The Maid of Orleans

The Maid of Orleans is the second scenario in the Joan of Arc campaign in Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. It is based on Joan's first major military victory, the French defense against the Siege of Orleans.

Starting conditions

 * Color:  Blue 
 * Civilization: Franks
 * Starting Age: Feudal Age
 * Starting resources: None
 * Population limit: 75
 * Starting units: Joan of Arc, Duke D'Alençon, four Knights, one Scout Cavalry, two Two-Handed Swordsmen
 * Gaia units: Twelve Crossbowmen, eight Knights, six Trade Carts, two Transport Ships, three Villagers

Objectives

 * Joan must survive.
 * The cathedral in Orléans must remain standing.
 * Escort Joan to Blois so she may command the French army.
 * Get Joan to the Orléans Town Center.
 * Deliver 6 Trade Carts of supplies to the Orléans Town Center.
 * Convince the British to withdraw by destroying 1 of their Castles.

Hints

 * Hurry to Orléans before the English can cause much damage. Be wary of British forces south of the river, but don't forget to rendezvous with your army in Blois.
 * Once the supplies arrive in Orléans, you will be able to build up your forces. Frankish Knights are useful for taking care of British longbows and siege weapons. Frankish Castles are inexpensive and provide excellent defense.
 * Use your market to trade for resources until you can venture outside the city.
 * The British Castles have large garrisons. It is best to assemble a large attack force before attempting to storm them.
 * Orléans farms are located west of the city, but outside of the city walls and vulnerable.

Enemies

 * 1)  Burgundy  has a small village in the east, an outpost south of the river near the bridge, and a couple of riders in the south of the map, blocking Joan's path to Blois. They have Knights, Light Cavalry, and Men-at-Arms.
 * 2) The  North British  have a fortification in the north, with two Castles, Walls, and Towers. They also have a couple of Longbowmen and Long Swordsmen.
 * 3) The  South British  also have two Castles, both in fortifications south of the river. They train Knights and Battering Rams..

Allies

 * 1)  Chinon  is Joan's starting point. It lies in the very south of the map and does not actively take part in the game.
 * 2)  South Blois  lies in the southwest of the map and behaves just like Chinon. There is a Castle in Blois and several Crossbowmen and Knights. The latter go into the player's possession once they arrive in Blois.
 * 3)  Orléans  is a fortified town in the center of the map. All its buildings (except for the Gates and the Cathedral) go into Joan's possession once she (or any of her units) arrives. Orléans also has Farms in the west of the map, outside the Walls, that can be used by the player.

Strategy
This guide is applied to hard difficulty. It is, of course, also applicable for the other grades of difficulty. It describes only one way to win it. Naturally, there are alternative ways to be gone.

The player starts in Chinon in the south of the map. Take all the player's mounted units and ride straight northwest to Blois. The player will be attacked by two Knights and four Light Cavalry of Burgundy. Ignore them and keep going until the player reaches the Castle of Blois. Once there, the player will get reinforcements: 12 Crossbowmen and eight Knights. They will make short work of the attackers. The player also receives six Trade Carts, which must safely be taken to Orléans.

Take Joan and the Trade Carts and leave the city northwards and proceed north until the player reaches a river. Follow the shore to the east. The player will soon reach a Dock and two Transport Ships. Load Joan and the Carts and sail straight north. Pass the small wooded island and unload the Transport Ships, then head to the city of Orléans. The player will arrive safely. Meanwhile, send the players troops, who are still waiting at Blois, eastwards until they reach a Wall of the South British. It is guarded by two Towers. Just wait there in safe distance (in defensive stance). In the meantime, Joan and the Carts should have arrived in Orléans. Once the player arrives, they will get three Villagers. Advance to the Castle Age at once and take Joan and the Villagers back to the river, where the player's Transport Ships are still waiting. Don't worry about the city of Orléans, the scenario is almost over and the attacks are weak, just ignore them. Sail south back to the Dock and unload the units, then go south and meet with the player's army. Construct a Siege Workshop once the Castle Age is reached and create a couple of Battering Rams. When the player has at least three Rams, attack the Wall. Once there is a hole, take the Rams and attack the Castle. Send the player's entire army in as well, but be careful not to lose Joan. There will be no resistance and the Castle will not stand for long. Once it is destroyed, the scenario is won.

Trivia

 * Upon advance to the Castle Age, the buildings of Orléans remain in the Feudal Age design.