Broken Spears is the final scenario of the Montezuma campaign in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors. It is based on the Siege of Tenochtitlan (May 26 - August 13, 1521).
Intro[]
Passed down to you by Cuauhtémoc, Emperor of Tenochtitlan. The Spanish will return soon. I had hoped that Cortéz would continue fleeing back from whence he came, but he stopped to regroup at Tlaxcala. I imagine that he could not stand the thought of returning to Spain while we still had treasuries of gold hidden from him. Still dreaming of gold and glory, the Spanish pledged themselves to another assault on Tenochtitlan.
In Tlaxcala, Cortéz constructed many war boats on dry land. Then he had the craft broken down and carried through the rain forest, only to be rebuilt on Lake Texcoco.
He knows that my Aztec warriors can defend the bridges leading into Tenochtitlan, but we are vulnerable from the water.
I called the warriors to one final battle. The priests attempted to encourage the troops by calling upon the Aztecs to defend their ancient gods and their glorious city.
They sent up smoke signals to declare that the Aztecs were ready for war, as I climbed the steps of the great temple and sounded the shell trumpet. Tenochtitlan would be under siege soon, and the brave Aztecs would die before we would see her captured.
Scenario instructions[]
Starting conditions[]
- Starting age:
Imperial Age - Starting resources: 500 food, 2,000 wood, 500 gold, 600 stone
- Population limit: 100 (75 before the Definitive Edition)
- Starting units:
- 14 Villagers
- 12 Eagle Warriors
- 8 Jaguar Warriors
- 2 Monks
- 14
- Gaia units:
- 3 Elite Cannon Galleons (since the Definitive Edition)
- 3 Elite Turtle Ships (before the Definitive Edition)
- 3
Objectives[]
- Defeat the Tlaxcala, the Spanish Army and the Spanish Navy.
Secondary objectives (since the Definitive Edition)[]
- Prevent Tenochtitlan's Wonder from being destroyed to preserve the morale of your warriors.
Hints[]
- Tenochtitlan is a vast city. However, there are multiple buildings of each type, so it should be easy to train units or research upgrades.
- Defend the bridges into the great city from Spanish and Tlaxcalan land attacks, but also train ships to defend against Spanish warships and Transports. Spanish Cannon Galleons can be deadly.
Scouts[]
- Your scouts report: The Aztecs (green) are back in control of the great city of Tenochtitlan but enemies are approaching from all sides.
- The Tlaxcalans (red) attack from the western causeway. Their city is not well-fortified and might fall to an early attack.
- The Spanish Navy is south of Tenochtitlan. The Spanish have many Cannon Galleons patrolling the lake and their shore is defended by Bombard Towers. It still might be possible to locate an undefended landing spot.
- The Spanish army is just to the north of Tenochtitlan. The Spanish have constructed gates and Castles to defend their forces. Expect to encounter Knights, Conquistadors, Missionaries, and Bombard Cannons. The Spanish will use Transports if they cannot attack from the land.
Players[]
Player[]
- Aztecs ( Aztecs): Begins the game in control of Tenochtitlan, which occupies the center of the map and is surrounded by water. There are numerous starting buildings, Villagers, soldiers, and resources stored and within the city limits, but they will run out sooner than later. On the other hand, there are few defensive buildings and warships. The causeways leading to Tenochtitlan also belong to the player, so enemy units crossing are visible well before they reach the city.
Enemies[]
- Cortéz' Army (colored purple and formatted as Cortéz Army before the Definitive Edition) ( Spanish): The nearest enemy, based to the north of Tenochtitlan. They frequently attack with Conquistadors, Trebuchets, Paladins, and Onagers. In the original version, they are the most vulnerable opponent because their Town Center can be destroyed by Trebuchets without crossing their gate, and they will resign afterward. This does not work in the Definitive Edition because they have a second Town Center in the northwestern corner of the map and the player is also required to destroy their two Castles.
- Cortéz' Navy (colored blue and formatted as Cortéz Navy before the Definitive Edition) ( Spanish): Based southeast of Tenochtitlan. They frequently attack with Cannon Galleons, Galleons, and Fast Fire Ships, and might transport Siege Rams, Trebuchets, and Conquistadors across water to the southern part of Tenochtitlan. Their base is well-guarded by Bombard Towers. Just as the Army, destroying the Navy's Town Center will make them resign in the original version. However, in the Definitive Edition, the player is also required to destroy their two Castles.
