Microsoft Age of Empires III Manual

0805 Part No. X11-35580

1415Saving, Loading, & Quitting a GameSaving On the In-Game menu, click Save. In the Save File dialog box, type a name in the Filename box, and

1617Improving Game PerformanceHere are some suggestions for improving the quality and performance of Age of Empire III.Install the Latest Device Driv

18Install the Latest Version of DirectXInstalling the latest version of DirectX® can prevent performance problems with Age of Empires III and may also

2021Choosing a CivilizationYou can choose from eight different civilizations (shown below in order of easiest to hardest to play): Spanish British

2223The Home CityAdding a persistent Home City is a significant difference in gameplay between Age of Empires III and other games in the Age of Empires

2425Command tabCommand panelDisplays available:• Units• Buildings• Commands• ImprovementsIn-Game menuStats tabColony ScreenHome City iconMini MapDis

2627Resource PanelShows current stockpiled resources, number of villagers, and population limit. This helps you ensure that you’re not too low in one

2829Navigating the Home City ScreenTo view the Home City screen, click the Home City icon on the Main menu.Home City Mini MapProvides a high-level vi

3031Ways to Play Age of Empires IIIAge of Empires III gives you several different ways to play: Single-Player Campaign Single-Player Skirmish Mul

Safety WarningAbout Photosensitive SeizuresA very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when exposed to certain visual images, including

3233Exploring the New WorldThe first thing you should do is search for sources of Food, Wood, and Coin. You can explore the map by moving your Settlers

3435Balancing Strengths and WeaknessesOne key to success in Age of Empires III is learning the different strengths and weaknesses for each civilizatio

3637To quit a game and view the postgame screens 1. Click Resign on the In-Game menu, and then click Yes. 2. Click the View Postgame button in th

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4041What Is a Home City?Every civilization has its own Home City, which acts as a unique symbol for that civilization—it looks different from other Ho

4243Managing Your Home CityUse the Home City Options menu to create, upgrade, and customize your Home City and Card Deck. You can create and use many

4445Using the Deck BuilderThe Build a Deck window shows the improvements and resources that you can use in creating Decks for your civilization. From

4647Working with Your Home CityThe Shipment panel, located in the lower-right of the Home City screen, displays the resources and units available to

4849Shipping Military UnitsYou can choose from a large number of military units, including ships, cavalry, infantry, and even foreign mercenaries. The

3Table of ContentsGetting StartedWhat’s New? 9Installing the Game 9Starting a New Game 10Getting Help 11Learning to Play 12Setting Options &

50Multiplayer and Your Home CityAs your Home City level advances, it becomes a resource that you can use in multiplayer games. The improvements, units

5253Morgan BlackMorgan Black is a Scotsman and a mid-level commander in the Knights of St. John. The son of a village smith, he was driven at an early

5455John BlackJohn Black, grandson of Morgan, is a fierce frontiersman and mercenary with a reputation as a cold-blooded fighter. Renowned for his chill

5657Amelia BlackAmelia Black, granddaughter of John, is the last living member of the Black family. A successful industrialist and owner of the Falcon

5859Starting & Saving Campaign ScenariosTo start the single-player Campaign 1. On the Main menu, click Single Player and then click Campaign. 2

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6263ESOTo play using ESO, you must first create an ESO account by completing the ESO registration. Next, type your nickname and associated password at

6465The Home City & MultiplayerCentral to the multiplayer experience in Age of Empires III is the new Home City, which puts a player’s economic an

45Single-Player CampaignMorgan Black 53Elisabet Ramsey 54John Black 55Kanyenke 56Amelia Black 57Pierre Beaumont 58Starting & Saving Campaign

66A player with a higher-level Home City does have some advantages over players with lower-level Home Cities. Mainly, Home Cities with a high level of

6869Using Your ExplorerAn Explorer is a unique unit with specialized capabilities:Sharpshooter Your Explorer can pick off Treasure guardians with a s

7071A Covered Wagon will travel to your site, build your Town Center, unload your villagers and resources, and then disappear. The villagers will imme

7273To gather unguarded Treasure Click your Explorer, and then right-click the Treasure.Your Explorer gathers the Treasure and adds it to your stoc

7475Keeping Your Villagers BusyVillagers add to your experience points and enhance your economy only when they’re working—gathering Food, chopping Woo

7677To construct a building 1. Select a unit to construct the building you want. (For example, select a villager if you want to build a House.) 2

