The loading screen of Borneo.
Borneo is a map in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties, based on one of the largest islands in the Malay Archipelago.
Overview 
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Borneo is a large island map, not unlike Hispaniola, but very different in practice. It is found to the southeast of Indochina.
Borneo is a lush, tropical island with extremely abundant resources, both on land and on sea. It features at least one Trade Route (more in team games), and Sufi natives as well as Jesuit Missions close to the center.
Players start to the coastal regions, with waters completely revealed (Water Treasures included) and are presented with an interesting dilemma: focusing either on land or on sea. On one hand, the lush center of the island is filled with Treasures, Gold Mines and Trading Post sites, and many trees. On the other hand, the waters around Borneo are very rich in Fish, Whales and Water Treasures. Either way, the player must expand continuously, to exploit Borneo's riches, while also denying them to enemies.
- Herds: Serow (400 ), Wild Elephant (1000 )
- Water: Tuna (500 ), Mola Mola (500 ), Humpback Whale (Infinite each)
- Mines: Gold Mines (5000 each)
Treasure Guardians found here are:
- Dacoits
- Thuggees
- Black Panthers
- Lion-Tailed Macaques
- Orangutans
- Rhinoceroses
- Bandit Catamarans
- Orcas
- Sharks
- Polar Bears (rare)
Outline Edit
"With a rich coastal region and a bountiful interior, the island of Borneo promises endless opportunities for expansion and conflict. Each team has access to a Trade Route servicing the breadth of the island, where a wealth of Gold and Food may be discovered by those willing to brave the dense jungle. The waters around the island are visible at the start of the game, and are ripe for fishing."
History Edit
"Surrounded by the South China Sea, the Sulu and Celebes seas, the Malakar Strait, and the Java Sea, Borneo is the largest island in the Malay Archipelago, and the third largest island in the world. Much of its 290,000 square miles are covered with dense rainforests that drain into rivers such as the Rejang and Kapuas, which are important sources of trade and local commerce. With the exception of the rivers, only navigable in small craft, the terrain is almost impassable. The highest point of Borneo is the peak of Mount Kinabalu, reaching a height of 13,455 feet. A host of diverse animals makes their homes in the island’s hot and humid environment, including elephant, deer, orangutan, gibbon, crocodile, Malay bear, and a wide variety of snakes.
The first written reference to Borneo can be found in "Ptolemy’s Geography" (150 CE), even though the discovery of Roman trade beads suggests that an earlier foreign influence may have once existed. The sixteenth century brought worldwide interest in the island for trade purposes, especially from European nations eager to expand their empires. The Portuguese arrived first in 1521, followed by the Spanish, Dutch, and English, all of which established trade boundaries and protectorates."
Trivia Edit
- Borneo is also the island in the game to begin with revealed waters.
- Much of the wildlife is misplaced, such as Lion-Tailed Macaques (who live in India) and Black Panthers (leopards don't live in Borneo). The map also includes Polar Bears, though this is most likely a reference to the TV show Lost.
Gallery Edit
