We have written this article to criticize and correct the mistakes about the Turks in MTW2. We hope it will be taken into consideration by the producers of the game.
1-The Turks in the game are just like the Arabs. In these years the Seljuk Turks were very different in culture from the Arabs of Mesopotamia. The Seljuks were still living the steppe culture mostly. But in the game even from the beginning the Turkish units such as spies, assassins, captains and even family members are wearing Arabic costumes. The wives of family members are wearing “buqra” which is very wrong as the Turkish women preferred kershief.
2-The Turks are beginning with a few regions not including Baghdad. In 1055 Baghdad and caliph were saved from Buveyhis by the great Seljuk sultan Tugrul. The Turks should have Baghdad in the game too.
3- Military units are very weak. As a consequence, the Seljuks who resisted many Crusades are much weaker than in fact. During the First Crusade, six hundred thousand Crusade soldiers entering Anatolia left as a force of only forty thousand. This proves the strength of The Seljuk Empire .Also, the Ottomans’ military units are weak in the game. Even around the time of foundation of the Ottoman Empire, no wars were lost except the one against Timurlane. During that war, which was the biggest battle in the Medieval times, Timurlane lost forty thousand of his soldiers despite the fact that he had never lost more than two thousand up to then. This is another point proving Turks’ strength(Timurlane was also a Turk).
4- In the game one of the most irritating mistakes is that Anatolia is just like a desert and the building in Anatolia resemble those in Arab peninsula. The mosques like other buildings in Anatolia were very different from the ones of Egypt and Arabia. In Anatolia mosques were much like the Orthodox churches. Trees in Anatolia such as palms are another disturbing point. Palm trees are not found anywhere other than Mediterranean coasts such as Antalya and Mersin coasts in Turkey. But in the game they are everywhere.
5- Turkish faction leaders are called “Sultan” all the time. But from 1350, they were using the title “Padisah” meaning “Sultan of sultans”. This is a very common mistake made by the Europeans.
6- Cavalry units were stronger than they’re in the game. For example, Kapiqulus were elite soldiers which no factions had. They were compelled to protect the Padisah (ottoman word for “sultan”)But in MTW 2, they are the weakest of heavy cavalry units.
7- Another thing is that our favourite Turkish soldiers-Akinjis are not the way they should be. Akinjis consisted of only Turkish worriers who were living close to borders of the country and protecting them. A Rum (Greek) who converted Islam or an Arab did not have the right to be an individual of that unit. They were one of the most important units of Turkish army. They attacking as far as mid-Europe causing fear. In Balkan countries many officials were charged with the mission of warning an oncoming riot by the Akinjis. These officials were only made redundant in the 20th century. But these important soldiers are very weak and they are only told to be Muslims in the game.
8-There aren’t any powers of the Caliph. While the Pope calls for a Crusade every now and then, Jihads are called by a regular Imam, which is one of the most important mistakes in the game.
9-The worst mistake in the game, according to us, is that the word “Jenissary” is claimed to be of Greek origin. Actually, “Yeni (Jeni)” means “new” and “Çeri (Sary)” means “soldier” in Turkish. We cannot understand how this kind of a mistake is made.
10-“Sipahis” in the west regions of the Empire is told to be Christian. But in Turkish armies, Christians were never recruited. Instead, “Cizye” tax was to be paid. This tax was one of the most important sources of income of the state.
As a result, we wouldn’t like to consider these mistakes made deliberately. We hope that the will be corrected immediately. Maybe a patch can be released in order to correct them.
Raziel 17 & The Ak07
