The Turks: Gameplay Information

Relative newcomers to the region, the success of the Seljuk Turks can be attributed to abandoning their nomadic lifestyle and settling down. The Battle of Manzikert was their grand entry into the field of European warfare, when they annihilated the Byzantine Empire. It is foolish to suppose that they would be so complacent to assume that the Byzantines do not want revenge. The Fatimid Dynasty in Egypt will be the main enemy in the fight for the Holy Lands, the importance of this fight for supremacy between the Muslims can have a huge effect on Christian Europe, for better or for worse (although marriage is unlikely). The Main strengths of the Turkish armies are its adoption of gunpowder and its mounted units, although the lack of heavy infantry and spearmen, particularly in the early period, is a disadvantage.


Table of Contents


Campaign Overview

Religion
  • Islam
Long Campaign Win Conditions
  • Take 45 Regions
  • Take Jerusalem
  • Take Constantinople
Short Campaign Win Conditions
  • Take 20 Regions
  • Outlive the Byzantine Empire
Finances
  • Initial Money: 8000 Florins
  • King’s Purse: 2000 Florins
Initial Settlements
  • Iconium (Large Town, Capital) – Town Guard, Town Hall, Market, Roads
  • Caesarea (Castle) – Bowyer
  • Mosul (Wooden Castle) – Stables
  • Yerevan (Town) – Town Watch
Initial Generals
  • Sultan Jalal (40, Faction Leader) – 4 Command, 0 Chivalry/Dread, 2 Authority, 4 Piety
  • Crown Prince Mustafa (20, Faction Heir) – 3 Command, 0 Chivalry/Dread, 5 Loyalty, 5 Piety
  • Salih al Alai (30, General) – 2 Command, 0 Chivalry/Dread, 5 Loyalty, 5 Piety
  • Selim al Rashid (32, General) – 1 Command, 0 Chivalry/Dread, 5 Loyalty, 4 Piety
  • Tutash ad-Dawlah (12, Junior Family Member)
Initial Agents
  • Sandak al Hasan (22, Spy) – 4 Subterfuge
  • Kilij Murat (20, Diplomat) – 4 Influence
  • Baraka (30, Imam) – 4 Piety
  • Nefise ad-Dawlah (11, Junior Princess)
Initial Troops
  • General’s Bodyguard – 4
  • Spear Militia – 7
  • Turkomans – 2
  • Turkish Archers – 4
  • Peasant Archers – 1

The Turks start with a Large Town at Iconium, a Town at Yerevan, a Castle at Caesarea and a Wooden Castle at Mosul. They have enough troops to begin expanding into the local area, but their settlements are widely separated, so defence will be difficult, especially given the power of the Byzantine Empire backed by Constantinople on one side and the economic powerhouse of Egypt on the other It may also pay off to keep the Pope sweet at least early on to encourage early crusades to go in the direction of Egypt, the Moors and anyone else apart from you. If that isn’t enough, the Mongols and later on the Timurids pop up on your doorstep, so you’d better be ready for them. After playing as a Catholic faction, the Turks are a refreshing change of strategy.


Recruitable Units

The following table contains all of the units that the Turks can recruit in Multiplayer and Custom Battles. For the Grand Campaign, use the “All” period with the following corrections:

  • Units in (Brackets) are mercenaries and therefore cannot be trained in campaign, although any general can recruit them in the field if he has space in his army and there are some available.
  • Units in [Square Brackets] cannot be recruited in campaign, they are for Multiplayer and Custom Battles only.
  • Units in Italics can only be recruited in certain regions (eg. The New World) or after a certain event (eg. The discovery of gunpowder).
PeriodMilitia UnitsInfantryMissile InfantryCavalryMissile CavalryArtillery
Early
  • Spear Militia
  • Peasants
  • Peasant Archers
  • Turkish Javelinmen
  • Naffatun
  • Turkish Archers
  • (Afghan Javelinmen)
  • General’s Bodyguard
  • (Alan Light Cavalry)
  • (Khwarizmian Cavalry)
  • (Armenian Cavalry)
  • Turkish Horse Archers
  • Turkomans
  • Sipahis
  • Ballista
  • Catapult
High
  • Spear Militia
  • Saracen Militia
  • Peasants
  • Azabs
  • Hashashim
  • Dismounted Sipahi Lancers
  • Peasant Archers
  • Turkish Javelinmen
  • Naffatun
  • Turkish Archers
  • Ottoman Infantry
  • Hand Gunners
  • (Afghan Javelinmen)
  • Sipahi lancers
  • General’s Bodyguard
  • (Alan Light Cavalry)
  • (Armenian Cavalry)
  • Turkish Horse Archers
  • Turkomans
  • Sipahis
  • Ballista
  • Catapult
  • Trebuchet
  • Bombard
  • Grand Bombard
Late
  • Halberd Militia
  • Saracen Militia
  • Peasants
  • Azabs
  • Janissary Heavy Infantry
  • Hashashim
  • Dismounted Sipahi Lancers
  • Peasant Archers
  • Naffatun
  • Ottoman Infantry
  • Janissary Archers
  • Janissary Musketeers
  • Hand Gunners
  • (Armenian Archers)
  • Sipahi Lancers
  • General’s Bodyguard (Late)
  • Qapukulu
  • Turkish Horse Archers
  • Turkomans
  • Sipahis
  • Cannon
  • Monster Bombard
All
  • Town Militia
  • Spear Militia
  • Halberd Militia
  • Saracen Militia
  • Peasants
  • Azabs
  • Janissary Heavy Infantry
  • Hashashim
  • Dismounted Sipahi Lancers
  • Peasant Archers
  • Turkish Javelinmen
  • Naffatun
  • Turkish Archers
  • Ottoman Infantry
  • Janissary Archers
  • Janissary Musketeers
  • Hand Gunners
  • (Armenian Archers)
  • (Afghan Javelinmen)
  • Sipahi Lancers
  • General’s Bodyguard
  • General’s Bodyguard (Late)
  • Qapukulu
  • (Alan Light Cavalry)
  •  
  • (Khwarizmian Cavalry)
  • (Armenian Cavalry)
  • Turkish Horse Archers
  • Turkomans
  • Sipahis
  • Ballista
  • Catapult
  • Trebuchet
  • Bombard
  • Grand Bombard
  • Cannon
  • Monster Bombard

