Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots

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Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots

Developer(s)	Big Huge Games
Publisher(s)	Microsoft Game Studios
Designer(s)	Brian Reynolds
Release date(s)	April 28, 2004
Genre(s)	Real-time strategy
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Teen (T)
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Media	CD

Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots is the official expansion pack to the real-time strategy computer game Rise of Nations. It was released on April 28, 2004.

[edit] Features

In the expansion pack, many minor changes were introduced to complement the existing game structure, rather than radically alter it, as the original game format was highly successful. For example, by constructing a new building, the Senate, a player could research various government technologies that would allow various military or economic bonuses as the game progressed. Another It has been noted by many in the Rise of Nations community that the new additions are still unbalanced significantly, despite patching; more substantial balance oversights are being addressed by the Rise of Nations modding community.

Thrones and Patriots added six new nations to Rise of Nations: The 'New World' situation playable in the game was enhanced by the introduction of two 'European' nations - Americans (referring to the ex-colonial civilization) and the Dutch, and two North American American Indian nations, the Lakota and the Iroquois. Also added were two Asian nations, the Indians (referring to the country of India) and the Persians.

It also added four new "Conquer the World" campaigns: Alexander the Great, Napoleon I of France, the New World, and the Cold War. The three new Wonders added were the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Forbidden City, and the Red Fort.

The most radical gameplay change was probably the food gathering strategy forced upon the Lakota player; this nation is unable to build farms to generate food, nor granaries to speed up the harvest. Instead, the Lakota receive a constant food supply for each of their Citizens, Scouts, and Cavalry units.

[edit] Governments

Once the player builds the Senate building, he or she may choose a government "upgrade" of either a Despotism or a Republic, each giving the player a different permanent gameplay bonus; the player also receives a "Patriot" unit, effectively a stronger version of the "General" unit with different bonuses depending on which government was chosen.

After reaching the Gunpowder Age, the player may choose to upgrade to either a Monarchy or a Democracy, each with its own different permanent gameplay bonus; and then after reaching the Industrial Age, the player may upgrade again, to either Socialism or Capitalism. The previous gameplay bonuses remain, allowing players to select the most appropriate combination of benefits as the game evolves.

Government	Government bonus	Patriot	Patriot bonus
Despotism	Cheaper military units/research	Despot	Supply, line of sight, plunder
Republic	Increased commerce limit	Senator	Healing, bribing, building defense
Monarchy	Cheaper/faster-built cavalry	King	Supply, siege, mounted combat
Democracy	Cheaper non-library technologies	President	Production, building, healing
Socialism	Cheapter/Faster-built military units	Comrade	Supply, combat, assimilation
Capitalism	+100 oil production and +500 oil	CEO	Defense, range, healing