Age of Empires II HD: The American World

Age of Empires II HD: The American World is a fan modification of Rise of the Rajas developed by the Spanish-speaking American World Team. The mod replaces the Southeast Asian architecture introduced in Rise of the Rajas with a new Andean architecture, and the Southeast Asian civilizations with five others pertinent to the 16th century New World: the Anasazi, Araucans, Diaguita, Dutch, and Taino.^[1]

The American World was first released on February 11, 2019, with custom campaigns and scenarios based on the new civilizations being developed for future release.

Campaigns and scenarios[]

Leftraru, Fast Eagle: Resists the Spanish conquest with Leftraru in 3 epic stages.^[sic]
Pedro de Valdivia, the Conquistador: Conquer the Mapuche people in 3 scenarios.
Túpac Yupanqui: Explore the islands of Polynesia with the Inca. Make contact with oceanic natives.
Battle of the Maule River: Play with your friends and have fun in a 2vs2 cooperative campaign. They can play under the command of the Incas / Diaguitas or the Araucanos.^[sic]

Civilizations[]

It introduces four new Native American civilizations and one new European civilization (Dutch), increasing the New World civilizations to 7. The civilizations, arranged according to their architecture sets, are as follows:

Architecture set	Civilizations
Andean (new)	Anasazi
	Araucans
	Diaguita
Central European	Dutch
Mesoamerican	Taino

In addition, the Inca now use the Andean architecture set. The Anasazi also receive it despite being a North American civilization because it is closer to their own architecture, which also developed in a dry mountain environment.

Taino[]

Original of South America, the Taíno are an Native American people of the Caribbean. They were the pre-Hispanic civilization with the greatest naval development capable of building large ships. The Tainos were influenced by Maya and Aztecs due to the trade they developed with them. At the time of European contact in 1492, they were the principal inhabitants of most Greater Antilles, The Bahamas, and the northern Lesser Antilles. The Taino territory was conquered by Spanish, Franks, Britons, Dutch, and Danish. They spoke the Taíno language, an Arawakan language.

Bonuses

Villagers work 5% faster.
War Galley upgrade is free.
Fishing Ships can carry 5/10/15/20 more food in the Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
Monasteries work 35% faster.
Team bonus: Monasteries cost -33%.

Unique technologies

Poison Arrow: Archery Range units +1 attack.
Manatí: Canoa and Piragua +2 range.

Anasazi[]

The Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) were a Native American culture that spanned the present-day Four Corners region of the United States, comprising southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado. Already in the 16th century, the Spanish, commanded by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, entered the region in 1540, unleashing the Tiguex War, where the Puebloan Native Americans were led by the Xauían chief. The war ended in 1542 with the European withdrawal. The Spanish would return in 1598 conquering the Anasazi territory.

Bonuses

House, and Palisade Walls and Gates +4 LoS.
Receive +100 stone whenever a new Age is reached.
All units +10% HP.
Can build Markets in the Dark Age.
Coinage and Banking are free and available since the Dark Age.
Farms +3/6 armor.
Team bonus: Monasteries provide +10 population.

Unique technologies

Flying Shields: Skirmisher and Spearman lines are produced 40% faster.
Siege of Acoma: Siege units benefit from Ballistics.

Araucans[]

The Araucans (Mapuche) are a group of indigenous inhabitants of central Chile and south Argentina, including large parts of present-day Patagonia. In constant conflict with the Diaguitas, in 1485 the Mapuches were able to defend their territory and stop the advance of the Inca Empire in the Battle of Maule. At the time of first Spanish-Mapuche battle (1536) the Araucans inhabited the valleys between the Aconcagua river and Chiloé Archipelago. The Mapuches in 1553 created their first cavalry division and learned to use Spanish tactics and weapons. Due to this, the Spanish could not conquer them despite waging a war against the Mapuches that lasted until 1803.

Bonuses

Militia line upgrades are free (except Champion).
Military buildings cost 35% less (except Castle).
Can build Stables in Feudal Age.
Siege Towers +10 carry capacity.
Team bonus: Infantry +2 LoS.

