Ottoman Empire (ETW Faction)
| Ottoman Empire (ETW Faction) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Ottoman Empire |
| From Game: | Empire: Total War |
| Religion: | Islam |
| Culture: | Middle Eastern |
| Playable: | |
The Ottoman Empire is one of the 11 playable nations in Empire: Total War's Grand Campaign. It is also a major faction in the game.
Contents
- 1 Overview
- 2 Details
- 3 Starting Position
- 3.1 Victory Conditions
- 3.2 Basics at start
- 3.2.1 Europe Theatre
- 3.2.1.1 Istanbul, Rumelia
- 3.2.1.2 Cairo, Egypt
- 3.2.1.3 Ankara, Anatolia
- 3.2.1.4 Jerusalem, Palestine
- 3.2.1.5 Damascus, Syria
- 3.2.1.6 Baghdad, Mesopotamia
- 3.2.1.7 Athens, Greece
- 3.2.1.8 Yerevan, Armenia
- 3.2.1.9 Sarajevo, Bosnia
- 3.2.1.10 Belgrade, Serbia
- 3.2.1.11 Sofia, Bulgaria
- 3.2.1.12 Iasi, Moldavia
- 3.2.1 Europe Theatre
- 4 Units
- 5 Artillery
- 6 Cavalry
- 7 Infantry
Overview
The history of Europe over the last centuries can be seen as the history of the Ottoman Empire and a few annoying, small nations that thwarted Ottoman ambitions. Ottoman power is unmatched in its extent and grandeur, straddling the traditional trade route between Europe and Asia. The Ottomans also have power over the whole of the Mediterranean coast of North Africa.
This Turkish, Islamic empire supplanted the Orthodox Byzantine Empire in the 15th Century and since then it has had a continuing, if not always whole-hearted, ambition to expand further westwards into the heart of Europe. In living memory, Turkish armies have reached the gates of Vienna, Austria, only to be turned back by the steadfast defenders. Turkish expansionism has always been a part of palace politics: when a Sultan has felt secure at home he has attacked Europe; when a Sultan has felt threatened by his Janissary military commanders, he has sent them to attack.
The Ottomans face challenges but within these are great opportunities. The army and navy look old fashioned compared to those of some states, but the soldiers of the Sultan are numerous indeed. Strategically, the Empire is in a potentially strong position: the Balkans are a natural bastion to defend Istanbul, and a possible springboard for conquest into central Europe. There may even be valuable allies to be found among Austria’s rivals: the authority of the Pope to stop his European flock making treaties with infidels is all but gone. Control of the Mediterranean would allow a Sultan to do as he pleases with the smaller European powers. And to the east, the route to India offers the chance of riches.
Details
The Ottomans share the Maratha Confederacy's affinity of melee infantry. Unlike Maratha, however, the Ottomans also posesses light infantry, and have the ability to fire by rank with their Nizam-I Cedit infantry. In the early game, the Ottomans must rely on Israleys, who are much inferior to line infantry. Therefore the Ottomans must research European Doctrine so that they can produce the Nizam-I Cedit infantry as early as possible. The Ottomans are also able to field some of the game's most powerful artillery, including the Organ Gun, 64-pounder great guns, and bombardment mortars.
Starting Position
At the beginning of the game, the Ottoman Empire owns 12 regions in the European theater. Its lands range from Egypt in the south to the Balkans in the north and Mesopotamia in the east. In the north, the empire borders Austria, Poland and the Crimea and the east, it shares a long border with the Persian Empire. The Ottomans control two protectorates: the Barbary States and the Crimean Khanate. While these regions strengthen the empire undoubtedly, they also result in new enemies for it. The Russians in the north will try to gain access to the Black Sea so the Ottomans will have to face them sooner or later - unless they want to give up their protectorate.
In the government, the Ottomans have some very poor ministers and a near-incompetent ruler. However, excellent candidates can quickly improve the quality of the ministers thanks to the Ottoman's initial government type being an absolute monarchy. The Ottomans will be stuck with a poor ruler for quite some time, however (unless they wish to have a revolution). Almost the entirety of the empire has a low public order initially, with some regions in the negatives, so it may be prudent to either shift existing armies there to increase public order or to exempt those regions from taxes. With better ministers and the construction of higher-level governmental buildings, public order will gradually become better throughout the empire.
