Civilization Match-up Discussion Round 3 Week 12: Chinese vs Koreans

Hey it's that thing I actually study IRL!

Hello and welcome back for another Age of Empires 2 civilization match up discussion! This is a series where we discuss the various advantages, disadvantages, and quirks found within the numerous match ups of the game. The goal is to collectively gain a deeper understanding of how two civilizations interact with each other in a variety of different settings. Feel free to ask questions, pose strategies, or provide insight on how the two civilizations in question interact with each other on any map type and game mode. This is not limited to 1v1 either. Feel free to discuss how the civilizations compare in team games as well! So long as you are talking about how the two civilizations interact, anything is fair game! Last week we discussed the Huns vs Incas, and next up is the Chinese vs Koreans!

Chinese: Archer Defensive civilization

• Start with +3 villagers but -200f, -50w
• Technologies cost -10/15/20% in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
• Town Centers support 10 population; +5 LoS
• Demolition Ships +50% hp

• TEAM BONUS: Farms +45f

• Unique Unit: Chu Ko Nu (Foot archer that fires multiple arrows per volley)

• Castle Age Unique Tech: Great Wall (Walls and Towers +30% hp)

• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Rocketry (Chu Ko Nu +2 attack; Scorpions +4 attack)

Koreans: Tower and Naval civilization

• Villagers +3 LoS
• Stone Miners +20% faster
• Walls and Castles built +33% faster, Towers built +5% faster
• Tower upgrades free (BBT requires Chemistry)
• Guard Towers +1 range, Keeps +2 range

• TEAM BONUS: Mangonels have reduced minimum range

• Unique Unit: War Wagon (Tanky, expensive, powerful cav archer)

• Unique Unit: Turtle Ship (Immensely powerful, but slow and expensive, ironclad cannon-firing ship)

• Castle Age Unique Tech: Panokseon (Turtle Ships move +15% faster)

• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Shinkichon (Onager-line +1 range)

Below are some match up-specific talking points to get you all started. These are just to give people ideas, you do not need to address them specifically if you do not want to!

• With the Korean trush being somewhat de-fanged in the most recent patch, how does this strat fare vs the Chinese on trush-able maps? It strikes me that the Chinese with their fragile opening would be most susceptible to this sort of aggressive opening.
• How do these civs compare on water and land/water hybrid maps? Both have naval bonuses to some degree, although neither are top tier contenders for water maps. In what situations to you prefer one civ over the other on these maps?
• So in the late game on land maps, Chinese are immensely powerful with their Chu Ko Nu + Siege Ram combo, but are notoriously weak to Siege Onagers (Lacking Block Printing, BBC, Hussar). Koreans have some of the best SOs in the game. Are the Chinese totally screwed here or do they have options?

Thank you as always for participating! Next week we will continue our discussions with the Aztecs vs Italians. Hope to see you there! :)

Links to previous discussions: Part 1 Part 2