Aoeiii Ce Manual Xz

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Safety Warning About Photosensitive SeizuresA very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when exposed to certainvisual images, including ashing lights or patterns that may appear in video games.Even people who have no history of seizures or epilepsy may have an undiagnosedcondition that can cause these "photosensitive epileptic seizures" while watchingvideo games.These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including lightheadedness, alteredvision, eye or face twitching, jerking or shaking of arms or legs, disorientation,confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury from falling down or strikingnearby objects.Immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any of thesesymptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the abovesymptomschildren and teenagers are more likely than adults to experiencethese seizures.The risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures may be reduced by taking the followingprecautions: Play in a well-lit room. Do not play when you are drowsy or fatigued.If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy, consult adoctor before playing.Information in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references,is subject to change without notice. Unless otherwise noted, the example companies,organizations, products, domain names, e-mail addresses, logos, people, places, and eventsdepicted herein are ctitious, and no association with any real company, organization,product, domain name, e-mail address, logo, person, place, or event is intended or shouldbe inferred. Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user.Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document may be reproduced,stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by anymeans (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), or for any purpose,without the express written permission of Microsoft Corporation.Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or otherintellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expresslyprovided in any written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this documentdoes not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectualproperty. & p 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Age of Empires, TheAge of Kings, DirectX, Ensemble Studios, the Microsoft Game Studios logo, and Windowsare either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the UnitedStates and/or other countries. 2005 Havok and Havok 3 are registered trademarks of Havok and Telekinesys ResearchLimited. All other products, company names and logos are trademarks or registeredtrademarks of their respective owners.Uses Bink Video. Copyright 19972005 by RAD Game Tools, Inc.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarksof their respective owners.


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Table of Contents Getting Started

Whats New? 9Installing the Game 9Starting a New Game 10Getting Help 11Learning to Play 12Setting Options & Using Hotkeys 13Using the In-Game Menu 14Saving, Loading, & Quitting a Game 15Winning a Game 16Improving Game Performance 17

Key ConceptsChoosing a Civilization 21Colony Screen 24Navigating the Colony Screen 26Navigating the Home City Screen 29Ways to Play Age of Empires III 31Exploring the New World 33Assembling an Army 34

Home CityWhat Is a Home City? 41Managing Your Home City 43Working with Your Home City 47Your Home Citys Strategic Value 50


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Single-Player CampaignMorgan Black 53Elisabet Ramsey 54John Black 55Kanyenke 56

Amelia Black 57Pierre Beaumont 58Starting & Saving Campaign Scenarios 59

MultiplayerMaking the Multiplayer Connection 62Multiplayer Game Types 64The Home City & Multiplayer 65

Economy

Finding & Gathering Resources 68Villagers 74Upgrading Your Civilizations Units 79Advancing Through the Ages 80Forming Alliances with Native Americans 81

MilitaryCreating Military Units 85Engaging in Combat 92Choosing a Strategy 95

CivilizationsSpanish 100British 101French 102Portuguese 103

Dutch 104Russian 105German 106Ottoman 107

Buildings & UnitsBuildings 111Explorers 115Infantry 116Cavalry 119Artillery 121Civilian Units 123Ships 125Native Americans 126Mercenaries 129

Credits


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Whats New? Age of Empires III includes several new gameplay features,such as:

The Home City Specic to each civilization, your HomeCity gives you more control over howyour civilizations technology advances.

Single-Player An intricate storyline transportsCampaign you back in time to an age of conquest

and intrigue.Graphical A new display engine renders sceneryEnvironment and action with lifelike detail.Real-World The new physics engine adds an

Physics exciting level of realism to the gameships can shoot holes in each otherssails, cannon balls careen and bowlover infantry, and damaged buildingscrumble to pieces without warning.

Installing the Game Insert the Age of Empires III installation disc into yourdisc drive, and then follow the on-screen instructions. If Setup doesnt start automatically, complete these steps onMicrosoft Windows XP:

1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel .2. In the Category View , under Pick a Category ,

click Add or Remove Programs .3. Under Pick a Task , click Add a Program .4. In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box,

click the CD or Floppy button, and then followthe on-screen instructions to install the game.

Once again, the Age of Empires game series sets a newstandard for innovative technology and gameplay inreal-time strategy (RTS) gaming.

Picking up where Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings leaves off, the latest installment, Age of Empires III, givesyou command of a European power determined to explore,colonize, and conquer the New World.

Spectacular combat awaits you in a world with units likeried infantry, heavy cavalry, and tall ships bristlingwith cannon. Youll be captivated by breathtaking scenesof discovery and power: towering European cathedrals,courageous Native Americans, and massive armies benton destruction.


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Multiplayer Start a multiplayer game with yourfriends using Ensemble Studios Online(ESO) or a local area network (LAN).

Help and Tools Download game updates, getinformation about specic units and

technologies, create custom scenarios,adjust display and other game options,or view a list of those who workedtirelessly to create this amazing game.

Exit Close the game and return to Windows.

Getting Help To get additional information while playing the game, goto the Stats tab, and then click the Detailed Help button.You can also use tooltips by placing your mouse pointerover an icon or unit to display a brief description of thatitem and its capabilities.

For updates and to interact with the Age of Empires III community, visit: http://www.ageofempires3.com .

Starting a New Game To open the Main menu, double-click the Age of Empires III icon on your desktop.

The Main menu provides the following options:Learn to Play

Learn basic gameplay principlesand experience whats new in Age of Empires III.

Single Player Play the Campaign or a randommap Skirmish ; load a CustomScenario or a Saved Game .


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Setting Options & Using Hotkeys

You can congure Age of Empires III in manydifferent ways. By using the Options screen you canne-tune such elements as in-game graphics, audio,and multiplayer settings.

For example, to improve the frame-rate performance,adjust the settings under Graphics Options . By selectingUse Low Poly Models and reducing the Texture settings,you can improve the games performanceparticularly onslower computers.

Hotkeys allow experienced players to nd, build, and taskunits quickly and efciently. For example, pressing theT key nds your Town Center. If you want to achieveprociency with Age of Empires III , knowing how andwhen to use hotkeys is critical. Youll nd many usefulhotkey combinations on the Quick Reference Card.

Learning to Play The easiest way to learn Age of Empires III is by usingthe tutorials. Youll master gameplay basics and learnabout some of the new features in the game.

To learn basic and advanced features, on the Main menu,click Learn to Play .

If youre a new player, click Master the Basics , andthen complete the practice scenario to learn the coregame features.If youre a more experienced player, clickTrya Game to dive right in and nd out whats new.


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Saving, Loading, & Quitting a Game

Saving On the In-Game menu, click Save.In the Save File dialog box, type aname in the Filename box, and thenclick Save.

Loading On the In-Game menu, click SavedGame . In the Open File dialog box,select the lename of the game youwant to play, and then click Open .

Quitting To leave a game while playing, youmust rst resign from your current

game. On the In-Game menu, clickResign , click Yes , and then click theQuit button in the upper-right of the screen.

Using the In-Game Menu At any time during gameplay you can pause the gameand display the In-Game menu by clicking the Menu button (in the upper-right of the screen) or pressing F10.

The In-Game menu offers the following choices:Player Options Fine-tune in-game settings.Resign Leave the current game.Player Summary Offer tribute and resources to allies.Save Preserve the current game state so

you can reload it later.Saved Game Start a previously saved game.

Restart Return to the beginning of thecurrent game.


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Improving Game PerformanHere are some suggestions for improving the qualityand performance of Age of Empire III .

Install the Latest Device DriversYour computers graphics adapter (also known as a videoor display adapter) is critical to a great Age of Empires III visual experience. For the game to run properly, you mustensure that your computer has the latest version of thegraphics adapters driver installed.

You can obtain the latest driver from the manufacturerof your graphics adapter.

To learn who manufactured your graphics adapter1. On the Start menu, click Run .2. Type dxdiag , and then click OK.3. In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool dialog box, click

the Display tab.4. Record the name of the manufacturer listed under

Device , and then click Exit .

Go to the manufacturers Web site for more informationon determining whether you have the latest driver version

and how to upgrade should you need to.

Winning a Game The bottom line: You win by commanding more territoryand resources than your opponents. Age of Empires III offers multiple variations on this theme, depending onhow you decide to play.

Single-Player CampaignTo win, you must successfully complete all the missionsin the Campaign.

SkirmishIn a single-player or multiplayer Skirmish , whoeverconquers rst is the winner. There are two types of gamerules for a Skirmish Supremacy and Deathmatch each with different starting conditions. In Supremacy ,you start with no resources; in Deathmatch , you startwith a stockpile of resources and play at high speed.

