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โ€œNative boat that can attack or transport units.โ€
—In-game description

The Marathan Catamaran is a small ship in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties. It is available after building a Trading Post on a Holy Site settlement on Borneo, Ceylon, Deccan, Fertile Crescent, Indochina, Indonesia and Malaysia maps.

Overview[]

The Indians can also receive Marathan Catamaran from shipments on water maps with Dacoits or Thuggees garrisoned. Players usually use it to collect Treasures at sea. It can carry a fair amount of units, including artillery. It can attack, fish (though it is as inefficient as Canoes), transport units and train Old Doug the Orangutans, and Dacoits and Thuggees if they are available at Tavern/Monastery.

Catamarans have weak firepower against ground units and other ships, but they fire from a good distance when compared to Musketeers for instance. Their range is the same as that of a Skirmisher, allowing them to outrange most military ground units when they are near the sea. A group of them can be used to support other war ships, as they cost no population slot, and they can also be used as a distraction for enemy ships or coast defenses. It should be noted, though, that they have low hit points and get easily destroyed by other ships. Their siege damage, though, is nearly half that of an upgraded Caravel and they perform well for their cost against buildings, especially Docks.

Because they are somewhat cheap compared to regular ships and fire from long range, they can be used to harass enemy units that are too close to the coast, especially villagers, forcing them to flee or send ships to down the Catamarans, distracting the enemy either way.

Strategy[]

Both Water Ceremony and War Ceremony boost ranged warships. The former requires a card, the latter does not. Ranged attack can be boosted as high as 36, 91 siege damage and 588 hit points with the former ceremony and all upgrades. 32 ranged attack, 58 siege damage and 275 hit points with only the latter ceremony and upgrades; depending on whether the player wishes to send a card or not.

Units[]

The Marathan Catamaran must be close to the shore to train the units, and will also be unable to move and attack while doing so.

Age Unit Cost Pop. Limit
Age I tech tree aoe3
Orangutan portrait aoe3de Old Doug the Orangutan 200 food โ€“ 5
Age II tech tree aoe3
Dacoit aoe3de Marathan Dacoit 90 coin 5 โˆž
Thuggee aoe3de Marathan Thuggee 150 coin 6

Bandit Catamaran[]

โ€œBandit boat that can attack or transport units.โ€
—Bandit Catamaran in-game description

The Bandit Catamaran is an African variant of the Marathan Catamaran in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - The African Royals trainable by default on Horn and Swahili Coast maps, and is only available on them. It also differs from the Marathan Catamaran in its statistics and the units that it can train.

Units[]

The Bandit Catamaran must be close to the shore to train the units, and will also be unable to move and attack while doing so.

Age Unit Cost Limit
Age I tech tree aoe3
Warthog portrait Pambuu the Tame Warthog 150 food 7
Riderless Elephant portrait aoe3de Aiz the Tame Elephant 500 food 2

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Ships, buildings close to shore
Weak vs. Artillery especially Culverins, defensive structures
Improvements
Gather rate Long Lines Long Lines (+30%)
Gill Nets Gill Nets (+15%)
Huron Fish Wedding Huron Fish Wedding (+15%)
Fasting Fasting (+10%)
Aztec chinampa Aztec Chinampa (+5%)
Klamath Work Ethos Klamath Work Ethos (+5%)
Collective Economy Collective Economy (+50% from whales; Asians only)
Excessive Taxation Excessive Taxation (+50% from whales; Europeans only)
Excessive Tribute Excessive Tribute (+50% from whales; Native Americans only)
Mountain State Gold Rush Mountain State Gold Rush (+40% from whales; United States only)
Large Scale Farming Large Scale Farming (+35% from whales; Africans only)
Navajo Craftsmanship Navajo Craftsmanship (+20% from whales)
Somali coinage Somali Coinage (+10% from whales)
Hit points Rawhide Covers Rawhide Covers (+30%; Haudenosaunee only)
Armor Plating Armor Plating (+50%)
Heavy Riverboats Heavy Riverboats (+25%; Africans only)
Byzantine legacy Byzantine Legacy (+15%)
Cipactli Worship Cipactli Worship (+10%; Aztecs only)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+10%)
Attack Flaming Arrows Flaming Arrows (+30%; Lakota only)
Carronade Carronade (+25%)
River Skirmishes River Skirmishes (+25%; Africans only)
Cipactli Worship Cipactli Worship (+10%; Aztecs only)
Som ajuran engineers Somali Ajuran Engineers (+20% multiplier vs. Frontier fortification)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Train time Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
New Mexico Immigration New Mexico Immigration (-10%; United States only)
Strangers' Quarters Strangers' Quarters (-10%; Africans only)
Other Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Oresund customs ร–resund Customs (generates 0.05 coin/sec.)
Penalties Pennsylvania Pound Pennsylvania Pound (-10% coin gather rate; United States only)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Marathan/Bandit Catamaran
Some cards are highlighted with:
Green TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Purple Shipment that can be sent an INFINITE number of times
Red Shipment that can be sent twice
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

