Civilization Match-up Discussion Round 8 Week 5: Goths vs Italians

Alaric, or the tale of what happens when you let your friend throw a party at your place

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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 Mongols vs Slavs, and next up is the Goths vs Italians!

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Goths: Infantry civilization

• Infantry cost -35% starting in Feudal Age
• Infantry +1 attack vs buildings
• Villagers +5 attack against boar; hunters carry +15 meat
• +10 maximum population limit in Imperial Age
• TEAM BONUS: Barracks work +20% faster
• Unique Unit: Huskarl (Anti-archer infantry with high pierce armor)
• Castle Age Unique Tech: Anarchy (create Huskarls at Barracks)
• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Perfusion (Barracks work +100% faster)

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Italians: Archer and Naval civilization

• Aging up costs -15%
• Docks techs cost -50%
• Fishing Ships cost -15%
• Gunpowder units cost -20% (I just realized that all their unique bonuses are discounts lol)
• TEAM BONUS: Condottiero available at Barracks in Imperial Age
• Unique Unit: Genoese Crossbowman (Heavy, anti-cavalry foot archer)
• Unique Unit: Condottiero (Fast, expensive, anti-gunpowder infantry)
• Castle Age Unique Tech: Pavise (Archers and Genbows +1/+1 armor)
• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Silk Road (Trade units cost -50%)

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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!

• Okay so neither of these civs are fan-favorites when it comes to 1v1 on open maps. Nevertheless, I personally see Italians as having a decent edge just due to their sheer flexibility, as well as their cheaper hand cannons. Nevertheless, it can be hard to pressure Goths without a strong early/mid-game eco or military bonus. Thoughts on this match up on open maps?
• On closed maps, you might think Goths can shine a bit more due to being more easily able to boom into their infantry spam, however, FC monk rush seems quite good for Italians on Arena, and on BF Italians can also make good use of their slow, deadly late game army. How does this match up look on more closed maps?
• Both unique units are an interesting comparison in my opinion - both are designed to counter their natural counter units, if that makes sense. In general, archers counter infantry, and the huskarl reverses that. Same goes for cavalry being naturally strong vs archers, but the genbow counters the cavalry. What do you think of these counter-counter units in the contexts of their respective civs?

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

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Previous discussions: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3