While a Deathmatch always ends with either resignationor conquest, Supremacy offers a way to win withoutcombatFour of a Kind. You get Four of a Kind bybuilding four Trading Posts either along a Trade Routeor at Native American settlements.


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Install the Latest Version of DirectXInstalling the latest version of DirectX can preventperformance problems with Age of Empires III and mayalso enhance the quality and performance of games onyour computer.

To download the latest version of DirectX, go to:http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/downloads/default.asp.

Additional SuggestionsShut Down Other ProgramsClose any other open programs to free up more of yourcomputers processing power.

Install More RAM

Random access memory (RAM) is your computers short-term memory. Generally, the more there is, the faster yourcomputer can process data. Your computer needs to have


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Choosing a Civilization You can choose from eight different civilizations(shown below in order of easiest to hardest to play):

SpanishBritishFrenchPortugueseDutchRussianGermanOttoman

Each civilization has its own strengths and weaknesses.For example, the British have a strong economy and canget Settlers quickly. Youll nd the best British unit is theMusketeer, but if you want to leverage other units, such asthe Longbowman, you have that exibility.

Although they dont have as many villagers as the British,the French form alliances with Native Americans moreeasily. The French also have a special villager, theCoureur, that is more resistant to attacks.

If you play as the Spanish, youll nd that you get moreresources and support from your Home City.

Try out the different civilizations to identify those thatbest suit your style of play and strategy.

Your goal in Age of Empires III is to build a powerfulempire capable of conquering any and all enemycivilizations.

You build your civilization by gathering natural resources,constructing buildings, creating an army, researchingtechnological improvements, and advancing through theve Ages:

Discovery AgeColonial AgeFortress AgeIndustrial AgeImperial Age

With each Age advancement you can build differentbuildings, create more powerful military units, andresearch and acquire more valuable technologies.

You face many challenges. You can see only a small partof a land hidden in darkness. You dont know where youropponents wait and how they plan to attack you. And youmust overcome your greatest challenge: learning how tobest adapt and grow the units and resources specic toyour civilization.


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The Home CityAdding a persistent Home City is a signicant differencein gameplay between Age of Empires III and other gamesin the Age of Empires franchise. Your Home City providesyour colony with resources, establishes the improvements

and units you can leverage, and gives you a level of controlover your own destiny.

You grow your Home City over time through theacquisition of experience points, which you earn eachtime your civilization does one of the following:

Discovers Treasure.Defeats enemy units (including Treasure guardians)or buildings.Builds or trains units.

Achieves certain milestones (most Treasures, mostkills, and so on) that garner postgame awards.Completes objectives in the single-player Campaign.

As your experience points mount, your Home Citylevel steadily advances. Higher-level Home Cities canprovide more powerful shipments of units, resources,or improvements.

Your time spent in advancing the level of your Home Cityduring the single-player Campaign will hone your skillsfor multiplayer games. By sticking with a civilization andlearning the intricacies of its capabilities and limits, youllbe able to take this knowledge and experience with youonline to compete with other Age of Empires III players.

Forming Alliances with Native AmericansYour playable civilization can also form alliances with theNative American nations in the New World:

Aztec IroquoisCarib LakotaCherokee MayaComanche NootkaCree SeminoleInca Tupi

By forming alliances, you gain their help during battleand can acquire extra resources such as Food or Coin.(You only battle Native Americans when theyre alliedwith enemy civilizations.)

You form an alliance by building a Trading Post next toa Native American settlement.

To ally with a Native American nation1. Have your Settlers gather sufcient resources to build

a Trading Post.2. Send your Explorer or Settler to nd a Native

American settlement.3. Select your Explorer or Settler and then click the

Trading Post button on the Command panel.You can now leverage military units and otherimprovements offered by that nation. (Trading Posts youbuild on Trade Routes will offer different benets. Theygenerate experience points for your Home City and cancreate Stagecoaches and other improvements to enhancethe ow of commerce across their routes.)


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Command tab

Command panelDisplays available: Units Buildings Commands Improvements

In-Game menu

Stats tab

Colony Screen

Home Cityicon

Mini MapDisplays the entiregame map. Chat Send Alert Flare Find Explorer Filters Resource panel

Displays stockpiled resources andpopulation. Current Population & Upper Limit Food Wood Coin Villagers

Current Unit

Age Advancement bar

Experienceprogress bar


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Resource PanelShows current stockpiled resources, number of villagers,and population limit. This helps you ensure that yourenot too low in one resource while spending too mucheffort gathering another. Unless you are stockpiling for

a specic reason, such as advancing your Age, keepingyour resources in relative balance is a good strategy.

Command PanelDisplays the available tasks, units, buildings, commands,and improvements for the currently selected object. Forexample, if you select a Settler, the Command panel willdisplay buttons for buildings and improvements that yourcivilizations Settlers can generate.

Stats TabDisplays statistical information about the currentlyselected unit or building. For example, if you selectan Explorer, the Stats tab will show such informationas name, hitpoints (total and remaining), and unitclassication.

Age Advancement BarDisplays the current Age and your civilizations ag.

Production QueueShows the units you have selected to train and theirprogress towards completion. Because units train overtime, youll nd the queue particularly useful when yourunits are engaged in multiple activities that require quickaction once they become ready.

Navigating the Colony Screen If youve already played a game from the Age of Empires series, youll nd theColony screen familiar.

In-Game MenuTo pause the game and open the In-Game menu, click theMenu button (in the upper-right of the screen) or pressF10. You can select from the following menu items.Player Options Fine-tune various in-game settings.Resign Leave the current game.Player Offer tribute and resources to allies.Summary

Save Preserve the current game state soyou can reload it later.Saved Game Start a previously saved game.Restart Return to the beginning of the

current game.

TooltipsWhen you move your mouse pointer over different gameunits, a tooltip displays information about resource orunit statistics (such as name, hitpoints, cost, and so on).You can use tooltips to quickly nd information aboutpractically anything that appears on-screen.


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Navigating the Home City Screen

To view the Home City screen, click the Home City iconon the Main menu.

Home City Mini MapProvides a high-level view of your settlement. The MiniMap works the same on the Home City screen as it doeson the Colony screen; simply click anywhere on theMiniMap to go to that location.

Home City IconToggles between the Colony screen and the Home City screen. Youll need to go back and forth between yourcolony and your Home City to manage improvementsand to identify and transport resources.

Settlement Mini MapProvides a high-level view of the territory surroundingyour settlement and lets you quickly locate thefollowing items.

Town CenterTreasuresExplorerNative American settlements

Trading Post locationsResources (Food, Wood, and Coin)Fog of War limits

Use the Mini Map regularly during gameplay to identifythe next resource to acquire, to jump to a new location,and to locate your Explorer.

The Mini Map also acts as a control panel for bothnavigation and communications.

To quickly move your view from the Colony screento a specic location on the Mini Map , click thatlocation on the Mini Map .The Mini Map also includes buttons to lter itsdisplay, as well as buttons for communications (SendFlare and Chat ). The communications buttons allowyou to interact with other players during a multiplayergameto share information, discuss strategy, or justask for help.


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Ways to Play Age of Empires III

Age of Empires III gives you several different waysto play:

Single-Player CampaignSingle-Player SkirmishMultiplayer Skirmish

Single-Player CampaignBy accepting the challenge of the single-player Campaign,you enter into a historical storyline that spans multiplecontinents and generations.

Follow the adventures of three generations of the Blackfamily as they explore the New World, meet famousgures from history, and battle a mysterious internationalconspiracy.

With different missions crisscrossing the Americas,youll face a series of challenges woven within a dramaticstoryline. Varying levels of difculty and choices in HomeCity upgrades make the Campaign an adventure you canenjoy time and again.

Resource PanelDisplays your current stockpile of resources as theyupdate. Check your available resources here as youchoose from the units available for transfer from yourHome City.

Shipment PanelDisplays the contents of your Deck.

Every Home City provides different improvements andresources (also known asCards) from which you canchoose. You manage these resources by creating a Deck of the Cards you want to use during that game.

The Shipment panel displays the contents of your Deck:the economic units, military units, and resources currently

available for shipment back to your colony. Click the unitsand/or resources you want to select. If you lack sufcientresources or population, or you havent yet reached theright Age, the game will indicate why the unit or resourcecannot be shipped.

For more information about the Card and Deck systemand how it works, see the Home City chapter onpage 39.

Home City IconToggles between the Home City screen and theColony screen.


