While the DD is largely being seen as a nerf for the Ottomans, it seems a bit strange that only the Ottomans will be able to get hold of elite units despite them being unavailable to other nations.
Janissaries in themselves were not particularly better than any other professional infantry, while they were pretty well drilled they had no particular advantage over other full time European soldiers, this is very apparent in both the Venetian Ottoman wars and the Habsburg Ottoman wars, where the typical Venetian Marines that formed the backbone of their army were considered slightly superior to the Janissaries. My understanding is also that the Austrian professional troops were at least as good as the elite Turks too.
Why is it that Janissaries get to be represented over any other special unit? They are more special politically than militarily, on the battlefield they were less comparatively effective when drawn up between other high end infantry such as napoleon's old guard.
Looking more seriously at the conflicts I am most comfortable looking at the Venetian Ottoman wars, where over the many years the Ottomans took about 8 casualties for every 1 Venetian, losing about 600,000 men compared to about 75,000 Venetians, this despite the influence of the supposedly powerful Janissary troops. Realistically the most important military presence in the conflict was the gaping technological advantage Venice had at Artillery production over the rest of the world, not the much exaggerated performance of Janissary troops.
Will we soon see more nations able to get hold of high end units or will it remain closed off as an Ottoman only thing?
Janissaries in themselves were not particularly better than any other professional infantry, while they were pretty well drilled they had no particular advantage over other full time European soldiers, this is very apparent in both the Venetian Ottoman wars and the Habsburg Ottoman wars, where the typical Venetian Marines that formed the backbone of their army were considered slightly superior to the Janissaries. My understanding is also that the Austrian professional troops were at least as good as the elite Turks too.
Why is it that Janissaries get to be represented over any other special unit? They are more special politically than militarily, on the battlefield they were less comparatively effective when drawn up between other high end infantry such as napoleon's old guard.
Looking more seriously at the conflicts I am most comfortable looking at the Venetian Ottoman wars, where over the many years the Ottomans took about 8 casualties for every 1 Venetian, losing about 600,000 men compared to about 75,000 Venetians, this despite the influence of the supposedly powerful Janissary troops. Realistically the most important military presence in the conflict was the gaping technological advantage Venice had at Artillery production over the rest of the world, not the much exaggerated performance of Janissary troops.
Will we soon see more nations able to get hold of high end units or will it remain closed off as an Ottoman only thing?
