AA MMMMM MMMM AAAA OOOOOOO MMMMMM MMMMM AAA AAA OOOO OOOO MMMMMMM MMMMMM AAA AAA OOO OOO MMMM MMM MMMMMM AAA AAA OOO OOO MMM MMM MMM MMMM AAAAAAAAAAA OOO OOO MMM MMMMMM MMMM AAAA AAAA OOO OOO MMM MMMM MMMM AAAA AAAA OOOO OOOO MMM MMM MMMM AAAA AAAA OOOOOOOOO MMM M MMMM ===================== AGE OF MYTHOLOGY FAQ ===================== ============================================================================= | Age of Mythology FAQ Version final | | Last Modified : April 2, 2003 | | Created On : January 5, 2003 | | author : James Macarthur james.macarthur2@sympatico.ca| ============================================================================= ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++ News of the expansion has been made!!! It is to be called ++ ++ Remeber The Titans. It will deal with a mytological civ ++ ++ in itself by presenting the player with the Atlanteans. ++ ++ 12 new God Powers, new units and myth units as well as a ++ ++ new building set and new tiles. Should be available Fall ++ ++ 2003! Bring it on ES!!! ++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ======== CONTENTS ======== 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Revision History 1.2 About Me 2.0 Game Overview 2.1 Game requirements 3.0 Civilization Overview 3.1 Greeks 3.2 Egyptian 3.3 Norse 4.0 Gods 4.1 Greek Gods 4.2 Egyptian Gods 4.3 Norse Gods 5.0 Buildings 5.1 Greek Builings 5.2 Egyptian Buildings 5.3 Norse Buildings 6.0 Units (including unit stats) 6.1 Greek Units 6.2 Egyptian Units 6.3 Norse Units 6.4 Unit Counters 7.0 Gameplay Tips 8.0 Resources 8.1 Food 8.2 Wood 8.3 Gold 8.4 Favor 8.5 Population 9.0 Map Types and Game Styles 10.0 Technology 10.1 Common Technology 10.2 Greek Unique Technolgies 10.3 Egyptian Unique Technology 10.4 Norse Unique Technology 11.0 Relics 12.0 Frequently Asked Questions 13.0 Default Hot Keys 14.0 Web Links and Cheats 14.1 Official Sites 14.2 Community Sites 14.3 Fan Sites 14.4 Mythology Websites 14.5 Suggested Downloads 14.6 Cheats 14.7 Abbreviations 15.0 Credits 16.0 Legal ================ 1.0 INTRODUCTION ================ I compiled this reference for myself as a guide, then thought, "Why not share this with others"? So here it is. Most of the information in this FAQ I gleaned from many places including the game, the FAQ that Jonathan Galloway wrote in his FAQ as well as newsgroups, forums and ESO chats. I am always looking for new information and tactics/ hints as I write this, so if you see anything that needs feedback (wrong information, right information, something I missed, etc., contact me at the e-mail above. The whole idea of this guide is to give players an all in one place to find information that may be handy to them as they crush their enemies, or are in turn destroyed. So without further ado, the guide. (well OK, a little more ado.) -------------------- 1.1 Revision History -------------------- 08-January, 2003 - started typing the reams of info into this baby! 14-January, 2003 - completed enough to make it worth uploading. 18-January, 2003 - Added Hotkeys, added some new relics, started section on resources and added to FAQs. 28-January, 2003 - Started adding Unit stats, question about AI, some minor god info. 1- February, 2003 - More unit stats added. 7 - February, 2003 - Added unit gather rates. Uploaded v1.2. 1 - April, 2003 - Happy April's Fool Day! Decided I hadn't done enough lately, and got some more stuff added. 18 - April, 2003 - Finished off the last few tables I wanted. Marked FAQ as final, although if I get new information that needs to be added, I will. I have gone through the tables and adjusted the stats for the patches and play balance fixes that ES has made. Hopefully I got them all. If you can add any information or supply charts or tables to help out, e-mail me and I will add it, giving full credit to you. ------------ 1.2 About Me ------------ I have been playing computer games since the dawn of time. Well Ok, I got my first 'computer' in 1981, an Atari VCS, later the 2600 at the ripe old age of 11. Since then I have played games on a C-64, TRS-80, Amiga and PCs. I love RTS games and first person shooters. I also play RPGs when I have the time. I have designed 1 mission for 1 game, The Unholy for Freespace2. I play games an average of 2 to 3 hours a day (I know, no life.) and am always looking for the next great game. I occasionally play online, but at the time of this writing, I have only played 1 rated game of AoM, which I won using Loki. My wife plays games with me (she started with The Sims 2 years ago) and progressed to 'real' games last year with The Conquerors. She also lets my 7 year old daughter play AoM with me. Now if my 2 month old son could only sit at the other computer and use the mouse! (update: I created a mod for Morrowind called Daywalker. It's based on the movie Blade (II) and I may or may not upload it!) ================= 2.0 Game Overview ================= Age of Mythology (AoM) is the latest game designed at Ensemble Studios, the creaters of Age Of Empires and Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings, as well as the expansion packs for these amazing games. AoM is published through Microsoft Game Studios. There are 2 versions of the game. The standard edition contains 2 CDs, a small manual and a fold out tech tree detailing the civilizations and their god choices and technology trees. The collecters edition is a limited edition (each numbered) that has all of the stuff from the standard, and throws in A DVD, a CD with the music from the game, a copy of Bulfinch's Mythology, a poster and a figurine. Since I was dumb and only bought the standard edition, I may have made some mistakes with the collectors edition. AoM brings some new game play to the RTS (Real-time Strategy) gaming table. It supports a full economic model, unique civilizations, technology to research and standard units. However, it also adds twists like god powers (think a one time magic spell), and mythology (duhh!) in the way of powerful units like the troll, the Anubite, and Medusa. Although the game can be played and won without ever creating a mythological unit, they certainly add a new dynamic to the battles that are fought. Other cool inovations introduced in AoM includesettlements (you can only build a new town center (TC) on a free settlement) and ESO, an online game matching service. With ESO you can connect to other players with a similair rating (skill level) and play out the battles of myth! Also included is a hero system through which some truely powerful humans are brought forth. An interesting new twist on food gathering in AoM is the concept of fattening, whereby the longer a herdable animal lives, the more food it will provide when it is finally killed. AoM also contains a great single player experience in the campaign. There are 32 missions in the main campaign and 3 or 4 training missions. In the story of the main campaign, the player puts on the sandels of Arkantos, an Atlantean hero whom uncovers a terrible plot to restore an ancient evil to the world. Ok so it is a bit cliched, but still a good story with lots of plot twists. It does a good job of introducing the player to each of the god choices and powers as well as the three civilizations. --------------------- 2.1 Game Requirements --------------------- Age of Mythology requires at least the following to play: 450 mhz Processor Mouse or pointing device 56K modem (for online play only) Windows (98, Me, 2000, XP) 128 Meg Memory CD-ROM (double speed or better) 16MB 3D video card, 800x600 resolution 1.5Gigbyte Hard Drive Space Highly Recommended 1Gigahertz or better CPU 256 Meg RAM or better 32-64MB 3D video card (or better) To play online, an internet connection is required. A 56K modem should be good for 1v1 games, while broadband is recommended for larger or team games. AoM also plays on a LAN using TCP/IP (or direct connection). ========================= 3.0 Civilization Overview ========================= There are 3 distinct civilizations in AoM to choose from, with each offering the player the choice of 3 major gods to choose from at the start of a game. There are 4 ages in a standard game (less if you win or lose early!) consisting of the Archaic age, the Classical age, the Heroic Age and finally the Mythic Age. Each time the player begins research for the next age, they will be offered a choice of two minor gods to worship and gain benefits from. Choose carefully though as once the research is completed, you will not be able to rescind the choice made. This means that for a full game, the player will end up with the major god choosen at the start, as well as three minor gods, each more powerful than the last. The civilizations which can be choosen are the Greeks, the Egyptians and my personal favorite, the Norse. Each gains favor (a resource needed to build all mythological units and research) in a different way. Each also plays differently. ========== 3.1 Greeks ========== The Greeks are possibly the easiest civilization to play in AoM because they play almost exactly like any civilization from earlier Age of games. Greeks gain favor by worshipping at the temple they build in the Archaic age. It is important to note that favor is gained by the Greeks in a diminshing returns system. Greek heroes are all named units from stories everyone knows. They are very powerful units and as a result are capped at a limit of 4 heroes. They are researched at the toen center and each major god grants unique heroes at each age advance. The only exception to this rule is Poseidon, who grants an extra hero who is researched at the dock. This unique hero is The Argo and is a naval only unit. All other Greek heroes are land only. Greeks start each game with a scout unit called a Kataskopos. He can not be replaced if killed, although he is fairly swift so should be able to scout large amounts of the map before he is killed. Once a temple is built, the Greek player can also build Pegasus as much as they like. Pegasus is an aerial unit and as such can only be killed by ranged units or buildings. Each Greek major god also grants a unique unit in the Mythic age, built at the fortress. The following chart shows a suggested god path to follow to gain the maximum benefit for each 'Focus' in your game. FOCUS Archaic Age Classical Age Heroic Age Mythic Age ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economy Poseidon Hermes Aphrodite Hephaestus Infatry Zeus Athena Dionysus Hephaestus Archers Hades Ares Apollo Artemis Cavalry Poseidon Hermes Dionysus Hephaestus Mythological Units Zeus Athena Apollo/Dionysus Hera Naval Units Poseidon Hermes Dionysus Artemis Defense Hades Athena Apollo Hephaestus ============= 3.2 Egyptians ============= Egyptians are slightly more difficult to play, mainly because one of their best units (the Pharaoh) is a unit unlike any unit in any other game. He is given the ability to 'empower' buildings. This simply means he is able to speed up whatever is occuring at that building. If it is researching, it happens faster. Units are built faster and all gathering done at that particulair drop site is enhanced. With one exception, only the Pharoah can empower. The Pharoah is an Egyptian hero who is also very effective in combat. Egyptians can also build further hero units (the preist) at their temples. Preists can not empower buildings (with the exception of those who worship Ra), but can be very effective in combat versus myth units. Preists also heal nearby allied troops and a considered a ranged unit for purposes of combat. Egyptian favor is gained through a series of five monuments, built by the laborers. Monuments start small, but gain considerable size and power as they are built. By the time the fifth monument is built, favor is generally rolling in quite quickly. Egyptian players are granted automatic tower upgrades when they reach the Classical age, making them a good choice for a defensive player. Egyptians are also not as reliant upon wood as the Greeks and Norse. Egyptian buildings are quite often free, taking only time to build. Egyptians are the slowest builders in the game, but can be sped up with the use of the Pharoah unit. The following chart shows a suggested god path to follow to gain the maximum benefit for each 'Focus' in your game. FOCUS Archaic Age Classical Age Heroic Age Mythic Age ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economy Ra Bast Hathor Osiris Infantry Ra, Set Ptah **** Horus Archers Set Ptah Sekhmet Thoth Migdol Stronghold Units Ra, Set Anubis, Ptah Sekhmet Osiris, Thoth Defense Isis Bast Hathor Osiris Pharaoh & Preist Isis, Set Anubis Nephthys Osiris, Thoth Mythological Units Ra, Isis Bast **** Osiris Naval Units Ra, Isis Bast Nephthys, Sekhmet Osiris, Thoth **** - since no specific bonuses are given, choose whichever god suits you best. ========= 3.3 Norse ========= The Norse are the vikings of old. They are perhaps the most difficult to get used to because of the way they build and gain favor. Whereas the Greeks and Egyptians use their laborers to build all their buildings, the Norse use their infantry. This makes it very easy to forward build or rip down an enemy Town Center and replace it with your own very quickly. Norse soldiers revel in combat, and this is reflected in the way the Norse gain favor. For each violent act, favor somes in. Even hunting and herding animals gains a small amount of favor. The Norse hero unit is the Hersir, who also creates a small amount of favor just for existing. Each Hersir is given a name when created, by using a random name generator. There exists a great sense of humor in many of the Hersir names. Norse players can also create dwarves at their town centers. Dwarves are excellent at mining gold, but not so good at food or wood. Norse are somewhat handicapped in that they do not possess ranged units capable of pierce damage. Their is only one exception to this, the ballista, built in the mythic age at the Hill Fort. The following chart shows a suggested god path to follow to gain the maximum benefit for each 'Focus' in your game. FOCUS Archaic Age Classical Age Heroic Age Mythic Age ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economy Thor Forseti, Freyja Skadi Tyr Ulfsarks Thor Forseti Bragi Tyr Throwing Axemen Thor Forseti, Freyja Skadi Baldr, Tyr Cavalry Odin Freyja Njord Baldr Hersir, myth units Loki Forseti Bragi Hel Naval Units Odin Heimdall Njord Baldr, Tyr Defense Odin Heimdall Njord, Skadi Baldr, Tyr ======== 4.0 Gods ======== ============== 4.1 Greek Gods ============== ========== Major Gods ========== ---- Zeus ---- Zeus was born to Kronos and Rhea, both titans. Because his father was told he would be overthrown by a child of his, he swallowed each of his children at birth. Eventually Rhea grew tired of this, and substittued a large stone in place of Zeus. When he grew, he came to rescue his siblings, and overthrow his father. The titans were then banished to Tartarus. Zeus was given the reign of the immortals at Olympus and took the mantel of thunder among others. He is often pictured holding a Bolt of Lightning, forged by his son Hepasteus. He is married to Hera. CIVILIZATION BONUSES: The Zeus player starts with favor (25), gains favor faster than other Greek cultures, and has a favor cap of 200, instead of the 100 imposed on every other major god. Hoplites move faster. Hoplites (infantry) move faster (approx. 10%) than other infantry. Infantry cause extra damage to buildings. Double damage to buildings hit by infantry weapons. The Myrmidon is a unique unit to Zeus built in the mythic age fortress. The Myrmidon is an infantry unit with bonus damage versus Egyptian and Norse units. GOD POWER: Bolt. Bolt is capable of killing any one unit that the player has line of sight on. UNIQUE TECNOLOGY: Olympic Parentage. Zeus supplies your hero units with extra hit points MINOR GOD CHOICES: Classical Age Athena, Hermes Heroic Age Apollo, Dionysus Mythic Age Hephaestus, Hera TIPS FOR PLAYING: The best use of the Bolt power is to hold off and see if a Norse Loki player goes Hel in the Mythic or a Ra player worships Osiris. Each of these two gods grant a GP that creates a very powerful unit hard to kill by other means. Bolt will do the job easily. Another decent use of this power is to kill an enemy hero unit in a large battle to turn the tide quickly, or to destroy an enemy scout early, so they are crippled in knowledge. Because Zeus gains favor faster, the player can save population slots by not creating as many worshippers. This can then be used for extra gatherers or troops. Hoplites move faster and since they are infantry, they counter cavalary. They are excellent at getting into formations of enemy cav units and tearing them apart. They are also good at raiding economic drop sites due to their extra speed and bonus damage to buildings. Zeus' infantry cause doble damage to all buildings, which makes them excellent at seige without the need for large amounts of siege weaponry. Because of the damage bonus from infantry, and the fact that the Myrmydon does bonus damage to Norse and Egyptian units, they make an excellent army with little support needed. -------- Poseidon -------- Poseidon is one of Zeus' older brothers, swallowed at birth by Kronos. Being immortal, he was undigested. Poseidon is usually closely associated with the sea, but he was also the Lord of Horses. He and Athene were competing for the favor of the city of Athens. Poseidon gave the city the horse as his attempt, but lost to Athene who gave the olive tree. CIVILIZATION BONUSES: When a dock is built, a free Hippocampus is spawned. If killed, it respawns at the dock. The hippocampus is a free naval scout unit with no attack. Militia appear at destroyed buildings. The militia do not count against your population, nor do they cost you anything (except the destroyed building!). They are relatively weak, but can help if the enemy forces were weakened during their assault. The larger a building destroyed, the more militia that appear. The market is cheaper to use. All transactions are 10% less then other civs. I am not sure if this also applies to buying caravans or researching the market techs. Cavalry is cheaper. All cavalry units are 10% cheaper. Stables are cheaper. Stables cost 50% less than other Greek stables. Poseidon allows an extra hero unit in the Argo. This allows him to field five hero units at a time. The Argo is built at the dock. Gastraphetes, a powerful archer unit, unique to Hades. GOD POWER: Lure. Lure causes animals to slowly come towards the stone that is the symbol of the power. It lures a set amount of food before fading away. There is a small problem though, in that not only does it lure herdables and huntables, it also lures predators that will attack and eat your gatherers. UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY: Lord of Horses. Your cavalry units will gain a much larger line of sight, making them ideal for scouting or raiding the enemies economic bases. MINOR GOD PATHS: Classical Age Ares, Hermes Heroic Age Aphrodite, Dionysus Mythic Age Artemis, Hephaestus TIPS FOR PLAYING: Because of the bonuses gained by worshipping Poseidon, his cavalry are very strong and make a good back bone to your army. It is best to follow the god path through Hermes and Dionysus to get all the benefits. The cheaper market use allows you to build more donkey caravans for the same money as another player. This can allow you to gain more gold quicker in the late game when gold mines can become scarce or dangerous. The hippocampus allows youto keep an eye on your enemies fishing operations for a quick raid, as well as allow you to see what naval forces are being built. Since Lure can bring dangerous animals to your gatherers, cast it close to your first TC so that it can fire arrows at wolves and the like. Cast it early as well so that the animals aren't cleared from the map before you can benefit from its power. ----- Hades ----- Hades is brother to Zeus and Poseidon. He was the God of the Dead and ruler of the Underworld. Since all precious minerals and metals came from the realm of Hades, he is also considered lord of Wealth. This is reflected in his Vault of Erebus improvement. Shades were the denezins of the Underworld and as such Hades commands them in battle. Hades gains excellent archers. CIVILIZATION BONUSES: Shades. 