Age of Empires III Home City shipments and five ages
Understand decks, shipment timing, politician choices and original age names.
Edition covered
The original 2005 PC game with eight base European civilizations and its Blood, Ice and Steel campaign. Publisher pictures are from the Complete Collection and show Asian Dynasties settings. Definitive Edition balancing, names and added civilizations are separate.
Treat shipments as timed choices
Experience earns Home City shipment opportunities. Select a card from the deck with delivery time in mind. Reinforcements arriving after a battle cannot change that battle.
| Age | Stage | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery Age | Opening | Crates, workers and scouting |
| Colonial Age | Early military | Defend or pressure |
| Fortress Age | Advanced army options | Build a sustainable composition |
| Industrial Age | Late-game development | Improve economy and military |
| Imperial Age | Final standard age | Expensive endgame upgrades |
Prepare the deck before playing
Cards offer units, crates or persistent improvements. Include options for the opening as well as later ages. A late-game-only plan can leave early threats unanswered.
| Card type | Useful situation | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Workers | Safe economic growth | Less immediate army strength |
| Resource crates | A specific cost blocks the plan | Resources still need useful spending |
| Military units | An imminent attack or defense | Delivery timing and location |
| Economic improvement | A longer game | Delayed immediate return |
| Military improvement | The affected unit fills the army | Little value without that unit |
Read the politician reward
European advancement choices provide different benefits alongside age access. Choose according to the next economic or military need. An unlock is useful only when resources can support it.
Follow the original interface
The original Home City progression differs from Definitive Edition, which also changes terminology. Use the labels and card access displayed by the 2005 game.
The original Home City progression differs from Definitive Edition, which also changes terminology. Use the labels and card access displayed by the 2005 game.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Age of Empires III publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Microsoft original game manual, archived copy | microsoft.manymanuals.com |