- builder
 * yudh karne ke liye - for battle
 * hamla - attack!
 * ha! -Yes!

Brahmin (Explorers):
 * Shareer Mar Sakta Hai par Aatma Amar Hai (Body is mortal but the soul is immortal)
 * Swargameeya (I am going to heaven)