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Exploring the New World The rst thing you should do is search for sources of Food, Wood, and Coin. You can explore the map bymoving your Settlers and Explorers into the black area.

Gathering Food is important, as you need Food totrain (create) more Settlers.Gathering Wood is important, as you need Woodto construct buildings (such as houses, barracks,and others).

To select a unitClick the unit you want to select.or

Drag a bounding outline around the unit (or units)you want to select. (This method also lets you selectmultiple units.)

You can tell a unit is selected by the circle around its baseand the Health Bar indicator above its head.

To deselect a unitClick anywhere else on the map terrain.

The selection indicators (Health Bar and circle) will nolonger appear with the previously selected units.

To move a unitClick the unit, and then right-click any locationon the map or on the Mini Map (in the lower-leftof the screen).

The unit will move to that location.

Single-Player SkirmishWhen you dont feel the need to explore an entirecontinent, you can always test your skills against an area(or map) in the New World.

You can set the following characteristics of your skirmish:Your civilization.The number of computer opponents and theircivilizations.How the civilizations divide into teams.The map on which you play.The game rules (Supremacy or Deathmatch ).The starting Age.The difculty level.The game speed.Your player color.

Once you set up the Skirmish, click the Play button tostart the battle.

Multiplayer SkirmishYou can also play against human and AI opponents over alocal area network (LAN) or on Ensemble Studios Online(ESO). When playing online, you get access to the sameonline features youve come to lovetaunt, ares, andchatwhile still engaging in a wide-ranging, winner-take-all battle across two continents.

You can choose from a couple different formats formultiplayer, each of which offers different starting andwinning conditions:

Supremacy , where every player starts with nothingand continues until nal conquest or surrender.

Deathmatch , a fast-paced game where all playersbegin with a stockpile of resources.


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Balancing Strengths and WeaknessesOne key to success in Age of Empires III is learning thedifferent strengths and weaknesses for each civilizationand then choosing the appropriate strategies andcountermeasures during gameplay.

All military units relate to one another using a built-inhierarchy based on hitpoints, range, and speed.

In general, long-range units are better than short-range,units with high hitpoints are better than those with lowerhitpoints, and fast units are better than slow units.

Also, slow units are generally beaten by long-range units,which in turn are generally beaten by fast units. And fastunits are generally beaten by units with high hitpoints(unless the fast units run away).

Deciding which units to build is crucial. You shouldlearn the strengths and weaknesses of every unit in yourcivilization, pay attention to which units your opponentbuilds, and build your army to counter their strengths.Above all, try different unit strategies to see what works.

Assembling an Army Combat plays a major role in Age of Empires III asmultiple civilizations struggle to control the New World.Youll need to muster a military capable of defending yourterritory and taking the offensive as necessary.

Creating Military UnitsEvery civilization has slightly different military units andweapons, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.

Before you can create an army, your civilization musthave advanced to the Colonial Age; only then can youstart constructing military buildings, such as the Barracksand Stable. Each of these buildings creates (trains)different types of military units and weaponry.

As an example to get started, lets rst constructa Barracks.

To build a BarracksClick a Settler, click the Barracks button, and thenclick a location on the map.

After the Barracks is built, you can create infantry unitsthere. The specic infantry units you can create dependon your civilization.

To create an infantry unitClick the Barracks, and then click the button for theinfantry unit you want to create.

After a few seconds, your infantry unit will appear nextto your Barracks. As you advance through the Ages, yougain access to additional and upgraded infantry units withmore capabilities.

Use the same process to create cavalry and other militaryunits and improvements.


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To quit a game and view the postgame screens1. ClickResign on the In-Game menu, and then

click Yes .2. Click the View Postgame button in the upper-right

of the screen.


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What Is a Home City? Every civilization has its own Home City, whichacts as a unique symbol for that civilizationit looksdifferent from other Home Cities and it offers differentimprovements. As such, the Home City doesnt representan actual real-world city. In fact, you can choose any nameyou want for your Home City.

As each game progresses, youll return to your Home Cityto retrieve a range of resources. The way you use yourHome Citys Inventory and Deck system will guide howyour civilization advances.

Using Cards and DecksEvery Home City has a unique assortment of improvements and resources (also known asCards) fromwhich you can choose. The higher your Home City level,the more Cards are available for your use. There are vecategories of Cards, each represented by a building in theHome City:

Trading CompanyEconomic units and resources.Military AcademySoldiers and military upgrades.CathedralBuilding improvements.Manufacturing PlantAdvanced economic upgrades.HarborNaval upgrades and mercenaries.

The addition of the Home City is probably the mostsignicant new feature in Age of Empires III .

Your Home City is a critical element of your overallgameplay and strategy. The more you develop yourHome City, the greater the rewardsimproved accessto resources, better equipped units, and more advancedimprovements.

Over time, every players Home City evolves intosomething uniquely their own. Players using the samecivilization can have entirely different capabilities. Thechoices you make over time dene the unique characterof your Home City.


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Managing Your Home City Use the Home City Options menu to create, upgrade, andcustomize your Home City and Card Deck. You can createand use many different Home Cities and Decks.

When starting a new game session, you choose whichHome City and Deck to use. (In the single-playerCampaign, you are assigned a specic Home City ineach Act.)

To access the Home City Options menu, you must rstselect one of the four styles of play from the gamesMain menu:

Skirmish Campaign LAN ESO

Selecting a Home CityWhen you choose Manage a Home City on theHome City Options menu, a dialog box gives you thefollowing options:

View an existing Home City.

Create a new Home City. Delete a Home City.

Not all Cards are available at the same time, and manyrequire that your Home City attain a specic level beforethey become available to you. Still others require that youalready have certain Cards available (for example, youneed Card B before you can get Card C).

You store available Cards in your Inventory. Eachcivilizations Inventory can hold up to 120 Cards, many of which you unlock as your Home City level increases, butyou can only play a maximum of 20 cards per game.

You can gather a selection of Cards into a Deck bothbefore and after a game, but not during a game. ThisDeck then determines which improvements and resourcesget shipped from the Home City to your Town Center.

A Deck can contain up to 20 Cards. Your Home Citycomes with a default Deck of 15 Cards. You can modifythis Deck or create multiple new Decks, each conguredfor a specic style of play. For instance, you couldcreate a Deck primarily of military upgrade Cards for acombative style, or you could create a Deck weighted foran economic style. Once a game starts, you can chooseonly one Deck to use and you cannot switch Decks duringthe game.

As you play more games and your Home City growsin capabilities, your Decks continue to advance and

change. Creating and managing multiple Decks gives youtremendous exibility to test new strategies and explorehow best to advance your Home City.


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Using the Deck BuilderThe Build a Deck window shows the improvements andresources that you can use in creating Decks for yourcivilization. From this window, you can add or deleteCards in your Deck. You can also create multiple Decks.This allows you to design Decks that support specic stylesof play, such as economic or military.How you choose specic Cards requires planning. Oneimprovement might help in your current game session,whereas another could provide greater strategic advantagesin a future game session.

The Inventory panel shows all the Cards you haveavailable for your Deck. Click a Card to place it in thecurrently active Deck.

You start your rst game with 15 Cards already in yourInventory. These Cards are also added automatically toyour starting Deck. As you spend more time in the gameand gain experience points, additional improvements thatyou can use to update an existing Deck or to create a newDeck become available. You cannot, however, update aDeck while its being used in a game session.

No civilization can amass all the possible improvementssome have better soldiers, whereas others have bettercavalry, ships, or economies. You must play eachcivilization differently to overcome its weaknesses andexploit its strengths.

Learning your civilization and all its available units,improvements, and upgrades is essential to masteringDecks in single-player and multiplayer games.

Upgrading Your Home City InventoryThe Home City Options menu also lets you add newCards to your Home City Inventory. The Choose NewCards window lists the ve Card categories along with theresources and improvements available for each category.

The number of available upgrade Cards appears in theupper-left corner of the Card Tree panel in the ChooseNew Cards window. This number increases or decreasesas you use available Cards or unlock new Cards.

To add Cards to your Inventory, click the Cards youwant from the various Card categories. A green checkmark next to the Card indicates that it was added to yourInventory. To remove it, simply click the Card again. Therst few cards you unlock appear automatically in yourDeckyou dont have to manually add them.


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Working with Your Home CiThe Shipment panel, located in the lower-right of the Home City screen, displays the resources andunits available to your colony from your Home City.

The units and resources available for shipment correspond

to the Cards in the Deck that you are using in the currentgame session.

