All Tech option in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.
The Full Tech Tree is a game option players can choose before starting a game in both Age of Empires and Age of Empires II.
As the name suggests, the Full Tech Tree option grants all players access to the full technology tree, meaning that all players can train every unit and research every technology in the game, but lose all their civilization bonuses.
Age of Empires[]
Every civilization becomes exactly the same in terms of gameplay. Before the Definitive Edition, non-standard units such as Fire Galleys (which are not recognized as a unit in the tech tree) are not available; every civilization gets access to Catapult Triremes instead.
Age of Empires II[]
Gurjaras in a normal game vs Gurjaras in Full Tech Tree mode
The Full Tech Tree equalizes all civilizations entirely with the exception of their unique units and their scout unit, viz the Gurjaras starting with a Camel Scout, and the Native American civilizations starting with an Eagle Scout. Civilization and team bonuses (including the Condottiero, Imperial Skirmisher, and Genitour) are removed, as well as unique technologies and unique buildings. Thus, the full technology tree grants the Native American civilizations access to cavalry and gunpowder, but completely disables access to the Xolotl Warrior. All civilizations get access to all regional units, except the Xolotl Warrior (whose loss does not matter, since it is basically a reskinned Knight).
As an example, the Gurjaras can have a full Stable plus the Shrivamsha Rider and Camel Scout, along with both Elephant Archer-Cavalry Archer and Siege Ram-Siege Elephant combinations.
In full tech tree mode, the Armenians and Georgians retain access to Mule Carts, and still lack the Lumber and Mining Camps. However, both lose access to the Fortified Church.
Since there are no unique units in Age of Empires and all of their civilizations have the same scout unit, all their civilizations become equal. Thus, all rules of Age of Empires II apply, but not vice versa.
All Techs[]
All Techs is a Scenario Editor option in Age of Empires II slightly different from Full Tech Tree mode. It unlocks the entire technology tree without the loss of civilization or team bonuses. To enable this behaviour, a scenario is saved with this setting and is played as a custom scenario without enabling the Full Tech Tree button (the latter overrides the former).
Doing so leads to powerful combinations like Franks with +20% hit points for their cavalry as well as Bloodlines. Working with All Techs mode is helped by proper knowledge of bonuses and technologies, like:
- Chatras affects War Elephants, but not Armored Elephants or Elephant Archers.
- Farimba affects all cavalry, including Battle and Armored Elephants.
- The Lithuanian Relic bonus affects only the Knight line and the Leitis, not other heavy cavalry.
Other games[]
This option is unavailable in Age of Mythology, Age of Empires III, and Age of Empires IV, likely due to the inherent asymmetry between civilizations in these games.
