Talk:Age of Empires/Island Hopping

There is a different approach, though we will take more damages but I think it's safer.

1. When the scenario start, load your archers to the small transport ship and go to the South end of the map, accompanied by 1 War Galley. Ignore enemy ship on the way - your goal is to stop the wood production right away.

2. Land on island 5 (just above the south end of the map). Kill all villagers there.

3. By now your remaining force should have sunk 1-2 enemy War Galley on the starting island. Bring them to the south end too. Use catapult to destroy enemy dock on Island 6, there is no defense.

4. You see on the Achievement menu that Izumo has 6 villagers - but I'm pretty sure that there are only 3 villagers doing wood working on island 5, the rest are fishing boats. Yes, fishing boats count as villagers in this game. So by destroying the villagers and the dock, Izumo has no economy now.

5. The rest is just find and destroy. Use your War Galleys (the one in better shape) to scout,find the enemy, retreat then pound them with Catapult indirect fire. The enemy shouldn't know what hit them.

6. For the north island, the best bet is to land ALL your infantries along with 2 Garwalleys (except the Catapult) to it and win by number.

For me, I prefer keeping the artifacts found in the starting island for safekeeping, then bring the force around