Whenever you acquire sufcient experience points, youcan receive military and economic units and resourcesfrom your Home Cityjust select the Card you want andit will be shipped from the Home City.

Customizing Your Home CityIn the Customize window, you can create a unique anddistinctive Home City. For example, you can change theappearance of buildings such as the Manufacturing Plantor Trading Company.

Much like unlocking upgrades, every time your HomeCity gains a level, new customizations become available.These customizations are purely visual and do not servea strategic purpose or form part of your Deck.


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Shipping Military UnitsYou can choose from a large number of military units,including ships, cavalry, infantry, and even foreignmercenaries. The specic military units available to yourcolony is determined by your choice of civilization andby the Cards you chose for your Deck.

To select a military unit for Shipment1. On the Colony screen, click the Home City icon

to display the Home City screen.2. Place your pointer over an available military unit.3. Click the military units you want to add to your

Shipment.

Your Shipment of military units arrives at yourcolony shortly.

Increasing the Level of Your Home CityMore improvements that you can add to your Inventoryare unlocked as your Home City advances in level. YourHome City level increases with experience points thatyou earn by:

Discovering Treasure.Defeating enemy units or buildings.Building or training units.Achieving milestones that garner postgame awards.Completing objectives in the single-player Campaign.

The more experience points you acquire, the faster yourHome City level increases.

The choices that you make depend on such factors as:Current Your colony must have sufcientPopulation population available for the units andLimit resources chosen.Resources Mercenary units require the expenditure

Required of Coin; all other Shipments are freeonce you acquire enough experiencepoints.

Experience Before you can select any units orPoints resources, you must build up enough

experience points.

Shipping Economic Units and ResourcesYou can choose from a wide variety of economic units,resources, and improvements, including Settlers, FoodCrates, and animals. Each unit delivers a unique economicasset to your colony. For example, if you ship a Furrier,your hunting rates will improve once that Shipmentarrives. Over time, youll learn how to strategically chooseand build up your units and resources.

To select an economic unit or resource1. On the Colony screen, click the Home City icon to

display the Home City screen.2. Place your pointer over an available unit or resource.

(A tooltip appears describing the units or resourcesname, cost, and benets and whether its available.)3. Click the units and resources you want to add to

your Shipment.

Your Shipment of units and resources arrives at yourcolony shortly after you complete these steps.


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Multiplayer and Your Home CityAs your Home City level advances, it becomes a resourcethat you can use in multiplayer games. The improvements,units, and even the customizations that youve unlockedcarry over to multiplayer mode.

Multiplayer mode allows you to have multiple Decks andHome Cities tied to your ESO account, providing theopportunity to test your skills at playing with a rangeof civilizations and upgrade strategies.

There isnt a direct relation between your multiplayerrating and your Home City level. A Home City witha higher level simply offers more improvementoptions. Skill and strategy are much more critical indetermining who wins, especially in game sessionsbetween seasoned players.

Multiplayer hosts can choose to restrict game sessions tocertain Home City levels You can also choose to play with


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Morgan Black Morgan Black is a Scotsman and a mid-level commanderin the Knights of St. John. The son of a village smith, hewas driven at an early age by a burning religious fervor

and joined the Knights of St. John. Morgan quickly gainedfavor as a brutal warrior who carried out his duties swiftlyand silently.

Unmarried and with no family ties to bind him, he dreamsof restoring the Knights of St. John to their former glory.Although the Orders time has passed, Morgan remains adevoted knight.

The single-player Campaign weaves an imaginative taleof action and adventure set in early America.

Youll follow the story of three generations of the Blackfamilyctional adventurers with a passion for the NewWorld and all its opportunity. Youll join them as theytake part in wars, revolutions, and conquests.

Through their adventures, youll uncover secret stories of revenge, treachery, and a malignant conspiracy that spansthe Americas.


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John Black John Black, grandson of Morgan, is a erce frontiersmanand mercenary with a reputation as a cold-blooded ghter.Renowned for his chilling calm in battle, you never want

to face John Blacks musket and blade in combat. Even inthe worst of circumstances, nothing seems to faze himexcept a desire for vengeance that can erupt to overtakehim and everyone in his path.

Elisabet Ramsey The daughter of an English nobleman, Elisabet Ramseyed her home at an early ageunwilling to trade herfreedom for an arranged marriage. The Americas offered

her the chance to steer her own course.For several years, Elisabet sailed the Caribbean alongsidefamous English and Dutch privateers. Eventually, she roseto command her own pirate eet, which she captains fromthe warship Paris Burning .


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Amelia Black Amelia Black, granddaughter of John, is the last livingmember of the Black family. A successful industrialistand owner of the Falcon Company, Amelia is an intense

competitor. She embodies the forceful, ery spirit of her ancestors.

A gifted sharpshooter in combat, Amelias gun deliversa deadly sting. Even the bravest foe trembles when herpiercing gaze places him in her crosshairs.

Kanyenke Kanyenke is a proud Iroquois warrior. Smart, savvy,and strong, he is a master at using a bow for rangedattacks and delivers a lethal, lightning-fast swipe with

his tomahawk in close combat. As John Blacks faithfulfriend and ally, Kanyenke has fought erce battles andeluded dangers alongside Black to share the spoils frommany victories.


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Starting & Saving Campaign Scenarios

To start the single-player Campaign

1. On the Main menu, click Single Player and thenclick Campaign .

2. In the Campaign window, select an available scenario,select a Difculty Level , and then click Play .

Completing a scenario unlocks the next scenario. You canalso go back and play any previously unlocked scenarios.

You can pause the game to save the current scenario atany point during gameplay, after which you can resumethe game.

To save a Campaign scenario1. Click the Menu button in the upper-right of the

screen to display the In-Game menu, and thenclick Save.

2. In the Save File dialog box, type a name for thescenario in the Filenam e box, and then click Save.

To restart a previously saved scenario1. On the In-Game menu, click Saved Game .2. In the Open File dialog box, select the scenario you

want to play from the list of saved scenarios, and thenclick Open . (The scenario will restart from the pointthat it was saved.)

Pierre Beaumont With his matted hair and unkempt beard, Pierre Beaumontlooks like hes never left the backcountry. Far from itBeaumont once moved among New Orleans sophisticated

set. World-weary, he abandoned that life for the ruggedexistence of a hunter and trapper.

When weighing whether Beaumonts the guy to get youout of a scrape, dont underestimate him. Hes clever,driven, and skilled in the use of many weaponswith aparticular preference for a pair of well-worn long knives.


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ESOTo play using ESO, you must rst create an ESO accountby completing the ESO registration. Next, type yournickname and associated password at the ESO logonscreen to open the ESO Home.

On your rst visit to ESO, youre assigned a defaultplayer level. This level adjusts over time based on howwell you play the gameas your skills improve, your leveladvances. You can use your player level to nd playerswith a similar level or to gauge another players skills.

Chat with your friends over ESO, and create teams forcompetitions that can span the globe.

LANYou can also play a multiplayer game over a LAN. Thisconnection type is generally recommended for advancedplayers who are comfortable with LAN technologies.

In multiplayer games, you and your friends can connectacross a network or the Internet to play against eachother or to team up against nonplayer characters(NPCs). Age of Empires III supports several uniquetypes of multiplayer games through Ensemble StudiosOnline (ESO).

Ensemble Studios has signicantly enhanced its ESOservice for Age of Empires III so that you can more easily

join the throng of multiplayer enthusiasts. With ESO, youcan hone your game skills by playing fans worldwide.

Making the Multiplayer Connection

To join a multiplayer game, click Multiplayer on theMain menu, and then choose one of the followingconnections:

Ensemble Studios Online (ESO )Local Area Network (LAN )

Th H Ci &M l i l G T


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The Home City & Multiplayer

Central to the multiplayer experience in Age of Empires

III is the new Home City, which puts a players economicand military strategy skills to the test.

Before the inclusion of the Home City, a player with aweaker economy could win simply by building a massivemilitary and overwhelming other players. The Home Cityconcept requires that players understand their civilizationsstrengths and weaknesses, develop strategies, and executeon those strategiesgood or badduring gameplay.

Home City Levels Versus Player LevelIn multiplayer mode, you can manage multiple HomeCities, just like in a single-player Campaign, but they aretied to your ESO account. Each Home City in multiplayeralso has its own Home City level, as in single player, butnote that your Home City level doesnt necessarily reectyour skills as a player.

Home City Determines the resources andLevel improvements available to you during

a game.

Player Level Represents how well you currently playthe game.

