Rocketry is a technology in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors that is unique to the Chinese and can be researched at the Castle once the Imperial Age is reached. Once researched, it increases the attack of Lou Chuans, Rocket Carts, and Scorpions by +25%, and allows Lou Chuans to fire rockets, which do area damage.
Strategy[]
With Rocketry, the Rocket Cart and Scorpion have a significantly increased damage output. Both of these units will remain vulnerable to Onagers, so a Chinese player should always be mindful.
The technology also replaces the Lou Chuan's anti-unit projectiles (arrows) with rockets, while also increasing their attack. Rockets do area damage in a radius of 0.3 (85% chance, tapering effect), but thanks to the wide dispersion of the Lou Chuan's attacks, they can hit many units at once, and also damage nearby buildings.
As a bug, Rocketry increases the anti-unit projectiles attack by 2 melee, instead of 2 pierce, which has no effect since these projectiles do not have a defined melee attack. Moreover, the calculation uses the number 2 as an addition, instead of 125% as a multiplication. This is done to simplify calculations. Had it been +25%, the effect would vary depending on the player researching the Fletching line of technologies and Chemistry, to account for which, further hardcoded logic would be needed. Having researched all generic technologies which increase the attack of the anti-unit projectile, the attack increases from 5 to 9, the 25% of which is 2, which is what Rocketry provides.
Civilization bonuses[]
Chinese: Researching Rocketry is 15% cheaper.
Team bonuses[]
- Portuguese: Researching Rocketry is 25% faster.
Changelog[]
The Conquerors[]
- Rocketry has a base cost of 750 wood, 750 gold. It increases Chu Ko Nu attack by +2, and Scorpion attack by +4.
Chronicles: Battle for Greece[]
- With update 141935, Rocketry has a base cost of 1,100 food, 900 gold. It increases the attack of Lou Chuans, Rocket Carts, and Scorpions by +25%, and allows Lou Chuans to fire rockets at enemy units. The former attack increase to the Chu Ko Nu is now bundled with the Elite Chu Ko Nu upgrade.
History[]
Chinese fire arrow launchers
| “ | The Chinese are credited generally with the invention of the explosive we call gunpowder today. They used it extensively to power rockets, both for entertainment and military use. Although they never developed an accurate design, rockets could be used with great effect against enemies with no experience against these alarming weapons. Rockets were noisy, smelly, and spewed fire while traveling at high velocity. They damaged anything they hit and did collateral damage if they carried an explosive charge. | ” |
| —The Conquerors manual | ||
Trivia[]
- If playing a custom scenario in which a player has access to both Rocketry and (Elite) Ballista Elephants, Rocketry will apply to this unit, granting it +25% pierce damage.
Gallery[]
