Iron Age

From GenieWiki

Contents 1 Overview 2 Effect 2.1 Granary: 2.2 Storage Pit: 2.3 Dock: 2.4 Barracks: 2.5 Archery Range: 2.6 Stable: 2.7 Market: 2.8 Fortification: 2.9 Guard Tower: 2.10 Ballista Tower: 2.11 Temple: 2.12 Government Center: 2.13 Siege Workshop: 2.14 Academy: 2.15 Wonders:

Overview

Iron Age – "Characterized by a dependence upon precious metals to drive economies, empire building, expansion, construction of massive cities supporting huge populations, sophisticated military organizations, siege tactics, armor and weaponry, dominance of seaways with war galleys and triremes and enormous construction projects including the Wonders of the Ancient World."

[Quoted From Age of Empires Help File]

• Pre-requisites: Must have any two Bronze Age buildings. These are (Academy, Siege Workshop, Temple and Government Center)
• Cost: 1000 Food

Effect

Once you have reached the Iron Age, the appearance of your civilization will also change to reflect a more sophisticated display, thereby reflecting the technological advance. You will also be able to build Wonders, used as a condition for victory.

New Features:

Granary:

Allows you to research Guard Tower, Ballista Tower and Fortification. These are the upgrades from the Bronze Age defences and are important to safeguarding your civilization from attack.

Storage Pit:

Technologies relating to improved military armour are now available. Metallurgy adds a +2 attack to all hand-to-hand units. There are then Chain Mail armour upgrades for Infantry, Archers and Cavalry, providing +2 Armour for each of the unit types.

Dock:

There are developments in military units, with the upgrade Trireme, Catapult Trireme and Juggernaught to make naval warfare more powerful. Your Light Transports can be upgraded to Heavy Transport carrying 10 units.

Barracks:

The creation of Long Swordsman is now available, with your Axeman still available. These units have 80HP and do 11 Base Damage. Also available is the Legion, the elite Barracks unit.

Archery Range:

This allows for the creation of three new units alongside the existing ones. The Horse Archer and the Elephant Archer are more powerful mounted units which cost Gold to create but have better Range, Armour and Damage. The elite Archery unit, the Heavy Horse Archer is available in the Iron Age.

Stable:

The stable provides new units as well. Alongside the existing Scout, and Chariots, Heavy Cavalry and the elite unit, Cataphract are available for creation. Both of these are fast mounted units, ideal for attacks into enemy territory, and especially useful when combined with ranged or siege units.

Market:

The market allows for the development of your civilization by providing another four new technologies. These improve the efficiency of collection for the four resources, Wood, Food, Gold and Stone and build upon the advantage created with the technologies available in the Bronze Age.

Fortification:

Costing only 5 Stone, the Fortification the best form of defence designed to hinder an enemy's progress or protect a part of your civilization.

Guard Tower:

These slow down enemy attack and provide warning to your civilization by shooting at approaching enemies. They are used to cover a specific area and when used in conjunction with walls, can be very effective. The upgrade available in the Iron Age makes the ability to defend your civilization increase with its improved Damage and Range.

Ballista Tower:

An upgrade of the Guard Tower, the Ballista Tower shoots large bolts at enemies, killing units instantly and causing great damage to siege engines.

Temple:

The Temple is the place where a player can create Priests to heal his units and convert those of the enemy. Priests cost 125 Gold and are weak units, but have a large Range and the unique healing capacity. Technologies available at the Temple increase the power and health of the Priests and some also affect other features, such as Jihad on Villagers.

Government Center:

The Government Center allows for the creation of multiple Town Centers. It also provides useful upgrades affecting all different parts of your civilizations. More technologies are available.

Siege Workshop:

This provides the upgrades of Catapult, and Heavy Catapult the elite Siege unit. These units are most effective for destroying buildings quickly and for harming tightly-packed groups of units. Also available are the Ballista and Helepolis, mounted crossbows that fire large bolts at enemies and buildings.

Academy:

This provides the heavy infantry upgrades called Phalanx and after that, Centurion, the Academy elite unit. These units are most effective for killing strong units and mounted units. They also destroy buildings easily, but are weak against archers, especially mounted ones.

Wonders:

These become available for construction.