Civilization Match-up Discussion Round 10 Week 8: Koreans vs Persians

Ultimate turtle civ (literally) vs ultimate boomer civ. It's an ornlu dream come true!

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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 Bulgarians vs Spanish, and next up is the Koreans vs Persians!

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Koreans: Defensive and Naval civilization

• Villagers +3 LoS
• Stone Miners work +20% faster
• Tower upgrades free (BBT requires Chemistry)
• Arrow-firing Towers +1/+2 range in Castle/Imperial Age
• Military units (except Siege) cost -20% wood
• TEAM BONUS: Mangonel minimum range reduced by 50%
• Unique Unit: War Wagon (Expensive, powerful, tanky cavalry archer)
• Unique Unit: Turtle Ship (Expensive, slow, ironclad, short-range gunpowder ship)
• Castle Age Unique Tech: Panokseon (Turtle Ships move +15% faster)
• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Shinkichon (Mangonels +1 range)

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Persians: Cavalry civilization

• Start with +50w, +50f
• TCs and Docks x2 hp; work +10/15/20% faster in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
• TEAM BONUS: Knights +2 attack vs archers
• Unique Unit: War Elephant (Extremely expensive, slow, and tanky cavalry)
• Castle Age Unique Tech: Kamandaran (Archer-line now costs only 60w per unit)
• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Mahouts (War Elephants +30% faster)

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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!

• So neither of these civs are exactly world-beaters on 1v1 Arabia, but neither are bad by any means. Koreans offer some aggressive potential with a tower rush, but they can also play with their discounted wood-costing units, have a strong mid-game with super towers, and a deadly lategame with halbs, bbc, onagers, and war wagons. Meanwhile, Persians have a very solid early game, and steadily increase in strength as the game goes on. In Imp, you have your great cavalry, halbs, and trashbows. Which civ do you favor here?
• On closed maps, much of the dynamics are the same as above, however, both civs are given a bit more time to get their ideal armies up and running. Additionally, mobility is somewhat less important. Does this give the edge to Koreans and their towers, or will the Persian boom power through?
• In team games, it is clear that Koreans are much better as a flank civ, and Persians as a pocket civ. Neither are top-tier, but are certainly no slouches in their respective positions. Koreans are always going to be slow, but in a flank scenario that is hardly a problem, and they can use their wide array of powerful ranged options. Persians meanwhile are going to be at their best when booming into cavalry. Which civ shines more here?

Thanks as always for participating! Next week we will continue our discussions with the Magyars vs Malay. Hope to see you there! :)

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Previous discussions: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3