Highlanders

In game

Highlanders
	Upgrade of Arquebus Infantry, has better range and added attack bonus.
Prereq:	Build time	HP	LOS	Attack	Attack speed	Movement speed
Scientific Management	18s	675	30	70	Rather slow	44
Cost			Created from	Armour	Weapon range	Specialty
Base	Ramp	Pop
Metal: 250; : 160	Metal: 6; : 3	2		9	33	Attack penalty versus heavy cavalry, buildings. Poor turn speed.

Overall strategy

Although their somewhat flamboyant uniforms resemble those of their Kapýkulu Guard, these Nizamları or "New Model Guys" are in fact the Ottoman answer to European Musketeers and continue to remain the mainstay of the Ottoman Army until Mechanisation is achieved and you can attempt to obtain Askeri to replace them. Nizamları are a most welcome addition to the Ottoman arsenal which until the late game has to put up with the costly and inefficient Janissary Corps which cannot even be used to assault buildings.

History

First introduced in the 16th century, the Musket was in effect a longer version of the arquebus. Although this meant that it was somewhat heavier, the longer barrel of the musket meant that it could fire projectiles with higher velocity and range, giving it the ability to penetrate armour in a direct hit, thus making the musket an armour-piercing weapon effectively leading to the disbanding of traditional cavalry units (although some cavalry units would retain heavy armour for defensive counter-cavalry work).

The elongated barrel also meant that the musket also became a sturdier weapon, capable of having a small dagger or bayonet attached to the muzzle, allowing it to function as an effective melee weapon to fend off cavalry attacks. Of course, however, fixing bayonets would still take a long time as would reloading the weapon after fire, so musketeers still had to rely on the use of swords and pikes until the Napoleonic Wars.