The Musk Ox is a huntable animal in Age of Empires III, and cut content from Age of Mythology: The Titans.
Age of Mythology[]
According to the files of Age of Mythology: The Titans, the Musk Ox was planned for inclusion but was removed before release. Files such as a shadow definition (.DCL) file, history text and a texture file are present. Real-world information suggests it would have appeared in Tundra-style maps, likely replacing the Aurochs (coincidentally, the only huntable animal added to The Titans, the Arctic Wolf, is also an inhabitant of the tundra).
It is possible to re-add the Musk Ox with a mod, using the Ox Caravan's model.
Cut Musk Ox texture map from The Titans (Animal Musk Ox.ddt)
History[]
| “ | Scientific name -- Ovibos maschatus Size -- Up to 900 lbs. Diet -- Grasses, willow leaves, arctic flowers Musk oxen are large, long haired, horned animals that are well adapted to cold environments and thrive in the arctic tundra. They stand up to 5 feet tall with a low-slung body and hoofed feet. Musk oxen travel in herds to protect their young from predators, such as the arctic wolf. Despite their common name, musk oxen are not oxen nor do they have musk glands. They are more closely related to goats or sheep. |
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Age of Empires III[]
| “ | A small, shaggy cow. | ” |
| —In-game description | ||
The Musk Ox has the same stats as the Bison, holding 500 food and has 30 hitpoints. It takes three shots from villagers (two with blunderbuss) to take it down.
It only appears in the Yukon map, in herds.
Gathering rates[]
| Resource | Source | Gathering rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| per second | per minute | ||
| All resources | Shrine | 0.076 | 4.56 |
| Food | Hacienda | 0.166667 | 10.00002 |
| Wood | 0.25 | 15 | |
| Coin | 0.113334 | 6.80004 | |
Home City Cards[]
- Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Musk Ox
| Some cards are highlighted with: | |
| Green | TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team |
| Card | Description | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Delivers 3 Settlers; Haciendas attract nearby hunted animals to improve its work rate |
- "Baja California Territory" is available upon revolting to Baja California.
| Card | Description | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Delivers 1 Collection of Books (100 XP); reveals all treasures, resources, Trade Routes, and Native settlements, and enemy units' positions for 20 seconds |
History[]
| “ | Scientific Name: Ovibos moschatus Approx. Size: 4 ft. at the shoulder, 900 lb. Diet: Grasses, lichen Musk ox have shaggy coats with long guardhairs that protect them from the bitter conditions of their tundra home. These guardhairs can grow up to three feet in length and are light brown in the summer and almost black in the winter. Musk oxen have broad, sharp hooves that distribute their weight on the snow and allow them to dig under the ice for grass to eat. Males have a pair of distinctively broad-based horns that form a hard plate over the brow, swooping down and then abruptly up into hooks. They travel in large groups and, when threatened, form a circle with the adults facing outward and the young safely inside the ring. Wolves and humans are the chief predators of the musk ox. |
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