- Tlaxcala ( Aztecs): Based southwest of Tenochtitlan, and frequently attacks with Eagle and Jaguar Warriors. Early into the game, they may also transport some troops across water into the western part of Tenochtitlan. They will resign if their Town Center and Castle are destroyed and they have less than three Villagers left. In the Definitive Edition, they will sometimes make a few Siege Rams and Scorpions. While their resign condition is still the same as previous versions, if the player defeats the Cortéz Army and Navy first, they will resign automatically shortly after.
Dialogue[]
Aztec Warrior: We demolished the southern causeway to slow the Spanish advance.
Upon capturing Gaia Cannon Galleons:
Aztec Warrior: The Spanish must have abandoned these warships during their flight from Tenochtitlan. Now we will use them to bring death to the Spanish by sea!
Upon capturing Gaia Turtle Ships:
Aztec Warrior: What are these strange weapons? A gift from the gods?
Spanish Conquistador: We have returned for the rest of your gold. Surrender now or feel the wrath of our bombards!
Spanish Conquistador: You are postponing the inevitable. The time of the Aztec Empire has passed. Look to us as your new rulers.
After defeating every enemy player:
Aztec Warrior: We have done it! Tenochtitlan still stands and the armies of Cortéz are defeated! The Aztec Empire has triumphed…for now.
If the Wonder in Tenochtitlan is destroyed:
Aztec Warrior: The great pyramid has been destroyed! The gods will surely punish us for our insolence.
Strategy[]
In this scenario, the player must guard the large island-city of Tenochtitlan. In the lake northeast of Tenochtitlan, the player can receive three Gaia Turtle Ships (Elite Cannon Galleons in the Definitive Edition). The Turtle Ships are useful for sinking attacking enemy ships, but the Elite Cannon Galleons are even more useful because, when supported by Fast Fire Ships, they can safely destroy all Docks, Bombard Towers and the Castle at the enemy island, thus rendering the enemy navy inoffensive for the rest of the game.
The Elite Cannon Galleons can also be used against the two enemies without a navy (Cortéz Army and Tlaxcala), as they will struggle to fight back effectively. By destroying their Town Centers in range of the ships, Tlaxcala can become a non-threat (even if they won't resign) and Cortéz Army will be severely weakened, as they cannot rebuild them. Due to the importance of the Elite Cannon Galleons, the player might want to repair them to ensure they all survive.
Bridges block Cortéz Navy from helping their allies (and the enemy AIs are generally very unhelpful towards each other) in a large isolated water region, as they cannot enter. Thus, the player can have complete water dominance in this area. This means War Galleys and Fast Fire Ships can help deal with enemy armies due to the great stats of ships, even though the Aztecs do not get Galleon.
Tenochtitlan's southern bridge is destroyed to slow the Cortéz Navy's advance. The player may safely obtain gold from Gold Mines on the small island in the northeast, as there are no jaguars or Ornlu the Wolf there unlike in the fourth scenario. However, visually, the player can still see the skeletons as a reference to the earlier scenario.
In the beginning, the player will need to strengthen Tenochtitlan's defenses against land attacks by both Cortéz and Tlaxcalan forces, while building fire ships to defend against the Cortéz Navy. To defend against the Army, the player should build extra Guard Towers in the north and station infantry to defend against incoming Onagers and Trebuchets. To defend against Tlaxcala, the player may build gates and more towers in the west. Fire Ships need to be upgraded to counter the repeat naval attacks, also involving Cannon Galleons, from the southeast.
The Cortéz Army can be defeated in the original version just by destroying their Town Center with a Trebuchet positioned in front of their gate. This is best done while Tlaxcala's defenses are being set up at the start of the game, before they build an actual army. In the Definitive Edition, the player may opt to destroy this forward base and build another there before destroying the Army's second base to the west.
In the island west of Tenochtitlan (connected by three bridges), Tlaxcala has two Barracks and Gold Mines, which the player can take easily. Crossing the bridge north of this island, the player would also find gold mines in the west of Cortéz Army's base.
Using Palisade Walls to make the enemy waste a ton of time walking is very effective in Tenochtitlan with so many choke points. Palisade Walls can also make the Cortéz Navy struggle to unload their Transport Ships before they die, especially if blocking off the broken bridge leading to their base. Additionally, a large number of forward Docks can be built to make the Cortéz Navy's ships waste attacks on them rather than more expensive things like Castles and navy.