All[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 3 (Advanced Dock) Advanced Dock Docks get +100% attack and heal ships 85% faster; warships' train time -33% (also +1 Villager for the Indians)
Age I tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City (Fish Market) Fish Market Fishing boats gather food from fishes 25% faster and coin from whales 20% faster (also +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Spanish Home City 4 (Rendering Plants) Rendering Plant Fishing boats gather food from fishes 30% faster and coin from whales 25% faster (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
British Home City 4 (Whale Oil) Whale Oil Fishing boats gather coin from whales 30% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
40
Spanish Home City 5 (Improved Warships) Improved Warships Warships get +25% hit points and attack (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Team improved warships TEAM Improved Warships Warships get +10% hit points and attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
British Home City 5 (Naval Gunners) Naval Gunners Warships get +20% attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
25
British Home City 5 (Offshore Support) Offshore Support Warships get +15% attack, +2 Line of Sight and range (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans)
Age II tech tree aoe3
40
Indian Home City 5 (European Cannons) European Cannons Warships get +15% attack, +2 Line of Sight and range (also +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
25
Spanish Home City 5 (Admiralty) Admiralty Dock warship technologies cost and research time -60% (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
1
  • "Advanced Dock" is not available to Africans.
  • "Fish Market" is not available to the Japanese and Portuguese.
  • "Rendering Plant" is not available to the Mexicans and Native Americans.
  • "Whale Oil" is available to the Japanese, Portuguese, Swedes, and United States.
  • "Improved Warships" is not available to the Chinese, Lakota, and United States.
  • "TEAM Improved Warships" is available to the Chinese and Maltese.
  • "Naval Gunners" is available to the British, French, Italians, Maltese, Russians, Swedes, and United States.
  • "Offshore Support" is available to the Aztecs, Germans, Inca, Maltese, and Ottomans.
  • "European Cannons" is not available to Europeans and Native Americans.
  • "Admiralty" is not available to Africans and Native Americans.

Africans[]

Card Description Age
Advanced port Advanced Port Ports get +100% attack and heal ships 100% faster; warships' train time -33%
Age I tech tree aoe3
Trainspeed africa Feudal Armies All units' train time -15%; hero respawn time -15%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Aztecs[]

Card Description Age
Aztec Home City 5 (Artificial Islands) Artificial Islands Warships cost -35% wood
Age III tech tree aoe3

British[]

Card Description Age
British Home City 4 (Team Whale Oil) TEAM Whale Oil Fishing boats gather coin from whales 15% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3

Chinese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' train time -20%
Age III tech tree aoe3
10

Ethiopians[]

Card Description Age
Ignatian spirituality Ignatian Spirituality All units get +5% hit points and regeneration capability even while in combat
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Roof africa Roof of Africa Villagers and fishing boats gather food 25% faster
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Fazogli gold Fazogli Gold Villagers and fishing boats gather coin 20% faster
Age II tech tree aoe3
Land of the sea Land of the Sea Warships get +35% attack for each garrisoned Ras
Age III tech tree aoe3

Europeans[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 4 (Economic Theory) Economic Theory Villagers and fishing boats gather 10% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
40
Indonesia Home City (Lantakas) Lantakas Artillery, buildings, and ships get +15% attack
Revolution
N/A
  • "Economic Theory" is not available to the British, Dutch, Spanish, and Swedes.
  • "Lantakas" is available to the Dutch and Portuguese upon revolting to Indonesia.

Haudenosaunee[]

Card Description Age
Haudenosaunee Home City 3 (Wampum) Wampum Training units and constructing buildings grants +35% XP
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Inca[]

Card Description Age
Inca Home City 4 (Salt Ponds) Salt Ponds Villagers gather food from herded and hunted animals 20% faster; fishing boats gather food from fisheses and coin from whales 20% faster
Age II tech tree aoe3