7879Upgrading Your Civilization’s UnitsYou can use upgrades to gather Food faster, add hitpoints, increase the rate of trade, and so forth. Each upgr

8081Forming Alliances with Native AmericansYou form alliances with Native Americans by building Trading Posts, which helps you earn experience points

82Creating Native American Warriors for BattleTrading Posts built next to a Native American settlement are able to train Native American warriors fo

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8485Creating Military UnitsThere are three basic types of military units in Age of Empires III: Infantry Cavalry ArtilleryAlthough some military u

8687To set a Gather Point 1. Click the building you want to create units for. 2. On the lower-right of the screen, click the appropriate Set Gath

8889Grouping Military UnitsGrouping units lets you command several military units at the same time.To select multiple units Drag your pointer around

9091Transporting Units Across WaterWhen you need to cross deep bodies of water, you can transport your units by loading them onto a ship, such as a C

9293Building Your MilitaryWhen choosing the specific units that define your military, it’s important to understand and weigh several factors: Your civi

9495Ordering an AttackAfter building up your forces and deciding on a strategy, it’s time to make a move. Your opponent stands before you. Charge!Your

96TurtlingTurtling is a strategy that involves immediately taking strong defensive measures. From the start, you begin walling off your Town Centers a

9899While most of the civilizations share several key units—such as the Musketeer and the Hussar—each civilization comes with its own unique units as

100101BritishCivilization BonusExtra Manor Houses that spawn villagersUnique UnitsLongbowman, RocketRoyal Guard UnitsMusketeer, HussarHome City RulerQ

102103PortugueseCivilization BonusExtra Covered Wagon whenever you advance an AgeUnique UnitsCassador, Organ GunRoyal Guard UnitsMusketeer, DragoonHom

104105RussianCivilization BonusVillagers and infantry are trained in groups, low-cost militaryUnique UnitsStrelet, Cossack, OprichnikRoyal Guard Units

106107OttomanCivilization BonusTown Centers that spawn villagers at no costUnique UnitsAbus Gun, Janissary, Spahi, Galley, Great BombardRoyal Guard Un

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110111BuildingsBuildings form an essential part of your colony and civilization. You’ll use your buildings to manage resources, create and upgrade you

112113ArsenalProvides military improvements that can change the speed, range, hitpoints, and damage of infantry, cavalry, and artillery.BarracksTrains

114115ExplorersEvery colony in Age of Empires III gets established through the support and leadership of its Explorer.As the leader of your New World

116117JanissaryA highly trained, though slow marching, infantry unit that fulfills the role of the Musketeer from other civilizations. Janissaries are

89What ’s New?Age of Empires III includes several new gameplay features, such as:The Home City Specific to each civilization, your Home City gives you

118119CavalryPlacing a warrior on a horse was the early equivalent of today’s tank. Fast and mobile, cavalry units revolutionized warfare by providing

120121ArtilleryThe addition of artillery enabled units to pack a lot more punch at longer distances than previously possible with earlier ranged weap

122123Civilian UnitsAlong with your military units, you’ll have a variety of other units that offer services such as gathering resources, creating bu

124125ShipsUse ships to fish, transport units, and engage in combat. You build and upgrade ships at the Dock.Fishing BoatA boat used for gathering fish

126127Comanche Horse ArcherA Native cavalry unit armed with an accurate bow, good speed, and a good ranged attack. They are particularly effective aga

128129MercenariesMercenaries are elite troops who can be sent from the Home City in exchange for Coin. Hiring mercenaries costs more than purchasing o

130MamelukeA bold cavalry mercenary who controlled Egypt from the 1200s to 1800s. ManchuA fierce mounted archer from China. The Manchurians formed the

132133USER EXPERIENCEAlan Theurer - User Experience ManagerBrent Metcalfe - EditorJack Turk - WriterJon Seal - EditorHeidi Wartelle - Editor Laura Ha

134Technical SupportIn the U.S., visit http://support.microsoft.com/games.In Canada, visit http://www.microsoft.ca/support.Outside the U.S. and Canada

1011Multiplayer Start a multiplayer game with your friends using Ensemble Studios® Online (ESO) or a local area network (LAN).Help and Tools Downloa

GAME PRECISION SERIESDiscover Game PrecisionTHIN, FLEXIBLE CABLEThe responsiveness of wired, the feel of wireless.SCROLL WHEEL WITH DETENTSFor enhance

1213Setting Options & Using HotkeysYou can configure Age of Empires III in many different ways. By using the Options screen you can fine-tune suc