Civilization Match Up Discussion Week 1: Malay vs Vikings

OP delivers on promise PogChamp!

Hello and welcome to the first in a weekly civilization match up discussion series hosted by yours truly! Every Friday, (possibly Saturday for people who aren't NA) we will be discussing how two civilizations face off against each other: their various strengths and weaknesses in regards to one another, the different map types/game modes in which they have advantage over one another, which points in the game they have the advantage over one another, and other general tips for playing each side of the match up.Feel free to discuss each civilization's role in team games as well!

This is thread is not to talk about each civilization generally, but rather specifically how the two civilizations interact with one another. However, it is totally fine to discuss anything you want regarding the match up in question. With 31 civilizations currently in AoE2, there are A LOT of possible match ups, but I will do my best to cover as many as possible. Without further ado here we go!

Malay vs Vikings:

Malay: Naval Civilization

• Aging up is 80% faster
• Fish Traps cost -33%
• Fish Traps provide unlimited food
• Battle Elephants cost -25%
• TEAM BONUS: Docks +100% LoS

Unique Unit: Karambit Warrior (weak, fast infantry that only cost 1/2 population) * Castle Age Unique Tech: *Thalassocracy - Upgrades Docks to Harbors, which fire arrows * Imperial Age Unique Tech: Forced Levy - Swordsmen line do not cost gold

Vikings: Infantry and Naval Civilization

• Warships cost -15% in Feudal and Castle Age; -20% in Imperial Age
• Infantry get +10% HP in Feudal age, and an additional +5% for each successive age
• Wheelbarrow, Hand Cart free

• TEAM BONUS: Docks cost -15%

• Unique Units: Berserk (powerful Infantry that slowly regenerates health); Longboat (Warships that fires multiple arrows)

• Castle Age Unique Tech: Chieftains - Infantry +5 attack vs Cavalry

• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Berserkergang - Berserks regenerate x2 faster

Here are some relevant questions I had to get you all started, but these are just suggestions - feel free to discuss whatever you like regarding the Malay vs Vikings!

• Both are incredibly powerful naval civilizations, but which one has the edge on water maps?
• Which is a better economic bonus: Free WB/HC, or +80% faster age up?
• Can Viking Berserks be an effective counter to swarms of Karambit Warriors?
• Malay have been picked 16x so far in KotD, and Vikings only once. Why do experts consider Malay to be far superior? For what it's worth, Malay have only won 4/16 games and Vikings have won the one game in which they were picked.

Thank you for joining me for this series! Please let me know if you have any questions/suggestions for future discussions and I will see you next week for a discussion on the Aztecs vs Burmese!