Canals is a custom map in Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.
Description[]
Canals is a map surrounded by dense forest, featuring groves of trees scattered around inside, as well as rich mineral deposits and decent hunting. The Relics and Wolves here are average.
The main feature of this map are the eponymous canals — long snaky stretches of water forming entwining streams. These canals are rich in fish, and connect each player to each other while providing just enough room for the construction of Docks.
Viable strategies[]
The canals are excellent sources of food for a naval economy, and a defensive player can use the canals to aid in walling themselves off from early rushes. However, a wily opponent can also use the canals to transport units across the shores, since all canals on the map connect players bases to each other. So, much care must be taken for controlling and defending these canals, both to protect one's own base, and to aid in attacking rivaling bases.
As naval battles may yet steal the show, naval civilizations like the Vikings, Portuguese, and Spanish will find the peculiarities of such a map as this to be very useful. Naval booming civilizations like the Hindustanis and Italians will have tons of fun here, too. Both turtling and raiding civilizations will have some strength here, given that they plan and construct their defenses responsibly — so some civilizations like the Teutons and Byzantines will have something of a presence here. Because of the abundance of forest, wood-cutting civilizations like the Celts will be strong here.