Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties
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[edit] About the Game
Story
Prepare yourself to experience Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties - the next chapter in the acclaimed Age of Empires III series from Big Huge Games and Ensemble Studios.
The Asian Dynasties brings the triumph and turmoil of some of history's greatest Asian civilizations to stunning life. Wielding the symbolic power of immense Wonders of the world, lead the armies of China, India or Japan in a struggle for dominance against the European powers, or against each other. Crush opponents with ranks of new military units, such as the Chinese Flame Thrower, the Indian Siege Elephant, or the fierce Japanese Shogun. Or play the role of master diplomat, and befriend your allies at the Consulate, biding your time and building a force of foreign weaponry that will topple your enemies. In Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties, players use the might of the East to bring the world to its knees.
Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties adds three new civilizations, 15 monumental Asian Wonders, the new Export resource, new random maps, three five scenario-campaigns that feature all new Age of Empires III characters, Eastern native tribes, and a wealth of exciting new Home City content.
Explore, conquer and extend your empire as you clash with the invaders on the battlefield and drive them into the sea!
Features
- Playable Asian Civilizations
Command one of three fierce Asian civilizations: the Indians, the Chinese or the Japanese each with its own unique armies led by powerful warrior Monks, Daimyo, Mansabdars and other special units
- Exciting New Single Player Campaigns
Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties introduces thrilling new stories into the popular Age of Empires III mythology. Play through three new mini campaigns with new heroes and villains who find themselves in the midst of some of Asia's most pivotal historical events, both factual...and fictional.
- New Ways to Play Age of Empires III
With the addition of Wonders of the world and the new Export resource, Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties injects an intriguing level of depth to existing Age of Empires III strategy. If used wisely, these new features can mean the difference between rousing a victory or a humiliating defeat.
- An Immersive World
Players will explore an exotic Asian setting over 11 new Random Maps, three new Home Cities, and interactions with new native civilizations, all while battling opponents in new game modes, including King of the Hill, Regicide, and Treaty No-Blockade.
Requirements
- Age of Empires III
- Windows® XP or higher
- 256 MB RAM
- 1.4 GHz processor
- 2 GB free hard drive space (plus space for Age of Empires III
- 64 MB video card with support for hardware transformation and lighting
- 56K dial-up Internet access or LAN for online/multiplayer
[edit] New Civilizatons
Japan
Human habitation on the Japanese islands began some 10,000 years ago, with a strong, central government in force by the eighth century CE. The nation with the world's second biggest economy has a rich cultural history. It produced what is considered to be the world's first novel, Genji Monogatari, in the eleventh century.
Japan's feudal era was ruled by the bushi-the aristocratic warrior classes that included the samurai-who controlled even the emperor. Social order in this period was enforced by powerful shogun (generals) and daimyo (lords). The Tokugawa shogunate established a balance of power that maintained stability for over 250 years.
The Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Japan campaign follows events during the transition between the Toyotomi Dynasty and the Tokugawa shogunate.
Features
- Starts with two Ikko-Ikki Monk units instead of an Explorer.
- Daimyo units enhance nearby troops, provide mobile troop training, and can act as Home City Shipment centers.
- Shrines produce a trickle of resources (enhanced when built near animals or livestock).
- Animals and livestock cannot be harvested as Food.
Featured Units
In The Asian Dynasties, the Japanese civilization relies on the effective use of the powerful Samurai and Naginata Riders. It can also send most Home City shipments twice.
The Yabusame is an elite Japanese light cavalry unit that is very powerful due to its long range and the bonus damage it inflicts on siege units. Yabusame is the ancient art of archery, or Kyudo, while riding on horseback. "Kyudo" is Japanese for "Way of the Bow."
The Samurai is a Japanese swordsman that is fast, has many hitpoints, and causes heavy splash damage to all units in an area. The samurai were members of the Japanese warrior aristocracy who embodied the bushido code; they rose to power during the rival clan wars of the twelfth century. This bushido belief system - "the way of the warrior" - emphasized an unwavering loyalty to a master, the act of self-sacrifice, and an indifference to pain.
