The Discovery Age is the first Age in Age of Empires III. It is characterized as the beginning of settlement in the "New World", exploration around the land, and the starting point of economics for European Settlers and Asian/Native American Villagers. It allows only a simple economy, including trade, but does not allow for military development under normal circumstances. Because of limited technologies and little (if not outright nonexistent) military strength during this Age, it is strongly recommended to advance to the Colonial Age as soon as possible.
Military development
While normally it is impossible to train military units in the Discovery Age, it is possible to acquire such units by freeing captive military units from Treasure Guardians, converting Treasure Guardians, or training pet animals. However, any army formed in that manner is very small at best, and it is usually reserved for the purposes of scouting, Treasure hunting, and harassing.
Available units and buildings
- Town Center - Settler/Villager, Coureur des Bois, Envoy, Native Scout, Shaolin Master, Brahmin, Ikko-Ikki
- House
- Manor (British only)
- Market
- Mill
- Livestock Pen - Sheep
- Dock - Fishing Boat
- Outpost
- Blockhouse (Russians only)
- Trading Post
- Wall (all civilizations except the Sioux)
- Gate (all civilizations except the Sioux)
- Bank (Dutch only)
- Mosque (Ottomans only)
- Field Hospital
- Fire Pit (Native American civilizations only)
- Farm (Native American civilizations only)
- Longhouse (Iroquois only)
- Teepee (Sioux only)
- War Hut (Native American civilizations only)
- Village (Chinese only)
- Rice Paddy (Asian civilizations only)
- Sacred Field (Indians only) - Sacred Cow
- Shrine (Japanese only)
- Consulate (Asian civilizations only)
- Castle (Asian civilizations only)
- Monastery (Asian civilizations only)
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