20% of all unit loses (only human units!) will return to fight again as Shades. They appear at your temple and are not as strong as during life, but they are free. They don't count against your population. Stronger buildings. Hades buildings have more hit points (25% higher) and are therefore harder to destroy. Stronger archer and building attack. Buildings gain about 20% extra pierce attack and archers gain about 10%. GOD POWER: Sentinel. Invoking Sentinel creates up to 4 (depends on building placement) 'living' statues that defend one toen center. It can be cast on an allies TC as well. Any improvement that makes a building stronger affects Sentinels. UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY: Vault of Erebus. Researching the Vault of Erebus gives the benefit of a trickle of gold constantly. It's not a huge amount at a time (about .3 gold per second or 1 gold every 3 seconds), but it is free gold once it is researched. MINOR GOD PATHS: Classical Age Ares, Athena Heroic Age Aphrodite, Apollo Mythic Age Artemis, Hephaestus TIPS FOR PLAYING: Once engaged in battle, periodically check your temple for any Shades that can be sent back into battle. Hades is best played as a defensive civilization due to his many building improvements. Go into battle only when you have created a large army capable of defeating the enemy easily. Because Hades gains so many archer bonuses, consider using them as the backbone to your army. Follow Ares and Apollo to gain more benefits. Keep the Sentinel GP until you or your ally start expanding. Drop it on a TC you consider important to your war effort. If you try to place it, and you are shown one or more red statues, consider deleting the building(s) that are in the way, then casting the GP. That way, all 4 will appear. Remember to upgrade them by researching any improvements to buildings (sight line, attack, etc.). Although the Vault of Erebus won't make you rich, it will give you access to slightly more gold than a player with the same amount of gold miners and improvements. This will allow you to build more Toxotes and other archer units. ========== Minor Gods ========== ------------- Classical Age ------------- Ares ---- Greek God of battle and slaughter. He benefits human soldiers attacks. God Power: Pestilence. When cast on an enemy town, prevents the enemy from creating new military units. Any building under a greenish 'fog' or cloud is affected. It may or may not stop an enemy from building ANY units, depending on where the troop buildings have been located. Myth Unit: Cyclops. Giants with 1 central eye. Recharging special attack flings enemy units away. This gives you more time to deal with them and causes large amounts of damage. They are slow moving and should be supported with human soldiers to deal with enemy heroes. Unique Tech: WILL OF KRONOS. Cyclops are upgraded to Elder Cyclops which train faster and cause more damage. PHOBOS' SPEAR OF PANIC. Attack damage of Hoplites improved. DEIMOS' SWORD OF DREAD. Hypaspists gain improve attack damage. Since you can't train Hypaspists until the Heroic age, save your resources and do not research this until you have built some of these units. ENYO'S BOW OF HORROR. Toxotes gain increased attack damage. Athena ------ Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare. Infantry defence benefits from her improvements. God Power. Restoration. A short lasting (4-5 seconds) power that heals your units and buildings. It also can affect allies in it's area. Monitor your units or buildings carefully so that you can cast this when needed most. It is best used when you need to boost your army to puch the enemy out of your town (you are winning the battle) and enter their base or to extend the life of your units in the enemy town to finish off things like TCs and fortress type buildings. Myth Unit: Minotaur. This half man, half bull creature gets a recharging gore attack that will instantly kill human units. Unique Tech: LABYRINTH OF MINOS. Upgrades Minotaurs to Bull Minotaurs which are cheaper and are stronger (more hit points). SARISSA. Hoplite hack armor increased making them more resistant to infantry and cavalry. AEGIS SHIELD. All infantry pierce armor increased, improving resistance to archers. Hermes ------ The God of Messengers whom improves your cavalry. God Power. Ceasefire. All combat all across the map stops for the length of the power. Doves circle all the TCs on the map to show the peace that has erupted. It can gain the player time to reinforce their army or stop an enemy from finishing off a building, giving you time to repair it. A side effect of this power is that any building that can attack aside from a TC stops at it's current building level until the power is over. It is humorous to watch Norse infantry pounding the nails into a Hill Fort in your town to no effect! Myth Unit: Centaur. A Horses body supporting a human torso. A very strong archer unit whos special attack is a super accurate shot that always hits its target. This unit is quick and makes a great raider for hit and run tactics on enemy gathering points. Unique Tech: SYLVAN LORE. Centaurs become Centaur Polemarchs, with improved speed and hit points. An awesome raiding unit. SPIRITED CHARGE. Speed and attack damage of Greek Cavalry improved. WINGED MESSENGER. Food cost of Pegasus unit reduced to 0 (costing only 2 favor now)! Additionally, they train faster and have a longer line of sight. ---------- Heroic Age ---------- Apollo ------ The God of the Sun and Music. Archers benefit from Apollos improvements. God Power: Underworld Passage. Two lines of sight must exist. One where you would like the entrance (your base) and the other at the exit (generally the enemies base, best if just outside of it). This allows you to move all you troops into the one end, and they appear at the other end. This can create a very quick end to the game. To end this GP, one end or the other must be destroyed. Myth Unit: Manticore. The body of a lion, human face and scorpions tail create a fearsome foe. Manticore shoot multiple poisonous barbs from its tail. Very effective versus human units and gets a bonus versus myth units. Unique Tech: ORACLE. All units and buildings gain a larger line of sight. Your scouts become much better and your units and buildings will see the enemy sooner so you can change their battle lines of prep them for battle. TEMPLE OF HEALING. The Greek temple becomes a healing point that can also heal your allied units. Stationary units heal faster than moving units or those involved in combat. The temple can only heal one unit at a time unlike the Norse Healing Spring. SUN RAY. Improves the attack damage of a large number of units. Toxotes, Peltasts, Gastrophetes, Manticores and Cantaurs all gain from this technology. Aphrodite --------- Goddess of Love & Beauty. Her improvements benefit villagers. God POwer: Curse. Enemy units will be turned to pigs (which can further be turned into food for your forces!). It affects a small area, and will not affect all units in the area. Myth Unit: Nemean Lion. The lion slain by Heracles has the ability to roar causing damage to all enemy units in the immediate area. Unique Tech: ROAR OF ORTHUS. Armor of your Nemean Lions is improved (all armor types). GOLDEN APPLES. Villagers generate favor faster. This may allow you to remove one worshipper and place them on a resource you need (food or gold for example). DIVINE BLOOD. Villagers gain speed while moving (gather faster), build faster and carry more resources. This allows you to get an economic boost when needed to create larger armies. Dionysus -------- God of Wine and Celebration. Cavalry and Navy benefit most from his improvements. God Power: Bronze. For a short time, all your units within the area of effect are turned to bronze. This allows them to continue moving and fighting while gaining all kinds of armor boosts. It will affect allied units if they are in the area of effect when triggered. Units become almost impervious to attacks while Bronze is on. Myth Unit: Hydra. This beast starts with 1 head, but gains more (up to 5 I believe) with success in battle. Each head improves the overall attack of the beast. Also with more heads, it can attack adjacent units. Scylla. A naval version of the Hydra. It also gains additional headsd through battle. Unique Tech: BACCHANALIA. All units (yes all) gain extra hit points with this tech. When your population is maxed out this tech could provide the small boost you need to defeat the last enemy units on the map. THRACIAN HORSES. All cavalry benefit from this. Hit points increase. ANASTROPHE. Pentekonter get extra attack damage, speed and also train faster. ---------- Mythic Age ---------- Artemis ------- Goddess of Hunt and of Nature. Her improvements benefit your archers and naval units. God Power: Earthquake. When triggered, Earthquake will rumble through an enemy town and destroy many buildings and heavily damage many others. It also affects enemy units, although it mostly knocks them to the ground with only a little damage. Myth Unit: Chimera. One of the offspring of Echinda and Typhon, it was a beast with a goats body, lions head and snakes tail. It can breathe fire and affects multiple enemy units at once. Unique Tech: FLAMES OF TYPHON. Chimera are upgraded to Tyrants with improved attack (both normal and the special flame attack) as well as more hit points. SHAFTS OF PLAGUE. Toxotes, Peltasts and Gastrophetes gain increased attack damage. TRIEARCH. Triremes get more hit points making them more resistant to enemy siege ships. Hephaestus ---------- God of the Forge and Labor. Human soldiers and weapons benefit from his improvements. God Power: Plenty. When cast a large vault appears (make sure to protect it) and provides a constant flow of food, wood and gold. If an enemy gets more troops near it then you, it goes to his control and he gains the resources. The resources come in at roughly the rate of 2 gatherers. I will have to double check this rate though... Myth Unit: Colossus. Perhaps the strongest (in terms of hit points) unit in the game, the Colossus is a construct resembling the Colossus of Rhoads. It is very strong against buildings and can lat for a long while against units. It's special 'attack' allows it to eat trees and gold mines to regain lost hit points. Unique Tech: HAND OF TALOS. Colossi are upgraded to Silver Colossi giving them more hit points. SHOULDER OF TALOS. Silver Colossi are once again recast into Gold Colossi giving them more hit points again. FORGE OF OLYMPUS. All armory upgrades cheaper. Try holding off researching armory techs until you have gained the benefit of this tech to save resources. Make up for the slightly weaker units by building more of them. WEAPON OF THE TITANS. All unique Fortress units as well as the Myrmidon, Hetairoi and Gastraphetes gain increased attack damage. Hera ---- Wife of Zeus, Goddess of the Home. She benefits buildings and myth units. God Power: Lightning Storm. Similair to Zeus' Bolt, but lasts longer, and affects an area as opposed to one unit. Lightning strikes will hit randomly in the area it was cast, hitting many enemy units and causing them large amounts of damage or death. It can be escaped from as the power doesn't move. It also can cause light damage to buildings. Myth Unit: Medusa. One of the Gorgon sisters with live snakes for hair, tusks, golden hands and bronze wings. Her gaze will turn enemy units to stone (recharging). She also carries a bow and arrows and is a decent ranged attacker. This unit is perhaps the strongest of all units in the game when supported properly. Carcinos. A large crab summoned by Hera to kill Heracles while he was battling the Hydra. He defeated both, but for it's efforts, Hera placed it in the stars. It is a naval unit decent against enemy ships. When killed the Carcinos releases large amounts of boiling blood that can damage enemy units. Unique Tech: FACE OF THE GORGON. Medusas upgraded to Matriarchs with increased hit points. ATHENIAN WALL. Buildings gain more hit points and can be very useful in late game when expanding. MONSTROUS RAGE. All your myth units gain increased attack damage for any attack type (hack, pierce and crush). ================= 4.2 Egyptian Gods ================= ========== Major Gods ========== -- Ra -- Ra was the most important of the ancient Egyptian Gods. He is considered the God of the Sun, and is often portrayed with the Sun. He has the head of a falcon and the body of a man. CIVILIZATION BONUSES: Preists can empower. All Egyptian Pharaohs can empower (make a building do something faster), but priests can't. Ra's can. This allows him to build a very strong economy very quickly. Pharaoh empowers faster. Ra's Pharaoh empowers buildings with more speed, allowing another boost to the economic boom possible under Ra. Monuments are stronger. The monuments all Egyptian civilizations must build to gain favor are stronger under Ra, with 20% more hit points. They are also cheaper, costing 25% less to build. Chariot Archers & Camelry are faster and stronger. They are built in the Migdol Stronghold and can move faster (10%) and have a lot more hit points (20%). This makes them very strong in the late game. GOD POWER: Rain. Rain causes all farms near any TC (including your allies and enemies) to produce food at a faster rate. Rain has the side benefit of causing a global ban on all other God Powers while in effect. Rain affects all civilizations on the map, but is strongest for the caster. Since Egyptians are the only civilization that can build farms in the first age, this can be a very strong god power. If enough fars are built before the enemy builds theirs, the caster will reap a large amount of food. UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY: Skin of the Rhino. Laborers are given better hack and pierce armor, making them harder to kill. This allows better hunting (elephants and rhinos will fight back!) or survive an earlier rush a little easier. MINOR GOD PATHS: Classical Age Bast, Ptah Heroic Age Hathor, Sekhmet Mythic Age Horus, Osiris TIPS FOR PLAYING: Ra has a very strong economic base. With his Rain power, it is easy to create fairly large amounts of food quickly. Ra has the ability to empower faster with his Pharaoh and with his priests. This allows him an excellent ability to gain large amounts of resources to mount a strong attack, heavy on Migdol units and myth units. Follow the god path through Osiris to gain a second Pharaoh and perhaps one of the strongest ranged units in the game in the Son of Osiris. If you are planning a Migdol heavy army, follow Sekhmet (Bone Bow) to gain extra bonuses for your Chariot Archers, and Osiris to gain the Son of Osiris and the speed and attack of Camelry (Desert Wind). Because the priests of Ra can empower, scout with your Pharaoh. He can pick up relics, he has a longer line of sight and is harder to kill. When playing a team game, try to coordinate casting Rain with your allies so that the maximum benefit is gained. Also keep in mind that no other GPs can be cast while Rain is active. Use it to boost food production while attacking. That way you have food after the attack and your enemies can't cast a GP to counter your attack. Learn Skin of the Rhino early so that your villagers can hunt larger animals for lots of food. It also makes them more survivable in a rush. If you follow Hathor, cast Locust Swarm on an enemy before casting Rain. That way they can't benefit from the faster food production of rain. ---- Isis ---- Isis was the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. She was considered a protective Goddess and as a result has many defensive abilities in AoM. CIVILIZATION BONUSES: Monuments block god powers. Each Monument built by Isis creates a 'shield' to other god powers. Cheaper technology improvements. Isis saves 10% off the cost of all techonological improvements. This applies to food, wood and gold costs. This save a large amount of resources for military units or more improvements. Priests build obelisks faster. Obelisks are the chief way Egyptians keep LOS into enemy activities. By building them faster (60% faster) and cheaper (60% less resources), Isis can keep an eye out on enemies easily and cheaply. Town Centers add to Population Cap. Each TC gives the player +3 population. This allows more villagers in the early game to gather, and more military units in the late game. GOD POWER: Prosperity. Isis speeds up your laborers so that they gather gold at double their rate. This is stackable with all gold mining technologies. UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY: Flood of the Nile. When researched at a granary, Isis creates a trickle of free food. This may allow you to move a gatherer to wood or gold to improve your gather rates. MINOR GOD PATHS: Classical Age Anubis, Bast Heroic Age Hathor, Nephthys Mythic Age Osiris, Thoth TIPS FOR PLAYING: Build your monuments all across your town to provide a shield against enemy god powers. Consider building one or more in your expansion towns or allies towns to provide protection for them. Because Isis gets cheaper obelisks, and they build faster, build many around the map so that you will always know what your enemy is doing. The higher population cap of your TCs allow more gatherers in the early game to build a stronger economy. Since each TC gets the +3 pop bonus, use the extra room later in the game to create more military. Before invoking Prosperity, send as many gatherers to mine gold to maximize the power. Also consider researching most if not all of the mining technologies before casting. Consider Hathor (Sun Dried Bricks) to reduce the cost of buildings. This goes well with Isis' improvements. Also think about following Thoth in the late game. Not only does he supply Meteor, he also has the Book of Thoth to allow faster resource gathering. --- Set --- Set was the God of Evil an Chaos. He was the one who tricked Osiris and killed him, scattering the parts so that he couldn't rise again. He was also considered the God of the Desert and Foreign Lands. He has an affinty with animals and gains power over them. CIVILIZATION BONUSES: Animals at age advancement. Set starts with a Hyena which can be used to scout or attack enemy villagers in the early game. At each age advance, he gains a further batch of animals spawned at the temple. Convert wild animals. Set's priests can convert wild animals (select the priest, then right click on the animal). This power can create an army of animals to attack and raid enemy villagers or resources points. Pharaohs summon wild animals. Costing a little favor, Set's Pharaoh can summon wild animals which can be used as food or as an army. As you advance through the ages, you will be given more animal choices. Slingers & Chariot Archers train faster. Ranged units of Set train 20% faster. Slingers have more hit points (+10%) and more hack armor, making them better in battle. GOD POWER: Vision. Vision allows the player to temporarily see any part of the map (that was targetted). This can be used to quickly scout large areas or target a further God Power in the area as it counts as LOS. UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY: Ferel. Causes your converted animals to do more damage in battle. It also restores the food lost to animals that were converted (they lose some food value when converted), so it has an economic value as well as a military. MINOR GOD PATHS: Classical Age Anubis, Ptah Heroic Age Nephthys, Sekhmet Mythic Age Horus, Thoth TIPS FOR PLAYING: Use the priest units to convert animals and the Pharaoh to summon animals. These can be used by you as food if required or as an early army. They also absorb arrows your main army might otherwise take. Because Set gains some bonuses to ranged units and Migdol units, consider following Ptah, Sekhmet and Thoth to further these. Use your converted animals as scouts. They are cheap and usually fast. Use your priests to convert animals near your enemies base. Either take them back to your town as food, or use them to harass the enemy gatherers. Use the ability of your Pharaoh (summon wild animals) in the same way. Slingers are stronger and train faster under Set, so they are a good unit to build. Also consider Chariot Archers as they train quickly as well. Consider using Vision in combination with an offensive type God Power such as Meteor or Tornado. When summoning or converting animals, select the Pharaoh or priest then use the command bar to get the animal you want. ========== Minor Gods ========== ------------- Classical Age ------------- Anubis ------ Anubis was the Egyptian God of the Dead and Judgement. His improvements benefit Spearmen and myth units. God Power: Plague of Sepents. A bunch of serpents will appear at the targetted area to defend the area from enemy attack. They can't be controlled and they will not leave the area they were summoned in. They remain until killed. They are fairly easily killed by laborer type units, and will not attack buildings. If cast on water, sea serpents appear, attacking only warships, leaving fishing ships alone. Myth Unit: Anubite. Fast moving infantry with a leap attack. When they are near the enemy, they leap the last distance covering it faster than any other unit could. This attack does some damage. They are basically the same as the dog faced warriors in the movie 'The Mummy Returns.' Unique Tech: FEET OF THE JACKAL. Anubite hit points improved as well as attack damage and leaping distance. Good idea to research if you plan to make an early army of Anubites to raid the enemy. SERPENT SPEAR. Egyptian Spearmen gain more attack damage, making them more deadly to enemy cavalry. NECROPOLIS. Increases the favor gain rate of your civilization. Best if used while you have all 5 monuments constructed. Bast ---- Bast is the Goddess of Fertility. This cat faced Goddess benefit farmers and wood gatherers. God Power: Eclipse. When triggered, the whole map darkens as the sun is hidden by the moon and allows your myth units a speed bonus as well as attack bonuses. If affects only your myth units and prevents other god powers from being used while in effect. Save it until you have a large myth army for best results. Myth Unit: Sphinx. A human faced cat like the famous one on the Giza Plateau. This is a fast moving unit that turns into a dust devil (small tornado) when attacking. It can be upgraded twice, in order. Unique Tech: CRIOSPHINX. The first of 2 improvements for the Sphinx, it turns your Sphinx' into Criosphinx', with more hit points and attack damage. HIERACOSPHINX. Can't be researched until Criosphinx is completed. Your Criosphinx will become Hieracosphinx, with more attack damage and more speed. SACRED CATS. Farms produce food faster (while being worked by a farmer) by ridding the farm of vermin. It is best to use this only when you have many farms and should be stacked with Ra's Rain GP for best results. ADZE OF WEPAWET. Laborers can knock trees over faster and gather the wood quicker. Since Egyptians are not as dependent upon wood in the early game, save this one and research it when you need extra wood for towers or units. Ptah ---- God of Creation. One of the few Egyptian gods to appear human, his benefit is farms, axemen, slingers and spearmen. God Power: Shifting Sands. Used to shift your (or enemy) units around the map. Both the beginning and the end point must be under line of sight. It can be used to bypass enemy defences and put your army in the enemy base or to move the enemy army to another point. A nasty trick is to put them in an area surrounded by your towers. Myth Unit: Wadjet. This unit is named for the Serpent Goddess who appears on the crown of a Pharaoh. It is a venom spitting ranged unit effective against human units and buildings. Unique Tech: SHADUF. An invention of Ptah's, it cuts the cost and build-time of farms. SCALLOPED AXE. Axemen gain an attack bonus with this tech. Best used if your enemy goes heavily into infantry as your axemen are their counter. ELECTRUM BULLETS. Attack damage of slingers improved. This is excellent to use if the enemy goes heavily ranged army. Combine it with Sekhmet's Slings of the sun and/or Set's stronger slingers. LEATHER FRAME. Pierce armor of Spearmen increased making them stand up to ranged attacks better. ---------- Heroic Age ---------- Hathor ------ Hathor, the bovine faced diety, is Goddess of the Sky. She benefits Mercenaries and buildings. God POwer: Locust Swarm. When invoked, large amounts of locusts swarm across enemy farms or fishing ships, destroying them. This can set back an enemy dependent upon these forms of food. This can be devastating if followed by a rapid attack. Myth Unit: Petsuchos. A bejeweled crocodile that fires a beam of focused sunlight at range. It is very effective against human units and can tear buildings apart fairly quickly. It is not very good at close range. Roc. A huge eagle like bird that carries a gilded cage in its beak. It can be hit only with ranged weapons. The Roc is used to carry units around the battlefield (in the cage) and can not attack on its own. Unique Tech: CROCODOPOLIS. Petsuchos get longer range. This keeps them a little further away from the enemy, but they still need to be supported. MEDJAY. Mercenaries live longer (both mercenaries and Merc cavalry). This improves them a little so that you could use them as base defence while your army wipes out an enemy town. SUN DRIED MUD BRICK. Building hit points improved. Also lowers cost of construction. Makes things like Migdol Strongholds more potent and can make towers very tough to destroy. Nephthys -------- Goddess of the Night and of the Dead. She benefits Pharaohs and Priests. God Power: Ancestors. When invoked, a small army of the dead is summoned to fight for you. These units CAN be controlled, but last only a short time. It can be invoked on water, where it will summon ghost ships. Myth Unit: Leviathan. Literally 'twisted animal' in Hebrew, this gigantic fish is a naval transport. Units can climb into it's mouth (really!) and be transported across water. It can attack although it is a weak attack considering the size of the beast. Scorpion Man. Another unit resembling the Scorpion King himself in 'The Mummy Returns.' This unit wields a sword for melee as well as a poison attack in its recharging tail attack. The tail attack affects multiple units at once and the poison lasts for a short time after the attack, causing additional damage. Unique Tech: SPIRIT OF MA'AT. Preists are cheaper to build and can heal faster. An excellent tech to have as preists are the only way of healing for an Egyptian player. This allows them to heal more units faster. FUNERAL RITES. Pharaoh and Preists gain extra damage versus myth units. This allows the pharaoh (who gets better at each age advance) to become a force multiplier. CITY OF THE DEAD. Pharaohs gain more hit points and will rise from the dead faster. This is a tech that becomes mandatory if you plan on moving your Pharaoh from empowering to offense. Sekhmet ------- Another feline faced diety. Goddess of the desert and of Warfare. Her improvements benefit Slingers, Chariot Archers, Catapults, Siege Towers and War Barges. God POwer: Citadel. Transforms 1 (yours or an allied) Town Center to a defensive structure with more hit points and a stronger attack. Consider holding onto this one until you or an ally have expanded and need some extra defense at your new town. Myth Unit: Scarab. The Egyptians considered the Scarab Beetle sacred. Here it is a living siege weapon. It's giant mandibles have incredible damage versus buildings and towers. It can also attack (weakly) enemy units and should be supported with troops. If killed, its acidic blood spills on the ground damaging enemy units. Unique Tech: BONE BOW. Chariot Archers get a longer range making them a little more deadly as infantry would have to close on them to attack. SLINGS OF THE SUN. Slingers are granted a burning sling which gives them extra damage to infantry units. STONES OF RED LINEN. Catapults and War Barges are given an increased attack versus buildings. Both of these units already get a bonus against buildings, this goes even further. RAMS OF THE WEST WIND. Siege towers get increased attack and hit points. Depending upon your strategy, it is likely you will need to only research Rams of the West Wind OR Stones of Red Linen. ---------- Mythic Age ---------- Horus ----- The Falcon headed diety often portrayed in Egyptian myth benefits Axemen and Spearmen. God POwer: Tornado. A large funnel shaped cloud appears at the trigger point and randomly moves slowly around the area. If it hits any buildings, it can cause large amounts of damage, potentially destroying them. It also affests units, sucking them into the cloud and dropping them when the power is finished. It can affect allied units and buildings, but the damage is reduced over what enemy units and buildings get. Myth Unit: Avenger. A fast moving, falcon headed melee unit that can attack multiple units at once using it's recharging whirlwind attack. It is best faced from range and with heroes if possible. Unique Techs: AXE OF VENGENCE. Axemen gain increased damage against buildings and walls. Best when combined with Ptah's Scalloped Axe. GREATEST OF FIFTY. Pierce armor of Spearmen increased granting them better resistance to archer attacks. Also adds bonus attack damage versus enemy archers. SPEAR ON THE HORIZON. Spearmen hit points and attack are increased. Osiris ------ God of Judgement (yes another!). His improvements benefit Camelry, Pharaohs and archer ships. God Power: Son Of Osiris. When cast upon your Pharaoh, he becomes the living embodiment of the God Osiris. He gains a better empowerment rate as wells as an all new attack - chain lightning. It will strike 4 units at a time, causing a little less damage on each in line. To replace the Pharaoh used as a SoO, research New Kingdom. If killed, the SoO, is replaced with the original Pharaoh again. Myth Unit: Mummy. A very powerful myth unit who can convert enemy units into minions fighting for the mummy. They can be controlled like any other unit, although they will perish after a short time on their own. They can turn a battle when used correctly. They do require some micromanaging to get the best effect. Unique Tech: ATEF CROWN. Mummies gain more hit points and minions will last longer before dying. This tech is best used with a gang of mummies (turning enemy units) supported by a decent army. DESERT WIND. Camelry become faster and get more attack damage. Best used with Migdol benefits such as Ra's increased Camelry hit points. NEW KINGDOM. A second Pharaoh is created for the rest of the game. He is exactly the same as the original, except for name. He can empower and gains the benefits of all age advances and respawns on death. FUNERAL BARGE. Kebenit warships gain bonus damage versus other archer ships. Thoth ----- The God of Wisdom has the head of bird (a crane?) and his improvements benefit laborers and Migdol Stronghold units. God Power: Meteor. When targetted, a stream of large space rocks crash into the area causing damage to any units or buildings that are hit. They come in on a random pattern, so they may or may not obliterate the enemy town or army. Myth Unit: Phoenix. A slow moving air unit excellent against enemy buildings. It can only be hit by enemy ranged fire. If killed over passable terrain, an egg is created at the site. This egg costs as much to hatch as a brand new phoenix, but is already closer to the action, making it worth clicking on, as well as keeping a temple free to build something else. This unit is also good against human soldiers. Sea Turtle. Turtles were typically viewed and associated with evil and night. The Sea Turtle flings enemy ships out of the water and bashed about. Unique Techs: BOOK OF THOTH. Researching this tech allows your laborers to gather food, wood and gold faster. This allows you to create a huge late game economy to fund expensive myth and Migdol units. TUSKS OF APEDEMAK. War Elephants gain more hit points and attack damage. Great when combined with Valley of Kings and/or Set's Migdol bonuses. UPgraded war elephants can turn a town into rubble fairly quickly. VALLEY OF THE KINGS. Camelry, Chariot Archers and War Elephants train much faster, appearing almost as fast as Mercenaries. Allows you to quickly field huge powerful armies (if you have the resources). ============== 4.3 Norse Gods ============== ========== Major Gods ========== ---- Odin ---- Odin is the father of Thor and God of Warfare and Poetry (boy, do they go togethor!). He is also the God of Wisdom and Death. He hung himself upon the World Tree, Yggrdasil to learn about death and sacrificed one of his eyes to get a sip from the waters of wisdom. He was the first of the Norse gods and not usually worshipped by the common man, instead by the warriors. He is not a warrior himself, but was able to rally his faithful into a frenzy. CIVILIZATION BONUSES: Human Unit regeneration. All of Odins human units (except gatherers) will slowly regenerate after taking damage. Idle units will gain faster then ones involved in combat or movement. This is the most powerful healing in the game. Raven Scouts. Two respawning raven scouts appear at your temple upon reaching the Classical age (2). These birds are powerful scouts, with a decent LOS and only ranged attacks can hurt them. They are respawned at the temple in a short amount of time if killed. Hill Fort Units get more hitpoints. Odin grants 20% more hitpoints for units built at the Hill Fort. These units include the Jarl (it is possible to create Jarls with 378 Hitpoints) and Huskarls, as well as the portable ram and the ballista (the only pierce damage unit available to the Norse, other than the Troll). Hunting bonus. Odin gives his followers the ability to hunt faster (10%) than other civilizations, favor and food will come in slightly faster. GOD POWER: Great Hunt. Because Odin is also the hunts master, his God Power that reflects this. When cast upon a group of animals (herdables as well as huntables), more animals appear in the herd. As much as half again the original number can appear. UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY: Lone Wanderer. Ulfsarks become faster when Lone Wandered has been researched. This allows them to enter cavalry formations faster and tear them up (Ulfsark is counter-cavalry). Because you also start with Ulfsarks, they become your scout unit and this makes them scout the map for food, gold, relics and the enemy faster. MINOR GOD PATHS: Classical Age Freyja, Heimdall Heroic Age Njord, Skadi Mythic Age Baldr, Tyr TIPS FOR PLAYING: When a battle is done, pull your human units back for a quick rest to improve their regeneration rate. In the long run you can save a pile of resources if you get your units healed instead of replacing them. Consider Freyja for the second age. Even though her myth unit (Valkyries) heal, her bonus technolgy (Thundering Hooves, researched at the Longhouse) makes your cavalry stronger and faster. This allows better Jarls, which are very difficult to counter, even with counter cavalry units. Besides, a few Valkyries in your army helps heal troops even faster. Use your ravens to scout when you get them. Two scouts can cover a lot of ground quickly and when the map is scouted, consider parking them near an enemy to keep an eye on them. Make sure they stay out of range of TCs, towers and the like though so they don't get killed. Becasue Hill Fort units get 20% more hitpoints, consider them as the backbone to your forces. No one alse can create Jarls with 378 hitpoints, so they are an excellent unit as a main force. Huskarls are counter archer, but can also rip buildings down quickly. Use hunting as your primary source of food. You will gain food faster and each animal killed gains a little favor. Also use your scouts to kill animals near your enemies base. You will deprive them of food, and gain some favor. Invoke Great Hunt on the largest herd of animals you can find. I have not been able to get extra elephants, but zebras and giraffes quite often double. Another great trick is to save your sheep, goats and pigs and place them in the center of the herd you are going to cast on. They will also give bonus animals. If possible, do not kill the herdables until they have 'fattened' (stopped going up inthe food counter). When using Great Hunt, cast it on the largest amount of animals possible. Make sure to research Hunting Dogs at an Ox Cart so that this bonus is stacked with Odin's natural hunting bonus, making food flow in very quickly. Consider using Great Hunt on a Set allies animal army. This will allow them to send a larger raiding force into an enemies town and cause more trouble. Learn Lone Wanderer soon after starting so that your Ulfsarks can scout better and rip cavalry apart with the increased speed. ---- Thor ---- Thor was God of Thunder and the son of Odin. CIVILIZATION BONUSES: Thor's Armory. All other civs can not build an armory until the 2nd age. Thor can build it in the first. This gives him a slight advantage for his troops in survivability. He can also research a full age ahead of his rivals. His armory allows cheaper research for all technologies as well. Third, his armory is also cheaper than that of other gods. Dwarves. Thor starts with dwarves instead of human gatherers. Thor's dwarves are also cheaper (60 gold instead of 70). It is possible to create only dwarven gatherers, saving food for units involved in a rush! Thor's dwarves also gain a boost in gathering rates for food and wood. GOD POWER: Dwarven Gold Mine. When cast, a gold mine is created. It can be placed anywhere a building can be built. The later in the game it is cast, the more gold it will provide. If cast in age 1, you can mine 250 gold. 1000 gold in the classical age, 3000 in the Heroic and finally 6000 if cast in the Mythic Age. UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY: Pig Sticker. When researched, Thor's dwarves and gatherers gain an improved hunting rate, putting them almost at par with Odin! The technology not only allows hunted animals to be gathered faster, it allows gatherers to kill animals faster. This in turn can increase the amount of favor gained through hunting. MINOR GOD PATHS: Classical Age Forseti, Heimdall Heroic Age Bragi, Skadi Mythic Age Baldr, Tyr TIPS FOR PLAYING: It is possible to do an all dwarf build. This saves food for age advancement and military units. Because Thor's dwarves gather food and wood as well as they do gold, this is a viable strategy. This becomes even better when Pig Sticker has been researched. Research Pig Sticker as soon as you can (before hunting is best). This allows you to gather food from hunted animals almost as quickly as Odin (who gets a hunting bonus)! Quicker age advancement again! The special armory should be built as soon as possible to gain the largest benefit. By builing early and researching the armor and weapons within, your troops will survive longer. It is possible to gain a full age or even two on your enemies survivability in this way. Hold off on casting