Unique technologies

Kollellaullin: infantry and Xolotl +5 vs archers, Spearman line lose the spearman armor class.
Lemucaguin Tactics: Siege weapons (except Trebuchet) increase 50% attack vs buildings.

Diaguita[]

The Diaguita culture emerged around 1000 CE in north central Chile and north western Argentina. The classical Diaguita period was characterized by advanced irrigation systems and by pottery painted in black, white, and red. In 1480, the Diaguitas faced the Inca in a war they lost, being annexed to the Inca empire. The Incas did influence the Diaguitas who adopted pottery designs from Cuzco and Inca techniques in agriculture, metalworking, and military technology. When the Europeans reached their territory and tried to conquer the Diaguitas in 1559, the Calchaqui War began, ending in 1667 with the defeat of the Diaguitas and their annexation to the Spanish Empire.

Bonuses

Archers move 10% faster.
Villagers gather food 10% faster (Farms only 5% faster).
Eagle Warrior line gain +1 melee armor per age.
Team bonus: Towers and Town Centers +2 attack.

Unique technologies

Earth Shelter: Towers, Town Centers, Tangolmay, and Canoa fire 40% faster.
Chorus: Tangolmay fire double arrow (second arrow +3 against unique units).

Dutch[]

Holland emerged as an independent county in 1091. After wars against Flanders for control of Zealand, it managed to keep it in 1323. In 1433, Holland lost its independence, and by dynastic union it became part of the Kingdom of Burgundy. In 1516, it passed under the control of Spain. In 1566, the war for their independence began, which would be proclaimed in 1581. That same year, the Dutch established a colony in Guyana where they faced Arawak natives (the ethnic group from which the Tainos come). In 1593, they went to Venezuela where they conquered the Araya peninsula, then they invaded some of the Lesser Antilles battling against Taínos and Spaniards. In 1599, they allied with Araucanos to conquer Chiloé, from where they would be expelled by the Spanish in 1600.

Bonuses

Cavalry attacks 15%/20%/25% faster in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
Town Centers cost 50% less stone.
Fishing Boats have +2 Line of Sight.
Team bonus: Trade units receive +4/+5 armor.

Unique technologies

Maximilian Armor: Infantry and gunpowder units receive +1/+1 armor.
Rotterdam: Warships +1 range.

Units[]

Unique units[]

Arquebusier: Dutch unique upgrade to the Hand Cannoneer.
Cuirassier: Castle unique unit of the Dutch, heavy melee cavalry with high pierce armor and anti-archer bonus damage.
Guasabara: Castle unique unit of the Taino, fast female infantry with bonus attack against siege weapons.
Mantlet: Castle unique unit of the Anasazi, siege infantry with long range melee damage and high pierce armor.
Piragua: Unique light warship of the Taino, available at the Dock.
Tangolmay: Castle unique unit of the Diaguita, fast but frail foot archer with bonus attack against unique units.
Weichafe: Castle unique unit of the Araucans, short ranged melee cavalry (like the Steppe Lancer) with bonus attack against other cavalry.
Xolotl Warrior: Stable unique unit of the Araucans available in Castle Age, melee cavalry unit (like Knight).

Common units[]

Canoa: Siege warship exclusive to Native American civilizations, that fires boulders at long distances. Comparable to the Cannon Galleon but available from the Castle Age and without having to research Chemistry. Can be upgraded to Elite Canoa.

Inherited units[]

The American World patch 2.1 brought as a novelty the incorporation of all the balance changes, new technologies and new units existing in the Definitive Edition. The following have been inherited from the Definitive Edition:

Savar: Stable unique unit of the Persians. Heavy cavalry unit. Powerful all-purpose cavalry. Stronger than Paladin.
Steppe Lancer: Stable unique unit of the Mongols. Light cavalry unit with +1 attack range. Can be upgraded to Elite Steppe Lancer.
Dromon: Anti-building siege warship with long range and area of effect attack, but cannot attack enemies at close range. Exclusive to Byzantines, Goths, and Huns.