The American Natives

Representing the Mesoamericans, the Woodland people, & the Bison herding tribes of the American Plains, the NAN culture was originally introduced with the first expansion for the Age of Empires III franchise, The WarChiefs.

Living in harmony for centuries and with no contact with the outside world until Columbus’ historical journey, the dynamics and lifestyle of the tribes changed drastically with their introduction to the European Colonists. Slowly they adapted to the culture and customs of their European invaders but this was not without the loss of blood.

Each civilization provides different strengths and challenges and has unique units and building sets. The Iroquois were known for leveraging European technology, and the Sioux for developing superior horsemanship. Reflecting this in game, the Iroquois is the only NAN civilization to have access to artillery units. Their strong adherence to their beliefs is represented by their unique building: the Fire Pit.

War Chiefs

The NAN culture lacks Explorers. Instead they have War Chiefs who are more powerful than Explorers and have special abilities like the Nature Friendship ability which allows them to convert a treasure guardian to their side and special auras which vary according to the civilization.

Fire Pit

The Fire Pit is where a player’s villagers perform different ceremonial dances, each providing its own specific benefit. If one directs a villager to the Fire Pit, the villager will automatically begin a ceremonial dance. For example, a Gift dance increases the rate at which your civilization accumulates Experience. The more villagers you have dancing, the more effective the dance. Some dances spawn military units over time. The Alarm dance spawns Warriors — a militia-like unit that slowly degrades. The Sioux have dances that spawn Skull Knights and Dog Soldiers.

Big Button Techs

Every NAN building has a unique Big Button Technology which provides powerful improvements, group of units, or resources.

Aging up

The NAN age up system is different from that of other cultures. Instead of choosing different politicians for different ages, they get to choose from a politician from a 5 member Tribal Council. A Council member can be selected once only and with each age up the choice of Council member decreases. With each age up the cost and the bonus provided by the Council member also increases.

Iroquois

The Iroquois Confederacy was, at the time of European encounter and colonization, based in present-day New York. Originally known as the Five Nations, as it was composed of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca nations, with the Tuscarora uniting with the rest in the early 18th century, the Iroquois League played a major role in the history of North America: French, Dutch and British colonists in both Canada and the Thirteen Colonies wanted to curry favor with the Iroquois; for nearly 200 years considerations of the Iroquois were a powerful factor in North American colonial policy-making decisions. All sides wooed them, each settlement feared them, politically they were unique, a large Native American polity which until during the American Revolution, could not be divided.

In Wars of Liberty, the Iroquois are a native American tribe which prefers having more allies than enemies. They may be a melting pot of other natives tribes, but their unity is as remarkable as their ability to move unseen in the vast woodlands. Furthermore, they try to maintain their good relationships with the European colonizers, offering them their help when needed, but also preventing them from spoiling their land.

The leader of the Iroquois is John Norton. Norton was born of a Cherokee father and a Scottish mother, in the early 1760s. He was especially inspired by the Mohawk chief, Joseph Brant; he acquired the Mohawk language and culture, and was adopted into the Iroquois community. John Norton played a prominent role in the War of 1812, leading Iroquois warriors from Grand River into battle against American invaders at Queenston Heights, Stoney Creek, and Chippawa. His favorite personality traits are Aggressive and Spiritiual and his Home City is Caughnawaga, North America.

Bonuses

• Travois. The Iroquois are the best travois users, more than just getting them from the Home City now and then, they also start the game with one, can have more from aging up or even dancing in the firepit, granting them greater expansion capacities.
• Woodland People. As people of the woodland, their buildings are still connected to nature, and will quickly return to it once destroyed, providing natural resources when doing so.
• Knowledge of the Territory. Iroquois Trading Posts are cheaper, allowing you to build 2 at the beginning of the game.

Weaknesses

• Wood Costs. The Iroquois require wood in more areas than normal, somewhat unbalancing your economy.
• Nature belongs to none. And as such, your enemies can take advantage of the resources your buildings grant when destroyed, if you’re not careful with them.

Unique units and buildings

Like all natives, they have a lot of unique units.

• Aenna: Unique archer unit. Good against Heavy infantry.
• Tomahawk: Skilled, Tomahawk thrower, Heavy infantry unit. Good against cavalry on melee.
• Forest Prowler: Light infantry unit that can go stealth.
• Kanya Horseman: Regular Heavy cavalry unit.
• Musket Rider: Light cavalry unit. Good against Cavalry and Siege.
• Mantlet: A tanky unit. Good at defending.
• Ram: Siege unit. Good against buildings.
• Light Cannon: Artillery unit, good against Buildings and Infantry.

Sioux

The Great Sioux Nation consisted of three different tribes of Sioux: the Santee or Eastern Dakota, the Yanktonai or Western Dakota (also known as Nakota) and finally the westernmost Sioux, known for their hunting and warrior culture, often referred to as the Lakota. In their long history, the Sioux had many conflicts, both with their neighbor natives, as well as with the European colonizers and later on with the United States’ government, which repeatedly tried to steal the Sioux land. The Great Sioux War of 1876–77, with the famous battle of the Little Bighorn, where the troops of Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer were devastated by the Sioux riders, and the Wounded Knee Massacre where the final acts of the Sioux-American Wars.