Dwarven Gold Mine as long as possible. The more advanced the age, the more gold you will receive. Try casting it near a protected area (near your TC or Hill fort(s)). Another good tactic is to cast it when you need gold quickly and your dwarves are done with a mine. Cast it beside them and they don't have to walk across the map to start again. Remember that anyone can mine from it. Another good use is if your ally is under siege, cast it in their town so they can gain the gold and remove the siege. ---- Loki ---- Loki is blood-brother to Odin and the God of Trickery. CIVILIZATION BONUSES: Hersir are faster and can summon myth units during combat. Not only do Loki's Hersir move faster (10%), they have a unique ability to summon myth units in the midst of comabat. When a Hersir is created, a random myth unit is selected for them. When the Hersir creates enough favor through combat to create that unit, the unit appears alongside them and starts to fight for Loki's forces. Mythological Units cost less favor. Loki requires 10% less favor for any myth unit he builds. Between this bonus and the summoning bonus, it is possible to create large armies of myth units. Longhouse units train faster. Any longhouse units built under Loki train 10% faster, allowing you to field many Throwing Axemen quickly. Ox carts are cheaper and faster (but weaker). Loki builds Ox carts for 50% less, and they move faster, getting to new locations quickly, but they are also weaker (80 less HPs). They need more protection in forward areas. GOD POWER: Spy. Loki grants the use of Spy, which can be cast on any unit in the game. It is permanent (until the unit is killed) and grants slightly better LOS to you then the unit normally has. To show you and your allies (but not enemies) which unit the power was used on, a white Rune symbol appears over the head of the unit. This power is perhaps the best of the powers in the game when used right, but is also one of the most difficult to use and get the most benefir from. UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY: Eyes in the Forest. All infantry units (built and unbuilt) benefit from this improvement. It always a longer LOS to help you spot trouble faster than the enemy. It is very useful when scouting and also in battle. If you can see the enemy force first, you can adjust your tactics or army accordingly. MINOR GOD PATHS: Classical Age Forseti, Heimdall Heroic Age Bragi, Njord Mythic Age Hel, Tyr TIPS FOR PLAYING: Build lots of Hersirs. Because they move faster they survive better in battle. They also gain favor at twice the rate of other Norse units (but not other Hersirs) so favor can pile up quickly. To improve them further, follow Forseti in the classical age to gain the Hall of Thanes improvement which makes them faster and gives more hitpoints. More Hersirs also create more myth units. Consider Forseti for the classical age also for the Healing Spring. It can provide the needed healing to keep the Hersirs alive to gain the favor they need to summon powerful myth units. Loki's myth units cost less favor, so build lots. 10% less favor means 1 more myth unit for every 10 you build. Build lots of longhouses. A 10% reduction in training time allows lots of Throwing Axemen and Hersirs. Also from here are built the Raiding cavalry and more Ulfsarks. Large armies can be assembled quickly from the longhouse. Use it to your advantage. Because your ox carts are cheaper, build more and have less gatherers using each. This allows less congestion so your resources should accumulate faster. The Spy God Power may be the most useful power in the game. When cast correctly, you will be able to see whatever the enemy sees (slightly more actually due to the higher LOS). This allows him to scout for you. It can be cast on any unit in the game, but due to some bugs, it is best to avoid certain units. Don't cast it on an Ulfsark (if he builds anything the power disappears), or a priest as an obelisk summoning will delete the power. Consider casting the spy power on an enemy villager so that you can see where he is gathering. You can then send your army to that point to kill whatever is there. Make sure though to leave the enspied unit alive so you can do it again. Ox carts are a good choice to cast Spy on. Again make sure when you raid, you leave the cart alive so that you can see when it has to be done again. It is important to make sure that you don't make it too obvious whcih unit you cast spy on though or the enemy will just delete him, send him into your town to die or park it in a corner where it isn't doing anything useful for either of you. Consider putting the spy power on an Egyptian Pharaoh so you can see what buildings he may be empowering. ========== Minor Gods ========== ------------- Classical Age ------------- Freyja ------ was the goddess of beauty. Her improvements improve your cavalry (and help create very powerful jarls if following Odin). God Power: Forest Fire. A LOS is required to cast this one. It quickly torces large amounts of forest, preventing your enemy from gathering wood there. If an enemy building is close to the forest, there exists a strong possibility that they will catch fire and become heavily damaged or destroyed. It also can damage enemy units. Myth Unit: Valkyrie. A warrior maiden that prowled the battlefields to gather the spirits of the dead and take them to Valhalla, where they would remain until Ragnarock to fight on the side of the gods. Good versus myth units, but her best ability is that of healing your (and allied) units. Unique Techs: AURORA BOREALIS. Increase the valkyries healing rate as well as their hitpoints. Not a good value unless you are fielding large amounts of Valkyries as it costs almost as much as another Val. It also causes nicer colors to stream off your Vals as they ride. THUNDERING HOOVES. Increases cavalry (Valkyries, Raiding Cavalry, Jarls) hitpoints and speed. With Odins Hill Fort bonus, it is possible to research this and Baldrs Ring Giver and gain Jarls with 378 hit points, making them a very strong unit (with bonus versus myth units). Heimdall -------- the God of Vigilance. His improvements directly benefit your buildings defensively. God Power: Undermine. This God Power will reduce enemy walls and towers to dust. It can also damage town centers and fortress buildings. The only towers and walls that will remain in the area of effect are those that have been fully upgraded. Myth Unit: Einherjar. The returned spirits of warriors taken to Valhalla by the Valkyries. Their special attack is a blast on a magical horn that acts like a mini-flaming weapons, in that it boosts all friendly attacks for a short time. They are good at taking buildings apart but really tear them apart when upgraded with the Kettle Unique Tech: ELHRIMNIR KETTLE. Improves the Einherjar by granting increased attack damage and hit points. The upgraded Einherjar is a classical age siege weapon, and when deployed in small numbers (3-4) can rip TCs apart, as well as increase the abilities of your human troops. SAFEGUARD. When researched, makes your walls and towers cheaper and stronger. As Norse walls and towers are generally weaker than those of Egyptian or Greek players, researching safeguard can help even them out. ARCTIC GALE (dock). Norse longboats become faster and gain more hit points. Because longboats gain favor in combat, this can help them last longer, gaining more favor. Forseti ------- God of Justice. Generally his improvements benefit your ulfsarks and Hersir (good choice when following Loki). God Power: Healing Spring. Creates a fountain at the casting location that is permanent and can not be destroyed. It will autoatically heal any friendly units in the area. It effects many units at a time. It is a double edged sword though in that if cast too far forward, it can be easily taken over by the enemy (they need more units in the vicinity than you), but if cast in your base where is is protected, it is too far away to be of use. It should be guarded with towers and/or hill forts when possible. Myth Unit: Troll. Dumb, slow, man eating critters that were killed by daylight (turned to stone). They are one of the few Norse units that can cause pierce damage so can be useful catching an enemy off guard as usually people do not research pierce armors when playing against the Norse. They heal slightly each time they damage an enemy unit. Unique Tech: HAMARTROLL. Makes your trolls stronger with more hit points, longer range and more attack damage. They also gain a second head (doesn't seem to do anything though). HALL OF THANES. Hersir speed and hit points increased. This improves them greatly and makes a Hersir rush a viable strategy when playing as Loki. MITHRIL BREASTPLATE. Ulfsarks become more resistant to hack attack (infantry), making them better against enemy infantry and counter-infantry. ---------- Heroic Age ---------- Skadi ----- Goddess of Winter and the Hunt. Throwing Axemen improved through her benfits. God Power: Frost. An enemy army can be frosted for a short time. This boosts the enemy units armor to 99% for all 3 types, making them very hard to kill, but it gives you time to reinforce, build more buildings or even retreat if needed. Myth Unit: Frost Giant. Also called Thurses or Rime Giants in Norse mythology. Recharging special attack will freeze enemy units for a short time (similiar to Frost GP). Best used with micromanaging in order to freeze the unit causing the greatest threat. Unique tech: RIME. Frost Giants gain more hit points and more attack damage. WINTER HARVEST. Norse farmers move faster, creating the ability to get food into your economy faster. Best used only when the hunting near your base is done and you have multiple farms. HUNTRESS'S AXE. Throwing Axemen are a strong classical age unit. Huntress's Axe makes them stronger by increasing their attack damage. Combine with improvements at the armory and longhouse. Njord ----- Njord is the god of the Sea and of Storms. His improvements most benefit your ships and hill fort units. Follow this path to gain the stronger jarls of Odin. God Power: Walking Woods. Animates a group of up to six trees. They are stronger against buildings than units, although they seem to prefer attacking units and gatherers over buildings. The player has no direct control over them, but they do last until killed. Myth Unit: Kraken. A giant squid created at the dock. They are perhaps the most powerful of the naval myth units. Their special attack instantly kills 1 enemy ship (or land unit if close to shore). While waiting for the attack to recharge, the Kraken flails at enemy units and causes large amounts of damage. It is countered by ramming ships. Mountain Giant. Also known as Jotun, they are strong and incredibily stupid. Very high hit points make them hard to kill, and high damage rates make them excellent at killing buildings and all human units. Very slow and needs to be supported with human units. Bash attack is used only against buildings. Has a special attack versus enemy dwarves that has to be seen to be appreciated. Can throw enemy units. Unique Tech: WRATH OF THE DEEP. Improves Krakens to Trench Krakens, improving their hit points. LONG SERPENT. Upgrades the Norse longboat. Attack damage improved as well as ability to stand up to counter unit (siege ships). RING-GIVER. Imprves jarls by granting them the Lore of the Rings. Hit points increased greatly. Combine with Freyja's Thundering Hooves, and Odin's Hill Fort bonus. Bragi ----- The God of Poetry and Skalds (Norse version of bards or minstrels). Ulfsark improvements are his forte. God Power: Flaming Weapons. All the players human soldiers will burst into flame causing bonus damage to any enemies hit during the time the God Power is in effect. It affects all the players units on the map with the exception of his/her myth units. It will not affect your allies or enemies. Myth Unit: Battle Boar. In Norse mythology, 2 boars (Gullinbursti & Sildrugtanni) pulled the chariot of Freyr (Freyja's brother). They were built dwarven heroes Brokk & Eitri. They are fast moving, powerful units with a recharging buck attack that will fling multiple enemy units away from battle causing large amounts of damage. Unique Tech: CALL OF VALHALLA. Ulfsarks gain improved hit points. To gain maximum benefit, combine with Swine Array (Bragi) and Mithril Breastplate (Forseti). SWINE ARRAY. Ulfsarks gain an extra bonus to cavalry. Since they are alreay the Norse counter cavalry unit, they can be quite deadly to cavalry when this is researched. THURISAZ RUNE. Mythological units are 'branded' with this rune once researched. It increases their speed. ---------- Mythic Age ---------- Baldr ----- The God of beauty. Siege weapons and cavalry gain from his improvements. God POwer: Ragnarok. Perhaps the most misunderstood of all God Powers. In mythology, Ragnarok was the beginning of the end of the current world, signalled by Baldr's death. The Giants would rise up and fight the Gods with all dying under the largest fire giants (Surtr) breath of fire. When triggered, all your gatherers will become 'Heroes of Ragnarok.' This will kill your economy as it stans and all gatherers which took 1 population slot before will now take 3, potentially putting you over the cap. However, if planned for this can become the most powerful of all the God POwers. A sudden influx of 50 or more heroes bearing down on an enemy base can quickly end the game in your favor. It is important to plan for this power though. Make sure you have some resources when cast so that you can replace the gatherers lost to the power. Also think about grouping your gatherers using the control group function so that you can call them to an area before casting. This allows you to surprise the enemy as much as possible. Myth Unit: Fire Giant. Also known as Muspilli. True engines of destruction. Although they do not have as many hit points as mountain giants, they have the potential to quickly turn a game in your favor. Their fireball attack causes a lot of damage, and their recharging fireball fling does extra damage. 3 fire giants can quickly reduce an enemy town to rubble if supported by human troops (to kill enemy heroes). Unique Tech: ARCTIC GALE. Norse Dragon boats become faster and more resistant to their counter (hammer ships). SONS OF SLEIPNIR. Raiding cavalry get further bonus damage against archers and Throwing axemen, making an excellent raiding unit a great support unit as well. DWARVEN AUGER. Training speed and movement speed are both increased for portable rams. Attack damage is also increased. These upgraded rams are deadly to any enemy town. Tyr --- The God of Warfare. Infantry improvements are his specialty. God Power. Fimbulwinter. When cast, the skies darken and the storms start. Snow falls everywhere and 4 random enemy town centers are attacked by wolves. Although weak individually, when they come in groups as they do here, they can casue large amounts of damage. They will weaken enemy town centers, tear down temples and stop the enemy economy for the time the power is in effect. When followed with an attack somewhere (either in the enemy town or his forces) many times the enemy can't take the time to micro his villagers into the TC, allowing the wolves to kill some. Myth Unit: Fenris Wolf Brood. Not very strong by themselves, when set into a pack they start gaining bonuses. Each additional wolf in a pack gives a 20% bonus to attack damage and speed of all wolves. A group of 5 or 6 Fenris Wolf Broods can create havoc within an enemy base. Jormund Brood. A naval myth unit, arguabally not as strong as the earlier Kraken. They spit vast amounts of steam at enemy units near them and create large amounts of damage Unique Tech: BERSERKERGANG. Ulfsarks gain improved attack damage and hit points. BRAVERY. Huskarls gain improved damage versus buildings (100% bonus) as well as improved hit points (20%). Hel --- Goddess of the Underworld. Her visage is scarred with the duality of being alive and dead. Her improvements benefit myth units. God POwer. Nidhogg. Calls forth the Norse dragon Nidhogg. A slow moving, fire breathing behemoth. Nidhogg can only be hit by ranged weapons. Her large amount of hit points keep her going for awhile, but enemy preists or pharoahs can kill her quickly. Her attack does splash damage to nearby enemy units or buildings. Nidhogg can not be healed in any way, so guard her closely and keep her supported with friendly troops. Myth Unit: Hel can build any of the giants at any time. See above for Fire Giant (Baldr), Mountain Giant (Njord) and the Frost Giant (Skadi). Unique Tech: RAMPAGE. All myth units are created 95% faster, making it possible with a hersir heavy player to create large amounts of myth units quickly. GRANITE BLOOD. Frost, Fire and Mountain Giants all gain bonus hit points. ============= 5.0 Buildings ============= There are some buildings that are common to each civilization within the game, albeit perhaps with name changes and/or cost differences. There are also buildings that are civ specific. Examples of the common variety include, but aren't limited to Town Centers, Barracks, resource drop points and temples. Civ specific buildings include the fortress for each civ (Fortress, Migdol Stronghold and Hill Fort) where the strongest units are typically created. Building Civilization Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Town Center all ------------------------------------------- Drop Point all Each civ does this differently. Egyptians get theirs for free and need to build seperate ones for food, wood and gold (as do the Greeks). Norse Ox Carts serve the same purpose and can be moved as needed. ------------------------------------------- House all Each house supports 10 population. Only 10 can be built at a time. ------------------------------------------- Dock all Naval myth units and techs are completed here. All basic techs are the same for all 3 civs. ------------------------------------------- Wooden Wall all It's a wall! Click on a section when built to upgrade to stone (in Classical Age) and place gates (15gold). ------------------------------------------- Farm all All civs can build a farm, but only the Egyptians can do it from the start of the game. Norse & Greek must wait until Classical. This is the slowest way to gain food until all farming techs have beed researched. ------------------------------------------- Temple all Needed to advance to the Classical Age. Myth units and some myth techs are researched here. ------------------------------------------- Obelisk Egyptian Used to scout. A preist 'summons' one into being. They allow the Egyptians to keep an eye on the map for the enemies movements. ------------------------------------------- Monument Egyptian Egyptian civs build up to 5 of these (they must be built in order) in order to gain favor. ------------------------------------------- Longhouse Norse The basic Norse troop production building. Throwing Axemen, Hersir, Raiding Cavalry and Ulfsarks are built here. ------------------------------------------- Sentry Tower all Norse and Greek build Sentry Towers until they have been upgraded to Watch Towers. Egyptians get the watch tower upgrade for free, and as a result start with Watch Towers, which can fire arrows. They are used for watching enemy movements and defence once upgraded. Towers can garrison units. ------------------------------------------- Armory all This building is the required building to advance to the Heroic Age. Here research is done to improve troop armor and attack damage. Followers of Thor can build this in the Archaic Age and get a bonus round of upgrades, while everyone else must wait until the Classical to build this. ------------------------------------------- Barracks Egyptian The Egyptian version of the Longhouse, basic