Indians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
Indian Home City 5 (Bombay Marine) Bombay Marine Ships' train time -30% and train bounty +30%; +1 Hindu Villager
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Indian Home City 5 (Recruit Maratha +10 Dacoit) Recruit Maratha + 10 Dacoit Ships 3 Marathan Catamarans with 10 Dacoits in it; +1 Hindu Villager; costs 500 coin
Age II tech tree aoe3
1
Indian Home City 5 (Recruit Maratha +9 Thuggee) Recruit Maratha + 6 Thuggee Ships 3 Marathan Catamarans with 6 Thuggees in it; +1 Hindu Villager; costs 500 coin
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Indian Home City 5 (TEAM Recruit Maratha +10 Thuggee) TEAM Recruit Maratha + 10 Thuggee Ships 4 Marathan Catamarans with 10 Thuggees in it; costs 1,000 coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
25

Japanese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Sengoku Unit upgrades cost -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
1
Japanese Home City 4 (Chonindo) TEAM Chonindo Villagers and fishing boats gather 8% faster from all sources except hunts; Haciendas auto gather 8% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
40
Japanese Home City 4 (Fish Market) Fish Market Fishing boats gather food from fishes 25% faster and coin from whales 20% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Japanese Home City 4 (Peacetime Fishing) Peacetime Fishing Warships gather food from fishes and coin from whales 125% faster
Age III tech tree aoe3
25

Lakota[]

Card Description Age
Winter counts Winter Counts Training units grants +40% XP and constructing buildings grants +20% XP
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Maltese[]

Card Description Age
Maltese Home City 2 (TEAM Knights of the Round Table) TEAM Knights of the Round Table Ships 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center owned by the player; all units get +2% hit points
Age I tech tree aoe3
Maltese Home City 5 (Speronaras) Speronaras Ships get +10% speed; Order Galleys and Fishing Boats get +30% speed instead
Age I tech tree aoe3

Mexicans[]

Card Description Age
Mexican Home City 2 (TEAM Mariachi) TEAM Mariachi For the next 30 seconds, military buildings work 400% faster and units get +10% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3
Mexican Home City 4 (TEAM Rendering Plant) TEAM Rendering Plant Fishing boats gather 10% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
Federal card colegio de san nicolas Colegio de San Nicolรกs Ships 500 XP; units get +4 and buildings (except Walls) get +8 Line of Sight; sees what enemies can see for 20 seconds
Age II tech tree aoe3
Federal card national servant National Servant All units get +10% hit points; Padre healing 200% faster
Imperial Age

Native Americans[]

Card Description Age
Iroquois Home City 5 (Water Dance) Water Ceremony Water Ceremony available at the Community Plaza
Age I tech tree aoe3
  • "Water Ceremony" is not available to the Lakota.

Portuguese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Portuguese Home City 4 (Fish Market) TEAM Fish Market Fishing boats gather 10% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
1

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Russian Home City 5 (Cold Water Port) TEAM Cold Water Port Warships cost -15%
Age I tech tree aoe3
10

Spanish[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

United States[]

Card Description Age
Federal card indiana mobilization Indiana Mobilization Ships 1 Carbine Cavalry for every shipment that had been sent by the player, including this one; all units' train time, technology research time, and age-up time -10%; costs 500 wood
Age III tech tree aoe3
Federal card vermont coppers Vermont Coppers Estate technologies are free and researched instantly; villagers and fishing boats gather coin 5% faster; all coin autogather and trickle 5% faster
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Federal card connecticut shipwrights Connecticut Shipwrights Artillery train time -25%, buildings' build time -35%, and ships' train time -50%
Imperial Age
  • "Indiana Mobilization" is available upon selecting the Indiana Federal State.
  • "Vermont Coppers" is available upon selecting the Vermont Federal State.
  • "Connecticut Shipwrights" is available upon selecting the Connecticut Federal State.

Bandit Catamaran[]

There is also the Treasure guardian variant of the Marathan Catamaran. It is usually featured in large area of seas surrounding a rather abundant Treasure.

In-game dialogue[]

The Marathan Catamaran uses the Thuggee's dialogues.

Main article: Indians (Age of Empires III)#In-game dialogue

Trivia[]

  • As the Catamaran sinks, the Dacoit-like unit steering the vessel tries to jump out of the sinking vessel, only to fall into the sea alongside the vessel.
  • African Bandit Catamarans have a black bandit sailing the ship, while Marathan Catamarans have a Dacoit.

History[]

โ€œThe Maratha were the influential power behind an empire that covered a large region of India in the late-seventeenth and eighteenth centuries CE. The Maratha aided in bringing about the fall of the powerful Mughal Empire, and later became fierce rivals of the British occupation of India. By the middle of the eighteenth century, their empire, under the ruler Sivaji, extended the kingdom's reach south through the vast Deccan plateau and onto the Indian peninsula. The British Empire was able to greatly reduce the great empire's influence, subduing it completely by 1818.

