Age of Empires III - Gameplay - Nations

Nations

Age of Empires III allows the player to play as eight different civilizations: Spanish, British, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, German and Ottoman. Each of the eight civilizations has its own strengths and weaknesses and unique units available only to that civilization. Specific units for each civilization are designated Royal Guard units, receiving greater bonuses on the Guard upgrade in the Industrial Age, but at an increased price. The player can change the name of their Home City, the Explorer name, and is given a pre-named leader from part of the period (for example, Napoleon Bonaparte for the French Colonial Empire, Suleiman the Magnificent for Ottoman Empire, and Ivan the Terrible for the Russian Empire). Each civilization has unique shipments to aid its economy and military (for example, the Ottomans are able to order a shipment of gold for both them and their teammates).

There are other civilizations playable via the campaign, which include The Knights of St. John, John Black's Mercenaries, and the United States of America, which are played as the Spanish, German and British civilizations, respectively, with slight modifications. Non-playable campaign civilizations include the Pirates, Circle of Ossus and Native Americans, although these civilizations are playable using the Scenario Editor.

Twelve different tribes of Native Americans are in the game as well, but these are not in themselves playable factions. However, players can gain access to unique units and improvements by forming an alliance with the tribes by building a trading post at their camps. The native tribes featured are the Aztec, Carib, Cherokee, Comanche, Cree, Inca, Iroquois, Lakota, Mapuche, Maya, Nootka, Seminole and Tupi. Three of these tribes were made playable in the expansion pack Age of Empires III: The War Chiefs: the Iroquois, Lakota (under the name Sioux) and Aztecs. These civilizations were removed as the smaller, alliance based tribes and were replaced by the Huron, Cheyenne and Zapotec, respectively. In The Asian Dynasties another three civilizations were added, along with several new native tribes. The civilizations are the Indians, the Japanese, and the Chinese.

• Spanish — (Spain or Castille, Queen Isabella I) The Spanish have hand infantry and cavalry available, and fast Home City shipments. The Spanish explorer can train War Dogs since the Discovery Age, when soldiers are not trainable. Their unique units are the Rodelero, Lancer and Missionary. Their best units are the Espada Rodelero, Garrochista Lancer, and Tercio Pikeman. The Spanish is the only Civilization that can upgrade the pikeman beyond Veteran status.

• British — (United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth I) The British build Manors instead of the usual houses. Manors are 50% more expensive than normal houses, but spawn one free settler each upon construction. Their unique units are the Longbowman, which boasts the longest range in the game, and the Rocket, also with a formidable range. Their best units are the Redcoat Musketeer and King's Life Guard Hussar. The British focus more on economy but once it has built up sufficient resources it can train units at a constant rate.

• French — (France, Napoleon) The French train Coureurs des bois, stronger villagers (better in economic and military duties than a settler but more expensive) which may eventually double as infantry. This civilization can have many shipments related to Natives, and so it is the strongest at forging native alliances. The French train the strongest cavalry unit of the game, the Cuirassier (at the cost of 3 population space). Their unique units are the Cuirassier and the Coureur des Bois. Their best units are the Gendarme Cuirassier and Voltigeur Skirmisher. (It is also interesting that while the flag of the French civilization represents the French monarchy, the House of Bourbon, their commander, Napoleon, was not emperor of France until 1804, 11 years after the end of Bourbon rule in France. The flag ingame is a plain blue flag with 5 golden fleur-de-lis in a diagonal cross shape.)

• Portuguese — (Portugal, Henry the Navigator) The Portuguese receive a free covered wagon on each age advancement, which can build a town center. This civilization has extra exploring facilities, such as the option of shipping additional explorers and the "spyglass" ability which can reveal unexplored territory. They have a balanced military, which is supplemented by a strong navy. Their unique units are the Cassador (a light infantry type unit, stronger than the skirmisher in attack, but weaker in defence) and the Organ Gun. Their best units are the Jinete Dragoon and Guerreiro Musketeer.

• Dutch — (Netherlands, Maurice of Nassau) The Dutch settlers cost coin instead of food, making them dependent on this resource from the very start of the game; this is countered with the revenue produced by Banks, coin-generating buildings unique to the Dutch. Their unique units are the Envoy, Ruyter and Fluyt. Their best units are the Carabineer Ruyter and Nassau Halberdier.

• Russians — (Russia, Ivan the Terrible) The Russians train numerous units in groups, which speeds up production early in the game. They have the fastest villager production in game, with a villager being produced in approx. 18 seconds. This is supplemented by the low cost of their military, and for the most basic units, an almost instant build time. Their unique units are the Strelet, Cossack, and Oprichnik. Their best units are the Tartar Cavalry Archer and the Pavlov Grenadier. Late game units can rapidly create fortifications.

• Germans — (Prussia, Frederick the Great) The Germans represent all of the Central European kingdoms of the time and start out with settler wagons instead of the normal European settlers. The German Home City only ships settler wagons which are equivalent to two regular settlers. Uhlan cavalry are given as a bonus along with most shipments. Also, the Germans can ship mercenaries sooner than any other civilization. Their unique units are the Doppelsoldner, Uhlan, War Wagon and Settler Wagon. Their best units are the Prussian Needle Gunner(skirmisher),and the Czapka Uhlan.

• Ottomans — (Ottoman Empire, Suleiman the Magnificent) The Ottoman settlers are continually produced at no cost but they have limited settler production. The Settler production rate can be produced faster with improvements from the Mosque (building equivalent to the church) The Ottoman military makes heavy use of artillery units, many of them unique, such as the Great Bombard, the most powerful artillery unit in the game. The Ottomans lack light infantry: the only infantry they can train is the Janissary, a more powerful type of musketeer, with better hitpoints. Their unique units are the Janissary, Abus Gun, Spahi, Great Bombard, Galley and Imam, and their best units are the Gardener Hussar and Baratcu Grenadier.