Multiplayer Game Types In multiplayer, you can play two types of games thatrequire quite different skills and strategies to win:

Supremacy Players begin their game without anyresources and must achieve victory byconquest or surrender.

Deathmatch Players begin their game with astockpile of resources and movethrough the game at a high speed.


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A player with a higher-level Home City does have someadvantages over players with lower-level Home Cities.Mainly, Home Cities with a high level offer more optionsand greater choices. Nevertheless, players who do not takeadvantage of these strengths, develop solid strategies, andexecute on those strategies will quickly lose their edge.

A player with a higher-level Home City can play a moreevenly matched game against a player with a lower-levelHome City simply by playing with a less powerful Deck,such as the initial default Deck.

Even with the addition of Home City levels, skill willalways play the decisive role in determining who wins,especially among the more advanced gamers. That said,when choosing opponents, you should always consideranother players Home City level and Player level. Onlyduring gameplay, however, will you discover whether ornot you chose a worthy opponent.


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h l d d d f


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Using Your ExplorerAn Explorer is a unique unit with specialized capabilities:Sharpshooter Your Explorer can pick off Treasure

guardians with a single shot.Trading Posts An Explorer can construct Trading

Posts on Trade Routes to boostyour economy.Immortal Your Explorer can be hit and wounded

but never dies.

Click the Find Explorer icon on the Mini Map to locateyour Explorer.

Use your Explorer to reveal the uncharted areas of yourmap and seek out:

Treasure.Enemy or allied-player encampments.Key territorial locations, such as mines.Sites for new Town Centers.

By keeping your Explorer and military units togetherand forming Explorer parties, they can back each otherup when taking out a Treasure guardian or taking on anenemy scouting party.

Three principal resourcesFood, Wood, and Coinformthe foundation of your economy.

Villagers farm for Food, forage for Wood, and minefor Coin.Explorers gather Treasure that contains Food, Wood,or Coin. Oftentimes, Explorers must battle a Treasureguardian before claiming the Treasure.

Finding & Gathering Resources As your villagers and Explorers explore the landscape,youll discover sources of Food (such as sheep, deer, andsh), Wood (trees), and Coin (mines).

Stockpiled resources of Food, Wood, and Coin help youpay for improvements that make your civilization morepowerful.

Tracking Your Current ResourcesThe Resource panel, at the lower-left of your screen,monitors the real-time values and levels of your Food,Wood, and Coin stockpiles. It also tracks your villagesreal-time population against its population limit.

A C d W ill l i b ildD i i Wh


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A Covered Wagon will travel to your site, build yourTown Center, unload your villagers and resources, andthen disappear. The villagers will immediately stockpileyour Food, Wood, and Coin resources.

Exploring a MapWhen you land in a new territory, most of the mapis hidden. Your civilian units (villagers, soldiers, andExplorers) must venture into the unknown territory toreveal whats hidden beneath the maps blacked-out areas.You may nd units, resources, or be surprised by enemyencampments.

Designed for exploring and Treasure gathering, Explorersexcel at uncovering resources and discovering enemies.By using your Explorer in this way, you can expandyour civilization and gain power. But bewareExplorersare vulnerable to your territorys hidden dangers. Bears,cougars, wolves, and enemy soldiers can damage yourExplorer.

To explore hidden areas of the map usingyour Explorer

Select your Explorer or an Explorer party, andthen right-click the area to explore on your mapor Mini Map.

Determining Where toPlace Your Town CenterYour rst Town Center is placed automatically at a sitethats near resources. If you add another Town Centerlater, you choose that site yourself. Nomad modetheexception to thisrequires players to choose all theirTown Center sites.When placing your Town Center, use your Explorer andsoldiers, also called anExplorer party, to search out themost strategic location.

There are several factors to consider when choosing a sitefor your Town Center:

Are resources readily accessible? Look for access toanimals and shing for Food, timber for Wood, andmines for Coin.Can the site be defended? Look for natural defenses,including rocky outcroppings or shoreline.Can you develop alliances and conducttrade? Look for nearby settlements andplaces for Trading Posts.

To place a Town Center1. Click your Covered Wagon,

which contains all the rawmaterials needed to set upyour Town Center.

2. Place your pointeron the site for yourTown Center, andthen right-clickthe location.

To gather unguarded TreasureFog of War


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To gather unguarded TreasureClick your Explorer, and then right-clickthe Treasure.

Your Explorer gathers the Treasure and adds it toyour stockpiles.

To gather guarded Treasure1. Select an Explorer and soldiers to create an Explorer

party. (How big you make your Explorer partydepends on how heavily the Treasure is guarded.)

2. Right-click the Treasure guardian to begin the battle.3. After your Explorer party defeats the Treasure

guardian, right-click the Treasure.

Your Explorer gathers the Treasure and adds it toyour stockpiles.

Fog of WarWhenever your Explorer party departs an area, a semi-transparent fogthe Fog of Warcreeps in, obscuringeverything in its path. The fog remains until your unitreturns to that area on your map.

For example, if your party discovers an enemy building,the Fog of War descends over the building as you departto conceal all real-time activity at the site. When your unitreturns, the fog lifts and you may nd all sorts of changesto the sitethe building could be more heavily fortied oreven destroyed.

Gathering TreasureWhile scouting territory,your Explorer can gatherTreasure to increase yourstockpiles of Food, Wood,and Coin.

Gathering Treasure is trickybecause it may be guarded.When its guardedtypicallyby a powerful animal orvicious outlawsyourExplorer must defeat theTreasure guardian beforecollecting the Treasure.

Keeping Your Villagers BusyVillagers


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Keeping Your Villagers BusyVillagers add to your experience points and enhance youreconomy only when theyre workinggathering Food,chopping Wood, mining Coin, constructing buildings,and so on. When idle, villagers contribute nothing toyour civilization. Its best to keep them adding to your

stockpiles by checking in on them often.Gathering Food and WoodVillagers can gather Food and Wood at any time. To ndout if an animal (Food) or tree (Wood) is a resource thatcan be gathered, simply place your pointer on it and, if it is a resource, a tooltip appears identifying it.

You can gather the Food or Wood by selecting a villager,and then right-clicking the animal or tree. The villagergathers the resource and adds it to your stockpile.

As you add resources to your stockpiles, they increasein value. Conversely, as you use your stockpiles or areunable to add to them, they decrease. For instance, if yougather all the Wood from your forest, you can no longerstockpile it, and your stockpile values decrease. Thismakes it important to strategically manage your resourcesthroughout the game.

Villagers Villagers are vital to your civilization. Their work formsthe backbone of your economy. Without them, you wouldhave no economy and your civilization would collapse.

Villagers are superior gatherers and stockpilers of Food,Wood, and Coin. The more villagers you have gatheringresources, the faster your stockpiles grow and, in turn, thefaster your civilization grows in wealth and power.

Creating VillagersCreating villagers requires an investment that differsfor each civilization. For instance, some civilizationscreate one villager at a time, requiring a time investment,whereas others create multiple villagers at once but for a

cost, requiring a resource investment.To create a villager

Click your Town Center, and then click the CreateVillager button in the Command panel.

Your newly created villager or villagers will appear nearyour Town Center. You should immediately put them towork gathering resources.

To construct a buildingGathering Coin


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To construct a building1. Select a unit to construct the building you want.

(For example, select a villager if you want to builda House.)

2. In the Command panel, click the building type thatyou want to construct.

3. Place your pointer where you want your building onthe map and click. (Note that if the building turns redwhen you try to place it, then it cannot be built onthat terrain and you should try another location.)

Increasing Your PopulationEach civilization has a population limit that applies tosoldiers, villagers, and other such units. Before adding anynew units and increasing your population, you must buildadditional Houses to support that increase.

Gathering CoinYou must nd a silver or goldmine before gathering Coin.

When you nd a mine, selecta villager (or villagers) andright-click the mine to gatherthe Coin.Constructing BuildingsA Town Center withoutbuildings doesnt do muchfor your economy. That said,you cant construct a buildingwithout using resourcesusually Wood, Coin,or a combination of the two. So, you must rst buildyour stockpiles of Wood and Coin before you canconstruct any buildings.

Along with Houses for your villagers, your Town Centercan have Mills to stockpile Food, Stables to train cavalry,Markets to conduct trade, and other structures that canhelp you advance your civilization.

As you advance your civilization through the Ages and asyour Home City increases in level, the types and numberof buildings available to you also increases.

Upgrading YourProtecting Your Villagers from Attack


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Upgrading Your Civilizations Units

You can use upgrades to gather Food faster, add hitpoints,increase the rate of trade, and so forth. Each upgrade,however, has its pricetypically, Food, Wood, Coin, or acombination of resources. The Command panel displaysthe upgrades available to you at any given time.

