Age of Empires III: The War Chiefs
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| Age of Empires III:The War Chiefs | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Ensemble Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft Game Studios |
| Release date(s) | October 17, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Real-time strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single Player. Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) OFLC: PG |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| System requirements | Windows XP, 1.4 GHz Processor, 256 MB RAM, 64 MB video card capable of Hardware T&L |
| Input | Keyboard, mouse |
Age of Empires III: The War Chiefs is the official expansion pack for the real-time strategy game Age of Empires III. It was announced by Ensemble Studios and Microsoft Game Studios on March 7, 2006. The game went gold on September 19, 2006. The demo version was released October 4, 2006. The full game was released on October 17, 2006 in the United States.
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[edit] New content
The War Chiefs offers several enhancements on Age of Empires III, and as with any expansion-pack you must have the original Age of Empires III installed. The enhancement include three new playable Native civilizations, new Home City cards, new buildings, a new single player campaign, new units, and several other enhancements. The three new native civilizations are the Iroquois, the Sioux and the Aztec.
Other additions to the game include new minor native tribes. The Huron replaced the Iroqouis, the Cheyenne replaced the Lakota (Sioux) and the Zapotec replaced the Aztec. Other new tribes include the Klamath, the Apache, the Navajo, and the Mapuche. The expansion includes 16 minor tribes, compared to the original 12.
There are also 6 new maps including: Northwest Territory (representing Oregon, Washington and British Columbia), California, the Painted Desert, Araucania (which have three varieties: Northern, Southern, and Middle), Orinoco, and the Andes. There is also a map called "unknown", where every feature of the map will be random.
European civilizations received a new building called a saloon to hire random mercenaries as well as map specific human treasure guardian units. They can also build the native embassy, where they can train native soldiers from allied tribes. This building can be built anywhere on the map like a normal building can, so the natives don't need to be produced at the trading post as in the original game. New units have been added for the Europeans, mostly artillery, mercenaries, and other advanced units.
The campaign, which is 15 missions long, includes the Black family in a more historical setting. One act of the campaign follows Nathaniel Black as he spends the family's entire fortune supporting the American Revolution. It includes the Battle of Bunker Hill. This occurs between the second and third acts of the original campaign. The second act follows Amelia Black's son, Chayton Black, and opens during Red Cloud's War.
Few changes have been made to Ensemble Studios online. Existing accounts have gained a Warchiefs stats section. A new account is not necessary or even allowed. This is probably to prevent two accounts being used by two people. Players home cities and levels will carry over with the ability to reselect cards, although all rankings and other stats will be reset.
There is a new victory condition, called the "Trade Monopoly", similar to the Wonder condition in earlier games. If a player or team controls more than half of the trading post sites in the Industrial or Imperial Age, they can start a timer, for an amount of food, wood, and coin. If the other team does not destroy trading posts until the player controls less than half, the player or team who started the countdown will win. Note that the team which started the timer cannot build more trading posts during the timer's effect.
A revolution feature is included as well. Instead of going to the Imperial age, you may choose to have a revolution (which is cheaper, yet riskier). After this revolution your settlers change to militia and you cannot produce any more settlers, stagnating your economy. When you start a revolution, you can choose a historical revolutionary leader (such as Simón Bolívar) who gives you a bonus. The advantage of a revolution is that it gives your military a boost, allowing you to gain the upper hand and to break a tight battle. But if your initial attacks fail, your inferior economy will allow your enemy to defeat you more easily. Once one side has had a revolution, it is no longer an option for the opposing team, and they can only go to the Imperial age.
One more new feature of the War Chiefs expansion is the implementation of the War Chiefs themselves. Instead of the European 'Explorer,' the native tribes receive a 'War Chief,' who provides more versatility throughout the game. For example, the War Chief provides a bonus to the units around him, potentially turning the tide of battle (See New units). War Chiefs also have the ability to convert treasure guardians, such as bears and pirates, to the player's cause, instead of having a special ability to kill guardians (like the Explorer has).The War Chief have a larger late-game influence than the Explorer, but are more expensive to resurrect (this takes much work of villagers at the Fire Pit).
