Radious Total War Mod - Warhammer III Blog Entry #6

Hello everyone, Team Radious here!

Welcome to the sixth entry in our WHIII Radious Overhaul Development Blog! As the  release of the game is approaching with the grace of a charging Ogre (and about as much subtelty), we are finally tackling the question of Cathay, everybody’s favourite fantasy version of Definitely-Not-China. With noticeably clear visual and lore themes (such as the often use of  jade/emerald, references to dragons and the influence celestial  bodies), the prospects for the expansion of this faction are exciting  and potentially unlimited. However, considering the scarcity of official  materials, we shall be employing a lot more interpretative freedom than  usual in our plans and unit ideas, so please bear this in mind while reading this entry. So, let us all look upon the heavens and try to  discern what the future might have in store for us while basking in the gentle light of moon.

Cathay has one of the most limited  pools of visual assets out of all new factions. We will strive to make their new units look as unique as possible, but our capabilities might  prove to be limited. We will only know for certain once we are able to try the game ourselves.

Grand Cathay

Grand Cathay is an empire as ancient as  the world itself… or so would the legends say. Protected against Chaos  and other threats by the might of its Great Bastion, the strength of its  navy, the guile of its army, and the wisdom of its Dragon benefactors,  it eternally struggles against the indefatigable forces of the countless  hosts of their enemies. Those that pick-up arms against Grand Cathay  know that they are always running the risk of being burned by dragon  fire of crushed by their machines of war.

Grand Cathay Roster Expansion:

Sea Drakes

The  soldiers of the Celestial Fleet that patrol the Cathayan coasts,  keeping monsters, pirates, and even Black Arks coming from Naggaroth, at  bay. Tasked with the all-important mission of keeping their country safe, their equipment is often top of the line and their training  excruciatingly severe. Ocean currents can hide little before them, and  their enemies even less.

Highly skilled and shielded but wearing medium armour.

The Fearless Wall

Few peasants that have faced the Daemonic Legions or other monstrous enemies of Cathay are lucky enough to live long enough to tell the tale. Even fewer choose to keep fighting even after that. Those are often  offered a promotion to the ranks of the permanent garrison of the Great  Bastion itself. Undoubtedly a much more dangerous position but also a  much more respected and better paid one.

Peasants with better gear and leadership, but still low melee defence and attack

Frontier Guards

The vast lands that separate Cathay from the Ogre Kingdoms are not completely desolated and lacking life forms. Such few as there are, they are usually hostile to anyone that dares to cross their territories or even aggressive and ambitious  enough to attack the fortresses that protect the Western Border. It´s  to watch over those threats and cull them before they become a real danger to the Celestial Empire, these border patrols were created.

They can be on foot and on horse.

Warrior Monks: 

Not  all threats to the Celestial Empire come from the corrupted wastelands  to the North and the East, some are more insidious and cunning and hide  among the honest men or even under their feet, spreading lies and  plagues or sabotaging the war effort from within. To fight these  enemies, orders of uncorruptible and highly skilled warriors travel  through the nation and even beyond its borders, searching for any seeds  of treachery and disharmony, cleansing it before it can grow.

Imperial Road Watch

The  rulers of Cathay have a big source of income in the taxes collected  from caravans that trade with faraway lands, but for those caravans to  be profitable enough to keep coming, the roads must be safe enough to  travel mostly unimpeded. While other Cathayan soldiers and Ogres usually  act as caravan escorts beyond the borders of Cathay, these men have the  duty of keeping the roads inside the Empire free of danger.

Sworn Gatekeepers (Multiple Variants)  

Unlike other human nations,  Grand Cathay consider itself the one and only line that protects the  world from the ravages of Chaos and the wealthiest families are educated  since childhood in that the Great Bastion is the pillar of their  civilization, as Cathay and the world will be destroyed if it falls into  enemy hands. While most are not fitting to serve there, some choose to  dedicate their entire lives to the defence of the three gates that  separate the world of men and the lands of madness.

Elite infantry with a variety of weapons and uses on the battlefield.

Onyx Dragons

With  Dragons serving as the protectors of Grand Cathay, it is unsurprising  that there has developed a culture accustomed to venerating them and  their deeds. Those that witnessed one fighting in person often have  their entire lives transformed and dedicate themselves to becoming at  least a fraction as swift and deadly. To be an Onyx Dragon is to  exemplify this ideal of self-improvement and the never-ending pursuit of  perfection.

Sapphire Lancers/Sabre Cavalry

Sometimes,  when a soldier in the other branches of the army of the Celestial  Empire proves themselves to be exceptionally skilled and capable in the  saddle, they are sent for additional training and join the elite ranks  of the Sapphire Lancers, who serve as the ultimate shock cavalry.  Rumours say that even visitors from the faraway Bretonnia were impressed  once they saw them charge at the enemy.

Additional Variants of Existing Vanilla Units:

Peasant Swordsmen

Jade Warriors (Spears)

Celestial Dragon Guard (2H Swords)