While most units have upgrades, the upgrades availableto you depend on both your unit and your civilization.

To upgrade a unit1. Select the building associated with the unit you want

to upgrade. The Command panel will display the

upgrades currently available to that unit.2. Make sure you have enough Food, Wood, and Coinresources for the upgrade.

3. Click the Upgrade button for that unit in theCommand panel.

Protecting Your Villagers from AttackAttacking villagers is a highly effective way to impede thegathering of Food, Wood, and Coin, which can devastatean economy, so its important you protect your villagerswhen they come under enemy attack. One of the best waysto do this is by garrisoning them in your Town Center.

To garrison specic villagers1. Select the villager or villagers you want to garrison.2. Click the Garrison button at the lower-right of

the screen.3. Click your Town Center.

The selected villagers will disappear into yourTown Center.

To put garrisoned villagers back to work

1. Click the Town Center.2. Click the Garrison button at the lower-right side

of the screen.

The garrisoned villagers emerge from your Town Centerand resume gathering Food, Wood, and Coin.

To garrison all your villagers at one time, click the TownBell button. Click it again to have all your villagers leavethe Town Center.

Forming AlliancesAdvancing Through the Ages


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Forming Alliances with Native Americans

You form alliances with Native Americans by buildingTrading Posts, which helps you earn experience points andprovides other useful benets.

Explorers and villagers can build Trading Posts onTrading Post sites near Native American settlements andalong Trade Routes.

To build a Trading Post1. Locate a Trading

Post site.2. Select a unit that can

build a Trading Post (forexample, your Explorer).3. In the Command panel,

click the Trading Post button.

4. Move your pointer todrag the Trading Postbuilding to your site.

5. Click that location to place the Trading Post.

The unit you selected builds the Trading Post at thechosen location.

Advancing Through the Ages Advancing to the next Age lets you build differentbuildings, create more powerful military units, andresearch more valuable technologies.

The ve Ages are the:Discovery AgeColonial AgeFortress AgeIndustrial AgeImperial Age

As you gain experience points and stockpile resources, youearn opportunities to advance your civilization through

all ve of the Ages. How well you use these opportunitiesdetermines how quickly and successfully you advanceyour civilization.


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Creating Native American Warriors for BattleTrading Posts built next to a Native Americansettlement are able to train Native American warriorsfor battle. (Your population limit does not apply to NativeAmerican warriors.)

The Native American warriors available to you dependson a variety of factors, including the map and theAge that youre in. Each warrior you train will cost acertain amount of resources, typically Food, Wood, ora combination of the two.

To create a Native American warriorClick your Trading Post, and then click theappropriate Warrior button on the Command panel.


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Creating Military Units Executing on military strategy and leveraging youri ili i i h h i b i i i l


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g yThere are three basic types of military units in

Age of Empires III:Infantry

CavalryArtillery

Although some military units can only come from yourHome City, most are created from buildings that arelocated in your colony. You cannot build any militaryunits until youve built the necessary buildings:

The Barracks creates infantry units.

The Stable creates cavalry units.

The Artillery Foundry createsartillery units.

civilizations inherent strengths in combat is critical toyour success. This chapter discusses how to build yourmilitary to achieve its maximum effectiveness.

To set a Gather PointTo create a military unit


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1. Click the building you want to create units for.2. On the lower-right of the screen, click the

appropriate Set Gather Point icon (economy unitor military unit).

3. Move the pointer to the location where you want theunits to gather, and then click that location to set theGather Point Flag.

Units generated from that building will now gather atthe location you specied. Setting a new Gather Pointmoves the Gather Point from its original location toa new location.

ReconnaissanceIts important that you continue to explore your map

during gameplay. Until you send your Explorer or otherunits into the hidden areas, large parts of your map willremain unexplored.

Enemy buildings, walls, and units will remain hiddenuntil you explore your map and discover the areaswhere theyre located. Only by uncovering your enemyslocations and military unit choices can you devise aneffective counter-strategy.

After youve explored an area, its buildings and units will

remain visible. Ongoing changes to those buildings andunits, however, will not be visible to you, unless they arewithin sight of a unit or building from your civilization.

1. Click the appropriate building for the type of unit youwant to create.

2. In the Command panel, click the Create Unit buttonfor that unit.

3. Repeat Step 2 toqueue upand create additional units,or hold down the SHIFT key and left-click to queueup to ve military units at one time.

The military unit (or units) you created will appear nearits building.

You can train different units at the same building at thesame time. Units are created in the order in which youqueued them. The appropriate resources are deducted fromyour stockpiles when you add the unit to the queue.

Choosing Where New Units GatherAll buildings that create units also let you choose wherethe new units gather. As an example, if youre creatingvillagers at your Town Center, you can set the silver mineas a Gather Point, so that as your villagers are created theyautomatically gather Coin from the mine.

Many buildings have economic and military GatherPoints, allowing you to have different units go todifferent places.

Grouping Military UnitsMoving Units


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Grouping units lets you command several military unitsat the same time.

To select multiple unitsDrag your pointer around the military units you

want to group.-or-Hold down the CTRL key, and then click theindividual units you want to group.

To group all visible units of the same typeDouble-click a unit. (For example, double-click aMusketeer to select all visible Musketeers.)

To create a group of units

1. Select all the units you want to group.2. Hold down the CTRL key and press the number youwant to assign to the group. For example, to assignthe number 2 to the group, press CTRL+2.

A Group Banner will appear at the top of the screen foreach group you create. Once youve assigned a numberto a group, you can just click the Banner or press thatnumber key to select the group. For example, to selectgroup 2, press the 2 key.

To add units to a group1. Select the unit or units you want to add to the group.2. Hold down the SHIFT key, and then press the

number key of the group you want the units added to.

When you select two or more units and order themto move or attack, they automatically maneuver intopositions to create a formation.

Fast units, like cavalry, are at the front of the formation.Ranged units are placed behind them. And weaker unitsget placed at the reartypically behind the ranged units.The entire formation moves at the speed of theslowest unit.

When you order a group to attack, it falls into a lineformation. The units then break formation to attack.

For example, if you order a group of Pikemen,Musketeers, and Falconets to attack, the Musketeersand Falconets will start the attack from a distance as

the Pikemen close in on the target.To move a unit

Click the unit (or select a group of units), and thenright-click the location.

How quickly your units move depends on their speedand the types of units that make up the formation.

Transporting Units Across WaterWh d d b di f

Moving a Unit Using WaypointsY i h M k F l


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When you need to cross deep bodies of water, you cantransport your units by loading them onto a ship, suchas a Caravel.

You can load any unit onto a ship. If youre in amultiplayer game, allies can transport each others units.Each ship carries a limited number of units.To load a ship

Select the unit (or units), and then right-click theship. Your units board that ship.

To unload a ship1. Click the ship you previously loaded. The units the

ship contains appear as icons in the lower-right of the screen.

2. Click the unit icons one at a time to unload your unitsonto shore in a specic order, or simply click theEject button to unload them all at once.

You can move a unit, such as a Musketeer or Falconet,along a precise course using Waypoints.

To move a unitusing Waypoints

1. Click the unit (or units)you want to move.2. Hold down the SHIFT

key, and then right-click the terrain to seta Waypoint. (Repeatthis step until all yourWaypoints are set,mapping the course youwant your unit to take.)

3. At the last Waypoint,release the SHIFT key, and then right-click.Your unit now moves along the Waypoints.

Building Your MilitaryWh h i th i it th t d ilit

Engaging in Combat


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When choosing the specic units that dene your military,its important to understand and weigh several factors:

Your civilizations strengths and weaknesses relativeto other civilizations.Your preferred strategy against each civilization.

For example, the British are economically quite strong inthe early game, not gaining their full military power untillater on. In contrast, even though the Spanish militaryramps up quickly, they dont achieve their full economicpotential until late in the game.

Its also important to keep tabs on your opponentsthrough scouting and reconnaissance. Check to see howtheir military evolves. Choose units that can effectivelycounter their units. For example, if you discover anenemy army with a superior cavalry, counter with astrong Musketeer force.

Learn and leverage the balance of forces that underlieall military unit relationships in Age of Empires III . Bycreating a ghting force that can balance effectivelyagainst your opponents, you increase your odds of success.

Even though you can get satisfaction from building Mills,gathering Coin, and chopping Wood, theres nothing likeproving your mettle in combat. After all, why includemuskets and cannon if you dont use them?