Politically, the Ottomans have few friends--they begin the campaign at war with Russia and all their neighboring countries are unfriendly to hostile. Persia and Austria in particular are likely to cause trouble. Countries that are farther away are generally indifferent to the Ottomans, but will become hostile as the Empire tries to expand its borders.
While the Ottomans do not own any colonies - neither in the Americas nor in India - this is compensated by their large empire. However, the empire's size also makes the Ottomans vulnerable. As the empire is in full decline, the Turkish navy and army will have a hard time defending the borders against foreign invasions.
The Ottomans have perhaps the most challenging campaign. Their poor lands, low-quality armies, and the sheer number of powerful enemies they must face simultaneously are all factors working against them.
Victory Conditions
Short Campaign
Capture and hold 20 regions by the end of the year 1750, including: Austria, Chechenya-Dagestan, Persia, Rumelia, Venetia, Galicia & Podolia, and Hungary.
Long Campaign
Capture and hold 30 regions by the end of the year 1799, including: Austria, Chechenya-Dagestan, Persia, Rumelia, Venetia, Hungary, Galicia & Podolia, Spain, Poland, and Morocco.
World Domination
Capture and hold 45 regions by the end of the year 1799, including: Rumelia.
Basics at start
- Protectorates – Barbary States, Crimean Khanate
- Allies – None
- Trade Partners – Mughal Empire, Venice, Crimean Khanate, Barbary States, Genoa
- Enemies – Pirates, Russia
- Religion – Islam
- Government – Absolute Monarchy
- Ruler – Mustafa II (Sultan)
- Population – 21,243,292
- Prosperity – Moderate
- Prestige – Weak
- Treasury – 7500
- Technology – Improved Grenades
- Imams – Butrus Rauf (Bosnia), Ibrahim Husrev (Moldavia)
- Hashishins – Damat Baghdadi (Georgia)
- Scholars – Meshur Dede (Anatolia)
Europe Theatre
Istanbul, Rumelia
- Starting Buildings – Barracks, Sublime Porte, School of Calligraphers, Ordnance Factory, Settlement Fortifications
- Infrastructure - Basic Roads
- Population – 3,266,938
- Wealth – 1075
- Religion – Islam 50.0%, Orthodox 50.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Macedonia Farmland (Peasant Farms), Thrace Farmland (Not Developed), Marmara Groves (Vineyards), Thessaloniki (Trading Port)
- Later Villages/Ports – Kozani (Village), Skopje (Village), Adrianople (Village)
Cairo, Egypt
- Starting Buildings – Cannon Foundry, Governor’s Residence, School of Calligraphers
- Infrastructure - Basic Roads
- Population – 4,757,393
- Wealth – 602
- Religion – Islam 80.0%, Orthodox 20.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Tanta Farmland (Peasant Farms), Asyut (Craft Workshops Weavers), Luxor (Coffee Homes)
- Later Villages/Ports – Suez (Village), Alexandria (Port), Darnah (Village), Aswan (Village)
- Plantations – Sohag (Small Cotton Plantation)
Ankara, Anatolia
- Starting Buildings – Provincial Barracks, Cannon Foundry, Governor’s Residence
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 3,006,316
- Wealth – 2450
- Religion – Islam 80.0%, Orthodox 20.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Aydin Groves (Vineyards), Adana Farmland (Peasant Farms), Denizli Mines (Iron Mine), Yozgat Farmland (Peasant Farms), Erzurum (Small Madrassa), Izmir (Trading Port), Bursa (Craft Workshops Weavers), Antalya (Shipyard), Konya (School), Trabzon (Craft Workshops Smiths)
- Later Villages/Ports – Sinop (Port), Batman (Village), Kayseri (Village)
Jerusalem, Palestine
- Starting Building – Magistrate, School of Calligraphers, Settlement Fortifications
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 565,764
- Wealth – 200
- Religion – Islam 80.0%, Catholicism 10.0%, Orthodox 10.0%,
- Starting Towns/Ports – Gaza (Local Fishery)
- Later Villages/Ports – Elat (Village)
Damascus, Syria
- Starting Building – Magistrate, School of Calligraphers
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 1,218,714
- Wealth – 1761
- Religion – Islam 70.0%, Orthodox 20.0%, Catholicism 10.0%,
- Starting Towns/Ports – Paphos Mines (Iron Mine), Limassol (Local Fishery), Beirut (Trading Port), Latakia (Local Fishery), Aleppo (Craft Workshops Weavers)
- Later Villages/Ports – None
- Plantations – Al Bab (Small Cotton Plantation)
Baghdad, Mesopotamia