Another feature for the expansion, is the use of 'stealth'. All natives can use this from the beginning, as one unit per Native Civilization can become invisible to the enemy (this cannot be activated when enemy units are nearby). For the Europeans, there is a Home City card that ships five spies (available even to early Home Cities). They share the stealth ability, as do other miscellaneous units (ninjas, native scouts, etc). Sometimes when enemy soldiers are near the invisible unit, it becomes revealed and vulnerable to attack.
Instead of using a Home City, the Iroqouis and Sioux have five members of the Tribal Council, including the Chief, the War Leader, the Shaman, the Wise Woman, and the Messenger. They all offer different units, supports, and improvements. All these items are very similar to the European Home Cities. The Aztec use Tenochtitlan as home city. The Iroqouis also starts the game with one Travois, which can transform into most Iroquoi buildings.
The firepit is available to all Native Civilizations. By having villagers dance at the Pit, it gives the various bonus to the native civilizations. This is done by selecting one of a variety of dances, including: The Fertility Dance (speeding up unit creating), the Gift Dance (which increases Experience gathering), the alarm dance (which spawns the Native equal of a minuteman), and the Mother Nature Dance (increases population limit). The Iroquoi have the unique Founder Dance, which spawns new Travois. The Sioux have the Fire Dance, which increases unit damage to buildings. This is to compensate for the Sioux lack of siege weapons. There are also dances available in the fourth age that produce powerful units. The Sioux and Aztec dances produce Dog Soldiers and Skull Knights, respectively.
Copper and Tin mines have been added, but these do not produce as much coin as the gold and silver mines.
[edit] New civilizations
The three new civlizations will all have their unique set of units. These are just the biggest bonuses of the civilizations.
| Flag | Civilization | Home City/Tribal Council | Unique Civilization Bonus | Leader |
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Iroquois | Caughnawaga | War Chief boosts hitpoints of nearby units, have travois, which can build most buildings for free. starts with one Travois. Has a unique Founder Dance in the fire pit which spawns Travois. | Hiawatha |
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Sioux | Hunkpapa | War Chief bonuses speed of nearby units, starts with 200 population slots automatically. Has unique Teepees, which you can only build up to 10 to provide a little health bonus to nearby, friendly units. | Chief Gall |
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Aztec | Tenochtitlan | War Chief bonus doubles experience gained in combat by nearby units, have warrior priests that can heal or count as 2 people at the firepit. starts with one Warrior Priest. Except ordinary War Hut, Noble's Hut also act as a blockhouse, but even a longer range. | Cuauhtémoc |
[edit] New units
In addition to the units available in Age of Empires III, these 36 units have been added: (native units of former minor tribes are also included here).
[edit] Iroquois
| Unit | Annotations |
|---|---|
| Iroquois Warchief | The Iroquois equivalent to the explorer, increases the hitpoints of nearby, friendly units. They have the ability to convert treasure guardians, and possess a special attack shot which can damage or kill multiple units at range. |
| Tomahawk Warrior | An axe-throwing infantry that existed for the native Iroqouis in the original game. However, it originally functioned as a counter for hand-infantry. A well-rounded unit similar to the European musketeer. Available from age 2. |
| Aenna | Like a crossbowman, this foot-archer available from age 2. It is unique in only costing 100 food. Effective against infantry. |
| Forest Prowler | Like a skirmisher, this is a gunpowder infantry available from age 3. It is effective against infantry and has a stealth ability. |
| Kanya Horseman | Like a Hussar, this is a light cavalry unit from age 2. |
| Musket Rider | This is a Ranged cavalry that is effective against other cavalry and also artillary. It is similar to the Dragoon, representing European influence on the Iroqouis. Available from age 3. |
| Mantlet | A unit covered with a wooden shield that existed in the original game, this is a support unit that takes damage to protect other friendly units that is also effective against buildings. Available from age 3. |
| Light Cannon | This is a light artillery that is effective against infantry and artillery but not as good as the European artillery. Available from age 4. |