In Wars of Liberty, the Sioux are a proud native American tribe, whose bravery is unparalleled. Used to live in the prairie, hunting the bisons, who are their major source of food, atop their robust horses, the Sioux have been calloused and know how to enjoy the small moments of happiness in their everyday life.

The leader of the Sioux is Red Cloud. A war leader and chief of the Oglala Lakota, Red Cloud was chief from 1868 to 1909. One of the most capable Native American opponents the United States Army faced, he led a successful campaign in 1866–1868, known as Red Cloud's War, over control of the Powder River Country in northeastern Wyoming and southern Montana. After signing the Treaty of Fort Laramie, he led his people in the important transition to reservation life. His favorite personality traits are Traditional and Cultural and his Home City is Hunkpapa, North America.

Bonuses

• Nomads. The Sioux, as a semi-nomadic people, require no houses, greatly alleviating your wood needs.
• Masters of Siege. The Sioux know how to keep their independence. Sioux units are naturally good against Buildings, meaning you can put a lot of pressure on your enemy.

Weaknesses

• Weak economy. The Sioux start the game with a somewhat weaker economy, and all in all it’s still weaker than most civilization’s.

Unique units and buildings

Like all natives, they have a lot of unique units.

• Cetan Bow: Light infantry unit. Good against Heavy infantry.
• War Club: Melee Heavy infantry unit. Good against Cavalry.
• Wakina Rifle: Light infantry armed with a rifle. Very good against Heavy infantry.
• Axe Rider: Exceptional Heavy cavalry unit. Armed with an axe.
• Bow Rider: Early Light cavalry unit. Has good speed.
• Rifle Rider: Light cavalry armed with a rifle. Good against Cavalry and Siege.
• Tashunke Prowler: Cavalry unit that can go stealth.
• Dog Soldier: A very powerful Heavy cavalry unit. Can only be sent from the Homecity or big button technologies.
• Teepee: Weak building that boosts the HP of your units.

Inca

Originally a small kingdom in the central Andes, the Tawantinsuyu grew to become the largest empire in Pre-Columbian history, controlling territory as far north as Colombia and as far south as Chile, it featured an extensive network of roads, an efficient communication system based on the Chasqui Messengers, impressively strong and beautiful architecture and countless different peoples under their dominions, they also had lots and lots of gold.

While the Spanish conquest managed to shake the bases of their empire and steal much of their territory, the Inca lived on with their kingdom on Vilcabamba, eventually, though unsuccessfully, managing to siege Cuzco back with help of artillery and even cavalry units, perpetually living on their simple rules of “don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t be lazy”.

In Wars of Liberty, the Inca are on their maximum splendor, featuring Liter-ported Leaders, Chasqui messengers taking care of exploration and gold covered buildings, thanks to the Mita system, pretty much any activity your villagers carry on will bring coins to your treasury, while the gold of your destroyed buildings can be used again.

The leader of the Inca is José Gabriel Condorcanqui, better known as Tupac Amaru II; while having been born many centuries after the Golden days of the Inca Empire, he’s well lectured on the history of his people and still a direct descendant of the emperors themselves, having seen the suffering of his people under the Spanish tyranny, he decided to call them to arms and lead them in a rebellion against the Spanish. The people of the Inca Empire and their legacy still live on and under the leadership of Tupac Amaru II, the Inca Empire may rise, once more. His Home City is Cuzco, Tawantinsuyu.

Bonuses

• Mita. The most striking feature of the Inca is their gold, and how easily they obtain it, in game, no matter what your villagers are doing, they’ll trickle a small amount of coin, which will quickly fill up to give you impressive quantities of it.
• City of Gold. Their buildings cost coin instead of wood.

Weaknesses

• Coin Costs. All this gold however comes at a cost, since you’ll see you’re still going to need it frequently, aging up costs more coin than food, for example.
• Outdated Army. While strong, the Inca army is still outclassed and outdated, and they may find that some of their units may fire too slow, or that they don’t have an appropriate counter to a certain type of units.

Unique units and buildings

The Inca start out with Old Inca army units, though while upgrading they can go all the way to Tupac Amaru’s II era technology.

• Chasqui: They follow the Sapa Inca. Are good against treasures.
• Sapa Inca: Explorer unit. Can't attack, but has access to unique abilities.
• Huaminca: Heavy infantry unit. Good against Cavalry and Buildings
• Bolas Warrior: Light infantry unit. Good against Heavy infantry at range.
• Pishtaco: Range Light infantry unit with a bonus against Cavalry.
• Auca Runa: Fast armored warrior. Good against skirmishers and artillery.
• Manco Horseman: Tough Cavalry unit. Can be sent from the Homecity or through a Big button technology.
• Inca Mortar: An artillery unit that's good in numbers. Good against Buildings.
• Tambo: A defensive building. Contains upgrades for Infantry.
• Ushnu: Replaces the Barracks.

Tupi

The Tupi are one of the main ethnic groups of Brazil, on the arrival of the Portuguese having settled on most of the Atlantic Coast. They lived in tribes without cultural bonds with each other more than they shared language.