troops are created here including Spearmen, Axemen and SLingers, as well as their upgrades. ------------------------------------------- Military Greek 1 of the Greek versions of the Barracks or Longhouse. Infantry and their Academy upgrades are created here. ------------------------------------------- Archery Range Greek The second of the the Greek troop production buildings where Archers and their upgrades are built. ------------------------------------------- Stables Greek The third and final Greek troop building. This is where cavalry and their upgrades are done. ------------------------------------------- Market all The building required to advance to the final age, the Mythic. Resources can be traded here for others you may need more. Also created here are trade caravans which prodruce gold when sent to any Town Center. ------------------------------------------- Hill Fort Norse The unique Norse troop production building. The most powerful of the Norse units are built and upgraded here. Units include the Huskarl, Jarl, Portable Ram and in the Mythic Age, the Ballista. They can shoot arrows and garrison units inside for defence. ------------------------------------------- Migdol Egyptian The Egyptian unique troop building. Like the Norse Hill Fort, they can Stronghold garrison troops and fire arrows for defence. Units created here are the Chariot Archers, Camelry, and War Elephants. ------------------------------------------- Siege Works Egyptian A building unique to the Egyptians as Norse and Greek Siege units are built at their 'fortress.' Egyptians build their siege weapons here, which include the Siege Tower and in the Mythic Age, the catapult. ------------------------------------------- Fortress Greek You guessed it. The Greek unique troop building where unique troops of each major god are built as well as the Greek siege engines, the Petrobolos and in the Mythic Age the Helepolis. They can garrison troops and fire arrows. ------------------------------------------- Lighthouse Egyptian Built in the Mythic Age, these buildings have massive line of sight and do not need to be built near water. ------------------------------------------- Wonder all Each of the 9 major gods have their own structure (see below) and these buildings are very expensive. They take a long time to build and as a result have massive hit points. A game can be won by building one and defending it for the time required (varies with map size and number of enemies). ------------------------------------------- Wonders ------- Each Major God grants the ability to build a Wonder when the Mythic Age has been reached. The Wonder is very expensive to build (1000 each food, wood and gold, 50 favor) and takes a very long time to build, even with many workers toiling away. When a Wonder's foundation is laid down, everyone in the game is told that a Wonder has been started and a large star is overlayed on the mini-map at the location. You will need to either defend the Wonder (if it's yours) or destroy it. Once it has been completed, a timer starts to count down (it depends on map size and number of players). If it reaches zero, the player who built the Wonder gets a win. God Wonder -------------------------------- Zeus Statue of Olympia (located at Olympia, Greece) Hades The Mausoleaum at Halicarnassus (located at Bodrum, Turkey) Poseidon The Theatre of Dionysus (located at Athens, Greece or Delphi, Greece) Ra Pyramid of Kheops (Giza Plateau, Cairo, Egypt) Isis The Sphinx (Giza Plateau, Cairo, Egypt) Set Abu Simbel (Aswan, Egypt) Odin Hall of Valhalla, one of Odin's halls (located in Asgard) Thor Yggrdasil, the world tree (the tree Odin hung himself from), Loki Naglfari, the Ship of Fingernails, (Neiflheim) I found these explanations at http://aom.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=1,9762,0,all and hope that no one minds my using them here. As there are so many people involved with these explanations, I copied the whole link. Since Hel had the best explanation of the Wonders, I am in the process of contacting him for permission to use his research. As of Feb 3, I have not heard from him, however I used Google and searched for ancient wonders and found some of the Wonders explained there. ========= 6.0 Units ========= I took these numbers from directly within the game where possible. Some numbers I have found at AoM Heaven (see links section) where it is my understanding they were retrieved from within the game as well using a program called AoMed. This can be found at http://mods.dgdn.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38 They are subject to errors as each patch has changed some units to balance the sides. I will try to correct any that I find, or are pointed out to me. NOTE: There are 3 forms of damage in the game. They are Hack (swords, etc.), Pierce (arrows) and Crush (most siege weapons). Where needed I have shortehed them to Hack, Prc and CRSH. Hit points is a measure of how survivable a unit is (how much damage it can take). Some units get bonuses against certain units. Under attack damage, I have indicated which of the attack types that unit does. Also shown as a percentage is the amount of damage absorbed by each units armor. Researching at the armory improves armor and attack strength. Researching the more advanced forms of your troops gives more hit points as well as attack. Range is a measure of how far a unit can fire and line of sight is how far they can see. Bonuses are multipliers (ie, 7 to myth units indicates that this unit causes 7 times normal damage to myth units, minus the armor). It should also be noted that units considered Heroes (Hersir, Preists, Pharaohs and Greek hero units) are immune to myth unit special attacks. --------------- 6.1 Greek Units --------------- Hit Attack Bonus Hack Pierce Crush Line of Unit Cost Points Damage Damage Armor Armor Armor Range Sight Speed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hoplite 60 food, 115 8 hack - 35% 15% 99% - 16 4.2 35 gold SPECIAL: Cavalry Counter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hypaspist 60 food, 85 5 hack 4.25 to inf., 35% 10% 99% - 16 4.3 25 gold Hersir & Heroes of Ragnarok SPECIAL: Counters infantry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Toxote 55 wood, 60 6.5 prc .9 Raiding cav. 15% 15% 99% 15 19 4 35 gold SPECIAL: infantry counter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peltast 60 wood, 70 3 prc 4 to archers, 15% 20% 99% 16 20 4 20 gold 3 to throwing axemen, 1.25 to Hypaspists & Axemen SPECIAL: counter to archers --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hippikon 40 food, 150 9 hack 1.25 to archers 10% 25% 99% - 8 5.5 80 gold SPECIAL: counters archers --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prodromos 70 food, 120 6 hack 3 to cavalry 20% 10% 99% - 16 6 40 gold SPECIAL: cavalry counter --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myrmidon 70 food, 110 10 hack 1.5 to Egypt & 45% 20% 99% - 16 4 50 gold Norse units, 1 to Axemen, Throwing Axemen SPECIAL: Zeus only, counters Egyptian and Norse units --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hetairoi 60 food, 110 8 hack 3.5 to build- 10% 40% 99% - 16 4.8 100 gold ings SPECIAL: Poseidon only, building killer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gastrophetes 120 wood, 60 8 prc, - 15% 15% 99% 24 16 4.8 80 gold 6 crush SPECIAL: Hades only, bonus versus buildings --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petrobolos 150 wood, 110 5 prc, 2.5 to ships 30% 90% 80% 28 max, 40 2.4 200 gold 11 pierce 10 min SPECIAL: effective versus buildings & ships --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Helepolis 300 wood, 650 5 prc, - 5% 96% 50% 10 18 2.9 200 gold 17 crush SPECIAL: counters buildings, can transport units --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trireme 100 wood, 290 6 prc 3 to transport 30% 20% 10% 12 24 6 50 gold ships SPECIAL: Counters hammer ships --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pentekonter 100 wood, 240 20 hack - 30% 20% 75% 2 16 7 50 gold SPECIAL: counters siege ships --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Juggernaut 100 wood, 480 6 crush .5 to buildings 10% 50% 10% 18 24 4.8 100 gold SPECIAL: counters archer ships --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jason 100 gold, 250 9 hack 7 to myth units 25% 35% 99% - 16 4.3 (hero) 50 gold SPECIAL: Counters myth units, Zeus only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Odysseus 200 wood, 320 8 prc 7 to myth units 20% 30% 99% 18 20 4 (hero) 2 favor SPECIAL: myth unit counter, Zeus only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heracles 350 food, 400 10 hack 7 to myth units 25% 40% 99% - 16 4.3 (hero) 4 favor SPECIAL: counter myth units, Zeus only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bellerophon 400 gold, 400 20 hck, 5 to myth units 20% 40% 99% 14 max, 16 6 (hero) 6 favor 4 min jump range SPECIAL: jump attack does 100 bonus hack damage, 7 bonus damage to myth units, Zeus only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theseus 100 food, 240 9 hck 7 to myth units 25% 40% 99% - 16 4.3 (hero) 50 gold SPECIAL: counters myth units, Poseidon only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hippolyta 200 wood, 240 9 prc 7 to myth units 20% 30% 99% 18 20 4.3 (hero) 2 favor SPECIAL: myth unit counter, Poseidon only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Atalanta 350 wood, 350 8 hck 7 to myth units 35% 40% 99% - 16 6 (hero) 4 favor SPECIAL: myth unit counter, Poseidon only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Polyphemus 400 gold, 540 15 hck, 5 to myth units,40% 40% 99% - 20 2.9 (hero) 6 favor 5 crush, 7 to myth units with gore attack 60 hack (for gore) SPECIAL: myth unit counter, gore attack (bonus damage), Poseidon only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Argo 250 wood, 480 8 prc 5 to buildings 40% 25% 20% 16 24 4.8 (naval hero) 8 favor and myth units, 3 to transport SPECIAL: counters myth units, bonus damage vs buildings, Poseidon only, built at dock --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ajax 100 food, 240 9 hck 7 to myth units 30% 35% 99% - 16 4.3 (hero) 50 gold SPECIAL: counters myth units, Hades only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chiron 200 wood, 300 7 prc 7 to myth units 20% 20% 99% 14 20 5.3 (hero) 2 favor SPECIAL: counters myth units, Hades only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Achilles 350 food, 340 9 hck 7 to myth units 40% 45% 99% - 16 5.5 (hero) 4 favor SPECIAL: counters myth units, Hades only ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Perseus 400 gold, 360 7 hck 10 to myth unit 20% 40% 99% 5 for 16 4.3 (hero) 6 favor Medusa head SPECIAL: counter myth unit, Can stone units with Medusa's Head, Hades only ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kataskopos - 70 2 hck - 10% 70% 99% - 14 5.5 SPECIAL: Scout unit. Costs nothing, but can not be rebuilt if lost. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **************** GREEK MYTH UNITS **************** Hit Attack Bonus Hack Pierce Crush Line of Unit Cost Points Damage Damage Armor Armor Armor Range Sight Speed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pegasus 50 food, 140 - - 50% 50% 99% - 18 5 (Myth unit) 2 favor SPECIAL: Can be built by any Greek player, flying scout ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hippocampus - 70 - - 10% 70% 99% - 16 6.6 (Myth unit) SPECIAL: naval scout, Poseidon only, provided free when dock built, respawning ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shade - 275 6 hck - 20% 20% 99% - 16 4 (myth unit) SPECIAL: Hades only, 20% of slain units return as Shades at temple ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cyclops 250 food, 500 15 hck, 3 to myth units 40% 50% 80% - 16 3.2 (myth unit) 22 favor 12 crush, 30 hack for throw attack SPECIAL: Ares only, can throw human units, bonus versus myth units ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Minotaur 200 food, 300 15 hck, 3 to myth units 60% 50% 80% - 20 4 (myth unit) 16 favor 10 crush, 60 hack for gore attack SPECIAL: Athena only, Gore attack versus human units, bonus versus myth units ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Centaur 150 wood, 220 12 prc, 3 to myth units 25% 35% 80% 12 20 5 (myth unit) 12 favor 24 prc for accuracy attack SPECIAL: Hermes only, bonus damage vs myth, accuracy attack - double damage, 100% accurate, recharges ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manticore 300 wood, 420 11 prc, 1 to myth units 30% 60% 80% 16 20 4.3 (myth unit) 28 favor 15 prc for recharging attack SPECIAL: Apollo only, bonus vs myth, recharging attack with bonus projectiles, damage bonus ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nemean Lion 250 gold, 660 20 hck, 3 to myth unis 30% 60% 80% - 16 4.8 (myth unit) 25 favor 10 crush, 12 hack from roar (splash damage) SPECIAL: Aphrodite only, bonus vs myth, recharge roar causes splash damage to all near it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hydra 250 food, 800 20 hck, 2 to myth units 60% 40% 80% 2 6 4 (myth unit) 28 favor 10 crush SPECIAL: Dionysus only, bonus vs myth, grows new heads (increases attack) with successful kills ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scylla 200 gold, 1000 25 hck, - 40% 70% 99% - 16 5.3 (naval myth) 15 favor 12 crush SPECIAL: Dionysus only, grows heads after kills to increase attack damage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chimera 200 gold, 600 20 hck, 3 to myth 60% 60% 80% 8 (fire)16 5.3 (myth unit) 30 favor 15 hack for fire SPECIAL: Artemis only, bonus vs myth, fire breath attack (splash damage) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colossus 300 gold, 1100 20 hck, 3 to myth units 50% 80% 80% - 16 2.4 (myth unit) 40 favor 50 crush SPECIAL: Hephastus only, bonus vs myth units, can eat trees and gold mines to regain health ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Medusa 250 gold, 360 15 prc, - 60% 70% 80% 10 18 4.3 (myth unit) 40 favor 12.5 crush SPECIAL: Hera only, Special attack turns units to stone. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carcinos 200 wood, 720 20 hck, - 70% 60% 80% - 16 4.3 (myth unit) 20 favor 12 crush SPECIAL: Hera only, death releases boiling blood (damages all nearby units) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ 6.2 Egyptian Units ------------------ Hit Attack Bonus Hack Pierce Crush Line of Unit Cost Points Damage Damage Armor Armor Armor Range Sight Speed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Axemen 40 food, 70 5 hack 4 infantry, 40% 5% 99% - 16 4.3 30 gold Hersir and Heroes of Ragnarok SPECIAL: Infantry counter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Slinger 60 wood, 65 3 prc 4 to archers, 15% 20% 99% 16 20 4 24 gold 3 to throwing axemen, 1.25 to hypaspist & Axemen SPECIAL: counters archers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spearmen 50 food, 70 7 hack 1.2 to cavalry 40% 20% 99% - 16 5 20 gold SPECIAL: Cavalry counter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chariot Archer 100 wood, 90 8.5 prc - 30% 25% 99% 20 24 5.3 40 gold SPECIAL: infantry counter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Camelry 50 food, 125 8 hck 1.75 to cavalry 15% 30% 99% - 16 6 70 gold SPECIAL: counters cavalry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- War Elephant 180 food, 450 12 hack 3 to buildings 10% 40% 99% - 16 2.9 70 gold SPECIAL: excellent against buildings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pharaoh - 100 12 prc 5 to myth units 15% 15% 99% - 16 4 SPECIAL: Hero unit (counters myth units), empowers buildings (+20% gathering, +200% building, +30% training rates), provided free at game start, respawning -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Priest 100 gold 90 3 prc 7 to myth units 10% 0% 99% - 8 3.6 SPECIAL: counters myth units, heals units, Ra's can empower buildings (+25% gather) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mercenary 90 gold 85 8 hck - 45% 30% 99% - 20 4.3 SPECIAL: cavalry counter, fast training time, short life, only have 12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mercenary 120 gold 190 8 hck - 60% 70% 99% - 22 5.3 Cavalry SPECIAL: archer counter, fast training, short life, limit of 8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Siege Tower 200 wood, 350 50 crsh, - 5% 96% 90% 12 rang,20 2.9 100 gold 3 prc 3 ram SPECIAL: building counter, can transport units -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catapult 200 wood, 115 50 crsh, 2.5 to ships 30% 90% 80% 10 min 40 2.4 200 gold 10 prc 28 max SPECIAL: counters buildings & ships -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kebenit 100 wood, 290 6 prc 3 to transport 30% 20% 10% 12 24 6 50 gold ships SPECIAL: hammer ship counter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ramming 100 wood, 240 20 hck - 30% 20% 10% - 16 7 Galley 50 gold SPECIAL: siege ship counter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- War Barge 100 food, 480 6 crsh .5 buildings 10% 50% 10% 18 24 4.8 100 gold SPECIAL: counters archer ships and buildings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ******************* EGYPTIAN MYTH UNITS ******************* Hit Attack Bonus Hack Pierce Crush Line of Unit Cost Points Damage Damage Armor Armor Armor Range Sight Speed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anubite 100 food, 200 13 hck, 3 to myth units 60% 65% 80% 4 min 16 5.3 (myth unit) 15 favor 15 hack for jump attack 8 max for jump SPECIAL: Anubis only, bonus versus myth units, jump attack with bonus damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sphinx 120 food, 300 11.25 hck 3 to myth 45% 60% 80% - 22 5.3 (myth unit) 20 favor 5 crush, 20 hack (whirlwind attack) SPECIAL: Bast only, bonus vs myth units,Whirlwind attack (bonus damage) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wadjet 150 wood, 240 16 prc - 20% 30% 80% 18 20 3.8 (myth unit) 15 favor SPECIAL: Ptah only, fights at range by spitting venom -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petsuchos 200 gold, 480 20 crsh, - 30% 50% 80% 20 24 3.6 (myth unit) 20 favor 50 pierce SPECIAL: Hathor only -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Roc 150 gold, 350 - - 40% 25% 80% - 20 5.3 (myth unit) 15 favor SPECIAL: Hathor only, can transport units -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leviathan 200 gold, 1020 25 hck - 40% 60% 80% - 22 4.2 (myth unit) 20 favor SPECIAL: Nephthys only, naval myth unit, can transport units --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scorpion Man 150 wood, 500 25 hck, 2 to myth units 50% 40% 80% - 16 5 (myth unit) 25 favor bonus poison damage SPECIAL: Nephthys only, bonus vs myth units, poison damage bonus --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scarab 300 food, 670 12 crsh, 5 to building 30% 75% 80% - 16 3.2 (myth unit) 20 favor 6 hack SPECIAL: Sekhmet only, bonus versus buildings, when killed releases toxic blood (bonus damage) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avenger 250 food, 600 28 hack, 3 myth unit 60% 40% 80% - 18 5.3 (myth unit) 30 favor 25 hack splash with whirlwind SPECIAL: Horus only, bonus vs myth, splash damage from Whirlwind attack --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mummy 200 gold, 350 12 prc - 35% 50% 80% 12 18 4 (myth unit) 35 favor SPECIAL: Osiris only, converts human units into Minions (fight for mummy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phoenix 200 gold, 400 20 hck, - 15% 55% 80% 4 20 3.6 (myth unit) 30 favor 30 crush SPECIAL: Thoth only, excellent versus buildings. Turns to egg when killed. Retrain at cost. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sea Turtle 300 food, 960 25 hck, - 40% 70% 80% - 22 5.3 (myth unit) 20 favor 20 cruch; 100 hack, 30 crush with buck attack SPECIAL: Thoth only, buck attack with bonus damage --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ancestors - 140 (special) SPECIAL: Summoned through the Ancestors GP, or created by Mummies as a minion --------------- 6.3 Norse Units --------------- Hit Attack Bonus Hack Pierce Crush Line of Unit Cost Points Damage Damage Armor Armor Armor Range Sight Speed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ulfsark 50 food, 80 9 hck 3 to obelisks 30% 5% 99% - 16 4.8 30 gold SPECIAL: counters cavalry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Throwing Axeman 50 wood, 65 4.5 hck 2.25 infantry 35% 10% 99% 9 16 4 40 gold SPECIAL: counters infantry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Raiding 40 food, 105 8 hck 1.25 archers, 15% 35% 99% - 9 6 Cavalry 50 gold 1.75 Throwing Axemen SPECIAL: counters archers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hersir 80 food, 130 8 hck 6 to myth units 20% 15% 99% 20 16 4.2 (Hero) 40 gold SPECIAL: Norse hero unit. Can be massed. Each has a unique (and funny) name. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huskarl 75 wood, 115 8 hck 2 to archers 15% 50% 99% - 16 5 40 gold SPECIAL: counters archers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jarl 50 food, 180 9 hck 4 to myth units 20% 35% 99% - 16 4.8 80 gold SPECIAL: counters myth units -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portable Ram 125 wood, 250 40 crsh - 5% 99% 90% 2 14 3.6 125 gold SPECIAL: rips buildings apart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ballista 150 wood, 85 9 prc, 3 to ships 20% 80% 80% 4 min, 40 2.4 150 gold 4 crush 30 max SPECIAL: infantry & ship counter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Longboat 100 wood, 290 6 prc 3 to trans ship 30% 20% 10% 12 24 6 50 gold SPECIAL: counters hammer ships -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drakkar 100 wood, 240 20 hck - 30% 20% 75% - 16 7 50 gold SPECIAL: siege ship counter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dragon Ship 100 wood, 480 6 crsh .5 to buildings 10% 50% 10% 3 (ram) 24 4.8 100 gold 12 ranged SPECIAL: counters archer ships, buildings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **************** NORSE MYTH UNITS **************** Hit Attack Bonus Hack Pierce Crush Line of Unit Cost Points Damage Damage Armor Armor Armor Range Sight Speed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Raven - 50 - - 20% 50% 99% - 16 4 (myth unit) SPECIAL: Odin only, 2 are granted in classical (2nd) age, respawn at temple, scouts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Troll 150 wood, 200 12 prc 3 to myth 50% 5% 80% 14 20 3.6 (myth unit) 15 favor SPECIAL: Forseti only, bonus vs myth units, heal as they do damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Valkyrie 200 food, 360 12 hck 3 to myth 55% 70% 80% 10 max 20 6 (myth unit) 20 favor for healing SPECIAL: Freyja only, can heal allied units, bonus vs myth units -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Einherjar 150 gold, 250 15 hck, 3 to myth unit 70% 60% 80% 10 for 16 3.2 (myth unit) 20 favor 10 crush attack boost SPECIAL: Heimdall only, horn blast boosts allied units 50% (attack), good versus buildings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Battle Boar 250 gold, 720 20 hck, 2 to myth 60% 60% 80% - 16 5.3 (myth unit) 30 favor 20 crush; 10 hack bonus for buck attack SPECIAL: Bragi only, bonus vs myth units, buck attack with bonus damage kicks enemy troops away -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kraken 300 food, 900 30 hck, - 50% 70% 80% - 22 6 (myth unit) 25 favor 20 crush; 40 hack for throw attack SPECIAL: Njord only, naval myth unit, throw attack against ships and shoreline troops -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mountain Giant 300 food, 1200 20 hck, 2 to myth unit 45% 30% 80% - 16 3.2 (myth unit) 30 favor 25 crush; 30 hack for gore; 120 crush for building bash SPECIAL: Njord only, bonus vs myth units. Bonus damage vs units (Gore) and buildings (bash) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frost Giant 200 gold, 600 18 hck, 3 to myth unit 55% 70% 80% 4 for 16 3.8 (myth unit) 25 favor 12 crush freezing breath SPECIAL: Skadi or Hel only,bonus vs myth units, Freezing breath stops human units -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fire Giant 300 gold, 600 25 hck, - 60% 80% 80% 14 18 3.2 (myth unit) 35 favor 20 crush; +10 hack, 20 crush with special fireball attack SPECIAL: Baldr or Hel only, special attack causes extra fire balls, more damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fenris Wolf 150 gold, 360 15 hack 3 to myth unit 40% 50% 80% 25 to 16 4 Brood 15 favor boost range (myth unit) SPECIAL: Tyr only, bonus vs myth units, +20% bonus attack when extra wolf in range. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jormund Brood 200 gold, 800 40 prc - 20% 30% 80% 20 24 6 (myth unit) 15 favor SPECIAL: Tyr only, naval myth unit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- 6.4 Unit Counters ----------------- Because some units are better against other tyoes of units, this list may prove helpful when you find your enemey is creating a large amount of a certian unit. This list was compiled by going through the complete lists above and finding which units get a bonus against other units and which ones are better protected through armor against a units normal attack. Unit Counter Counter with... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hoplite (Greek) Cavalry Toxote, Hypaspist, Axemen, Chariot Archer, Throwing Axemen --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Toxote (Greek) Infantry Peltast, Hippikon, Slinger, Mercenary Cavalry, Jarl, Raiding Cavalry, Huskarl --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hypaspist (Grk) Infantry Toxote, Chariot Archer, Throwing Axemen --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peltast (Greek) Archer Hippikon, Mercenary Cavalry, Raiding Cavalry, Huskarl, Jarl --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hippikon (Grk) Archer Hoplite, Prodromos, Spearmen, Mercenary, Camelry, Ulfsark --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prodromos (Grk) Cavalry Hoplite, Spearman, Mercenary, Camelry, Ulfsark --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myrmidon (Grk) Egyptian/Norse Toxote, Hypaspist, Cataphract, Axeman, Chariot Archer, Throwing Axeman infantry --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hetariroi (Grk) Building Hoplite, Prodromos, Spearman, Mercenary, Camelry, Ulfsark --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gastraphetes Building Prodromos, Mercenary, Camelry, Hippikon, Raiding Cavalry, Jarl (Greek) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greek Hero Myth units any human unit --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petrobolos (Grk)Building Hippikon, Prodromos, Hetairoi, Camelry, Merc Cavalry, Raiding Cavalry, Jarl --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Helepolis (Grk) Building Hippikon, Prodromos, Hetairoi, Camelry, Merc Cavalry, Raiding Cavalry, Jarl --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trireme (Grk) Hammer Ship Juggernaut, War Barge, Dragon Ship --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pentekonter (Grk)Siege Ship Trireme, Kebenit, Longboat --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Juggernaut (Grk) Archer Ship Pentekonter, Ramming Galley, Drakkar ================================================================================================================ Axeman (Egypt) Infantry Toxote, Chariot Archer, Throwing Axeman, Jarl --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Slinger (Egypt) Archer Hippikon, Myrmidon, Mercenary Cavalry, Raiding Cavalry, Huskarl, Jarl --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spearman (Egypt)Cavalry Toxote, Hypaspist, Myrmidon, Axeman, Chariot Archer, Throwing Axeman --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chariot Archer Infantry Hippikon, Mercenary Cavalry, Camelry, Raiding Cavalry, Jarl, Peltast, (Egypt) Slinger --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Camelry (Egypt) Cavalry Hoplite, Myrmidon, Spearman, Ulfsark --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- War Elephant Building Hoplite, Prodromos, Myrmidon, Spearman, Camelry, Ulfsark (Egypt) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pharaoh (Egypt) Myth unit Human unit or hero (Preist, Greek Hero, Hersir) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mercenary (Egypt)Cavalry Toxote, Hypaspist, Myrmidon, Axeman, Chariot Archer, Throwing Axeman --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mercenary Archer Hoplite, Prodromos, Myrmidon, Spearman, Camelry, Ulfsark Cavalry (Egypt) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catapult (Egypt)Building Hippikon, Prodromos, Hetairoi, Camelry, Mercenary Cavalry, Raiding Cavalry --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Siege Tower Building Hippikon, Prodromos, Hetairoi, Camelry, Mercenary Cavalry, Raiding Cavalry (Egypt) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kebenit (Egypt) Hammer Ship Juggernaut, War Barge, Dragon Ship --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ramming Galley Siege Ship Trireme, Kebenit, Longboat (Egypt) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- War Barge Archer Ship Penteknoter, Ramming Galley, Drakkar (Egypt) =============================================================================================================== Ulfsark (Norse) Cavalry Toxote, Hypaspist, Myrmidon, Cataphract, Axeman, Chariot Archer, Throwing Axeman --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Throwing Axeman Infantry Peltast, Toxote, Chariot Archer, Slinger, Raiding Cavalry (Norse) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Raiding Cavalry Archer Hoplite, Prodromos, Myrmidon, Spearman, Mercenary, Camelry, Ulfsark (Norse) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huskarl (Norse) Archer Toxote, Hypaspist, Myrmidon, Cataphract, Axeman, Chariot Archer, Throwing Axeman --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jarl (Norse) Myth unit Hoplite, Prodromos, Myrmidon, Spearman, Mercenary, Camelry, Ulfsark --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hersir (Norse) Myth unit any human unit, or hero unit (hersir, Greek hero, preist) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portable Ram Building Hippikon, Prodromos, Hetairoi, Camelry, Mercenary Cavalry, Jarl, Raiding Cavalry (Norse) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ballista (Norse)Human unit Hippikon, Prodromos, Hetairoi, Camelry, Mercenary Cavalry, Jarl, Raiding Cavalry --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Longboat (Norse)Hammer ship Juggernaut, War Barge, Dragon Ship --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drakkar (Norse) Siege Ship Trireme, Kebenit, Longboat --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dragon Ship Archer Ship Pentekonter, Ramming Galley, Drakkar (Norse) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MYTH UNITS Human units, Hero (Hersir, Priest, Pharaoh, Greek Hero), Jarl, Ramming Ship (any) other myth units or buildings ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ================= 7.0 Gameplay Tips ================= Following are some game play tips I have discovered. Also if you have one you think should be here, e-mail me and I will add it and give you full credit. Each God has some tips that are included in their breakdown. Refer back to them to find good uses for god powers, suggested units and general civilization play tips. Before choosing a major god, learn about all of the strengths and weaknesses of each. Pick one that suits your style. Once you have learned the basics, feel free to try other gods. Remember that the Greeks are the easiest civilization to learn since they are so similiar to other games races. Learn the hot keys (and reassign them if you find them strange). Teach yourself one or two new keys each game and get in the habit of using only them to do the associated action. Keep learning them and using them until you can play the game using the mouse only for moving viewpoints. (easier said then done I know :) ). ============= 8.0 Resources ============= There are many things to gather and many ways to do it in AoM. Of the five types of resource (yes, five!), three are easy enough to get and understand. Food, wood and gold are all gathered with your gatherers. Each type is also gathered at a different rate. Favor is a resource, but you don't really have a lot of control over how it is gathered. Finally there is population. ---- Food ---- Food is gathered with your villagers (or dwarves if you want with the Norse). There are many forms of food in Age of Mythology. There are bushes, each containg 100 units of food. There are herdable animals (goats, pigs, cows), chickens, and huntable animals (zebras, deer, elephants, etc.). Some of the huntable animals will attack the gatherers you are hunting with so make sure you have enough to do the job. The following tables show how much food each animal will give. Keep in mind that the herdables 'fatten' over time and will gain more units of food if left alone. HERDABLES HUNTABLES Animal Starting food Ending food Animal Food ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Goat 50 300 Baboon 100 Pig 50 300 Crowned Crane 100 Cow 75 400 Hyena 100 Lion 100 Monkey 100 Wolf 100 Caribou 150 Deer 150 Elk 150 Gazelle 150 Bear (includes Polar)200 Crocodile 200 Zebra 200 Boar 300 Giraffe 300 Aurochs 400 Hippopotamus 400 Walrus 400 Water Buffalo 400 Rhinoceros 500 Elephant 750 Hunting is the fastest way to gather food in the early game (esp, with Odin's bonus). Research Hunting Dogs to improve these even further. Hunting has another bonus for the Norse. They gain favor for each animal they kill. Gathering from bushes is usually safe (unless the enemy is around), and herdables is the safest way to gather, with the single drawback that unless you allow the animals to fatten, you will not gain the full benefit from using them. Farming is a last resort in the early game, with the exception of Ra. Becaue Egyptians are the only ones who can farm in the first age, and Ra can empower buildings, any farms nearby are able to gather faster. Ra can use his priests for this as well, and finally his God Power, Rain, speeds up food gathering for everyone, but most for the caster. It is best to use this before your enemy gets farms built so he doesn't benefit form the increased gathering rate as well. Farms do have the bonus of never going fallow, but can be expensive in the early game when you need to get your other buildings up. Until the late game, when all of the farming improvements have been researched, it is easily the slowest way to gain food. Fishing is also a good source of food, and is faster than farming, but can be expensive in terms of wood as you need to build both a dock and a series of fishing boats. If you fish make sure to research the techs at the dock in the second age and beyond to speed it up some. The two largest benefits to fishing are that a school of fish never runs out (it is infinite) and it basically gives you a second economic center. ---- Wood ---- Food is required to make all buildings (excpet most 'cheap' Egyptian) and for many units. Because things like Egyptian houses and drop off points do not require wood, they can chance forgoing wood collection for the first age or so. However in order to make the stronger units from the Migdol Stronghold, they will need to be a constant flow of wood. Greeks are very dependent upon wood for all buildings and archer units. Norse can afford a little less wood to start with as once they build an oxcart, that can carry them into the age advance. They do however need wood for their barracks and Hill Forts and most of the strong units. ---- Gold ---- Perhaps the most important of the gathered resources as no military unit can be made without it. All units cost wood OR food, but all cost gold (with the excpetion of various Myth units). As such, it is important to protect your gold sources with units or towers. Scout early and find the gold near your outposts so that you can quickly get your gold income started. It is also a great way to win if you can deny your opponents any gold. Without it, they can not create any units other than the odd myth unit, so an easy win can be gained. If you can't deny the enemy of gold, do NOT allow them to do it to you! ----- Favor ----- Each civilization has a unique method of collecting favor, from the worshiping done at Greek temples, to the Egyptians monuments, and the Norse acts of violence. Favor allows you to research some potentially very powerful technologies and without it, you cannot create any myth units (other than whatever free ones you may be entitled to for picking a certain major god). It is possible to win without any favor collected in the game, but with it, your armies can be more varied, preparing them for quicker victories. It should be noted that Norse favor is basically free in that as long as your units are fighting (or at least hunting) there will be favor coming in. Egyptian favor requires an outlay of resources to build the five monuments. As each is built, favor comes in faster. Greeks only need to create a temple and assign some villagers to worship there. Favor for the Greeks is based on a diminishing returns system, so it does not pay to assign more than about 6 villagers to worship. Anything after that is wasted. Also because Zeus assigns favor faster, you may be able to get away with 1 less worshipper. ---------- Population ---------- Population is the most importnat resource in the later stages of the game. By this time you should have a strong economy and an army prepared to at least defend the economy. In order to expand out though, you will need to make sure that you have an economy that keeps resources coming in, while your army should be expanding so that you can go on the offensive. The game will not allow you to build more than 10 houses, each supporting 10 population. That means with 1 town center and 10 houses, you can only have 115 population. With your economic needs, likely half of that is easily used up to gain resources. Because all military units take multiple population slots, you will not have a lot of room for your army. For this reason it is important to build on any free settlement you encounter (easier for the Norse with their infantry build). Also, upon reaching the 4th age, research the Fortified town center technology to gain an extra 3 population for each town center you have. By worship Isis, you will also gain +5 population for each TC, and by using the Citadel (Sekhemet) GP, you also gain +5 (for that TC only). Also note that no matter how many settlements you have, there is still a population cap of 300 for any player in the game. However, do not stop building a town center on a free settlement (or one you have destroyed!) so that your enemy(s) can not replace his population cap without first taking on a TC! -------------------- Unit Gathering Rates -------------------- Unit Gold Wood Hunt Herd Farm ------------------------------------------------------------- Greek Villager 0.91 1.08 0.85 0.73 0.69 Egyptian Laborer 0.82 0.98 0.76 0.65 0.63 Empowered Egyptian L 0.98 1.18 0.91 0.78 0.76 Norse Gatherer 0.90 1.08 0.85 0.73 0.69 Thor's Dwarf 1.13 1.35 Dwarf 1.09 0.80 0.68 0.58 0.53 All numbers are units of resource gathered per second. I used Enhanced Tool Tips (see the download section) to gain the numbers used here. I have not yet worked out the times required to gather fish. ============================= 9.0 Map Types and Game Styles ============================= Age of Mythology has some very cool map types and game styles built into it, as well as a fairly well done single player that has the player take on the role of Arkantos to save the ancient world (and meeting some cool heroes from each of the civilizations). The single player game consists of 32 scenerios starting in the ancient city of Atlantis. Here we meet the hero Arkantos and start learning the plot in the story. I do not plan on creating a walk through as there is already an excellent one at GameFAQs, written by Shironinja. However if you are interested, the basic plot outline follows (don't read it if you don't want to find out what happens). --------------------- Single Player Outline --------------------- Arkantos sets out to defend Atlantis from some pirates and Krakens and is then sent to help fight with the Greeks at Troy. He meets some other heroes such as Ajax, Chiron and Achilles. After some excellent battles defeating the Trojans (including the use of the Trojan Horse), he sets off again to defend Atlantis. He follows the enemy (Gargaransis) into Erebus and is provided divine help from Zeus. He exits the Underworld in Egypt where Amanera meets him and pursades him to help reuinte the 4 pieces of Osiris. After some more excellent battles and plot twists (including the introduction of the Norse) he sets off to help the Norse stop Ragnarock (the end of the world) where again he meets some Norse heroes. He helps the two dwarven brothers Eitri and Brok and enters the Norse version of Erebus where he again defeats Gargaransis. Eventually he defeats the enemy host and can head back to his home of Atlantis. But when he reaches the shores, he finds his enemy waiting for him once again. He again gains divine help from Zeus and defeats the evil once again. At least until the expected expansion pack (Oh Please Ensemble!!!)