| Battering Ram | A siege unit, like European Mortars, but have no range. Existed in the predecessor Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. Available from age 3. |
[edit] Sioux
| Unit | Annotations |
|---|---|
| Sioux Warchief | The Sioux equivalent to the explorer. A mounted unit enabling them to have greater speed than the other warchiefs. Like the Iroquois warchief, has the ability to convert tresure guardians. It increases the speed of nearby friendly units. |
| Cetan Bow | Like a crossbowman, this is a foot-archer that is effective against heavy infantry. Available from age 2. |
| Wakina rifle | Like a Skirmisher and armed with a rifle, this infantry unit is effective against heavy infantry. Available from age 3. |
| Tashunke Prowler | Sioux cavalry unit. Has a stealth ability and an area damage. The Hitpoints and attack of them increases when they are in groups. There is a limit of 12. Available from age 3. |
| War Club | Like a Pikeman, this is a melee infantry unit that is effect against cavalry, light infantry, and buildings. Available from Age 2. |
| Axe Rider | Like a Hussar, this is a cavalry unit armed with an axe. Existed for the Lakota tribe in the original game. Available from age 2. |
| Bow Rider | Like a cavalry archer, this is an archer on a horse. It is effective against other cavalry units. It is also useful for raiding, as it has no negative bonus towards villagers. |
| Rifle Rider | This is a mounted rifleman, with a repeating rifle. Is good vs. heavy infantry, cavalry, and artillery. Available from age 3. |
| Dog soldier | This is an elite cavalry unit that also existed in the original game with high health and attack. Available from the firepit in age four. Its all action damage increases as you age up. |
[edit] Aztec
| Unit | Annotations |
|---|---|
| Aztec Warchief | This is the Aztec replacement for the European Explorer. He or she can convert treasure guardians with the Nature Friendship ability. Also, he or she has a XP bounty aura, when nearby soldiers kill an enemy, they recive double the normal experience. |
| Warrior Priest | This is a powerful priest unit who has the same effect as two villagers when dancing at the Firepit, with the ability to heal allied units along with the player's own units. They can be created in the Fire Pit starting at Age 2. Its hand damage increases during later ages. |
| Skull Knight | This is a powerful Aztec unit with an area damage and large siege damage that can be created at the fire pit or be shipped from the homecity. Its all action damage increases during later ages. |
| Puma Spearmen | A melee infantry unit that is very effective against buildings and cavalry units. Available from age 2. |
| Macehualtins | Like a strelet. A ranged infantry unit armed with a sling. It is effective against heavy infantry in groups. Available from age 2. |
| Coyote Runners | A fast moving infantry unit. It fills the role of melee cavalry. Available from age 2. |
| Jaguar Prowl Knight | A melee infantry unit, that is effective against heavy infantry units and cavalry units that has the stealth ability. Available from age 3. |
| Eagle Runner Knight | A fast moving infantry unit. It fills the role of ranged cavalry units. Available from age 3. |
| Arrow Knight | A long ranged foot archer unit with great siege damage and incredible range. Good against artillery too. Available from age 3. |
[edit] Minor Tribes
| Units | Annotations |
|---|---|
| Klamath Rifleman | This is a rifle armed counter-infantry unit trained from a Trading Post of the new Klamath tribe. |
| Zapotec Lightning Warrior | This is a new unit available to a player allied with the new Zapotec tribe. |
| Navajo Rifleman | This is a new unit available to a player allied with a Navajo minor tribe. It has the stealth ability. |
| Apache Rifleman | This is a cavalry unit available to a player who has allied with the new Apache tribe. |
| Cheyenne Rider | This is an Cheyenne cavalry unit belonging to the tribe replacing Lakota from the original game. |
| Mapuche Ironwood Clubman | This is a Mapuche hand infantry unit wielding a 9 foot pole. |
| Huron Mantlet | A new unit available from the Huron minor tribe, this is a short ranged siege unit with high health, like the Iroquois mantlet in the original game. |
[edit] European
| Unit | Annotations |
|---|---|
| Spy | This is a stealth unit that has the ability to see other stealth units. They are obtained from the church or Home City. Depending on the player's civilization, they may be upgraded to agents or assassins. Its extremely large line of sight and stealth make it excellent for scouting. In addition, by stationing it in strategic spot on the map in stealth mode, such as trading post slot or a place where your enemy usually sends its troops through when attacking, you can monitor enemy activities in the area or see an attack coming. It is deft at killing explorers and mercenaries. |
