Town Center (Age of Empires II)


 * For the Age of Empires variant, see Town Center (Age of Empires)
 * For the Age of Empires III variant, see Town Center (Age of Empires III)
 * For the Age of Mythology variant, see Town Center (Age of Mythology)

The Town Center is one of the most important buildings in Age of Empires II.

They retained their role of training Villagers, advancing into the next age, serving as a main drop site for Villagers to store the resources they have collected. Town Centers can also be used as defensive structures. A Town Center can garrison up to 15 units; Villagers and archer units increase its firepower. Town Center are some of the only buildings that have no minimum range without upgrades, apart from the Bombard Tower.

Unlike Age of Empires I and III, the number of Town Centers one can build is unlimited. However, more than one Town Center can only be built from the Castle Age onward. (Before reaching the Castle Age, if a player has no Town Center, e.g. when playing the Nomad gametype or if the initial Town Center is destroyed, a single new Town Center may be built.)

Tactics and Placement
The Town Center is one of the most important buildings on the game, it is basically the nucleus of every players settlements and the only way to produce Villagers that are the backbone of the player's empire. In Dark and Feudal Age as the players are limited to 1 Town Center they must defend it at all costs, otherwise if a player loses his Town Center at that point he or she will be almost defeated. Fortunately Town Centers can garrison units and can fire arrows when holding Archers or Villagers.

Once in Castle Age, building more Town Centers is critical as this will allows to increase Villager production while also enables to create new economic settlements near to critically important resources as this building is a drop site for all resources. Newer Town Centers will require also to be fortified and defended. Losing Town Centers in Castle Age and Imperial Age will hinder the economy of the player.

History
''All villages and towns had an administrative center that was the seat of governmental power and leadership. During the Dark Ages this might have been the local leader's home. Later it might have been the town hall or local lord's manor house. The town center was often the place where important supplies were stored, especially food surpluses. The destruction of the town center usually meant the loss of the town's governmental infrastructure. If this could not be restored, the town or village ceased to function.''

Upgrades and Units available

 * Villager
 * Dark Age - Loom
 * Feudal Age - Town Watch
 * Feudal Age - Wheelbarrow
 * Castle Age - Town Patrol
 * Castle Age - Hand Cart

Civilization Bonuses

 * Britons: Town Centers cost -50% Wood in Castle Age and on.
 * Chinese: Technologies that benefit Town Centers cost is 10%/15%/20% lower in Feudal/Castle/ Imperial Age. Also supports 10 population instead of 5.
 * Persians: Town Centers have 100% more HP and work 10%/15%/20% faster in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
 * Spanish: Town Centers are built 30% faster.
 * Teutons: Town centers have +5 LOS.
 * Byzantine: Town Centers have 10%/20%/30%/40% more HP in Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age. Town Watch (+4 LOS for buildings) is free.
 * Incas: 15% stone discount on buildings applies to the Town Center.
 * Malians: Town Centers costs 15% less wood.

The Forgotten Changes

 * Town Centers now benefit from Chemistry.
 * Chinese: Town Centers +5 LOS (moved from Teutons).
 * Teutons: Now can garrison +10 units in Town Centers instead of having +5 LOS.