My civ concept series 16: The Mapuches

Hi all! After the Nepalese (https://www.reddit.com/r/aoe2/comments/nqkh8w/my\_civ\_concept\_series\_15\_the\_nepalese/), next civ will be the Mapuches, the last of my Mesoamerican civ concepts. I had a great time working with design/balance and reading the limited History sources of this civ, and I hope you like it!

Archaeologists have found evidence of the Mapuche culture from the 6th Century BC onwards. They covered many areas of Chile and Argentina. Although they were no affinities between their genetics and language and those of nearby cultures’ people, archaeologists have distinguished genetic affinities with tribes from North America, and their language (Mapudungun), though considered isolate, seems to have similarities with the Mayan languages. As always, many theories have arisen regarding their origin, and also trying to discern what changes happened during the Middle Ages.

Around 1000 AD, the collapse of the Tiwanaku Empire seems to have brought a massive migration, so that the Mapuche language loaned words from the Puquina language. About this time, the Mapuches evolved agriculturally with techniques like raised and canalized fields. During the 15th century, before the arrival of Conquistadors, the Inca Empire invaded the Mapuche land. Mapuche Lonkos (leaders of communities) gathered and elected a toki (military leader) to fight them. The battle lasted for 7 days with heavy casualties, and ended with the Inca Empire unable to expand further south. The biggest evidence of this are the Pukaras (fortresses) that guarded the southern borders of the Inca Empire, who were afraid of Mapuche attacks.

At the arrival of the Spanish the Mapuche population was about 800.000. The Mapuche territory had an effective system of roads before the Spanish arrival. They were able to reach easily the indigenous lands, and rapidly engaged the Mapuches in a long lasting war (Araucan War), which started in 1536. Though superior in armament and resistance to diseases, the Spanish struggled for decades to subjugate the Mapuches, who were able to inflict several defeats on the Spanish, even besieging the city of Santiago. Many of these successful campaigns were possible thanks to guerrilla warfare, and the learning of captive Mapuches, who taught their fellows after serving several years as slaves how to fight the Spanish and how to use the horse. The most eminent was toki Lautaro, whose leadership lead to the death of the conquistador Pedro de Valdivia. In the end, the Spanish prevailed, and Mapuches had to retreat to their southern lands, where nowadays are still fighting for their independence.

Regarding the civ balance, the Mapuches have a very special tech tree, with a worse eco than the rest of Mesoamerican civs, but more military options. The only eco bonus regards to berries, as a symbol of the richness of fruits and nuts that today are one of the most important exports of Chile. The fierceness of Araucan warriors is reflected with the inclusion of a bonus for Barracks, Eagles, and a Unique Unit. The only mounted unit for meso civs will also get a bonus, reflecting the widespread use they gave to horses after the European arrival. Villagers, who also took arms when invaded, get a small bonus as the team bonus.

As I said, Mapuches will have more options than other meso civs. The first Unique Unit is available in Barracks since the Feudal Age, and it is a representation of the pictures I have so far seen when I searched for Mapuche Warriors. The name of the Castle Unique Unit is how Mapuches called their community leaders. Lonkos got their status by being strong warriors and hunters, and my proposed representation of him is a high resistance archer. The Castle Age unique tech affects monks, and takes the name of their shamans (though they usually were women). The Imperial Age Unique Tech is the interpretation of a Lautaro’s achievements, which helped the Mapuche army defy the sophisticated Spanish military. It’s been interpreted as how he taught Mapuches fight the Spanish (bonus against cavalry) and how they learnt to use the horse (Xolotl Warriors).

Mapuches: Infantry and Monk civilization

- Berries last 100% longer

- Barracks cost -50 wood

- Araucan Warrior available at Barracks in Feudal Age

- Eagle Warrior line doubles their bonus attacks

- Xolotl Warriors get +50HP and +2/+2 armor in Imperial Age

Team bonus: Villagers get +1 melee armor

Unique techs:

- Machis (300 gold): Monks get +1 conversion and healing range for units, and +3 conversion range for buildings, rams and trebuchets

- Lautaro’s Legacy (700 food 500 gold): Scorpions get bonus attack vs mounted units (+8 vs cavalry, +6 vs camels, +12 vs war elephants). Allows to create Xolotl Warriors at Castles

Unique units:

Araucan Warrior: Fast infantry used for raiding and against slow units. It doesn’t cost gold. Available at Barracks in Feudal Age (Elite upgrade in Castle Age).

Cost: 55 food

Upgrade cost: 300 food 250 gold

Creation time 25s (Feudal), 15s (Castle). Speed 1.1 (1.2) Reload time 2.

HP: 50 (60)

Attack: 5 (8) melee

Armor: 0/0 (0/2)

Armor class: Infantry

Upgrades: Blacksmith, Barracks

Lonko: Tanky archer that negates anti-archer bonus. Bonus attack vs buildings

Cost: 50 wood 40 gold

Upgrade cost: 750 wood 550 gold

Creation time 25s (20s). Speed 0.96 Reload time 2. Frame delay 15. Attack delay 0.5. Accuracy 90 (100)

HP: 50 (60)

Attack: 5 (6) pierce

Armor: 1/1 (2/2)

Range: 4 (5)

Armor class: Archer 3 (5)

Upgrades: Blacksmith, University, Archery Range

Attack bonus: Standard Buildings 3 (4)

Barracks: Champion – Halberdier – Elite Eagle Warrior – Elite Araucan Warrior – All techs

Archery range: Arbalester – Elite Skirmisher – lack Thumb Ring and Parthian Tactics

Siege workshop: Siege Ram –Onager – Heavy Scorpion – Siege Tower

Blacksmith: Lack Cavalry armors

Dock: Galleon – Fast Fire Ship –Heavy Demo Ship – Lack Dry Dock

University: Lack Architecture – Bombard Tower – Keep – Fortified Wall – Arrowslits

Castle: Lack Hoardings

Monastery: All techs

Economy: Lack Two-Man Saw

The berries for Mapuches will last twice as much, so they may benefit from it in maps like Nomad and Yucatan. Cheaper Barracks will provide a faster drush/m@a rush, or an Araucan Warrior rush, which can have similarities with a scout rush. This bonus will help a lot later for Eagle rushes or pike/halb spam for defense. Villagers will resist a bit more melee unit rushes, a bonus for all the team.

In Castle Age, options arise, with Eagles doubling their attack bonus, so they’ll fare better especially against mounted units. They also have the chance to use their unique units (a Skirmisher resistant archer and a fast raiding trash unit). Monks will benefit from the Castle Age UT, getting 10 range and 3 range for ram, trebuchet (in Imperial) and building conversions!

In Imperial Age, there are still more options, since the Imperial UT makes Scorpions anti-cavalry and allows Xolotl Warriors (150HP 4/4 armor) to be created at Castles, a surprising effect for a meso civ. Finally, when gold runs out, the Barracks UU can also be created, replacing (though not as good) Eagle Warriors.

I hope you enjoyed, and of course, suggestions are welcome. Next civ will be the Bornuans.

Thank you!