| Horse artillery | This is a new artillery unit available to all Europeans in age 4. The Horse artillery is similar to the field gun, but has the ability to travel faster. |
| Petard | This is a new unit available at the artillery foundry, which as well performs the same function as the petard from Age of Empires II. A petard is composed of two soldiers carring a keg of gunpowder. When it attacks a building, they lay down the keg and ignite the fuse. The two soldiers are blown away from the explosion, as well as a large portion of the building. However a more powerful version, the Nitro Petard is available to the Germans from their Home City. |
| Ironclad | This is a heavy warship with iron armour which makes them very strong and difficult to destroy. They are only available by sending a home city card after completing a revolution. |
| Gatling Gun | This is a unit only available via a revolutionary home city card. The Gatling Gun has the ability to fire rapid shots similar to the Portuguese Organ Gun, but can fire very rapidly in short bursts. |
| Militia | This is a unit available only after a revolution. Upon completion of your revolution, all your settlers become militia and more can be shipped from your revolutionary home city. |
| Swedish Fusilier | This is a new mercenary infantryperson armed with a firearm from Sweden. It is a more powerful variant of the standard Musketeer. The Fusilier is in the Holy Roman Mercenaries group. |
| Italian Elmeti | This is a new mercenary heavy cavalry unit from Italy. It is armed with a lance and is effective against infantry. It is a more powerful variant of Spain's lancer. The Elmenti is in the Meditterannean Mercenaries group. |
| Ninja | This is a new mercenary unit from Japan, which has the stealth ability. It is a variant of the spy and will be in the same mercenary band as the original Ronin. |
| Li'l Bombard | This is a new mercenary cannon available to European civilizations. It appears to be the Great Cannon from the original campaign. This artillery unit is available for training in the saloon for a heavy price, but has high attack damage and health. |
In addition to the new units, treasure guardians and two random mercenaries can now be trained by Europeans at their saloons.
[edit] Revolution
There will be a new option in which players can choose to become a Revolutionary nation instead of heading their civilization into the Imperial Age. However, when the player starts a military coup, all settlers will turn into militia men, and will prevent any resource gathering. Once the player's city is in a military state, they receive a "Revolutionary Deck", which consists of only 4 Gatling Guns, 2 Ironclads, 1 fort, and 16 Colonial Militiamen cards that may be sent an infinite number of times (however only two ironclads may be in play at a time and only two forts can be built at a time. Otherwise the ironclads cannot be sent and the fort wagon will be useless). The revolutionaries and their nations are:
| Nation | Revolutionary | Advantages | Available to |
| Mexico | Miguel Hidalgo | A group of outlaws rally to your cause. | Spain and Portugal |
| Venezuela | Simón Bolívar | All units gain slightly more hitpoints. | Russia and Germany |
| Argentina | José de San Martín | Grants 6 Imperial Hotwizers (mortar is upgraded). | Germany |
| United States of America | George Washington | Gatling Guns have more hitpoints. | British and Dutch |
| Brazil | José Bonifácio | Fierce Tupi warriors come to your aid. All natives are set to Legendary level. | Portugal and Dutch |
| Colombia | Francisco de Paula Santander | Grants 3 Ironclads. | Ottomans, France, and Russia |
| Haiti | Toussaint L'Ouverture | Colonial Militia have more hitpoints. | France and Britain |
| Chile | Bernardo O'Higgins | Grants 10 Imperial Hussars. (Hussars are upgraded) | Ottomans and Spain |
[edit] Patches
A patch which fixes many issues and exploits in the game was released and may be found on the Age Community site
[edit] Trial Version
The Warchiefs trial version can be downloaded from the official site of Age of Empires 3: The Warchiefs or www.agecommunity.com. It features two playable civilizations (Germans and Iroquois), one random map (California) as well as the two first scenarios in the single-player campaign.
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- Age Community
- GameReplays
- Age of Empires III Heaven
- Age of Empires Union
- IGN
- Age of Empires III: The War Chiefs screenshots gallery
| Age of Empires series | |
|---|---|
| Age of Empires | Age of Empires | Rise of Rome | Age of Empires II | The Conquerors | Age of Empires III | The War Chiefs |
| Age of Mythology | Age of Mythology | The Titans |
