Watch Tower (Age of Empires II)

The Watch Tower  is the first available tower for civilizations. It is the first type in the line of upgrades spanning to the Guard Tower, and Keep.

Garrisoned foot archers and villagers will increase the number of arrows the tower fires, thus increasing the damage. Up to five foot-soldiers (infantry and archers, although infantry do not increase the firepower of the tower) may be garrisoned into the watch tower. When garrisoned in the watch tower (or any other building) units will slowly regain any lost hit points. This ability can be sped up by researching Herbal Medicine. Offensively, towers can be upgraded by Fletching, Bodkin Arrow, and Bracer (all Blacksmith upgrades) for range and damage, Chemistry (at the University) for damage, and Heated Shot (also at the University) for damage against ships. Defensively, towers may be upgraded with Masonry, Architecture (increase HP), and; Murder Holes (eliminates minimum range). Towers are generally more useful in the game for stopping and slowing small raiding parties. They are ineffective against large armies and siege weapons.

In the map type Fortress, each player receives several watch towers, dotted along the walls, at the beginning of the game. The towers serve as a useful early defense system while the players tech up.

Civilization Bonuses

 * Teutons: Watch Towers can garrison at most 10 Archers or Infantry units at one time. This also doubles the maximum number of arrows that can be fired. Imperial age unique technology Crenellations allows garrisoned infantry to fire arrows.
 * Koreans: Watch Towers have additional range by one point from Castle Age beyond. In addition, Korean towers upgrades itself automatically from Castle Age to Imperial Age.
 * Britons: Imperial Age unique technology Yeomen, adds +2 attack to Watch Towers.
 * Byzantines: Watch Towers have 10%/20%/30%/40% more Hit Points in Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial age. Town Watch upgrade is free.
 * Spanish: Watch Towers are built 30% faster.
 * Chinese :Technologies that benefits Watch Towers are 10%/15%/20% cheaper in Feudal/Castle/Imperial age.

Changes in The Forgotten Expansion



 * Koreans: Build Watch Towers and other defensive structures 25% faster.
 * Japanese: Castle age Technology Yasama allows their Watch Towers to fire extra arrows.
 * Chinese : Castle age technology Great Wall improves the Watch Towers hit points (+30%hp)
 * Celts Castle age technology Stronghold : Improves the firing rate of Watch Towers.
 * Incas: 15% stone discount on buildings applies to Watch Towers.
 * Britons: Yeomen technology moved to Castle age, adds +2 attack to Watch Towers.

Overview
''Some of the earliest fortified stone structures were simple watch towers. From the watch tower a local lord could keep a large area in view. The stone structure made it impregnable to assault except by a major force. THe lord could withdraw into the tower, putting his animals on the bottom, stores and treasure on a second floor, living on upper floors, and fighting from the top. The Normans were famous for building stone watch towers across their lands in Normandy and England to provide military and political control.''