Age of Empires III was designed to provide you withmany different choices in how you develop and use yourmilitary. The Inventory and Deck system offers multiplepaths through the different units and resources available.

We strongly advise you to try many differentcongurations until you nd those that work best withyour particular strategies, interests, and individual styleof play.

Ordering an AttackAfter building up your forces and deciding on a strategy

Choosing a Strategy


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After building up your forces and deciding on a strategy,its time to make a move. Your opponent stands beforeyou. Charge!

Your military units, warships, and towers automaticallyattack enemy units within their line of sight, unless youorder them to attack a different unit.To order an attack

1. Select the unit (or units) you want to use inyour attack.

2. Right-click all the enemy units to attack.

And thus, the battle begins!

Attack NoticationWhenever your military units attack or come under attack,a battle horn sounds. Whenever your civilian units orbuildings are attacked, the Town Center bell rings. Thesealerts allow you to quickly react to a range of threats andare especially useful when your Explorer is away scoutinghidden areas of your map.

Age of Empires III gives you total exibility in choosinghow to balance economic development versus militaryadvancement. The game continually provides you withmeaningful choices that can both dene and undermineyour style of play.Over the years, several core strategies have emerged asuseful tools for experienced gamers: Rushing, Booming,and Turtling.

RushingThis strategy focuses on building up your military quicklyfor early attacks. The goal of Rushing is to catch yourenemies unprepared.

By taking out your opponents core economic resourcessuch as villagers, Houses, and Marketsyou dramaticallyimpede your enemys ability to advance their civilization.

BoomingInstead of focusing on your military, Booming involvesturning your civilization into an economic powerhouse.To be successful at Booming, you establish multiple TownCenters with a huge population of villagers, all gatheringresources at a high rate.

By maximizing your economy in this manner early on,you build immense resources that you can later spend oncreating a massive military.


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While most of the civilizations share several key unitssuch as the Musketeer and the Hussareach civilization

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comes with its own unique units as well. Youll nd thatthe units and their upgrade paths are carefully crafted toachieve an overall balance of powers, while offering arange of strategic choices.

For example, when considering between playing as theBritish or French civilization, you must contemplate thefollowing factors:

The British have the Congreve Rocket, while theFrench have the mighty Cuirassierthe heaviestcavalry unit in the game.The British have the strongest Musketeers in thegame, while the French have better Skirmishers.

You also do not want to ignore the Native Americans

as potential allies. By forming a strategic alliance witha Native American nation, such as the Iroquois or theLakota, you essentially play as two civilizations. Age of Empires III is set during a time of massive growth,

exploration, and opportunity in the world. Fortunes arepursued and forsaken. Empires emerge and vanish. Itis a time of sweeping challenge and change, when rapidadvances in technology overturn many of the long-heldtraditions and tactics of warfare.

In Age of Empires III, you play as a civilization. You canplay as any one of the following civilizations, which are

listed in order of least to most difcult to play:SpanishBritishFrenchPortuguese

DutchRussianGermanOttoman

British Spanish


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Civilization Bonus Extra Manor Houses thatspawn villagers

Unique Units Longbowman, RocketRoyal Guard Units Musketeer, HussarHome City Ruler Queen Elizabeth

The speed at which the British spawn villagers gives themone of the strongest economies in the game. The Britishcan focus early on gathering Wood for Manor Houses thatcreate villagers at a fast rate.

The British military is formidable, particularly later in thegame, due to two mainline unitsthe Musketeer and theHussarthat can be upgraded to Royal Guard level.The British Home City is exible, emphasizing bothtechnology and its navy.

Civilization Bonus Home City Shipments areearned faster

Unique Units Rodelero, Lancer, War DogRoyal Guard Units Pikeman, Rodelero, LancerHome City Ruler Queen Isabella

The Spanish have a strong military, particularly theirhand infantry and cavalry. Because of their ability to earnearly Shipments and the exibility of those Shipments,they can attack early or build a strong economy later inthe game.

Their Explorers ability to train War Dogs gives theSpanish added exibility, especially early in the game.The Spanish have many unique Home City improvementsthat benet their soldiers, buildings, and navy.

Portuguese French


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Civilization Bonus Extra Covered Wagonwhenever you advance an Age

Unique Units Cassador, Organ GunRoyal Guard Units Musketeer, DragoonHome City Ruler Prince Henry the Navigator

The Portuguese gain an extra Covered Wagon wheneverthey advance an Age, enabling them to establish a newTown Center.

The Portuguese Explorer has a unique Spyglass that letshim quickly explore the map or spy on enemies.

The Portuguese also have a strong navy, strong lightinfantry, and the best Dragoons in the game.

Civilization Bonus Coureurs gather faster andght better

Unique Units Coureur, CuirassierRoyal Guard Units Cuirassier, SkirmisherHome City Ruler Napoleon

The French economy builds slowly but steadily improvesover timethanks to the power of the Coureur. Andbecause the Coureurs ght better than standard Settlers,this makes the French difcult to attack early in the game.

The French Cuirassier is easily the strongest cavalryunit; however, it takes a robust economy to eld a largearmy of them.The French are also the best civilization at forgingalliances with Native American nations.

Russian Dutch


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Civilization Bonus Villagers and infantry are trainedin groups, low-cost military

Unique Units Strelet, Cossack, OprichnikRoyal Guard Units Grenadier, Cavalry ArcherHome City Ruler Ivan the Terrible

The Russians begin the game with extra resources butfewer villagers. This lets them immediately turn theirresources into villagers or create a raiding army earlier inthe game.

Russian soldiers tend to be weaker, but they cost less andcan be deployed in greater numbers. This is particularlytrue of the Streletthe weakest and least expensive soldierin the game.

All Russian infantry and villagers are trained in groups.While this allows the Russians to train these units faster,group training requires more resources.

Russians train their infantry out of a building called aBlockhouse, which defends territory in the same manneras an Outpost.

Civilization Bonus Villagers cost Coin, Banksproduce Coin

Unique Units Envoy, Ruyter, FluytRoyal Guard Units Halberdier, RuyterHome City Ruler Maurice of Orange

The Dutch Home City offers powerful defensive andeconomic upgrades. The Dutch tend to begin their gamesby playing defensively, however, all that changes afterthey establish several Bankstypically later in the Ages.They then explode onto the map.

Dutch villagers cost Coin, which greatly limits theirnumbers. The Dutch economy makes up for this byconstructing Banks that generate Coin automatically.

They have a unique civilianthe Envoywho has greatscouting capabilities but is defenseless. While they lacka Musketeer, the Dutch make up for it with two strongcounter-unitsthe Halberdier and the Ruyter.

Ottoman German


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Civilization Bonus Town Centers that spawnvillagers at no cost

Unique Units Abus Gun, Janissary, Spahi,Galley, Great Bombard

Royal Guard Units Grenadier, HussarHome City Ruler Suleiman the Magnicent

Like the German economy, the Ottoman economy tendsto start somewhat slowly. They make up for this by beingable to create villagers at no cost from the Town Center.

To keep villager production constant, the Ottomans mustbuild a Mosque early in the game and continually researchimprovements for it.The Ottomans have more unique units than any othercivilization. They can build an Artillery Foundry beforeother civilizations, giving them earlier access to artillery.

Civilization Bonus Free Uhlans arrive with everyHome City Shipment

Unique Units Uhlan, Settler Wagon,Doppelsoldner, War Wagon

Royal Guard Units Skirmisher, UhlanHome City Ruler Frederick the Great

The Germans have fewer villagers and therefore a slowereconomy. They make up for this by receiving Uhlans atno cost with every Home City Shipment.

While a German military will always have cavalry,their late-developing army is surprisingly diverse. Forinstance, you might have an army made up of strongSkirmishers, the pike-cleaving Doppelsoldner, or themighty War Wagon.

Germans have the added ability to send Mercenaries fromtheir Home City well before other civilizations.


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Buildings You advance the capabilities of your colonyeconomicallyand militarilyby creating a variety of buildings andunits. Cost, upgrade capabilities, and other building and


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Buildings form an essential part of your colony andcivilization. Youll use your buildings to manage resources,create and upgrade your military and its arsenal, andestablish the daily operations and economic vitality of

your colony.Despite minor differences, the following buildings arecommon to all civilizations.

Town CenterForms the heart and soul of every colony.The Town Center provides the primary linkto your Home Cityby default, all unitsand goods sent from the Home City arrivehere. You can build multiple Town Centers.