Constructable Buildings


Cities

Building TypeVillageTownLarge TownMinor CityLarge CityHuge City
WallsWooden Palisade (Upgrade)Wooden Wall (Upgrade)Stone Wall (Upgrade)Large Stone Wall (Upgrade)Huge Stone Wall (Upgrade) 
Improved Towers Ballista Towers 
Barracks Town WatchTown GuardCity WatchMilitia Drill SquareMilitia BarracksArmy BarracksRoyal Barracks
Siege Ballista MakerCatapult MakerSiege Works 
Horse Racing Racing TrackSultan’s Racing Track
Smiths Leather TannerBlacksmithArmourerHeavy ArmourerMaster ArmourerArmour Factory
Ports PortShipwright 
Sea Trade Merchants’ WharfWarehouseDocklands
Trade Grain ExchangeMarketBazaarLarge BazaarGrand Bazaar
Roads Dirt Roads Paved Roads 
FarmsLand ClearanceCommunal FarmingCrop RotationIrrigation 
Bimaristans BimaristanGreat Bimaristan
Academia University
Mosques Small MasjidMasjidMiraneted MasjidJamaGreat Jama
Inns Shisha BarShisha DenShisha HouseWayfarer’s RestPleasure Palace
Town Hall Town HallCouncil ChambersDar al-ImaraSultan’s Palace
Hashashin’s Guild Hashashin’s GuildMaster Hashashin’s GuildHashashin’s Guild Headquarters
Masons’ Guild Masons’ GuildMaster Masons’ GuildMasons’ Guild Headquarters
Merchants’ Guild Merchants’ GuildMaster Merchants’ GuildMerchants’ Guild Headquarters
Alchemists’ Guild Alchemists’ GuildMaster Alchemists’ GuildAlchemists’ Guild Headquarters
Thieves’ Guild Thieves’ GuildMaster Thieves’ GuildThieves’ Guild Headquarters
Explorers’ Guild Explorers’ GuildMaster Explorers’ GuildExplorers’ Guild Headquarters
Swordsmiths’ Guild Swordsmiths’ GuildMaster Swordsmiths’ GuildSwordsmiths’ Guild Headquarters
Horse Breeders’ Guild Horse Breeders’ GuildMaster Horse Breeders’ GuildHorse Breeders’ Guild Headquarters

Castles

Building TypeVillageMotte and BaileyWooden CastleCastleFortressCitadel
CastleMotte and Bailey (Upgrade)Wooden Castle (Upgrade)Castle (Upgrade)Fortress (Upgrade)Citadel (Upgrade) 
Improved Towers Ballista TowersCannon Towers
Stables StablesSheikh’s StablesAmir’s StablesSultan’s StablesCaliph’s Stables
Barracks Mustering HallGarrisson QuartersDrill SquareBarracksArmoury
Ranges BowyerPractice RangeArchery RangeMarksman’s Range
Siege Ballista MakerCatapult MakerSiege Works
CannonGunsmithCannon MakerCannon FoundryRoyal Arsenal
Smiths Leather TannerBlacksmithArmourerHeavy ArmourerMaster ArmourerArmour Factory
Ports PortShipwrightDrydockNaval Drydock
Roads Dirt Roads Paved Roads 
FarmsLand Clearance Communal FarmingCrop RotationIrrigation 
Mines MinesMining Network 
Mosques Small MasjidMasjid 
Swordsmiths’ Guild Swordsmiths’ GuildMaster Swordsmiths’ GuildSwordsmiths’ Guild Headquarters