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{{Header Nav|game=Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings}} | {{Header Nav|game=Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings}} | ||
==Barbarossa 4: The Lombard League== | |||
This scenario is rated to be brutally hard. Therefore we will approach it with absolute ruthlessness. We will use every trick in the book, and then some. The scenario may not be survivable on the first play-through, so we may need to "cheat". | This scenario is rated to be brutally hard. Therefore we will approach it with absolute ruthlessness. We will use every trick in the book, and then some. The scenario may not be survivable on the first play-through, so we may need to "cheat". | ||
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Aim to build Cannon Galleons ASAP, plus any required supporting units. We want to have absolute control of the seas, and all the associated benefits. Phase 3 of this scenario commences when the first Cannon Galleon is built. | Aim to build Cannon Galleons ASAP, plus any required supporting units. We want to have absolute control of the seas, and all the associated benefits. Phase 3 of this scenario commences when the first Cannon Galleon is built. | ||
==Resources== | ====Resources==== | ||
As Phase 2 progresses, you will find lots of stone. By the time that you are ready to start your first offensive actions, you should have found at least 27 stone mines, every pebble of which you can expect to get. Added to your initial 800 stone, that's over 10,000 stone!! You can easily build 10 castles with this, with a lot still available for other purposes. 10 castles!! Think about that for a minute. The bottom line is, you do not lack for stone in this scenario. | As Phase 2 progresses, you will find lots of stone. By the time that you are ready to start your first offensive actions, you should have found at least 27 stone mines, every pebble of which you can expect to get. Added to your initial 800 stone, that's over 10,000 stone!! You can easily build 10 castles with this, with a lot still available for other purposes. 10 castles!! Think about that for a minute. The bottom line is, you do not lack for stone in this scenario. | ||
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As is normal in AoE, you have an effectively infinite amount of wood and food. If there is even a hint that you will ever run out, you are doing something very wrong. | As is normal in AoE, you have an effectively infinite amount of wood and food. If there is even a hint that you will ever run out, you are doing something very wrong. | ||
==Phase 3== | ====Phase 3==== | ||
As soon as you get your first Cannon Galleon, send it to attack the big island fort in the SE. You should already have significant screening forces available. Build several more Cannon Galleons and raze that island. You will bag two Towers, one castle, one dock, some artillery, and a bunch of fishing boats. Ignore the small island fort for now. | As soon as you get your first Cannon Galleon, send it to attack the big island fort in the SE. You should already have significant screening forces available. Build several more Cannon Galleons and raze that island. You will bag two Towers, one castle, one dock, some artillery, and a bunch of fishing boats. Ignore the small island fort for now. | ||
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So far, you should not have seen any serious enemy attack (except the initial one), and very soon, the enemy will be crippled and perhaps unable to ever attack effectively. But you cannot say for sure. One major benefit to having your scouts out well in front of your wall line is that you will see the siege weapons coming well before they actually can hurt you, and keep in mind that if you catch an army on the march, it generally does not fight back. One major benefit to having complete control of the seas is that any attack must arrive by walking. | So far, you should not have seen any serious enemy attack (except the initial one), and very soon, the enemy will be crippled and perhaps unable to ever attack effectively. But you cannot say for sure. One major benefit to having your scouts out well in front of your wall line is that you will see the siege weapons coming well before they actually can hurt you, and keep in mind that if you catch an army on the march, it generally does not fight back. One major benefit to having complete control of the seas is that any attack must arrive by walking. | ||
==Phase 4== | ====Phase 4==== | ||
You are now ready to control the seas. All of your Cannon Galleons, plus appropriate screening forces, sail over to Venice and nuke it. Venice is the only enemy city that builds ships in this scenario, and it is easily accessible by water. Venice will try to resist, but your early raids, in conjunction with your fast offensive, mean that that resistance will be futile. Build up your bombardment force to 5 Cannon Galleons. Venice has huge buildings, so they don't go down as fast as other buildings. | You are now ready to control the seas. All of your Cannon Galleons, plus appropriate screening forces, sail over to Venice and nuke it. Venice is the only enemy city that builds ships in this scenario, and it is easily accessible by water. Venice will try to resist, but your early raids, in conjunction with your fast offensive, mean that that resistance will be futile. Build up your bombardment force to 5 Cannon Galleons. Venice has huge buildings, so they don't go down as fast as other buildings. | ||
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It is worth considering what is the dominant unit in the various ages. In the Dark Age, there is no reasonable way of defeating a Town Center. In the Feudal Age, there is no reasonable way of defeating a stone wall, especially if it is supported by Towers. In the Castle Age, there is no reasonable way of defeating a castle behind a stone wall supported by a mobile force or catapults. But in the Imperial Age, there is no static defense that can reasonably stand up against long-range artillery supported by a mobile force. Naval heavy artillery is the greatest threat, because of its high mobility. The only viable response is to have naval superiority, perhaps to keep your buildings away from the shore, and to use a Maze Complex defense. | It is worth considering what is the dominant unit in the various ages. In the Dark Age, there is no reasonable way of defeating a Town Center. In the Feudal Age, there is no reasonable way of defeating a stone wall, especially if it is supported by Towers. In the Castle Age, there is no reasonable way of defeating a castle behind a stone wall supported by a mobile force or catapults. But in the Imperial Age, there is no static defense that can reasonably stand up against long-range artillery supported by a mobile force. Naval heavy artillery is the greatest threat, because of its high mobility. The only viable response is to have naval superiority, perhaps to keep your buildings away from the shore, and to use a Maze Complex defense. | ||
==The push inland== | ====The push inland==== | ||
It is relatively easy to wipe out Venice. Padua is well inland and not accessible to your navy. Verona has a river passing through it (the Adige), so it should be the next target. There will be at least two difficulties. The primary one is that they use monks, so they have an effective counter to your ships. The second one is that the river restricts your mobility, so you will not be able to maneuver much. You will need to be very careful. | It is relatively easy to wipe out Venice. Padua is well inland and not accessible to your navy. Verona has a river passing through it (the Adige), so it should be the next target. There will be at least two difficulties. The primary one is that they use monks, so they have an effective counter to your ships. The second one is that the river restricts your mobility, so you will not be able to maneuver much. You will need to be very careful. |