- Starting Buildings – Provincial Barracks, Governor’s Residence, School of Calligraphers
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 2,110,142
- Wealth – 861
- Religion – Islam 100.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Ar Rifa Farmland (Peasant Farms), Erbil (Craft Workshops Weavers), Basra (Trading Port), Mosul (Small Madrassa)
- Later Villages/Ports – Kut (Village)
- Plantations – Kirkuk (Small Cotton Plantation)
Athens, Greece
- Starting Buildings – Provincial Barracks, Magistrate, School of Calligraphers
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 1,304,069
- Wealth – 1600
- Religion – Orthodox 90.0%, Catholicism 5.0%, Islam 5.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Epirus Farmland (Peasant Farms), Pleistos Groves (Not Developed), Crete Groves (Vineyards), Ioaninna (Craft Workshops Smiths), Piraeus (Trading Port)
- Later Villages/Ports – Larissa (Village), Heraklion (Port)
Yerevan, Armenia
- Starting Buildings – Magistrate
- Infrastructure – Not Developed
- Population – 1,219,484
- Wealth – 1200
- Religion – Islam 10.0%, Orthodox 90.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Oltu Mines (Iron Mine), Agri Farmland (Peasant Farms), Artvin (Craft Workshops Smiths)
- Later Villages/Ports – Kars (Village)
Sarajevo, Bosnia
- Starting Buildings – Magistrate
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 646,344
- Wealth – 450
- Religion – Orthodox 35.0%, Catholicism 35.0%, Islam 30.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Zenica Mines (Iron Mine), Prijedor Farmland (Peasant Farms), Ragusa (Trading Port), Podgorica (Coffee House)
- Later Villages/Ports – Bijeljina (Village)
Belgrade, Serbia
- Starting Buildings – Magistrate
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 980,037
- Wealth – 1000
- Religion – Islam 15.0%, Orthodox 85.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Trepca Mines (Silver Mine), Maeva Farmland (Not Developed)
- Later Villages/Ports – Timisoara (Village), Nis (Village)
Sofia, Bulgaria
- Starting Buildings – Magistrate
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population –1,530,289
- Wealth – 150
- Religion – Islam 20.0%, Orthodox 80.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Wallachia Farmland (Peasant Farms), Kjustendil Mines (Not Developed), Razgrad Farmland (Not Developed)
- Later Villages/Ports – Craiova (Village), Bucharest (Village), Burgas (Port), Varna (Port)
Iasi, Moldavia
- Starting Buildings – Magistrate
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 637,801
- Wealth – 850
- Religion – Islam 10.0%, Orthodox 60.0%, Catholicism 30.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Tarakliya Farmland (Peasant Farms), Savinesti Mines (Iron Mine)
- Later Villages/Ports – Tighina (Village)
Units
Over the past few decades, the Ottoman Empire has been declining steadily. Therefore, its army can no longer compete with the modern European forces. The technological advance has left the Ottomans behind and Europe's well-trained soldiers are now clearly superior to the Ottoman janissaries. However, the Ottomans have still access to a vast pool of different units and a powerful selection of artillery. While its army might be outdated, it is still a force to be reckoned with. However, in the end an Ottoman general will have to cope with his army's inferior technology. In order to overcome the downsides of the individual units, utilizing their advantages and composing a diverse army is a necessity.
Artillery
Cavalry
Infantry
- Armed Populace
- Firelock Armed Populace
- Armed Peasantry
- Desert Warriors
- Semenys
- Azzars
- Bashi-Bazouks
- Nomads
- Hillmen
- Kurdish Hillmen
- Fellahin Musketeers
- Isarelys
Special Units
Since the Ottoman Empire is one of the few Muslim nations in the game, it has access to quite a lot of special and unique units which none of the many European factions can build. The Ottomans field several types of swordsmen such as the Bashi-Bazouks, different janissary units and even horse archers. While Persia shares the Ottoman unit roster, the faction is unplayable without modding. As a result, most Ottoman units cannot be trained by any other playable nation.
The Ottoman's also boast the fearsome Organ Gun, which is a stationary artillery piece that has 7 cannon barrels.