!!! ----------------------------------------- Multiplayer (& Single player random maps) ----------------------------------------- --------- Map Types --------- RANDOM - Randomly chooses from one of the faster paced aggresive map types available. These include Anatolia, Alfheim, Ghost Lake, Mediterranean, Midgard, Oasis, Savannah, Watering Hole. RANDOM ALL - Completely random map from all of the available types. ACROPOLIS - Defensive style map. Start on a plateau near a corner with high resources. More resources available from map edges and central valleys. ALFHEIM - Lots of hills and forests. Towns can be walled off to hold the enemy back a little longer. ANATOLIA - A desert map with a lot of cliffs and gorges. Wall off as required to gain time. ARCHIPELAGO - Island map. A strong navy is key here as well as transport ships or Rocs to gain more resources. EREBUS - Shades, snakes and lave cover the map. The only food source are boars (which attack back!). GHOST LAKE - a central frozen lake that can't be built on. All resources are near the edges of the map. JOTUNHEIM - Defensive map with sheer cliffs and mountains. The mountain passes are easily walled off to allow you (and your team) to build up before the attack. KING OF THE HILL - There is a Plenty Vault at the maps center. To win, capture the vault and hold on to it until the countdown timer reaches zero. MEDITERRANEAN - A central body of water that can be fished. There are also alot of herdables around the water. It is possible (although expensive) to wall off. MIDGARD - Little food on land, but the waters contain a bounty. There are also walruses near the shore. NOMAD - All units start scattered, without a town center. A settlement must be found and built on to start the conquest of the world. There is no fighting for the first two minutes. My personal favorite. OASIS - There are between 1 and 4 oasis near the map center. Woods surround them. RIVER NILE - Defensive style map. A large river seperates the land of the different teams. SAVANNAH - There is little water (fishing) but tons of huntables on the grasslands. SEA OF WORMS - a large ocean covers half of the map. All players get a fortress on the land. SUDDEN DEATH - All players start with a citadel. No free settlements exist. If you lose your citadel, you are out. Be Careful! TEAM MIGRATION - Start on an island with your team. When the resources are exhausted, you'll need to migrate to the large central island containing the free resources. THE UNKNOWN - Completely random. VALLEY OF THE KINGS - Players from the same team share a city with all the gold protected by Migdol strongholds. VINLANDSAGA - You start on a small island with limited resources. You will need to move to the large central island to gain more resources. Skraelings will attack on sight! WATERING HOLE - Herds of migrating animals move near the bodies of water, no other food is available. ---------- Game Types ---------- SUPREMACY - Win by Conquest, Settlements (2 minute timer starts when you have them all) or by building a Wonder. A timer will start when the Wonder is complete, although as soon as you start building it, everyone can see where. CONQUEST - Defeat all enemy units to win. Omniscience (from the temple) helps here. DEATHMATCH - Start with extra resources. LIGHTNING - The game plays at a high speed. It can be difficult to keep track of everything here. ============== 10.0 Tecnology ============== Although the game can be won with very basic units, it is much harder. By researching the various upgrades available to each player, you can maximize things like your economy or to create very powerful troops. It is also possible to research various defences in order to keep your buildings up longer to aid in keeping the enemy at bay long enough to mount a proper defence. -------------------------- 10.1 Resource Improvements -------------------------- Improvement Resource Effect ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pharaoh Empowering all +20% to gathering that resource Ra's Pharaoh Empowering all +25% to gahtering to that resource Ra's Preist Empowering all +25% to gathering that resource Thoth's Book of Thoth all +10% to gathering rates Aprodite's Divine Blood all villagers 20% faster; carry 10 more; build 25% faster Hephaestus's Plenty Vault GP all +10 food, wood and gold every 5 seconds ------------------------------------------------ Husbandry Herding +20% to gather rate; +30% fattening (herdables); +15 food carry Hunting Dogs Hunting +30% hunting rate Poseidon's Lure God Power herd/ hunt Stone created that lures 1000 food worth of animals Worship Odin Hunting +20% hunting rate Odin's Great Hunt God Power herd/ hunt can double herdable or huntable animals. Increases animals. Thor's Pig Sticker Hunting Villagers do more damage against animals; 20% faster gather. Plow Farming +10% faster farming rate Irrigation Farming +15% faster farming Flood Control Farming +15% faster farming Ra's Rain God Power Farming +300% food gathering, 200% for allies and enemies Bast's Sacred Cats Farming +20% gathering rate Ptah's Shaduf Farming -33% to farm cost; doubles build speed Skadi's Winter Harvest Farming +20% gather rate Purse Seine Fishing +50% fishing rate Salt Amphora Fishing +25% fishing rate; doubles boats carrying capacity Isis's Flood of the Nile Food (all) +0.75 food per second (automatically adds to stockpiles) ------------------------------------------------ Hand Axe Wood +10% gather rate, +5 carry capacity Bow Saw Wood +10% gather, +5 carry Carpenters Wood +10% gather, +5 carry Bast's Adze of Wepawet Wood +10% gather, +5 carry ------------------------------------------------ Pick Axe Gold +10% gather, +5 carry Shaft Mine Gold +10% gather, +5 carry Quarry Gold +10% gahter, +5 carry Isis's Prosperity God Power Gold +80% gather rate Hade's Vault of Erebus Gold +0.75 gold per second (added to stockpile) Norse Dwarven gold miners Gold +20% gold gathering (over human gatherers) ------------------------------------------------ Pharaoh empowering Monumnet Favor +4% favor gain Ra's Pharaoh Empowering Monu. Favor +5% favor gain Ra's Preist Empower. Monument Favor +5% favor gain Anubis's Necropolis Favor +10% favor gain Worship Zeus Favor Start with 15 favor, can reach 200 favor, +25% favor gain Aphrodite's Golden Apples Favor +15% favor gain ------------------------------------------------ Fortify Town Center Population +5 population per Town Center Worship Isis Population +3 population per Town Center Sekhmet's Citadel God Power Population +5 population to the Citadel ----------------------- 10.2 Greek Improvements ----------------------- Improvement God Cost Effect ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Medium Infantry all 150 food, 150 gold +10% attack, Hit points; +1 LOS Medium Archers all 150 wood, 150 gold +10% attack, Hit points; +1 LOS Medium Cavalry all 200 food, 100 gold +10% attack, Hit points; +1 LOS Heavy Infantry all 300 food, 300 gold +10% attack, hit points; +1 LOS Heavy Archers all 300 wood, 300 gold +10% attack, hit points; +1 LOS Heavy Cavalry all 400 food, 200 gold +10% attack, hit points; +1 LOS Champion Infantry all 500 food, 400 gold +10% attack, hit points; +1 LOS Champion Archers all 500 wood, 400 gold +10% attack, hit points; +1 LOS Champion Cavalry all 700 food, 200 gold +10% attack, hit points; +1 LOS Levy Infantry all 300 food -20% infantry training speed Levy Archers all 300 food -20% archer training speed Levy Cavalry all 300 food -20% cavalry training speed Conscript Infantry all 500 food -20% infantry training speed Conscript Archers all 500 food -20% archer training speed Conscript Cavalry all 500 food -20% cavalry training speed Conscript Sailors all 500 food -20% ship building speed Draft Horses all 300 food, 200 gold +20% to siege weapon speed Engineers all 300 food, 500 gold +10% bonus damage Vs walls by siege weapons; +2 range of Petroboli & catapult; +50% crush damage to siege towers & Port. Rams; +25% pierce and crush damage to ranged siege weapons Masons all 200 food, 300 wood +20% building hit points; +5% building crush armor Architects all 400 food, 500 wood +20% building hit points; +5% building crush armor Archer Ship Cladding all 200 wood, 200 gold +10% archer ship pierce damage; +4 range; +20% HP Reinforced Ram all 300 wood, 200 gold +10% hammer ship HP and hack damage Naval Oxybeles all 500 wood, 200 gold +9 siege ship range; +12 siege ship LOS; +10% siege ship Hit points; +2 damage to buildings -------------------------------------------------------- Olympic Parentage Zeus 200 food, 10 favor +25% to Hero Hit Points -------------------------------------------------------- Lord of Horses Poseidon150food, 10 favor +4 cavalry LOS -------------------------------------------------------- Vault of Erebus Hades 200 food, 10 favor +0.75 gold per second -------------------------------------------------------- Will of Kronos Ares 200 food, 25 favor +50% Cyclops Hack attack; +100% Cyclops Crush attack; -25% training speed Phobo's Spear of Panic Ares 200 food, 15 favor +10% Hoplite hack damage Deimo's Sword of Dread Ares 200 food, 15 favor +15% Hypaspist hack damage Enyo's Bow of Horror Ares 250 wood, 20 favor +10% Toxote pierce damage -------------------------------------------------------- Labyrinth of Minos Athena 250 wood, 20 favor Minotaur cost 25% less, gain +40 hit points Sarissa Athena 200 wood, 25 favor Hoplite hack armor +20% Aegis Shield Athena 300 wood, 25 favor +10% infantry pierce armor -------------------------------------------------------- Sylvan Lore Hermes 300 wood, 20 favor +25% centaur hit points, +30% Centaur speed Spirited Charge Hermes 250 food, 35 favor Cavalry +10% hack attack, +10% speed Winged Messenger Hermes 50 gold, 10 favor Pegasus costs zero, -50% training speed, +6 LOS -------------------------------------------------------- Oracle Apollo 200 wood, 10 favor +6 line of sight to all buildings and units Temple of Healing Apollo 150 gold, 20 favor Greek temple gains ability to heal one idle unit at a time Sun Ray Apollo 200 wood, 40 favor +10% pierce attack for archer, Centaur and Manticore -------------------------------------------------------- Roar of Orthus Aphrodite +50% Nemean Lion pierce armor; +20% Nemean Lion 300 food, 20 favor hack attack Golden Apples Aphro. 300 food, 200 gold villagers worship 15% faster (+15% favor gain) Divine Blood Aphro. 200 food, 35 gold +20% villager speed; +20% villager build speed; +10 carry capacity -------------------------------------------------------- Bacchanalla Dionysus 300 wood, 20 favor +5% hit points all units Thracian Horses Dionysus 400 food, 30 favor +20% cavalry hit points Anastrophe Dionysus 300 food, 20 favor Pentekonter +20%hack damage; +10% speed; -25% training speed -------------------------------------------------------- Flames of Typhon Artemis 400 food, 20 favor +30% Chimera attack (hack and flames), +20% HP Shafts of Plague Artemis 400 gold, 40 favor +15% archer pierce damage Trierarch Artemis 300 gold, 40 favor +20% Trireme crush armor -------------------------------------------------------- Hand of Talos Hepha. 300 wood, 20 favor +100 Colossi hit points Shoulder of Talos Hepha. 300 gold, 20 favor +200 Colossi hit points (Hand must be researched 1st) Forge of Olympus Hepha. 300 food, 60 favor Armory improvements reduced 25% cost Weapon of the Titans Hepha. 400 gold, 20 favor +10% attack for Greek unique units (Myrmidon, Gastrophetes, Hetairoi) -------------------------------------------------------- Face of the Gorgon Hera 400 wood, 30 favor +33% Medusa Hit points Athenian Wall Hera 400 wood, 30 favor +30% building hit points, +10% wall hit points Monstrous Rage Hera 250 food, 20 favor +25% myth unit attacks (hack, crush & pierce) -------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- 10.3 Egyptian Improvements -------------------------- Improvement God Cost Effect ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Medium Axemen all 100 food, 100 gold +10% attack, hit points; +1 LOS Medium Slingers all 100 wood, 100 gold +10% attack, hit points; +1 LOS Medium Spearman all 100 food, 100 gold +10% attack, hit points; +1 LOS Heavy Axemen All 300 food, 300 gold +10% attack, +15% hit points; +1 LOS Heavy Slingers all 300 wood, 200 gold +10% attack and hit points; +1 LOS Heavy Spearmen all 300 food, 200 gold +10% attack, +15% hit points; +1 LOS Heavy Chariot Archers all 150 wood, 150 gold +10% attack and hit points; +1 LOS Heavy Camelry all 150 food, 150 gold +20% attack, +15 hit points; +1 LOS Heavy War Elephants all 200 food,150 gold +10% attack and hit points;+1 LOS Champion Axemen all 400 food, 300 gold +10% attack; +20% hit points; +1LOS Champion Slingers all 400 wood, 300 gold +10% attack and hit points; +1 LOS Champion Spearmen all 400 food, 300 gold +10% attack; +20% hit points; +1 LOS Champion Chariot Archers all 400 wood, 200 gold +10% attack & hit points; +1 LOS Champion Camelry all 400 food, 200 gold +10% attack, +20% hit points; + 1 LOS Champion War Elephants all 500 food, 400 gold +10% attack & hit points; +1 LOS Levy Barracks Soldiers all 600 food -20% train speed barracks units Levy Migdol Soldiers all 600 food -20% training speed Migdol Stronghold Units Conscript Barracks Sol. all 800 food -20% training speed barracks units Conscript Migdol Sol. all 800 food -20% training speed Migdol units Conscript Sailors all 500 wood -20% ship building speed Draft Horses all 300 food, 200 gold +20% siege weapon speed Engineers all 300 food, 500 gold +10% damage vs. walls and siege weapons; +2 range; +50% crush damage to siege towers & Rams; +25% pierce and crush to ranged siege attacks Masons all 200 food, 300 wood +20% building hit points; +5% building crush armor Architects all 400 food, 500 wood +20% building hit points; +5% building crush armor Archer Ship Cladding all 200 wood, 200 gold +10% archer ship pierce attack; +4 range; +20% HP Reinforced Ram all 300 wood, 200 gold +10% hammership HP and hack damage Naval Oxybeles all 500 wood, 200 gold +9 siege ship range; +12 siege ship LOS; +10% siege ship hit points; +2 damage to buildings -------------------------------------------------------- Skin of the Rhino Ra 50 food, 5 favor +30% laborer hack & pierce armor; +20% hack attack -------------------------------------------------------- Flood of the Nile Isis 200 gold, 9 favor +0.75 food per second -------------------------------------------------------- Ferel Set 100 gold, 10 favor +50% converted animal hack attack; +10% converted animal hack attack; +10% converted animal hack & pierce armor -------------------------------------------------------- Feet of the Jackal Anubis 250 gold, 15 favor +50 Anubite HP; +6 jump range; +20% Anubite hack attack Serpent Spear Anubis 250 food, 12 favor +15% Spearmen hack attack Necropolis Anubis 250 gold, 10 favor +10% favor income rate -------------------------------------------------------- Criosphinx Bast 250 wood, 15 favor +50 Sphinx hit points; +20% hack/+50% crush damage Heirocosphinx Bast 400 food, 20 favor +20% Sphinx speed; +20% hack/+50% crush damage Sacred Cats Bast 110 gold, 10 favor +20% farming rate Adze of Wepawet Bast 100 gold, 10 favor +10% wood gathering; trees come down in 1 hit -------------------------------------------------------- Shaduf Ptah 200 wood, 10 favor Farm cost -33%, build speed doubles Scalloped Axe Ptah 100 food, 10 favor +10% Axemen hack attack Electrum Bullets Ptah 150 gold, 10 favor +15% Slinger pierce attack Leather Frame Shield Ptah 200 wood, 20 favor +20% Spearmen pierce armor -------------------------------------------------------- Crocodopolis Hathor 400 wood, 30 favor Petsuchos +4 range/LOS Medjay Hathor 250 food, 25 favor +30 seconds lifespan for Mercenary & Merc. Cavalry Sun-dried Mud Brick Hathor 300 wood, 20 favor +20% building hit points; building cost -15% -------------------------------------------------------- Spirit of Ma'at Nephthys 200 gold, 25 favor Priest cost -20%; Pharaoh and priest healing rate +200% Funeral Rites Nephthys 200 gold, 16 favor +4 damage to myth units by Pharaoh and priests City of the Dead Nephthys 300 wood, 20 favor +30% Pharaoh hit points; +20% Pharaoh pierce attack -------------------------------------------------------- Bone Bow Sekhmet 250 wood, 10 favor +4 Chariot archer range Slings of the Sun Sekhmet 200 gold, 20 favor +30% slinger damage vs. infantry & Throwing Axemen Stones of Red Linen Sekhmet 200 gold, 25 favor +20% Catapult and War Barge crush damage Rams of the West Wind Sekhmet 400 gold, 20 favor +20% siege tower hit points and crush damage -------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------- 10.4 Norse Improvements ----------------------- Improvement God Cost Effect ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Medium Infantry all 150 food, 150 gold +10% attack and HP; +1 LOS Medium Cavalry all 200 food, 100 gold +10% attack and HP; +1 LOS Heavy Infantry all 300 food, 300 gold +10% attack, +15% HP, +1 LOS Heavy Cavalry all 400 food, 200 gold +10% attack, 15% HP, +1 LOS Champion Infantry all 500 food, 400 gold +10% attack, +20% HP, +1 LOS Champion Cavalry all 700 food, 200 gold +10% attack, +20% HP, +1 LOS Levy Longhouse Soldiers all 600 food 20% reduction in training time Levy Hill Fort Soldier all 600 food ` 20% reduction in soldier training time Conscript Longhouse all 800 food 20% reduction in training time Conscript Hill Fort all 800 food 20% reduction in soldier training time Conscript Sailors all 500 wood -20% to ship training (building time) Draft Horses all 300 food, 200 gold Siege weapon speed +20% Engineers all 300 food, 500 gold +10% damage vs. walls and siege weapons; +25% pierce and crush damage Masons all 200 food, 300 wood +20% building HP, building crush armor +5% Architects all 400 food, 500 wood building HP +20%, crush armor +5% Archer Ship Cladding all 200 wood, 200 gold archer ship pierce damage +10%, +4 range, +20% HP Reinforced Ram all 300 wood, 200 gold +10% hammership HP, +10% hack damage Naval Oxybeles all 500 wood, 200 gold +9 siege ship range, +12 LOS, +10% siege ship HP, +2 