I was inspired by /u/Brackish27's post about 4 New Civ Ideas. I played Age of Empires and Age of Empires 2 way back in the early 2000s, and I play it even now.

Why another Southeast Asian Civilization after Rise of the Rajas?

I believe that the Malay Civilization, while having the Malay be the civilization used in campaigns about the Majapahit Empire, missed the mark on some key civilization opportunities. The name 'Malay' is so connected to Malaysia (and Malacca/the Straits of Malacca) as we know it now, that—at least for me—it was hard to separate the concepts in my own mind.

Historically, the Age of Empires series is no stranger to anachronisms. The campaigns also play fast and loose with civilizations: consider, in at least one instance, that the Mongol campaign has you "fighting" a Russian village, which is actually just Goths, even though the historic Goths had nothing to do with 1200s Russia.

In any case, here's my pitch:

The Javanese

Specialty: Trade and Naval Civilization

Unique Units:

• Bhayangkara/Elite Bhayangkara — Well-rounded Gunpowder/Melee Unit that can construct buildings: think Norse Ulfsark's in Age of Mythology, or Ottoman Janissaries in Age of Empires III.
• Outrigger — Built at the dock or kampong. Comparable to a fishing boat in terms of stats, except more expensive. Workboat that can construct buildings.

Unique Technologies:

• Spice Islands Trade: See Civilization Bonuses below
• The Pararaton: Treadmill Cranes for Bhayangkara line (+20% construction speed).

Wonder: Borobudur

Civilization Bonuses:

• Warships have an attack bonus of 15% if moving in formations of 3 or more.
• For every 4 food collected from farms or fishtraps, farms/fishtraps generate 1 gold. This becomes 3 to 1 with the Spice Islands Trade technology.
• Docks can be built on coastal and sea tiles offshore only by outriggers, in which case they become Kampongs (Like how farms built on marsh tiles become rice farms). Kampongs cannot be built on ocean tiles.
• Bhayangkaras may be created at all military buildings except walls, docks/kampongs, outposts, and towers.
• Guilds is free

Team Bonus:

• Trade Carts/Caravans train 20% faster.

**Tech Tree: (The Javanese have all techs, with the following exceptions—)**Archers: No Heavy Cavalry Archer or Parthian Tactics, No Hand Cannoneers

Infantry: No Spearman Line, No Two Handed Swordsmen or Champions

Stable: No Hussars or Paladins, can build War Elephants

Siege: No Siege Ram, Siege Onager, or Heavy Scorpion

Monks: No Faith, Atonement, or Fervor

Navy: No Demolition Ships Line

University/Castle: No Murder Holes, Hoardings, Heated Shot

Eco: No Construction Crane

Bhayangkara Stats (Second Number in Series, e.g. Attack: XX, YY indicates Separate Elite Stats)

Training Time: 16s

Food: 80

Gold: 90

Hit Points: 60, 66

Range: 4 (If at close range, will do Melee damage & Melee Animation)

Rate of Fire: 1.8, 1.5 (if Melee)/3.3, 3.0 (if Ranged/Pierce)

Attack Bonuses:

+27 vs all Mounted Units (incl. Elephants and Camels)

+ 1 vs Eagle Warriors

+ 10 vs Infantry

Melee Armor: 2,4

Pierce Armor: 2,4

Speed: 1

Line of Sight: 3,4

​

Civilization Notes

The Javanese play as a mobile civilization and with their outriggers and bhayangkara units can get a base constructed without hurting their eco. The Bhayangkara are highly well rounded, combining the benefits of the spearman and hand cannoneer into a single unit, at the cost of not having access to either, and a lot more gold. Their civilization bonus of getting 1 gold for every 4 food gathered from farms and fishtraps, which turns into 1:3 with the Spice Islands technology in the Castle Age. The Javanese formation bonus should also help them assert dominance over any water maps.

The big drawback I foresee to the Javanese is that they lack Murder Holes, Heated Shot, and Spearmen, meaning that castles are defenseless at close range, they aren't as effective at countering ships using towers and castles, and if they run out of gold/can no longer farm, they're in for a very rough time. Their trade cart/caravan trade speed team bonus, however, means that they're less likely to encounter that dilemma.