The Town Center supports a population of up to 10; trains villagers, Covered Wagons,and Minutemen; and offers other colonyimprovements. When your colony is underattack, garrison your villagers inside theTown Center.

HouseSupports up to 10 villagers or militaryunits. Construct Houses as necessary whenyou need to expand your colony to themaximum allowed by your population limit.ChurchProvides unique improvements for yourcivilization. Churches train healers andoffer economic, defensive, and militarybenets.

pg p gunit attributes can vary by civilization.

ArsenalProvides military improvements that canchange the speed, range, hitpoints, and

CapitolProvides powerful Imperial Age economicand military upgrades that help you make


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damage of infantry, cavalry, and artillery.

BarracksTrains and upgrades infantry units,

which are a core component of everycivilizations military. (The Russians havethe Blockhouse, which is a combinationBarracks and Outpost.)

DockProduces boats and ships for shing,combat, and transporting units acrossbodies of water.

Outpost

Can be built anywhere in the wilderness.Each has a long line of sight for defenseand a decent attack. Several units, such asvillagers, Coureurs, and Settler Wagons,can garrison inside an Outpost.

Livestock PenStores sheep and cows that you nd whileexploring or obtain as Shipments from yourHome City. Sheep and cows fatten overtime, which means the longer they live, themore Food they provide. Sheep and cowsfatten much faster in a Livestock Pen.

FortSpawns a variety of military units andoffers walls, towers, and gates that providea strong defense. You may have to unlockyour civilizations ability to createa Fort.

the nal push to victory.

Market

Provides economic improvements forhunting, gathering, and mining. Building aMarket lets you exchange Food and Woodfor Coin and vice versa.

Setting up a Market gives you more optionsin managing your economy. For example, if a technology upgrade costs more Coin thanyou have stockpiled, you can sell some Foodor Wood at the Market to raise enough Coinfor the upgrade.

MillDoesnt increase your Food stockpile as fastas herding or hunting, but does provide asteady, unending source of Food.

FactoryCan be built once youve reached theIndustrial Age. They produce either Food,Wood, Coin, or Cannon, and youll want

to leverage their high output capabilities tobuild your economy.

PlantationGenerates Coin and can be built anywherein your colony. You may nd Plantationsvery useful later in a gameonce yourmines are depleted.

Explorers E l i A f E i III t t bli h d

Field HospitalBuilt and used by Surgeons to healnearby units.


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Every colony in Age of Empires III gets establishedthrough the support and leadership of its Explorer.

As the leader of your New World colony, your Explorerwill scout new territory, build Trading Posts, battleoutlaws and Treasure guardians, establish new colonies,and recover Treasures.

Your Explorer has a special Sharpshooter attack thatenables him to kill with a single shot. Youll nd thisskill quite useful when gathering Treasure protected byguardians.

Note that your Explorer cant die. If he falls in battle, hecan be rescued and healed.

Explorer DogActs as your Explorers loyal companion.Explorer Dogs make gathering Treasureseasier.

Powerful in combat, the Explorer Dogcannot be killed. Just like the Explorer,it may fall in battle but can be revived.

War DogObeys your commands and ghts Treasure

guardians. The Spanish start off with thiserce mastiff and their Explorer can trainadditional War Dogs (which is good sincethese canines can be killed).

Trading PostBuilt along Trade Routes or near NativeAmerican settlements by Explorers and

villagers. When on a Trade Route, aTrading Post is a location where goods getdelivered. When near a Native Americansettlement, it establishes an alliance with aNative American nation.

StableTrains cavalry and counter-cavalry unitsessential elements to your military. As yourcivilization advances through the Ages,youll return to the Stable to research andupgrade your cavalry units.

Artillery FoundryTrains and upgrades artillery units for yourmilitary, such as Falconets and Mortars.

JanissaryA highly trained, though slow marching,infantry unit that fullls the role of th M k t f th i ili ti

Infantry Infantry are foot soldiers used for hand to hand


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the Musketeer from other civilizations.Janissaries are strong against cavalrybut weak against such artillery andlight infantry, such as Crossbowmenor Skirmishers.

MusketeerThe standard infantry unit. Armed witha smoothbore musket, theyre relativelyinaccurate with a slow rate of re. On theplus side, theyre inexpensive. Strong againstcavalry, theyre weak against artillery andlight infantry.

MinutemanA quick-training Musketeer who loseshitpoints quickly over time. Use them fortemporary battles when you need to reactquickly to an immediate crisis.

CrossbowmanA light-infantry unit good at defeatinginfantry, such as Musketeers, but weakagainst cavalry and artillery.

LongbowmanLongbowmen are a unique British lightinfantry unit. They have a long range and afast rate of re but are expensive. Longbowsbeat infantry, such as Musketeers, but loseto cavalry and artillery.

Infantry are foot soldiers used for hand-to-handcombat. They are relatively cheap and quick to create.You can create and upgrade infantry at the Barracks(or Blockhouse for the Russians).

PikemanA basic foot unit armed with a long pike.Pikemen are archaic infantry particularlygood at defending against cavalry. Becausethey are slow and lack a ranged attack,they have difculty chasing down cavalry.Pikemen can be countered by light infantryor artillery.

Halberdier

An infantry unit armed with a halberd.Strong against buildings and cavalry,Halberdiers act as more powerful Pikemen.They move slowly but have a strong attack.

RodeleroA Spanish sword-and-buckler man with astrong attack. Rodeleros beat cavalry butlose to artillery and light infantry.

Doppelsoldner

A amboyant infantry unit armed with two-handed swords. They can defeat cavalry,counter Pikemen, and are good whenattacking buildings.

Cavalry Placing a warrior on a horse was the early equivalent of

StreletA weak Russian light infantry unit.They are inexpensive and can onlybe trained in groups Strelets act like


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Placing a warrior on a horse was the early equivalent of todays tank. Fast and mobile, cavalry units revolutionizedwarfare by providing the means to quickly overwhelm lesscapable foot soldiers.

Youll use your cavalry for both scouting and combat.You create and upgrade cavalry units at the Stable.

HussarA fast-moving light cavalry. They defeatartillery but lose to infantry, such asMusketeers and especially Pikemen.

CuirassierAn expensive French heavy cavalry.They do heavy damage by trampling.

CossackAn inexpensive and fast Russianlight cavalry.

UhlanA heavy, hard-hitting (but not very durable)mounted soldier armed with cold steel.

LancerA heavy Spanish horseman armed with alance for killing infantry. Lancers are acavalry unit unique to the Spanish. Theyare stronger and more resistant to infantrythan are Hussars.

be trained in groups. Strelets act likeCrossbowmen or Skirmishers; they are goodagainst infantry, such as Musketeers, butlose to cavalry and artillery.

SkirmisherA more advanced unit who lls the samelight-infantry role as Crossbowmen. Theyexcel at defeating infantry but lose tocavalry and artillery.

CassadorA Portuguese light-infantry unit. Theywork like Skirmishers; they are good atdefeating infantry but are weak againstcavalry and artillery.

Artillery The addition of artillery enabled units to pack a lot

OprichnikA heavy cavalry unit that does extra damageto villagers and buildings. They are uniqueto the Russian civilization


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The addition of artillery enabled units to pack a lotmore punch at longer distances than previously possiblewith earlier ranged weapons such as bows and arrows.You create and upgrade your artillery units at the

Artillery Foundry.GrenadierAn expensive artillery unit with a lot of hitpoints. They are resilient to artillerybut vulnerable to light infantry, such asCrossbowmen and Skirmishers.

FalconetA simple artillery unit. Theyre better atcountering groups of infantry than they

are at besieging buildings.Abus GunAn Ottoman bronze artillery unit usedto counter infantry.

Organ GunA gun that can re multiple projectiles intoa large area, making it particularly good atdefeating groups of infantry. They are not

as good against buildings.MortarA long-ranged piece of artillery that isvery good at destroying buildings but lesseffective against infantry.

to the Russian civilization.

SpahiA heavy Ottoman cavalry unit that you can

only receive from your Home City. Spahisare good against light infantry and artillerybut lose to infantry and counter-cavalry.

Cavalry ArcherA fast-moving counter-cavalry unit.

DragoonAnother type of ranged counter-cavalryunit. They beat other cavalry but lose to

infantry such as Musketeers.

RuyterA Dutch cavalry unit armed with pistols.

War WagonA German unit comprised of a horse-drawn

wagon outtted with cannon. Theyre verygood against heavy cavalry.

Civilian Units Along with your military units, youll have a variety

CulverinAn artillery unit that is particularly goodat countering other artillery. Because theydo not have a large area effect, they are not


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