The destruction and slavery brought by european colonizers forced these tribes to group into a single, powerful confederation to be able to fight against the invaders, while armed with primitive weapons, they had powerful poisons and a fearsome reputation due to their cannibalistic rituals, which gave them a powerful edge with which they could combat them.

In Wars of Liberty, the Tupi are still a group of hunter gatherers, with weak structure and primitive weapons, yet they are quick to mass and thanks to their lack of need for coin, their economy is greatly simplified.

The leader of the Tupi is Cunhambebe, the elected leader of the Tamoio Confederation, he’ll lead the Tupi to many great victories against the Portuguese while forging alliances with other powers in the region. His Home City is Aracoara, Tamoio Confederation.

Bonuses

• No Money. The Tupi don’t use coin, at all. All their economy is based on just food and wood, greatly reducing logistics on your resource collection.
• Ocas. Their buildings are quick to build too, and cheap, greatly improving their expansion capacities.
• They come from everywhere. Upgraded Tupi units can become stealth. Also, their Longhouses are spammable and can train Infantry units. Making it easy for you to attack from all sides.

Weaknesses

• Hunters and gatherers. That said, not using coin has it’s disadvantages, they won’t be able to trade at the market conveniently, and their gender division between hunters and gatherers brings other troubles for resource collection.
• Huts. Their buildings come with a disadvantage too, being fairly weak and easy to take down.

Unique units and buildings

The Tupi have several unique units, and none of them cost coin.

• Uybassy Archer: A light infantry unit armed with a bow. Good against Heavy infantry.
• Ybira Jara: Melee unit armed with a lance. Good against Cavalry and Buildings.
• Maratekoaras: Melee unit with a bonus against Heavy infantry.
• Blowgunner: Ranged Heavy infantry unit with a bonus against Cavalry.
• Pombero: Powerful archer with an area damage and a huge range. Good against Buildings.
• Thunder Gun: Weak artillery unit. Good against Infantry.
• Oca: Provides population. Gatherers can collect food from it.
• Hunter: the male villagers gather wood, hunt, fish and build.
• Gatherer: the female villagers gather from berries, herdables and ocas, and build.
• Paje: elder villagers who can only pray at the Monument, but generate a lot of faith.

Mapuche

The Mapuche are the union of the Picunche, Huilliche, Moluche and Nguluche, amongst other tribes, from southern Chile. Fiercely independent, they resisted invasion and slavery by any group that attempted to take their lands, be them the Inca, the Spanish or even the Argentines and Chileans after them, despite of a lack of central organization, they can choose warchiefs when the time of need come and quickly raise armies, learning the tactics of their enemies and outsmarting them with every move.

Deeply religious and with a strong emphasis on family life, their way of life has been rapidly changed by the arrival of the Europeans, even though they keep their tradition and culture; they quickly adopted the horse and see the raising of cattle as an important economic asset, which is why they’ve made a huge empire for themselves in the Argentine Pampas, easily rivaling those of the new, Criollo states.

In Wars of Liberty, the Mapuche are a people that have been shaped by an almost constant state of warfare, in every battle you’ll see your tribal council on the forefront of your colony and the main way to victory will be through the use of constant harassment through the use of your various cavalry units.

The leader of the Mapuche is Calfucura, originally a Lonco of southern Chile, he saw the opportunity to gain vast amounts of territories in the Pampa beyond the Andes through the use of subterfuge, diplomacy and warfare. Now he has carved a one of the largest empires the American continent has ever seen for himself, with countless heads of cattle and endless amounts of horsemen and warriors at his service. His Home City is Perquenco, Araucania.

Bonuses

• Bounty. The Mapuche have mastered the art of sacking enemy cities and knowing what’s the best to use for their objectives, as such, everything the Mapuche do will bring more experience than normal.
• Hardwork. More than that, villagers will too trickle extra XP with every activity they realize.
• Cahuin. Finally, the Mapuche have their tribal council directly on the battlefield, meaning that they can perfectly send various shipments at once.

Weaknesses

• Elders, not warriors. Your tribal council, while useful for exploring, is still weak and, if taken down, you won’t have any of their shipments available for use.

Unique units and buildings

The Mapuche favour cavalry warfare, though their infantry still has excellent siege damage and they can also use their artillery for good effect.

• Waikilaf: Melee unit with a bonus against Cavalry.
• Trangelaf: Melee unit with a bonus against Infantry.
• Tralkatufe: Range unit with a bonus against Infantry and Cavalry.
• Mawidanche: Emergency unit. Good against everything.
• Huampelen: Cavalry unit with a bonus against special units. Good at exploring.
• Winitufe: Light cavalry unit with a bonus against Cavalry and Siege.
• Malalkawuello: Poweful cavalry unit with a bonus against Infantry.
• Malon: Cavalry unit good at raiding and besieging.
• Artillery Piece: A weak Artillery unit with a bonus against Infantry.
• Ruka: An expensive building that provides a lot of population.
• Tribal council: You have 5 explorers. Each one representing a part of your Homecity. You can send shipments from them.