So after reading the Polygon article and looking at the screenshots I wonder how unit modernization will be handled and if units become obsolete in later eras.

The article gave the example of Agyptian charriots, which will also be used in later eras, while being heavily upgraded. The article stated that the culture specific units will stay with you even after choosing a new culture for the next era.

Also on one screenshot which showed a battle there were Roman Legionaries fighting alongside with what looked like Line Infantry with muskets/rifles. So will earlier units become obsolete or will they stay relevant through heavy upgrades? Or will they just be relevant for one or two eras? (So no Roman Legionaries in modern times.)

I think this is an interesting topic, because CIV5 for example had the problem, that the AI, while still researching new units, had trouble modernizing the existing ones. Which led to fights of highly modernized armies with tanks (the player) against pikemen.

CIV Beyond Earth had one really good idea about it. The upgrade system, which let you evolve your basic units. In CIV:BE you didn't research much new units but heavily upgrade the exsisting ones. AND also they were all instantaniously upgraded, if you choose a new upgrade for the template. So we as players had allways enemy armies who were at least almost equal in terms of raw unit power.

Perhaps the shown pics are only examples and staged pics. But I can't imagine using Roman Legionaries alongside tanks. Unless the Legionaries get rifles and some riot shields....

I won't get into much detail, but a stabby dude with a murder sword is still dangerous when you have a rifle... How dangerous exactly? You'll find out in the coming months. :D

I'm sure some will take issue with earlier era units remaining relevant but I quite like the idea of keeping my unique units rather than having to upgrade them into generic versions.

Frogsquadron wrote:

I won't get into much detail, but a stabby dude with a murder sword is still dangerous when you have a rifle... How dangerous exactly? You'll find out in the coming months. :D

Ok, then just give the stabby dudes some LAZOR swords and kevlar shields and I am set. I could imagine that it could be like EL, where you can allways upgrade your weapons with better materials. Egyptian charriots with SMG instead of Bows?

Jokes aside, glad to hear that you have thought about it.

Yeah i am really curious about this. It's kinda cool if upgrades can keep the units viable for a couple of era's. But if they can be upgraded enough that legionaries with shields and swords can combat tanks, then there might be some problems

Stabby dudes with swords will only be effective versus dudes with rifles if they vastly outnumber them and the rifles are single shot muskets. Otherwise...its not pretty...

If the Unit personnalization come back, can we give bazooka to our Egyptian Chariot Archers?

Some quotes from the Polygon article:

"As the game progresses, my cities, my culture, and my military become a melting pot of different influences. My early charioteers survive through to later ages, but are upgraded and modernized along the way, always keeping that Egyptian feel. "

[...]

"Each of my armies is a combination of different units that I’ve organized throughout history according to tactical benefit. So I might have medieval cannons alongside ancient horse warriors, supported by classical phalanx and maybe a unit of Renaissance pikemen. "

So it seems as if we can keep our units through the ages. Upgrading and Modernizing is clearly stated. I am curious if this is also visible noticable. That would be cool if chariots had motorbikes instead of horses.

One question though, do we only get the units from the civ we choose? That would make a total of 6 units? I don't think so. Or are there some standard units per era that all have access to?

There will be standard units for each era.

Will there be ways to customize any units?  My favorite method in this genre is still from SMAC, which allowed you to add 1-2 special traits from a long list to tweak each unit to the job you want for them.  ES's option to customize each ship is a beautiful example of it and a big part of why I've spent so many hours enjoying both games (ES1 sowers are still the best!).

I hope units change visually as they get upgraded over the eras, would be disappointing to upgrade your unit over the course of your entire civilizations existence only for them to look exactly the same as they did during the start of the game