The Fortress Age is the third Age in Age of Empires III. It is characterized by the establishment of defenses and extra Town Centers in the civilization's settlement as raw resources such as Coin mines and huntables grow more scarce and give way to economic buildings. The age also comes with advanced armaments such as cavalry carbines and infantry rifles, or the heavy cavalry armor for the Cuirassier and the giant Mahout Lancer in melee. Additionally it marks the mobilization of artillery on sea and land, including the powerful Falconet, as the tool of choice to take down enemy emplacements and armies. These powerful units are even stronger than those previously available in the Commerce Age, especially with type-countering multipliers to increase their damage, but they come with increased production cost.
Finally, in addition to the growing size of the player's established territory, this age is also associated with technical developments in both unit training and the economy. One key example is the set of Veteran unit upgrades. Wood finally becomes less scarce due to the establishment of elaborate techniques for its collection and production, such as the European Circular Saw, which aids in the construction of the necessary permanent economic buildings for gathering resources. Home City involvement correspondingly increases, with powerful cards such as the titular Fort structure, and Mercenaries. The advancement in age continues the increase in resource crate sizes, and unit shipments; many civilizations can also ship advanced economic cards like Refrigeration to gain the upper hand in resource production.
Advancing to the Fortress Age will have following effects;
- Buildings +4 Line of Sight
- Heroes get 30% hit points and attack (25% hit points for Explorer Dog)
- Pets get 30% hit points and attack
Methods[]
Advancement to the next Age requires the selection of a method to advance with. Different civilizations will have different methods available:
Politician | Bonuses | Civilization(s) |
---|---|---|
Ships 1 Caravel and 300 wood | British Dutch Portuguese Spanish | |
Ships 1 Galley and 300 wood | Ottomans | |
Ships 1 Order Galley and 200 wood | Maltese | |
Ships 7 Longbowmen | British | |
Ships 17 Streltsy | Russians | |
Ships 9 Crossbowmen | Spanish | |
Ships 8 Crossbowmen | Maltese | |
Ships 8 Pavisiers; + 4 Pavisiers* | Italians | |
Ships 1 Covered Wagon; +300 XP* | British Dutch French Germans Italians Maltese Russians Spanish Swedes | |
Ships 5 Elite Shotel Warriors | Portuguese | |
Ages up 2.75 times as fast | Dutch French Germans Ottomans Portuguese Russians Swedes | |
Ships 1 Privateer and 300 coin; +1 Privateer | French Germans Italians Russians Swedes | |
Ships 6 Skirmishers | French Germans | |
Ships 4 Abus Gunners | Ottomans | |
Ships 6 Cassadores | Portuguese | |
Ships 2 Leather Cannons | Swedes | |
Ships 6 Musketeers; +3 Musketeers | Italians | |
The Tavern can train Harquebusiers and Jaegers | British | |
The Tavern can train Elmetti and Fusiliers | Dutch | |
The Tavern can train Mounted Riflemen and Royal Musketeers | French | |
The Tavern can train Barbary Corsairs and Mamelukes | Ottomans | |
The Tavern can train Li'l Bombards and Ronin | Portuguese | |
Military buildings (Barracks, Stables, and Forts) can train Black Riders and Jaegers | Swedes | |
The Tavern can train Armored Pistoleers and Cannoneers | Maltese | |
The Tavern can train Mounted Riflemen and Royal Horsemen; +1 Mounted Rifleman | Italians | |
Ships 7 Haudenosaunee Tomahawks and 1 Native Scout | British Portuguese | |
Ships 4 Hussars | Spanish | |
Ships 4 Delis* | Ottomans | |
Ships 5 Cossacks | Russians | |
Ships 6 Halberdiers | Dutch | |
Ships 4 Doppelsoldner | Germans | |
Ships 8 Pikemen | Spanish | |
Ships 4 Hospitallers | Maltese |
- Main article: Tribal Council
- Main article: Wonder (Age of Empires III)
- Main article: Federal State
- Main article: Alliance
Available units and buildings[]
- Artillery Foundry (for the French, Germans, Portuguese, and Spanish)
- Arsenal (can be accessed in the Commerce Age after shipping the relevant Home City Card)
- Dojo (Japanese only)
- Fort - All infantry, cavalry, and artillery, except artillery pieces (Mortar, Falconet, Culverin, and Heavy Cannon) are available.
- Stronghold (Inca only)
- Nobles' Hut (Aztecs only)
- Kallanka (Incas only)
- Estate (can be accessed in the Exploration Age after shipping the relevant card)
- Siege Workshop (Haudenosaunee only)
Ages in the Age of Empires series | |
---|---|
Age of Empires | |
Stone Age · Tool Age · Bronze Age · Iron Age Cut: Prehistoric Age · Republic Age | |
Age of Empires II | |
Dark Age · Feudal Age · Castle Age · Imperial Age | |
Age of Mythology | |
Archaic Age · Classical Age · Heroic Age · Mythic Age · Titan Age (Removed) · Wonder Age | |
Age of Empires III | |
Exploration Age · Commerce Age · Fortress Age · Industrial Age · Imperial Age Revolution | |
Age of Empires IV | |
Dark Age · Feudal Age · Castle Age · Imperial Age | |
Chronicles | |
Archaic Age · Civic Age · Classical Age · Imperial Age |