Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Lords of the West is the first expansion for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition released on January 26, 2021. It features two new civilizations based on historical kingdoms, the Burgundians and Sicilians, and three new campaigns - one each for the Burgundians, Sicilians, and Britons. It was the first Age of Empires II expansion to add less than four civilizations.
This expansion was implemented with update 44725.
Civilizations[]
Architecture | Civilizations |
---|---|
Western Europe | Burgundians |
Mediterranean | Sicilians |
- Burgundians: Rise from a mere duchy to the marvel of Western Europe through economic might, cultural achievement, and the use of advanced military technology and tactics. The Burgundian unique unit is the Coustillier, a cavalry unit that utilizes a powerful shock attack when charging into battle.
- Sicilians: Experience the diverse cultures and martial spirit of the Mediterranean's crossroads as you build one of the most coveted kingdoms in medieval Europe. The Sicilian unique unit is the Serjeant, a hardy infantry unit that can construct the formidable Donjon.
Units[]
- All units are unique units.
- Coustillier - Burgundian unique cavalry which can charge its attack.
- Flemish Militia - Burgundian unique infantry which can be transformed from Villagers.
- Serjeant - Sicilian unique heavy infantry which can construct and be created from Donjons.
Buildings[]
Campaigns[]
- Edward Longshanks (Britons) - A bitter hostage of rebel barons, Edward Longshanks vows to reclaim his birthright and lead a shattered England to unprecedented heights of prestige and fortitude. A shrewd commander and cunning politician, his merciless methods are effective yet amoral. Follow him as his thirst for power and glory takes him throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and even on Crusade!
- The Grand Dukes of the West (Burgundians) - For decades, the dukes of Burgundy have been embroiled in a bloody struggle over control of the mad French king using their cunning, military prowess, and immense wealth. However, as the blood that they spill is paid for with blood of their own, their focus turns increasingly northwards as they aim to create a kingdom of their own.
- The Hautevilles (Sicilians) - Robert de Hauteville left Normandy in 1047 CE with a small robber band. Within a century, members of his family became dukes in Italy, princes in the Holy Land, and even kings of Sicily. Join these intrepid Norman adventurers as they fuse three cultures into Europe's most tolerant and sophisticated kingdom.
Trivia[]
- This is the only expansion that has no Scenario-Editor-only buildings introduced, as well as the only one that only introduced new unique units, but no other units.
- Each of the three campaigns connects to one of the campaigns from the original The Age of Kings. William Wallace and Joan of Arc are present as enemies that need to be defeated in the Briton and Burgundian campaigns respectively. The Sicilian campaign, to a lesser degree, connects the narrative to Frederick Barbarossa in the final outro narrative.
- The unconventional nature of the new bonuses, unique units, and technologies (mostly being callbacks to Age of Empires III and Age of Mythology mechanics, especially the single-use unique technologies and instantly spawned units) have been the subject of huge criticism and controversy by most veteran players, mostly because the lack of strategic options involved using those and giving huge advantages for the player using it, while putting the opponent at a major disadvantage (seen with Flemish Revolution and First Crusade at release). As a result of this, all four new unique technologies have seen drastic changes and alterations (like the removal of the conversion of food to gold from Burgundian Vineyards). With such controversy, the developers chose bonuses from the classic design space for the next expansions, which made them much better received.
- This is the first expansion to introduce unique Castle models for each new civilization since then.
- This is the only Definitive Edition post-launch expansion where all civilizations introduced don't share the same architecture set.