Today, Maratha refers to a member of the Western Indian Marathi-speaking people known for their devotion to Hinduism and their skill as warriors. They are named for their homeland of Maharashtra.

The word "catamaran" comes from the Anglicized Tamil words "kattu," or to tie, and "maram," meaning wood, or tree. Comprised of two connected hulls or a single hull with two parallel keels, the catamaran is a watercraft that was developed by natives of Polynesia and first used in the fifth century CE. Its maneuverability proved advantageous for crews braving the waves of the Pacific Ocean, as it could reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour while maintaining its stability.

Westerners adopted the catamaran design in the 1870s, when famous American naval engineer Nathanael Herreshoff began building a modified version of the craft. Today, catamarans can range from 12 to 315 feet, depending on their purpose, and are widely used for sport and business.
โ€

Gallery[]

Mercenary and Outlaw units in Age of Empires III
Aoe3 unit type mercenary Mercenaries
InfantryMercenary armored pistoleer portrait Armored Pistoleer ยท Arsonist aoe3de Arsonist ยท Askari aoe3de portrait Askari ยท Corsair de Barbary Corsair ยท Cannoneer portrait aoe3de Cannoneer ยท Dahomey amazon aoe3de portrait Dahomey Amazon ยท Fusilier de Fusilier ยท Mercenary giant grenadier portrait Giant Grenadier ยท Highlander de Highlander ยท Mercenary irish brigade portrait Irish Brigadier ยท Iron troop aoe3de Iron Troop ยท Jaeger portrait aoe3de updated Jaeger ยท Landsknecht de Landsknecht ยท Ninja de Ninja ยท Mercenary pandour portrait Pandour ยท Ronin de Ronin ยท Swiss pikeman aoe3de Swiss Pikeman ยท Zouave icon aoe3de Zouave
CavalryBlack rider aoe3de Black Rider ยท Mercenary bosniak rider portrait Bosniak ยท Elmeti aoe3de Elmetto ยท Gatling camel aoe3de portrait Gatling Camel ยท Hackapell aoe3de Hackapell ยท Harquebusier icon Harquebusier ยท Jat lancer de Jat Lancer ยท Kanuri guard aoe3de portrait Kanuri Guard ยท Mameluke aoe3de Mameluke ยท Manchu de Manchu ยท Mercenary mounted rifleman portrait Mounted Rifleman ยท Mercenary royal horseman portrait Royal Horseman ยท Sennar horseman aoe3de portrait Sennar Horseman ยท Stradiot aoe3de Stradiot ยท Yojimbo aoe3de Yojimbo ยท Zenata rider aoe3de portrait Zenata Rider
ArtilleryLil bombard aoe3de Li'l Bombard ยท Napoleon gun icon aoe3de Napoleon Gun ยท Gatling camel aoe3de portrait Gatling Camel
ShipBattleship portrait Battleship ยท Privateer aoe3de Privateer ยท War dhow portrait aoe3de War Dhow ยท Wokou junk aoe3de Wokou Junk ยท Xebec portrait aoe3de Xebec
Outlaws
InfantryAfrican vagabond portrait African Vagabond ยท Colonial looter portrait Colonial Looter ยท Dacoit aoe3de Dacoit ยท Desert archer portrait aoe3de Desert Archer ยท Desert warrior portrait aoe3de Desert Warrior ยท Hajduk portrait Hajduk ยท Highwayman dismounted portrait Highwayman ยท Inquisitor portrait Inquisitor ยท Pistolero aoe3de Pistolero ยท Renegado aoe3de Renegado ยท Thuggee aoe3de Thuggee ยท Blind monk aoe3de Wokou Monk ยท Wayward ronin aoe3de Wokou Ronin
Shock infantryPirate aoe3de Pirate ยท Wokou pirate aoe3de Wokou Pirate
CavalryComanchero icon aoe3de Comanchero ยท Cossack daredevil portrait Cossack Daredevil ยท Crabat portrait Crabat ยท Desert raider portrait aoe3de Desert Raider ยท Highwayman dismounted portrait Highwayman ยท Wokou horseman aoe3de Wokou Horseman
ArtilleryCaptured mortar aoe3de Captured Mortar
ShipCatamaran aoe3de Marathan Catamaran
Flag American act3 aoe3de United StatesGunslinger aoe3de Gunslinger ยท Cowboy aoe3de Cowboy ยท Owlhoot aoe3de Owlhoot
Flag MexicanDE MexicansDesperado portrait Desperado ยท Vaquero portrait Cuatrero ยท Bandido portrait Bandido
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