Colonial Militia

The Colonial Militia is a special unit available in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs. There are three known versions in the game: the Revolution version, the Campaign version, and the Settler version.

Revolution
The Colonial Militia function in a similar manner to Minutemen, both appear similar, have similar attack and can be trained from the Town Center. The new Militia are much stronger in attack overall and do not lose hit points like Minutemen, but are fairly weak in comparison to other infantry units. Colonial Militia are basically hybrid musketeer/skirmishers. However, the Musketeers and Skirmishers both out perform the colonial militia in their separate roles.

Colonial Militia become available when a player revolts from their European civilization during the Industrial Age. Instead of Settlers, the Town Center/s now only train Colonial Militia. Colonial Militia also automatically appear in the place of all current Settlers, and players can no longer rely on most traditional resource acquisition methods.

Home City Cards
As the Colonial Militia is exclusive to revolted European civilizations, only other civilizations' TEAM cards that affects them are listed here.

History
"The term militia refers to a citizen's military force, and not under the direct control or authority of a central government. Each of the original thirteen British colonies in North America had their own militias. They were composed of volunteers from a variety of backgrounds. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it was considered one's civic duty to serve in the local militia to protect the colony from outside attacks. During the early days of the U.S. Revolutionary War, local militias played a key role in the initial skirmishes with British regulars. The battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill were carried out by local militias. To bolster the fledgling country's military capabilities, the Continental Congress established a formal American Continental Army on 14 June 1775, which officially created six companies of expert riflemen, from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia."

Campaign
These Colonial Militias are available in early Ages and can also be trained in Nathaniel Black's War Huts. They are the basic soldier for the Continental Army during the American Revolution. In the campaign, their stats and price are slightly changed and resemble more of a regular skirmisher. Their type is even changed to light infantry.

Settler
These Colonial Militias first appear in scenario 6 Valley Forge of Act I in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs. They are essential in gathering wood resources at the beginning to send food wagons. Many players would confuse these colonial militias and the light infantry version. As a result, when the troops get a chance to become idle, the idle villagers icon will appear.