I agree that while tech groups don't matter much anymore, especially that I don't think SE Asian should get any different institution penalties than they already have, that it would help a lot to break up the last monolithic vague tech group we've had since EUII.
As for units, I was dabbling around a bit with Chinese units. Something with a bit of variety with 8 major 'levels' of unit to put it on par at least with every other non-European land unit group. The main point being that currently China has a rather large gap between tech level 19 to 26. For infantry I was thinking for a specific Chinese line of units itself:
1. Shanwen Infantry: Song style armour and equipment continued to be used through the Yuan and into the Early Ming Periods. Armed with traditional Chinese spear and dao, the "Mountain Pattern" infantry in metal armour represented the classic Chinese soldier from the great dynasties of the past.
1. Weisuo Infantry: The establishment of the Ming Dynasty to many army reforms under the Hongwu Emperor. One of these reforms was the revival of the Tang era Fubing system of militias. Organized networks of farmer militia could be raised quickly and effectively in times of war.
1. Composite Bowmen: Wielding traditional Nu and also Zhugenu repeating crossbows, bowmen have been a part of Chinese militaries for centuries.
5. Jianer Infantry: With the collapse of the Weisuo system by the early 15th century, the Yongle Emperor instituted a series of reforms to re-emphasize professional soldiering. This was based on the reorganization in previous Tang and Song dynasties.
5. Tengpeishou: The cheap, light and flexible nature of the rattan shield and armour, made the "Rattan Shieldmen" one of the most effective fighting units in the Ming arsenal. Armed with Daos and qiang, along with their eponymous rattan shields and armour, tenpeishou units would continue to see service into the late 17th century.
5. Chongzu Infantry: gunpowder armed Chinese soldiers date back centuries, this refinement of early firearms meant a growing distinction from early metal barrelled Chinese gunpowder weapons such as the huo qiang (fire lance).
9. Yuanyang Zhen: The "mandarin duck formation", was a revolutionary combined arms unit developed by Ming general, Qi Jiguang that put together several different types of infantrymen into a single supportive unit that was self sustainable and symmetrical. The Yuanyang Zhen formation was used to defeat the wokou pirate raids against China's coastal provinces.
9. Shenjiying: The "firearms division" of the Ming army, Shenjiying were an early unit of musketeers established by the Yongle Emperor and armed with fire lances, cannons, rockets and arquebus based on the writings and theories of early Ming general Jiao Yu.
9. Wujunying Infantry: The "Five Barracks Division" was notable for it's emphasis on drill and tactical manoeuvre.
12. Reformed Yuanyang Zhen: After experiencing the prowess with firearms of the wokou, Ming General Qi Jiguang reformed his Yuanyang Zhen formation to heavily include a component armed with arquebus, giving the unit greater firepower.
12. Banner Infantry: As is.
12. Green Standard Army: The "Luyingbing" was a concurrent military unit to the Manchu Eight Banners. Consisting of Han Chinese soldiers and officers defecting to the Manchu Qing. The Green Standard Army was primarily used as a gendarme in the early part of it's history to crush domestic rebellion and made up the bulk of Qing forces.
15. Reformed Banner Infantry: After their disastrous showing during the "Revolt of the Three Feudatories" campaign, there grew urgent need to reform the once "Elite" Banner infantry who performed far worse during the campaign than expected. A re-emphasis on drill and discipline were enforced.
15. Reformed Green Standard Army: In light of their better than expected showing during the "Revolt of the Three Feudatories", investment into the Green Standard Army was increased with better equipment and supplies. Worried over possible declines in ability, Green Standard Infantry were also reformed along with Banner Infantry.
19. Tuan Infantry: Into the 18th century, the quality of the Qing military continued to decline. Poor performance by both the Banner Infantry and Green Standard Army in several campaigns led to renewed reliance on locally raised "regional" militia to reinforce regular Qing forces.
19. Any other ideas for level 19 tech? Perhaps Guerilla fighters such as the White Lotus rebellions?
26. I would say level 26 is a good place for an intermediate unit, with China's final unit coming at level 30 for about the time of the Sino-Burmese War I guess? "Late Banner Infantry" perhaps, "Western Drill Chinese Infantry" to represent the Chinese raised and armed by British and French forces in the early 19th century?
30. Yangying Infantry: Into the early 19th century the Qing government had begun relying on local governors to raise and equip supplementary armies to support the Banner and Green Standard armies. These locally raised professional armies began hiring western instructors with western imported weapons.
Obviously I would like to see this in conjunction with SEA getting their own units since their military history is VERY different from the units used in this Chinese one, the current single unit types for the Chinese tech group doesn't do them any favours either.
