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[DoO_Joris]

Greetings all!

A friend of mine and I are planning to buy and try out AoE3 next week and we have a couple of questions regarding it.
Would you be so kind to answer it? I know it's a lot to read, but if you could answer any of these questions you could really help me out and give me a better start with AoE3.


Buying and Installing
I know there is Age of Empires 3 and 2 expansion packs, namely 'the warchiefs' and 'the asian dynasty'.

1)What options do you have to play the game online?

I guess there is:
-Age of Empires 3 without expansion
-AoE3 with the war chiefs
-AoE3 with the war chiefs and the asian dynasties

But is there also:
-AoE3 without the war chiefs but with the asian dynasties?

In other words, do you have to buy the war chiefs to play the asian dynasties? Or, do you have to buy both expansions to play AoE3 in it's most up-to-date version?

2)I know that with AoM and the Titans you only needed the AoT cd-key to play online. (I owned both though) So, for instance: you and your friend could install AoM:TT with one AoM Vanilla cd-key, but both had to have a Titans cd-key. So, in short: 1 AoM vanilla and 2 AoT keys were enough to play the game online.

I understand that some people might not like the idea, but I was wondering if, maybe, this works with AoE3 and expansions as well? So, would 1 AoE3 and 1 TWC and 2 TAD versions be enough to play the game online with the 2 of us?

In short: what cd keys are needed, what and how many versions need to be bought?

3) Are the expansions a real addition to the original aoe3 vanilla game or is it more of the same?


GAMEPLAY
I also have some questions regarding the gameplay of AOE3 and it's differences with the AoM franchise:

4) What are, gameplay-wise, the biggest and most important differences between AoE3 and AoMTT? Aging up at different times? Less/more economy/battles? Other strategies?

5) Could somebody give me a brief overview about the civ. differences in AoE3 (vanilla)? In AoM(TT) you had very different civilisations, but in AOE3 all civilisations seem to be kinda the same, with the same units and buildings. Am I correct in this? Maybe you could give some main examples, like this civ is esp. good in booming, and that one is good for rushing? Who's OP and who's not?

6) Are the indians an own civ in TWC? Does TWC new features?

7) What do the asians do different from the normal aoe3 vanilla civs? Does TAD bring some new features?

8 ) Could anybody, maybe, find me some basic guide overview regarding the game and the different civilisations? I'd like to read strategies before I'll go online

Other
9) I heard something about a fan-made patch? Could somebody inform me a bit about what it does and if it's needed? Can you still play online with the original eso patch? is the patch for every aoe3 version (every with or without expansion)?

10) Feel free to tell and inform me anything about the game I haven't asked for yet. Anything I should know about installing? Anything I should know about the game(play) itself? Let me know.

Thanks a lot for reading this whole lot, and I hope you can help me out! Thanks in advance for your replies!

-Joris

This post has been edited by DoO_Joris: Mar 29 2009, 01:25 PM

[Incog]

Why not go to the VOD section and download a VOD, you see some gameplay and have commentaries (from 36Drew).

[DoO_Joris]

Hi, and thanks for your fast reply

VoD Section?

Besides, I think that still leaves me with many other questions, esp. the ones regarding "buying and installing".

[Incog]

Ohye.

Well I would suggest buying vanilla, and after watching some TAD VOD's decide the diffreence for yourselves.

And it's one account per vanilla copy.

[DoO_Joris]

K.

-But I'm still wondering what that VoD section is?
-Do I need TWC as well to play TAD online?

[Incog]

K.

-But I'm still wondering what that VoD section is?
-Do I need TWC as well to play TAD online?

-http://agesanctuary.com/index.php?portal=TAD&showforum=419

They're gameplay video's with either commentaries or music. You don't need the game to view them, like recs.

-No, but it's very very very advisable if you want any games on TAD.

[Bastiaan]

Unlike Incognito ill actually try to help you.

Greetings all!

A friend of mine and I are planning to buy and try out AoE3 next week and we have a couple of questions regarding it.
Would you be so kind to answer it? I know it's a lot to read, but if you could answer any of these questions you could really help me out and give me a better start with AoE3.


Buying and Installing
I know there is Age of Empires 3 and 2 expansion packs, namely 'the warchiefs' and 'the asian dynasty'.

1)What options do you have to play the game online?

I guess there is:
-Age of Empires 3 without expansion
-AoE3 with the war chiefs
-AoE3 with the war chiefs and the asian dynasties

But is there also:
-AoE3 without the war chiefs but with the asian dynasties?

In other words, do you have to buy the war chiefs to play the asian dynasties? Or, do you have to buy both expansions to play AoE3 in it's most up-to-date version?

You can play AoE "vanilla", AoE3 with warchiefs (no one plays that online), AoE3 with warchiefs AND asian dynasties, and AoE3 with only Asian Dynasties. Most people have the last option, but if you host your own games, you will not have problems finding a game if you dont have warchiefs. Only quicksearch might take a lot of time to find a game

2)I know that with AoM and the Titans you only needed the AoT cd-key to play online. (I owned both though) So, for instance: you and your friend could install AoM:TT with one AoM Vanilla cd-key, but both had to have a Titans cd-key. So, in short: 1 AoM vanilla and 2 AoT keys were enough to play the game online.

