“ | The Circle has assembled in the Ossuary, their stronghold in Cuba. Will Amelia and Kanyenke be able to stop Beaumont, or will the Circle win at last? | ” |
Last Stand of the Boneguard is the eighth and final scenario of the Act III: Steel campaign in Age of Empires III. It involves the final battle of Amelia Black and Ká:nien against Pierre Beaumont and the Circle.
Summary[]
Having defended the Inca settlement and with the information from Ká:nien that Beaumont was at the Ossuary, the stronghold of the Circle in Havana, in Hispaniola, Amelia and Ká:nien leave to finish off the Frenchman and the Circle once and for all.
Objectives[]
Primary objectives[]
- Bring Amelia to Havana's Town Center.
- Survive until US Navy arrives.
- Destroy the Ossuary Shore Guns and Temple.
Secondary objectives[]
- Ally with the Carib Native Americans. (2,000 XP)
- Destroy the Circle's navy. (2,000 XP)
- Advance to the Imperial Age. (4,000 XP)
Players[]
Player[]
- Amelia Black ( United States) - The player starts at sea with two Caravels and a Fluyt containing Amelia Black, Ká:nien, 8 Barbary Corsairs, and 4 Highlanders.
Allies[]
- Havana ( Spanish) - An ally after having taken Amelia to the center of her city. He will then begin to create an army of Pikemen, Rodeleros, and artillery to attack the enemy's main base. As the game progresses, they will give the player 300 resources of each type.
- United States ( United States) - This player does not have a purpose in the scenario since it does not appear and perhaps is a placeholder.
Enemies[]
- The Circle ( The Circle) - The main enemy of this scenario, is surrounded by defensive walls, four fixed guns and several improved outposts. A group of Boneguards and Beaumont himself will be protecting the Ossuary. When the player allies with Havana, the enemy attacks mainly with Boneguard Swordsmen, Musketeers, Skirmishers, and a lot of artillery.
- The Circle ( Circle of Ossus) - This enemy only has inactive units made up of Boneguards, a White Wolf, and a White Jaguar scattered across the map when the player's units land, and Boneguard Musketeers on the small island along with the native Trading Post.
Treasures[]
There are 5 treasures on the main island, all are guarded except two.
- Cacti covered with cochineal worth 40 coin. Guarded by 1 Jaguar.
- A carob plant worth 75 food.
- The cuirass of El Pollo Guapo, wich increases Explorer or Hero hitpoints by 100%. Guarded by 8 Outlaw Riflemen.
- Two Settlers held prisoner by the British. Guarded by 4 Outlaw Musketeers.
- A den of muskrats worth 20 coin.
Strategy[]
The player starts at the bottom of the map with two Caravels and a Fluyt. The player should not try to sail around the Ossuary; they have at least two Fixed Guns that can destroy the player's ships. Instead, the player should land at the bottom of the map, in the sandy gap between two plateaus marked by the objective marker. There, the player should construct a Town Center and establish a base; for that, take Amelia to Havana's Town Center. Havana is the yellow ally to the north. If the player does not mind losing a few soldiers, they can send troops (with Amelia) straight to Havana, and fight the ambush encounter. A more peaceful way to the Town Center is to select Amelia, then send her to the other side of the plateau to the left. She will automatically find a path across it (she sort of glitches over it). Then, send her to Havana. Be careful of 2 Boneguard soldiers - though they are easily avoided, they are strong.
Once Amelia is at the Town Center, a message from Havana will pop up, saying that Havana has agreed to join Amelia. The player will get a Town Center Wagon from Havana, as well as being "fed" resources over time. Send the wagon to the sandy area where the player landed, and set up a town. Build walls between the plateaus, and leave the gap to the player left open. From there, the player will have to survive 15 minutes until the U.S. Navy arrives. If Havana gets destroyed while the player is waiting, don't worry. The player didn't need them anyway, and the player will still be "fed" resources. After 15 minutes have passed, 2 Monitors and 1 Frigate will spawn from the northern area of the ocean. The player can use the Monitors' special attacks to destroy the closest Fixed Gun. From there, use that special attack on the Ossuary as many times as needed. If the player wants to "farm" experience, then go ahead and destroy the Ossuary base. If the player loses 2 warships, they will get 3 more. Beaumont doesn't need to be killed, only the Ossuary. After the Ossuary is destroyed, the player wins the scenario and completes the campaign.
Trivia[]
- This is the last time in the all Age of Empires III campaigns that the Circle of Ossus appears.
- In this scenario the player is again in Havana that previously appeared in A Pirate's Help of Act I: Blood.
- The Spanish flag used by Havana is a bit anachronistic for those times, since it was replaced by the current Spanish flag in 1785, a product of the Bourbon reforms of Charles III of Spain. However, the Cross of Burgundy continued to be used by Spanish traditionalists during the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Old Coot's congratulations to Amelia for having defeated the Circle of Ossus in a single life reveals that he is Morgan, who has lived for 250 years thanks to the water of the Fountain of Youth.