China
Our very notion of civilization is difficult to contemplate without regard to the four great inventions of ancient China: paper, printing, the compass, and gunpowder. No written language system has been in continuous use longer than Chinese. China is one of the world's oldest still-thriving civilizations.
The Ming ("bright") Dynasty oversaw the development of an impressive navy and a huge standing army during this period. Ruler Hongwu employed the Wei-so system of military organization to prevent bonds of loyalty between officers and soldiers, as well as to reduce the overall cost of maintaining a permanent military force.
In Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties China campaign, lead an expedition on an imaginative adventure in which the Chinese reach the Americas during the Age of Discovery.
Features
- Villages in The Asian Dynasties replace Houses from previous Age of Empires III games. You can garrison Villagers in the Villages to protect them from attack.
- Starts with a Shaolin Master and a Disciple instead of an Explorer.
- Each Banner Army consists of unique combinations of units.
n advanced knowledge of gunpowder and a well-organized military are hallmarks of the in-game Chinese civilization. Instead of individual types of units, the Chinese train Banner Armies.
The Arquebusier is a Chinese skirmisher unit who uses an arquebus, or ancient musket, in battle. It has bonuses against heavy infantry and light cavalry units. The arquebus was a European matchlock gun that was adopted by Asian cultures in the sixteenth century, and once introduced to the Chinese it became a standard issue weapon. In 1558 alone, Chinese gunsmiths manufactured a total of 10,000 for Chinese Imperial Army.
The Meteor Hammer is a Chinese heavy cavalry unit that wields the deadly meteor hammer chain weapon, which causes great damage to siege units. Classified as a martial arts chain weapon, the meteor hammer evolved from ancient Chinese hunting weapons and basically consists of two weights connected by a rope or a chain. It offers an unparalleled level of speed when striking, and can be utilized in different attack styles-- thrown, swung, or whipped-depending on the conditions of the battlefield.
India
The history of the Indian subcontinent stretches back at least 9,000 years to the city-states of the Indus Valley. With the second-largest population, fourth-biggest economy, and biggest democracy in the world today, India's extraordinary history was shaped in many ways by its commercial and cultural wealth.
After a century of British East India Company rule, events sparked a battle between the Company's Indian soldiers (sepoys) and forces loyal to the Company. Although nearly another century would pass before complete Indian independence, the British East India Company would never be as powerful again.
The Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties India campaign simulates events during India's First War for Independence.
Features
- Starts with two elephant-mounted Brahmin units instead of an Explorer.
- Villagers cost Wood instead of Food.
- Villagers arrive at no cost with most Home City Shipments.
- Livestock cannot be harvested for Food, but can be tasked to Sacred Fields for experience points.
In The Asian Dynasties, the Indian civilization has a great variety of units to choose from, including expensive but devastating Elephant units.
The Gurkha is a powerful Indian long-range skirmisher unit. The Gurkhas are a Nepalese ethnic group who originally claimed to be descendents of the northern India Rajputs, but who took their famous name from the small state of Gurkha in Nepal, which they conquered in the early sixteenth century. Known for their short, curved sword called a kukri, the Gurkhas served in the armies of India and of Great Britain during World War I and World War II.
The Howdah is a sturdy Indian cavalry unit featuring a carriage full of archers that fire devastating long-range attacks, causing great damage to cavalry, artillery, and siege units. Howdah is the traditional name for a carriage that is strapped across an elephant's back, allowing it to carry human riders, including the "mahout," the beast's human handler. Although elephants have been used in warfare for centuries, the Mauryan Empire of ancient India first used the howdah in combat in about 300 BCE.
[edit] New Ways To Win
Wonders
You must build great monuments in order to move to the next Age and unlock additional Shipments from your Home City. The Wonders are specific to the civilization that you choose to play and are modeled after some of the most famous monuments in the world.
Each civilization has five Wonders from which to choose. After an initial bonus of units or resources, each Wonder continues providing a benefit to your civilization that is unique to that Wonder.
Certain powerful military units are only accessible through the construction of a Wonder, including the devastating Chinese Flying Crow, available from the Confucian Academy, or the elite ranks of Indian Mansabdars, which can only be trained from the massive Agra Fort.
