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Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property. © & 1997–1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, MS, Age of Empires, The Age of Kings, DirectDraw, DirectPlay, DirectSound, DirectX, MSN, Windows, Windows NT and the Windows logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the US and/or other countries. Developed by Ensemble Studios Corp. for Microsoft Corporation. Genie engine technology © Copyright 1995–1999 by Ensemble Studios Corp. All rights reserved. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. 0899 Part No. X04-78896 Chapter I: Getting Started What’s new in Age of Empires II ............................................ 1 Installing & starting ................................................................. 2 How to play .............................................................................. 3 Tips for beginners .................................................................... 10 Options & hotkeys ....................................................................11 Saving & exiting .......................................................................11 Chapter II: Setting Up a Game Game types ............................................................................. 12 Choosing a civilization ............................................................. 14 Choosing a map ....................................................................... 15 How to win .............................................................................. 16 Multiplayer games .................................................................. 18 Creating custom scenarios & campaigns .................................. 22 Chapter III: Building Your Empire Putting your villagers to work ............................................... 24 Advancing to the next age ....................................................... 31 Researching technology .......................................................... 33 Chapter IV: Military Tactics Reconnaissance ...................................................................... 34 Moving units ......................................................................... 35 Attacks .................................................................................... 37 Garrisoning units & relics inside buildings .............................. 37 Converting enemy units & buildings ....................................... 39 Healing friendly units ............................................................. 40 Ordering units to patrol, guard, or follow ............................... 40 Combat stances ........................................................................ 41 Formations ............................................................................. 42 Chapter V: Diplomacy & Trading Choosing your allies & enemies .............................................. 44 Team games ........................................................................... 45 Sending tribute to other players .............................................. 46 Trading .................................................................................. 46 Chapter VI: Buildings Economic buildings ................................................................ 48 Military buildings .................................................................. 54 Chapter VII: Units Infantry .................................................................................. 59 Archers .................................................................................. 66 Cavalry .................................................................................... 73 Siege weapons ......................................................................... 78 Ships ...................................................................................... 82 Other units .............................................................................. 87 Chapter VIII: Technologies Building technologies ............................................................. 90 Economy & trade technologies ................................................ 92 Infantry technologies .............................................................. 98 Missile/siege unit technologies .............................................. 100 Cavalry technologies .............................................................. 103 Monk technologies ................................................................ 104 Ship technologies ................................................................... 106 Appendix Building Attributes ................................................................ 107 Unit Attributes ...................................................................... 108 Technology Costs & Benefits.................................................. 110 Technology Trees by Civilization ............................................ 112 Index 138 Chapter I G etting Started Age of Empires® II: The Age of Kings™ is a game of combat and empire- building that spans the time from the fall of Rome through the Middle Ages. You control one of 13 civilizations, which you build into a powerful empire that strives to dominate other civilizations before they conquer you. What’s new in Age of Empires II Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings includes these new features: z 13 new civilizations — Each with a unique unit and a team bonus. z New units — Including Kings, Heroes, female villagers, knights, cannons, and exploding demolition ships. z New buildings — Including impressive castles and gates that automati- cally open and close for you and your allies. z New technologies — Including Conscription (increases military unit creation speed) and Town Watch (increases building line of sight). z Formations — Precision control of how your army moves and engages in combat. z New multimedia campaigns — Unique music and more than 300 pieces of original art enhance your game as you follow a soldier through battles featuring William Wallace, Joan of Arc, Saladin, Genghis Khan, and Frederick Barbarossa. z New ways to trade — Trade with other players over land and by sea; buy or sell resources at the Market. z Learning campaign — Master the basics by helping William Wallace rise from his humble beginnings to defeat the British. 1 z Regicide game — Defend your King to win the game. z 8 new map types — Including Arabia, Black Forest, Rivers, and Random, which allows the computer to pick a surprise map type for you. z Garrisoning — Station units inside buildings for protection, healing, and surprise attacks. z New combat features — Order military units to patrol, guard, or follow and choose their combat stance. z Record and replay games — Watch your single-player and multiplayer games later. z Find idle villagers — Automatically locate villagers not assigned to a task using the Idle Villager button. z New online tech tree — See what is available to your civilization and which units and technologies you’ve researched while in the game. z Improved multiplayer features — Save and restore multiplayer games; lock the game speed for all players; lock game teams so players can’t change alliance during a game; signal allies. z Gather points — New units automatically gather at a location or garrison inside a building. z Improved interface — Units behind buildings and trees are visible; the mini-map has Normal, Combat, and Economic modes; chat interface is expanded; Help is integrated into the game. z User profiles — Customize options and hotkeys and automatically save them from game to game. z Online encyclopedia — Extensive histories of 13 medieval civilizations; background on the Middle Ages, armies, weapons, and warfare. Installing & starting To install and start Age of Empires II Insert the Age of Empires II CD into the CD-ROM drive, and then follow the instructions on the screen. If Setup does not begin automatically or if you have trouble starting Age of Empires II, refer to the Readme file on the Age of Empires II CD. 2 Chapter I - Getting Started How to play The easiest way to familiarize yourself with Age of Empires II is to start with the William Wallace learning campaign. You’ll master the basics of the game and learn about some of the new features in Age of Empires II. To start the learning campaign On the main menu, click Learn to Play. If you’re a new player, click Marching and Fighting, and then play the rest