โ | Experience immediate conflict from the start as players must battle to secure both space and resources | โ |
—Age of Empires IV description |
African Waters is a hybrid land/water random map in Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend featuring players starting out in close proximity to each other separated by a bounty of food, with resources divided along the edges of the map
Features[]
African Waters features two elevated ridges on the northwest and southeast edges of the map, with lakes on the Southwest and Northeast edges. Players start across from each other in the valley in the center of the map. They are separated by only a short distance, with either the lakes or the ridges behind them. In team games, players are arranged in a circle in the center. There are always 2 Sacred Sites on opposite corners of the map, and 2 Trade Posts in the other corners, making them well-positioned for trade. This map is unique in its Relic distribution in that it always has 6 Relics in 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2, and 3 vs 3, and 8 Relics in 4 vs 4, with half the Relics on each elevated ridge.
Resources[]
Players start out with one Large Gold Mine, one Small Stone Outcropping, and one medium Berry Bush patch. There is one large Deer pack per player, and these are typically located between the ridges and the players, but can sometimes be on the ridges. Between the players lie a multitude of small berry patches and small Deer packs. On each of the elevated ridges, there are three Large Stone Outcroppings and three Large Gold Mines, regardless of the number of players, except in a 4 vs 4, where there are four of each. Boars also spawn on the ridges. It is likely that the targeted number of boars is the same as that of gold and stone but it seems reasonably common that one or several do not spawn, although 4 vs 4 more reliably spawns 8. Each of the lakes has 4-6 Deep Water Fish per player, and Shoreline fish are spaced regularly on the shore.