Wonder "buttons" activate timed abilities that can turn the course of a battle in a matter of seconds. Access enemy line of sight using the Great Buddha's "Informers" ability, or activate the Tower of Victory's "Inspiration" power and boost your entire army's attack.
Featured Wonders
Stay tuned for additional wonders in the weeks ahead.
The Indian Agra Fort sends a Shipment of Coin once built. It also acts as a Fortress, with an attack, and the ability to train units. The Red Fort of Agra protects the sixteenth century imperial city of the Mughal Empire. Within the fortress's 1.5 mile long red sandstone walls stand many examples of ancient architectural grandeur, including the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal.
The Japanse Golden Paviliaion sends Shipments of Yumi Archers each time the player Ages up once built. This Wonder gives a bonus to your military and provides advanced Arsenal improvements. The Golden Pavilion Temple (Kinkaku-ji) is the name of the hall of relics at the temple grounds of Rokuon-ji. Aside from the basement floor, the whole pavilion is covered in pure gold leaf. Situated in Kinkakuji-ch�, Kita-ku, near the Japanese city of Kyoto, The Golden Pavilion Temple was originally constructed in 1397 to serve as the retirement villa of the third Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshimitsu
New Game Modes
n addition to the traditional Age of Empires III multiplayer modes (Supremacy and Deathmatch), The Asian Dynasties offers new challenges: Regicide, King of the Hill, Treaty, and Treaty-No Blockade.
In a Regicide game, you must build protection around and defend your Regent. Your Regent is a very powerful unit that you can use in battle. You can garrison your Regent inside his Castle to protect him if necessary. If the Castle is destroyed, your Regent is unprotected and vulnerable, but can continue to fight and rebuild.
In a King of the Hill game, you must capture and hold a Fort. Once a player has captured the Fort, the monument displays that player's color and a timer begins counting down. If the player is still holding the Fort when the timer reaches 0:00, the player wins the game. If you can capture the Fort before the timer runs out, the Fort changes to your color and the countdown begins again.
When you capture a Fort in King of the Hill, gather all your troops around to protect your acquisition or go on the offensive to crush potential incursions.
In a Treaty game, the host specifies a time period during which no player can attack another player. All players during the treaty period work furiously to build resources for the inevitable onset of hostilities. During the Treaty, you can also blockade your opponents to prevent Shipments from their Home City. Of course, you can expect that they will blockade you as well.
In a Treaty-No Blockade game, there is a 40-minute time period during which no player can attack another player. However, in a Treaty-No Blockade game, you cannot block Shipments from your opponent's Home City, nor can they block your Shipments. Continue using your Home City Shipments strategically to try to gain an advantage while no arrows, bullets, or cannonballs are flying.
Consulates And Mercenaries
With the addition of Consulates and the new Export resource, Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties injects an intriguing level of depth to existing Age of Empires III strategy. If used wisely, these new features can mean the difference between rousing a victory or a humiliating defeat.
As players build their kingdoms, Villagers gather a new resource along with the usual Coin, Food, and Wood. Export is a resource that is spent at the Consulate to recruit powerful foreign allies and gain access to technologies from across the globe.
The rate at which players acquire Export can be adjusted depending on how they wish to play. In order to increase the Export stream, players must sacrifice other resources using the Export command panel.
Featured Mercenaries
All new Asian mercenaries can be trained at the Saloon, Monastery, or select native sites. These outlaws, including the Thuggee, Ronin, and Chakram hoop thrower (to name just a few) augment your army with bloodthirsty soldiers who fight for pay...not for honor.
The Jat Lancer is a mercenary Indian cavalry unit that does devastating damage against enemy archers and skirmishers. During the occupation of India by British forces, the Jat people were designated a martial race, or an ethnic group that based on exhibited qualities was predisposed to fighting. The British recruited native soldiers heavily from these particular populations, the most distinguished being the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers, which saw fighting during World War I.
The Iron Troop is a Chinese mercenary unit that has a bonus against heavy infantry and light cavalry. The mighty iron troops were the brainchild of Koxinga, the Ming military leader and man responsible for ousting the Dutch from Formosa, now Taiwan, in 1662. These tough soldiers were the most elite of all military recruits, and they wore metal masks, armor, and often painted their faces to frighten and discombobulate enemy soldiers.
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