damage to buildings Lone Wanderer Odin 175 wood, 5 favor Ulfsark speed +10% Pig Sticker Thor 70 gold, 1 favor gatherers +5 pierce attack, +20% hunting rate Eyes in the Forest Loki 50 gold, 2 favor +3 infantry LOS Hamarrtroll Forseti 200 wood, 10 favor Troll +50% HP, +2 range, +20% pierce attack Hall of Thanes Forseti 300 wood, 10 favor Hersir +10% HP, +10% speed Mithril Breastplate Forseti 100 gold, 10 favor Ulfsark +10% hack armor Aurora Borealis Freyja 200 gold, 10 favor +50% Valkryie hack attack, +20% crush attack, +33% healing speed Thundering Hooves Freyja 300 food, 15 favor +10% jarl and RC speed, +20% jarl & RC HP, +10% Valkyrie HP, +20% Val speed Elhrimnir Kettle Heimdall 250 food, 10 favor +6 Einherjar hack damage, + 10% HP Safeguard Heimdall 300 wood, 15 favor +200% tower & wall HP, tower cheaper (-25% wood and gold) Arctic Wind Heimdall 200 wood, 10 favor Longboat +10% HP & speed Call of Valhalla Bragi 200 wood, 20 favor Ulfsarks gain 25% more hit points Swine Array Bragi 200 wood, 20 favor +1 ulfsark damage versus cavalry Thurisaz Rune Bragi 200 wood, 20 favor +12% myth unit speed Wrath of the Deep Njord 200 gold, 15 favor Kraken gains +200 HP Long Serpent Njord 200 gold, 25 favor Longboat +20% pierce and crush attack Ring Giver Njord 400 gold, 30 favor +20% HP for Jarls Rime Skadi 200 food, 20 favor +33% frost giant HP, +20% frost giant hack attack, freezing breath recharges 25% faster Winter Harvest Skadi 200 food, 20 favor farming rate +20% Huntress' Axe Skadi 200 gold, 20 favor Throwing Axemen +20% hack attack Arctic Gale Baldr 250 wood, 20 favor Dragon Ship +20% speed, +20% hack armor Sons of Sleipner Baldr 400 food, 30 favor Raiding Cavalry +2 damage vs. archers and TAs Dwarven Auger Baldr 300 gold, 35 favor Portable Ram +20% speed, -50% training time Rampage Hel 300 gold, 20 favor -95% myth unit training time Granite Blood Hel 600 wood, 30 favor +100 HP for all ginats Berserkergang Tyr 300 wood, 45 favor Ulfsarks +20% HP, +10% hack attack Bravery Tyr 400 food, 30 favor Huskarl +100% damage versus buildings =========== 11.0 Relics =========== Relic Benefit when garrisoned within a temple ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ankh of Ra Small, continuous favor (about 0.1 favor per second) Anvil of Hepaestus All armory improvements 10% cheaper Armor of Achilles 5% bonus to all infantry hack armor Arrows of Alfar Buildings gain a 20% improvement to attack Black Lotus Faster farming (10% faster) Blanket of Empress Zoe Building crush armor 5% bonus Boots of Kick Everything Heroes move 10% faster Bow of Artemis Archers and troll cost -15%, Centaurs -20% cost Buhen Flagstone Walls cost 25% less Canopic Jar of Imsety Infantry train 15% faster Catoblepas Scales 20% bonus to myth units crush armor Dwarven Calipers Siege weapons cost 20% less Eye of Horus Each TC gains +2 population (pop cap will go up) Eye of Ornlu 5% hack armor bonus to Throwing Axeman, Axeman and Hypaspists Fetters of Fenrir Villagers kill animals with 1 shot (adds a LOT of pierce damage) Girdle of Hippolyta +5% to hitpoints of Throwing Axemen, Toxotes and Chariot Archers Golden Bridle of Pegasus A respawning Pegasus appears at your Temple. Golden Lions Two lions (re)spawn at your temple Harmonia's Necklace villager gold gathering rate +10% Harter's Folly +2 line of sight (LOS) to scout Head of Orpheus LOS of buildings +8 Hera's Thundercloud Shawl +5% human unit pierce armor Khopesh of Horus +1 bonus hero damage to myth units Kithara of Apollo 10% bonus to villagers speed (faster resources) Mithril Horseshoes 10% bonus cavalry speed (includes myth units) Monkey Head Three respawning monkeys appear at your temple Nose of the Sphinx Buildings gain +15% hit points Odin's Spear 5% bonus hack attack for Hoplites, Spearmen and Ulfsarks Oseberg Wagon Trade caravans cost 25% less, move 15% faster Pandora's Box Myth unit training time reduced 25% Pelt of Argus Villagers line of sight (LOS) improved 6 Pygmalion's Statue 40% more villager hitpoints Reed of Nekhebet All naval myth units gain 200% attack bonus for primary attack Ring of the Niebelung Small, continuous gold income Scarab Pendant +1 bonus damage to buildings from Prtable Ram, Helepolis, Siege Tower & Scarab Shard of Blue Crystal villages gather gold and wood faster (5%) Shingles of Steel Houses get triple hitpoints Ship of Fingernails Provides a small continuous food source Sistrum of Bast villagers chaper (10%) Staff of Dionysus Villagers carry 20% more food Tail of Cerebus Myth units use special attacks more (recharge time goes down 25%) Toothed Arrows archers and Ballista gain 5% more pierce damage Tower of Sestus 30% bonus tower pierce attack, 10% bonus tower oil attack Trios Bow +2 LOS for archers and ballista. Also +2 range. Trojan Gate Hinge +20% wall hit points Tusk of the Iron Boar 10% bonus hitpoints to all cavalry and Chariot Archers Wand of Gambantein (also shows as Odin's Wand) Temple improvements 20% cheaper Wadjet Eye Cost of myth units in food, wood and gold reduced by 10% =============================== 12.0 Frequently Asked Questions =============================== 1. Where can I download Age of Mythology? My favorite place to download software is my local software store. Go to one near you, download the box off the shelf and your wallet out of your pocket. Click forward until you are at the counter and pay for the software. If you like Real Time Strategy (RTS) games, AoM is one of the best, and will not dissapoint. 2. What are the differences between armor types? Hack armor protects against melee weapons (swords, hammers, etc.). Pierce armor protects against arrows and Crush armor wards off damage from most siege weapons. If a unit shows 50% hack armor, they will only take half the damage from a hack attack. 3. My hero picked up Odin's Wand. Why is it refered to as Gambanteins Wand? At some point, the name of this relic was changed and not all references were. It still functions as it should. 4. My computer is having trouble keeping up (it is freezing) in larger games. What can I do? If your machine meets the requirements there are a few things you can try. First, make sure that you have the latest drivers for your system. You should have video, sound and motherboard drivers. Also make sure to see if your modem or network card has been updated with drivers. Direct X 9 may also help. Something else I have found to work fairly well is to turn off footprints in the options screen. Make sure that the box isn't light blue. This took me from lagging on a 6 player map, to good performance on a 12 player map. If this doesn't all work, you can try turning off hardware sound acceleration, also from the options screen. 5. I want to use a 'no-CD' patch or fixed executable. Where and how do I get/ use them? I'm sorry, I won't answer that. Although most people who want to use these I think are honest enough and bought AoM, there are a few that haven't. If you really need one for your legal copy of the game, you can search for them yourself. If you pirated the game, please buy a legal copy. This will help Ensemble cover the costs of creating more great titles (hopefully including an expansion!). 6. I am using a fixed executable but can't connect through ESO. Why? See #5 above. 7. The manual in my standard edition is small. Is there more information available? Yes. On CD 1 there is a directory under the one called AOM. It is the DOC directory. In it is a PDF version of the printed manual as well as a PDF version of the technology chart that shipped with the game. As well there is another PDF file that is basically the extra manual that shipped with the collectors edition. There are also some RTF files to help you script maps and stuff like that. Most good word processors can read RTF documents. If you don't already have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to read the PDF files, the installer can be found in the root directory of the CD. 8. I'm playing the Norse and can't seem to get any favor. Why? Norse have to fight or hunt to gain favor. Hersirs gain favor very slowly by just being on the map. Also, if you are only using myth units at this point, they gain no favor at all for fighting. 9. I rotated the map and now I can't find my way around! Please help! If you look at the minimap carefully, you will see that one corner is a different color than the other three. If you rotate again until the odd color is at the top, you will end up back at the default view and should be able to find your way around again. 10. How can I show the game time/ scores? Also is there a way to see more of the battlefield? To show game time, press F11. Scores are shown with F4. Sometimes a turtle icon appears, showing a player with a slow down of some sort. Red and Gold shields show latency (or ping). A red shield is medium ping (bad) while a gold one shows high ping (real bad). To see more of the game screen, press ALT+down arrow. The interface will disappear, leaving only the minimap and unit display screen (if a unit or group is selected). To get the interface back, press ALT+up arrow. 11. I really enjoyed this game. What else has Ensemble done? Ensemble created AoM as the third full title in the Age of line. This started with Age of Empires, it's expansion, The Rise of Rome and continued into Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. It also was given an expansion in The COnquerors. Besides these games, you might enjoy Empire Earth (from Stainless Steel Studios and Sierra). It was created by Rick Goodman who helped create the original Age of Empires. 12. I find the Hard level too easy and Titan whips me is. Is there anything else? YES! I downloaded a few AI enhancements and am still in the process of trying them out, but there are a couple that stand out in my mind. The first is Battlemachine (Beta) and the other is DomBrain. They make the AI a little harder. Another one I haven't tried yet is the Turtle. It is supposed to make the AI hold off attacking for 30 minutes. These AIs are all created by others and I hope they do not think badly of me for putting them in here. 13. I'm not sure I understand how the armor system works. Can you help me? Sure. Lets take the example of a Throwing Axeman and his enemy Hersir. The throwing axemen sees the Hersir at a range of 16 (the same point the Hersir sees him). Becasue the TA has a range of 9, they must move towards each other. When the range is 9, the TA will start throwing his axes. They do a base amount of damage of 5 points of hack. The hersir has a 20% hack armor, so each attack that the axeman does will cause 4 points of damage to the Hersir (5/20%=4). These will be further modified by any research done at the armory or unit production buildings. 14. How does the bonus damage system work? It is fairly straight forward. An example is the Hersirs ability to counter myth units. He will attack the myth unit and instead of doing his normal 8 hack damage, he will do 48 hack damage, minus whatever hack armor the myth unit may have. An example is the Scorpion man with 50% hack armor. 24 damage would be the result of the attack. Again these are modified slightly by armor and weapons research done at the armory and unit production buildings. 15. I can't seem to win against certain civilizations. Is the game balanced? LOL! I think it is and have said so many times on the Heaven games forums. Ususally people think that the game is unbalanced because they are seeing a strategy used for the first time and don't know how to counter it. The same can be said of the units. The best thing to do is leanr the counters for units and and build what counters your enemies. Also scout to see what strategy they may be using. ===================== 13.0 Default Hot Keys ===================== General Commands Unit Commands ------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- Create Group CTRL+# (1-9) Stop Q Goto Group # (1-9) Attack Move ALT+right click, A+left click Center view on group ALT+# (1-9) Create waypoint SHIFT + Right click Clear group CTRL+0 Garrison selected units ALT+Right click (on building) Zoom in/ out keypad +/ - Ungarrison N Rotate view mousewheel, CTRL+ Aggresive Stance ALT + A arrow Defensive Stance ALT + D Take Screenshot CTRL + F12 Stand Ground ALT + S Pause Pause Line Formation ALT + L Show/ Hide score F4 Box Formation ALT + B Show/ Hide clock F11 Mixed Formation ALT + M Full map screenshot CTRL+ALT+F12 Scattered Formation ALT + X Review announcements PageUp Clear announcements PageDown Find Idle Villager . (Period) Find Idle Military , (Comma) Find Hero / Center view on selectionSpaceBar Open Chat Window Enter Find Town Center H Hide interface ALT+ down arrow Show interface ALT+ up arrow Buildings Build Find ------------------------------------------------- Academy, Barracks, B CTRL+B Longhouse Archery Range A CTRL+A Armory R CTRL+R Dock D CTRL+D Farm F Fortress, Migdol Stronghold, V CTRL+V Hill Fort Granary G CTRL+G House E Lighthouse L Market X CTRL+X Mining Camp, M CTRL+M Ox Cart Monument U CTRL+U Obelisk O Storehouse, Lumber Camp, N CTRL+N OX Cart Siege Works C CTRL+C Stable S CTRL+S Temple T CTRL+T Tower P CTRL+P Town Center Z H Wall W Wonder J Greek Units Egyptian Units Norse Units ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hoplite P Priest P Ox Cart N Hypaspist Y Mercenary I Dwarf W Toxotes T Merc. Cavalry C Hersir R Peltast P Axemen A Ulfsark U Hippikon C Spearmen S Throwing Axemen T Prodromos P Slinger L Raiding Cavalry C Petrebolos C Chariot Archer A Huskarl K Helepolis R Camel C Jarl J Unique Unit U War Elephant W Portable Ram R Archaic Hero A Siege Tower R Ballista B Classical Hero S Catapult C Battle Boar B Heroic Hero D Anubite A Einherjar E Mythic Hero F Avenger V Fenris Brood W Centaur C Mummy U Fire Giant F Chimera I Petsuchos C Frost Giant G Colossus O Phoenix N Mountain Giant M Hydra H Roc R Troll T Manticore M Scarab S Valkyrie V Medusa D Scorpion Man M Kraken (dock) K Minotaur T Sphinx X Jormund Elver J Nemean Lion N Wadjet W (dock) Pegasus P Leviathan (dock)L Scylla (dock) Y War Turtle U Carcinos (dock) C (dock) Argo (dock) O ========================= 14.0 Web Links and Cheats ========================= ------------------- 14.1 Official Sites ------------------- Microsoft www.microsoft.com/games/ Ensemble Studios www.ensemblestudios.com -------------------- 14.2 Community Sites -------------------- Age of Mythology Heaven http://aom.heavengames.com/ Mr. Fixit Online http://www.rtscentral.com/aomHome.asp Planet Age of Mythology http://www.planetageofmythology.com Age of Mythology Files http://www.aomfiles.com/file.index -------------- 14.3 Fan Sites -------------- If you would like your Age of Mythology site listed here, e-mail me. ----------------------- 14.4 Mythology Websites ----------------------- Norse Mythology http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~cherryne/mythology.html Bulfinch's Mythology http://www.bulfinch.org/ Greek Mythology http://www.messagenet.com/myths/ --------------------------------- 14.5 Suggested files for download --------------------------------- Version 1.05 patch. The game will auto-update when you connect to ESO. It can also be downloaded and installed manually from most fan sites. AoM Enhanced Tooltips. Replaces the tooltips from the game with ones that are more specific. Instead of something improving armor, it will show by how much. Find it (and the installation instructions) here: http://www.rtscentral.com/aom_tooltips.asp DomBrain, Battlemachine and Turtle. These are enhancement AIs that go into your AI directory and are supposed to make the game more challenging (or more defensive). The Golden Gift. A bonus scenerio for AoM that involves the 2 dwarves Brokk and Eitri in a Norse setting. I haven't had time to play it yet, but soon... There are also tons of user made maps and scenerios available to download as well as many utilities that make either the game better or the editor more powerful. Try looking around and seeing what you find. And make sure to keep playing! ----------- 14.6 Cheats ----------- Scouring the internet has resulted in finding the following cheats: Hit ENTER and type the code in. Then hit ENTER again. Code: Effect: ATM OF EREBUS Get 1000 Gold TROJAN HORSE FOR SALE Get 1000 Wood JUNK FOOD NIGHT Get 1000 Food MOUNT OLYMPUS Favor to full (100, 200 for Zeus) LAY OF THE LAND Reveal Map UNCERTAINTY AND DOUBT Hide map THRILL OF VICTORY Instant Win CHANNEL SURFING Skips to next scenario in campaign L33T SUPA H4X0R Fast build DIVINE INTERVENTION Gives back a previously used god power PANDORAS BOX Several random god powers WRATH OF THE GODS Gives you the Destruction (Lightning Storm, Earthquake, Meteor and Tornado) god powers GOATUNHEIM God Power that turns all units to goats FEAR THE FORAGE Walking berry bushes god power BAWK BAWK BOOM Chicken-meteor god power I WANT TEH MONKEYS!!!1! Bunch of monkeys WUV WOO Flying purple hippo TINES OF POWER Collosus-sized boy with fork O CANADA Bear that shoots lazers from eyes ISIS HEAR MY PLEA Heroes from the campaign CONSIDER THE INTERNET Slow down units SET ASCENDANT Reveal all animals on map IN DARKEST NIGHT Changes to night RED TIDE Makes water red MR. MONDAY Increases AI strength (handicap to 1000%) ENGINEERED GRAIN Fully fattens any herd animals you own CONSIDER THE INTERNET Slows the game speed LETS GO! NOW! Speed up the game (two spaces behind the first !) Please do not use cheats in a multiplayer game as it ruins the fun for all! If you are going to use them, at least inform players in your game that they are turned on. ------------------ 14.7 Abbreviations ------------------ AI Artificial Intelligence (the computer opponent) AoM Age of Mythology CA Chariot Archers ES Ensemble Studios ESO Ensemble Studios Online GP God Power HP Hit points LOS Line of Sight MS Migdol Stronghold or Microsoft (depending on context) MU Myth Unit Rax The Barracks building for a given civ RC Raiding Cavalry TA Throwing Axemen TC Town Center vil (or villy,etc.) Villager ===================== 15.0 Credits & Thanks ===================== First and foremost, I must thank my family. My wife Susan, daughter Shantal (they both play as well!) and my new son Misha. You guys are the best. Thanks for the help and support. Shantal can rattle off everything about this game (and has in her sleep I think!). Second, Ensemble Studios and Microsoft. Never thought I would thank M$. but there you go. Between the two of them we have been granted some excellent games in the Age of titles. But I still think this is the best of the three! I would also like to thank Shironinja - Jonathan Galloway (a fellow Canadian maybe?!?). He wrote the first FAQ for this game (that I found anyway!) and granted me kind use of much of his work. If something in here is his, credit goes to him. But any errors are mine! To you, the reader of this. At least I hope someone reads this since I took some time to write it! LOL ========== 16.0 Legal ========== I'm not a lawyer, but here goes... This document is mine and I hope you enjoy it and find good information within it. However, since I did the work and research into this thing, please don't change it and post it as your own. If you would like to use sections of it for some reason, please credit me somewhere for the information. If you take something from here that is someone else's, please credit them. I am not making any money on this, so it is expected that you will not... I will do my best to make sure the information within is correct, but mistakes happen. Besides, things change at each patch! If you see an error please e-mail me and I will correct it. Age of Mythology is a copyright of Ensemble Studios and Microsoft Age of Empires, Age Of Empires II: The Age of Kings, The Rise of Rome and The Conquerors are all trademarks of Ensemble Studios and Microsoft. Empire Earth is a copyright of Stainless Steel Studios and Sierra.