River Styx icon as seen in the map selection menu
River Styx icon in Retold
River Styx is a random map that was available as a promotional bonus in Age of Mythology but is now available in the Extended Edition. Also known as the river of hatred, it is based on the more renowned of the five rivers in the underworld.
Overview[]
River Styx is a hybrid of the random maps Team Migration and Erebus. It shares the premise of the former and the barrenness of the latter. Teams share a starting medium-sized island all of which surround a much larger island at the center of the map.
Each starting island also provides an additional Settlement for each player. Otherwise, the map offers little resources and players will be forced to ferry their units across the river to reach the central island and expand their operations. The central island supports additional relics and some cliffs for more defensive players.
Recommended major gods include Ra who makes transitions to farming easier, as well as Poseidon, Odin, Oranos, and Shennong who have access to numerous naval technologies and myth units. Major gods like Zeus and Hades are also ideal, as they have access to Apollo, who grants the Underworld Passage god power that allows easier movement from one island to another. Likewise, Ra and Isis grant access to the Roc, a flying transport myth unit available to Sobek (Hathor before Retold) that can reduce the need for Transport Ships.
Environment[]
Unlike other naval maps, the murky waters of River Styx support no fish. Players will have to rely on hunting Boars for food and will quickly need to resort to farming. The only other inhabitants are Serpents and Shades who will not hesitate to attack any player that comes within their territory. Harpies also fly above the landscape, and are harmless, despite their monstrous appearance.
The forests here are made up primarily of special Pine Trees stripped of their leaves (known as Dead Trees) that will nonetheless be able to sustain players' need for wood for a decent period of time.
Similar maps[]
Trivia[]
- Due to a possible programming error, the AI on this random map will never attempt to transport their units to the center island. Sometimes, they may never leave their starting island at all.
- It is the second map to be set in the Underworld, along with Erebus, and the second subterranean one.
Gallery[]