The west and east of Cortéz Navy's base have loopholes, where the player can destroy the Bombard Towers with Trebuchets. However, the player must avoid having the transport ships sunk by the towers. If the player has defeated the Cortéz Army and Tlaxcala by this point, the player can research Spies to locate Cortéz Navy's Town Center, as the technology's cost becomes cheap with only one enemy left.
In the Definitive Edition, if the Wonder is destroyed, Tlaxcala will research Fabric Shields and El Dorado, the Cortéz Army will research Kataparuto, and the Cortéz Navy will research Artillery and Carrack, all for free. Thus, it is essential to keep the Wonder standing.
Alternate strategy[]
If the Spanish Town Centers are destroyed, they automatically resign without the player doing anything else. Thus, efforts should be focused on producing enough upgraded Petards to destroy them and walling off the south passage to the city. Beware of the Tlaxcalan Transport Ship that will sneak in troops. Build one Transport Ship, locate the three Turtle Ships (which are replaced by Elite Cannon Galleons in the Definitive Edition) to the north, and use them to bring down the Gate to the Cortez Army's camp. Send in at least 7 Petards to destroy the Town Center, which is defenseless right behind the Gate. 5 would be enough, but the neighboring Castle may kill one or two while they approach. Do the same with the Cortez Navy; create at least 6 Petards, load them onto a Transport Ship, and take them around the Navy's towers all the way to the southwest. From there, there is no obstacle to the Navy's Town Center. After this is done, both Spanish players are defeated.
The player may then concentrate on the Tlaxcala. With the Turtle Ships providing cover (before the Definitive Edition), the player can approach the Tlaxcalan camp and rain fire on them with just a few Trebuchets and multiple archers to take down enemy infantry.
Outro[]
Not so long ago, some five hundred thousand people called Tenochtitlan home. It is difficult to recall that this smoking ruin was once an endless city. Yet, we will rebuild. We created this island upon which our city and temples stand, and we can do it once more.
The Aztec Empire has endured its greatest challenge. Yet, more Spanish may come in the future. I am not certain there is a place for us in the new world. I could ask the gods for a hint of the future, but no doubt that would lead to more sacrifice and I think there has been enough death for now. My people composed a poem to commemorate this great war that we have survived, and yet perhaps still not won:
Broken spears lie in the roads. We have torn our hair in our grief. The houses are roofless now, and their walls are red with blood... So says Cuauhtemoc, Emperor of Tenochtitlan.
Trivia[]
- Despite the player (playing as the Aztecs) emerging victorious, in reality the Siege of Tenochtitlan resulted in decisive Spanish-Tlaxcalan victory which led to the downfall of the Aztec Empire. The emperor Cuauhtemoc was captured when the city fell and was executed a few years later.
- The scenario's name, as well the lines cited by Cuauhtémoc in the outro, comes from a poem that is part of the Annals of Tlatelolco.
- It is also the name of Miguel Leon Portilla's book "Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico".
- This scenario uses the very same map in La Noche Triste, which represents Tenochtitlan and the rain forests around it.
- Despite using same map, all of the players' starting positions have been changed. Also, the rain forests surrounding Tenochtitlan were also remodeled (placement of the jungle somewhat changed).
- Cortéz Navy in this scenario trains the very same type of units Cortéz trains from the fourth scenario: Galleons, Fast Fire Ships, Elite Cannon Galleons, Halberdiers, Elite Conquistadors, and Missionaries. In this last scenario, they build Siege Rams instead of Mangonels in the fourth scenario.
- In this scenario, the player's wonder is in place of Cortéz's wonder in the fourth scenario, and the player is possessing most of the same buildings as the "Conquered Aztecs" in that scenario. However the player needs not to defend the Wonder.
- The Tlaxcala in this scenario has built their base in the same location where the lone Jaguar Warrior from the fourth scenario starts.
- In the north, the player can find three Elite Turtle Ships, with a message that the ships are "a gift from the gods". This may be a subtle reference to the controversial theory put forward by Gavin Menzies that Central America made contact with Ming Admiral Zheng He before the arrival of the Spanish, which is portrayed in the China campaign in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties.
- However, in the Definitive Edition, the Elite Turtle Ships are replaced by Elite Cannon Galleons instead. They are stated to be left behind by the Spanish after they fled from Tenochtitlan the first time. These ships make the scenario much easier due to being able to take down Spanish coastal fortifications from a distance.
Gallery[]