I understand that some people might not like the idea, but I was wondering if, maybe, this works with AoE3 and expansions as well? So, would 1 AoE3 and 1 TWC and 2 TAD versions be enough to play the game online with the 2 of us?

In short: what cd keys are needed, what and how many versions need to be bought?

You will need a unique CD key from each game/expansion. So that would, for the two of you, mean buying 2 gold editions and 2 asian dynasties.

3) Are the expansions a real addition to the original aoe3 vanilla game or is it more of the same?

TWC features 3 new Native american civs (as actually playable, vanilla has only villages you can get to help you) and a lot of new homecity cards. Asian Dynasties feature 3 asian civs. These 6 civs play completely different from the european civs, with different buildings, different age ups (asians use wonders instead of an upgrade) and completely different units.

GAMEPLAY
I also have some questions regarding the gameplay of AOE3 and it's differences with the AoM franchise:

4) What are, gameplay-wise, the biggest and most important differences between AoE3 and AoMTT? Aging up at different times? Less/more economy/battles? Other strategies?

5) Could somebody give me a brief overview about the civ. differences in AoE3 (vanilla)? In AoM(TT) you had very different civilisations, but in AOE3 all civilisations seem to be kinda the same, with the same units and buildings. Am I correct in this? Maybe you could give some main examples, like this civ is esp. good in booming, and that one is good for rushing? Who's OP and who's not?

6) Are the indians an own civ in TWC? Does TWC new features?

7) What do the asians do different from the normal aoe3 vanilla civs? Does TAD bring some new features?

8 ) Could anybody, maybe, find me some basic guide overview regarding the game and the different civilisations? I'd like to read strategies before I'll go online

Other
9) I heard something about a fan-made patch? Could somebody inform me a bit about what it does and if it's needed? Can you still play online with the original eso patch? is the patch for every aoe3 version (every with or without expansion)?

You can play online either with or without the fanpatch, but of course only play against people with the same version. The patch was needed to sort game balance out. It is mainly used by more experienced players.

10) Feel free to tell and inform me anything about the game I haven't asked for yet. Anything I should know about installing? Anything I should know about the game(play) itself? Let me know.

Thanks a lot for reading this whole lot, and I hope you can help me out! Thanks in advance for your replies!

-Joris

I did not play AOM enough to make a good comparison, but someone else will.

Welcome to the AoE3 forum =) Are you dutch btw? (your name sounds dutch)

This post has been edited by Bastiaan: Mar 29 2009, 01:57 PM

[Incog]

Unlike Incognito ill actually try to help you.

Eh you don't know your alphabet? It's an "o" not an "i". Tbh I gave him my advice. I don't see how that doesn't "help". You're a shame to the Netherlands. :/

Btw, there's a demo you could try Joris.

[gagaters]

1) Those are all the options... But if you got vanilla and ASD You can play people wit Vanilla civs and ASD civs, not TWC civs (which involves Aztecs, Iroquois and the Sioux)

2) I am not to sure about that one, I would like somebody to answer that one is well ;D

3) Well, classify Addition; they have 3 more civs each expansion, new units, new buildings, new maps... New treasures... New tactics... Is that what you mean? If not than not to sure XD

4) OK, AoE 3 and AoM has the same aging up style, but without God Powers, Special Upgrades and Special Units, instead you have choices. Example... When you age to Colonial (costs 800 food, and people usual age under 5 minutes) You can choose from, 200 coin and outpost wagon (the wagon makes a tower), 400 wood, 500 food, or 4 cows (which fatten over time, like the goats/pigs/cows in AoM) And the new feature to this is the Home city... it makes the games more strategically, you can rush people more effectively, Why not Boom with economy cards, Or just do whatever... it has more options, and you never know what your enemy is going to do, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED >_< Also More battle ;D I think lol

5) You are somewhat correct, but each civilization has special units, EG... Spanish got Lancers, 20 hand attack X3 against Infantry (I think), and Rodelers (or something like that) Like a pikeman, but only available for Spanish. Russians have Sterlets, (train in packs of 10, due to this, they are a bit weaker and only available for Russians) they also have Opichniks, which is only available for the Russians once again..., lol, so yeah... Each civs have their own unique units... OK Booming civs are mainly British and Portuguese, OP civs are, well... Probably Ottomans with there Janissaries rush, and yeah... um not sure about the rest... but for ASD Japanese OP BIG TIME.

6) TWC give you a choose of these 3 new civs, Iroquois, Aztecs, and Sioux and they have a new feature that is unavailable in vanilla, that is that you can train Mercenaries. XD they are strong little fella’s might I say.

7) Yes ASD brings new features, Consulates, ELEPHAENTS (for the Indians, like... Hindi Indians XD) Wonders, um... new cards, and yeah, maps, natives and treasures again. Oh yeah, to one of the questions early one, they have Natives and trading posts to. Natives boost your eco/military, depends which natives you get, and trading posts give you Extra resources or Experience which goes towards the home city shipment thing I mentioned earlier on.

