Map object (Age of Empires: The Age of Kings)

This page contains information about the types of map objects in Age of Empires: The Age of Kings, and how they affect the player in-game.

Buildable resources

Wheat Resource

Open fertile plains suitable for farming, these locations are where villagers may construct mills, and then the adjacent farms. Food resource spots only appear on plains (not plains roads or plains hills). These resources usually have enough plains spaces around them to fit all four Farm positions around the central Mill. Like gold resources, they do not do not expire and will reappear when the resource-harvesting building is destroyed.

Gold Resource

Gold resource allows the construction of mines to generate gold for the player's civilization. Gold is always located on either hills or mountains (but not hill roads or mountain roads). Like wheat resources, they do not do not expire and will reappear when the resource-harvesting building is destroyed.

Since Gold is on hills or mountains, the mines built on top of the gold resource are tactically useful since the mine heals, adds defense, and increases the attack range and sight of units who stand on a mine.

Map treasures

In custom or multiplayer games, a variety of map treasures can be found on the map at the start of the game. These occupy a single tile and if a unit stands on top of the item (not attacking or using a special ability) they will capture the treasure. Once captured, it permanently disappears off the map. Relics need to be captured by Monks and can return to the map where the Relic is dropped. Usually, these treasures give extra resources. In the early game, the player can send out units to obtain these extra treasures. Often, the extra resources are needed to continually research and train soldiers in the early game, when other incomes are lower.

Stored Food

Adds 100 extra food to the player's civilization. This map treasure is similar to the capturable livestock found around the maps of other Age of Empires games.

Hidden Gold

Adds 100 extra gold to the player's civilization.

Relic

Relics of the ancient past may be picked by Monks and donated to Church buildings, where they will generate passive income as long as the Church remains. Initially, donated Relics will provide 75 gold per turn, but with all research upgrades, they will provide 150 gold. If a Church or Monk is carrying a Relic, they will sparkle, letting players know where the Relic is. If the Monk or Church is destroyed, the Relic drops to the ground.

In general, Relics exist in hard-to-reach locations away from any starting position. Relics do not contribute to any kind of custom game victory points, other than the gold they generate or exploration achieved while searching for Relics.

Ruins

Ruins are mysterious locations from past civilizations that appear on most custom maps and a few campaign maps. They can be found on any regularly passable terrain. They do not affect any terrain stats or movement penalties. Once they are visited, they disappear, making them similar to other map treasures. Visiting Ruins have one of the following effects.

1. Hidden gold (Common)- adds 200 gold to the civilization.
2. Stored food (Common)- adds 200 food to the civilization.
3. A loyal follower (Rare)- A new unit of sword infantry (depending on the age) will appear at the ruins and join the player. Note that likely due to a technical problem, Long Swordsmen will appear in the Imperial Age instead of Two-Handed Swordsmen.
4. Unit lost (Rare)- The unit instantly disappears. This also can affect heroes as well, which can be a devastating loss.
5. Wisdom of the ancients (Very Rare)- The player instantly gains one new research technology for their current age. It is not dependent on what buildings the player currently has.

Random events

If "Random Events" is selected for custom or multiplayer games in the options menu, some days while start with an opening message that will tell of a randomly assigned effect or event taking place. Even though all players are technically on the same "day", it only affects one civilization at a time. For example, a drought for the red player will not affect the blue player. Each random event only lasts one day.

Positive Random event lists:

• Birth Boom- The player gains a new unit of Villagers at each Town Center.
• Happy Serfs- Daily food and gold income increases by 25%.
• Good Omen- All the player's units gain +5% attack and defense for the entire day.
• Gold Rush- Gold income increases by 50%.
• Bountiful Harvest- Food income increases by 50%.

Negative Random event lists:

• Plague- All the player's units lose 5 hit points.
• Rebel Serfs- Daily food and gold income decreases by 25%.
• Ill Omen- All the player's units have a 5% decrease to their attack and defense for the entire day.
• Fools Gold- Gold income decreases by 50%.
• Drought- Food income decreases by 50%.