Um. Check this out

http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/file/925735/41778

Copy and paste into web browser might help you LOL, it’s the basics

9) I don’t know too much about the fan patch so I will let others answer XD

10) Counters... O_o straight out there, Heavy Infantry beats cavalry, Calvary beat Light Infantry, and Light Infantry beats Heavy Infantry, this is the basic countering for the Colonial age battling... if you want me to go into more detail, just message me or whatever, or look up topics about countering

Hope this helped you reply if you are confused.

This post has been edited by gagaters: Mar 29 2009, 02:47 PM

[DoO_Joris]

Thanks both (edit: 3, didn't see your reply before I posted mine ) for your responses.

Yeah I'm Dutch If you both are as well, we might continue this topic in the dutch language^^?

Anyway, a question about that fan patch: Is it only for AoE3+both expansions or also for the standalone game or AoE3+TWC?
Also, is the chance to find players higher or lower without the fan patch?

Thanks so far for the questions, you really helped me out very much already

This post has been edited by DoO_Joris: Mar 29 2009, 02:46 PM

[gagaters]

Thanks both for your responses.

Yeah I'm Dutch If you both are as well, we might continue this topic in the dutch language^^?

Anyway, a question about that fan patch: Is it only for AoE3+both expansions or also for the standalone game or AoE3+TWC?
Also, is the chance to find players higher or lower without the fan patch?

Thanks so far for the questions, you really helped me out very much already

I think it is felxible, and allowed for everything, but not sure, considering that the FP (Fan Patch) Had the updates for all civs, so yeah... I am not sure, but glad if I helped ya =D

[DoO_Joris]

Thanks both for your responses.

Yeah I'm Dutch If you both are as well, we might continue this topic in the dutch language^^?

Anyway, a question about that fan patch: Is it only for AoE3+both expansions or also for the standalone game or AoE3+TWC?
Also, is the chance to find players higher or lower without the fan patch?

Thanks so far for the questions, you really helped me out very much already

I think it is felxible, and allowed for everything, but not sure, considering that the FP (Fan Patch) Had the updates for all civs, so yeah... I am not sure, but glad if I helped ya =D

Yeah, you did. Thanks a lot

[gagaters]

All right, glad I was helpful, XD Make the right choice, I am of to bed its nearly 3:00 AM in Australia, and I got school in 6 hours >_> Not sure how I will pull this off LOL and I got work tonight TILL NEXT TIME, and oh... DoO_Joris, can i add ya to my freinds list?

[DoO_Joris]

Ofc. you can

[thejanitor]

Thanks both (edit: 3, didn't see your reply before I posted mine ) for your responses.

Yeah I'm Dutch If you both are as well, we might continue this topic in the dutch language^^?

Anyway, a question about that fan patch: Is it only for AoE3+both expansions or also for the standalone game or AoE3+TWC?
Also, is the chance to find players higher or lower without the fan patch?

Thanks so far for the questions, you really helped me out very much already

i really would not recommend you get only aoe3+tad, as pretty much everyone who gets the fan patch uses both (and it'll be much harder for you to get a game)

at lower levels it'll be easier without the fan patch, at higher levels it'll be easier with the fan patch. so id suggest playing some games on es patch, getting decent then switching, shouldnt take too long as im guessing you'll be decent as you played aom a long time (and have some knowledge of rts games).

[Viper]

When you're starting out on TAD I wouldn't recommend using the fan patch. Not many players at the lower skill levels use it. As you start to get higher however (past PR 20 generally), you'll be able to find fan patch games on a regular basis.

Like Redeye suggested, if you're going to get TAD, get TWC as well. Most people hosting games on TAD have TWC content enabled. You won't be able to join any such games if you don't have TWC.

[Adacc]

Fan Patch is OP =) woot!

[ziggy777]

just stop this wishy washy rubbish and just get the game for gods sake if you please just play the 'how to play' part as a start then play the campaign its rather interesting then start multiplayer it'd save you time



comparing aom with tad

imo aom has more deep gameplay and makes sense....such as minor god choosing makes sense but politician choosing is a horrible attemp to copy it....also graphics are better in tad...and there are some "NATION POWERS" which is again senseless LLOLOLOLOLOOOOOLOLL

[DoO_Joris]

Just bougt AoE3 gold (vanilla+TWC). With AoE3 I could have played only 1 game (tried AOE3 vanilla) so far. After that one game I had to wait 5-10 minutes in quick search and still hadn't any luck to find an opponent, while I expaned my search settings as wide as possible.

Is it with TWC that bad as well?

I feel I really am forced to buy TAD to find any games?^^

[Blofeld]

Just bougt AoE3 gold (vanilla+TWC). With AoE3 I could have played only 1 game (tried AOE3 vanilla) so far. After that one game I had to wait 5-10 minutes in quick search and still hadn't any luck to find an opponent, while I expaned my search settings as wide as possible.

Is it with TWC that bad as well?

I feel I really am forced to buy TAD to find any games?^^

Seriously, IMO buy TAD. The civs and maps are a great addition to what you have already, plus you'll find a large amount of games online compared to what you currently have with just AOE3 and TWC.