Scenario Editor (Age of Empires II)

This article is about the Scenario Editor in Age of Empires II. For the Scenario Editor in other games, see Scenario Editor.

The starting screen always aligns itself at the center of the map whenever a new scenario is created.

The editor in the Definitive Edition.

The Scenario Editor in Age of Empires II features everything its predecessor does along with newer features allowing greater customization and versatility in game design and architecture. Among the most notable features is the ability to create triggers, which enable more sophisticated gameplay.

Since update 107882, it is possible to launch the game in the Scenario Editor by entering the launch command "EDITOR".

Working

After having created a scenario, players can save it and play it by going in "Standard Mode" and selecting the game mode "Custom scenario" for a full experience. Players can also play it using "Test", there and then, which has the side effect of saving it as "default01". The difference between the two is that the latter does not allow for more than 1 non-AI player, and that after the game ends, it does not show the Statistics.

All scenarios, whether created by the player, by someone else in the Mods section, or official campaigns, work the same way. Firstly, civilization tech tree load, then team bonuses load (since the Definitive Edition; previously team bonuses loaded after map generation), then free (not requiring any time) Dark Age technologies load, then maps load, and finally, the units are placed. After this, the game starts, and activated triggers without conditions load. The order is important because modifying certain resources using triggers will not accomplish anything since they activate at game start. The following are examples of these:

• Modifying Resource 263 (starting scout unit) will not change the scout unit already placed.
• Modifying Resources 91 to 94 (starting food/wood/gold/stone) will not change the amount of resource the player has already started with. However, players can modify Resources 0 to 3 (current food/wood/gold/stone).
• Modifying Resource 210 (the Burmese Relic bonus) will not do anything due to a bug. Modifying Resource 209 (the Vietnamese enemy Town Center bonus) works as normal.
• Modifying a unit to be a scout unit will not make it auto-scout, since auto-scout behaviour also works from start.

In order to modify these, one should be using .xs scripts or random map scripts, since these load before the game starts.

Hotkeys

The Scenario Editor has a number of hidden hotkeys. Uniquely, these cannot be configured in the options.

• ESC: opens the menu.
• Ctrl+Q: prompts the player whether they want to quit (same as "Quit to Main Menu" in the menu).
• Ctrl+S: saves the current scenario (also under the menu).
• Ctrl+L: opens the Load Scenario menu (also under the menu).
• Ctrl+M: goes to the Map tab.
• Ctrl+T: goes to the Terrain tab.
• Ctrl+P: goes to the Players tab.
• Ctrl+U: goes to the Units tab.
• Ctrl+D: goes to the Diplomacy tab.
• Ctrl+V: goes to the Victory tab.
• Ctrl+O: goes to the Options tab.
• Ctrl+W: goes to the Messages tab.
• Ctrl+C: goes to the Cinematics tab.
• Ctrl+R: goes to the Triggers tab.
• Ctrl+A: shows the selection box of every object. This includes sub-objects, such as the individual, internal parts of the Town Center,
• Ctrl+G: cycles replacement restrictions (listed below) when placing units and other objects (loops to the beginning).
  • Objects snapped to grid; no illegal placement (default).
  • Objects have no grid snap; no illegal placement.
  • Objects have no grid snap; objects can be placed anywhere (highlighted yellow when normally illegal).
  • Objects snapped to grid; objects can be placed anywhere (highlighted yellow when normally illegal).

Terrain

The terrain available are split into three categories: Land, Forest, and Water. Note that several terrain are in multiple categories. Land terrain can be built upon and crossed by land units, forest terrain automatically creates trees, and water terrain can be crossed by water units.

Land

• Beach (Non-Navigable)
• Beach (Non-Navigable), Wet Gravel
• Beach (Non-Navigable), Wet Rock
• Beach (Non-Navigable), Wet Sand
• Black
• Desert, Cracked
• Desert, Quicksand
• Desert, Sand
• Dirt 1
• Dirt 2
• Dirt 3
• Dirt 4
• Dirt, Mud
• Dirt, Savannah
• Farm
• Farm, 0%
• Farm, 33%
• Farm, 66%
• Farm, Dead
• Grass 1
• Grass 2
• Grass 3
• Grass, Dry
• Grass, Foundation
• Grass, Jungle
• Grass, Jungle (Rainforest)
• Grass, Other
• Gravel, Default
• Gravel, Desert
• Ice
• Ice, Navigable
• Road
• Road, Broken
• Road, Fungus
• Road, Gravel
• Rock 1
• Snow
• Snow, Foundation
• Snow, Light
• Snow, Strong
• Swamp, Bogland
• Underbrush
• Underbrush, Jungle
• Underbrush, Leaves
• Underbrush, Snow
• Water 2D, Bridge

Forest

Forrest terrain works by having tree objects automatically spawn when creating the terrain in the editor. These trees can be manually removed or manipulated afterwards. Each forest terrain is listed with the non-forest terrain and trees that have the same appearance.

Forest Name	Terrain	Trees
Forest, Acacia	Dirt, Savannah	Tree (Acacia)
Forest, Autumn	Underbrush	Tree (Oak Autumn)
Forest, Autumn Snow	Underbrush, Snow	Tree (Oak Autumn Snow)
Forest, Bamboo	Underbrush	Tree (Bamboo Forest)
Forest, Baobab	Dirt 4	Tree (Baobab)
Forest, Birch	Underbrush	Tree (Birch)
Forest, Bush	Underbrush	Bush A Bush B
Forest, Dead	Underbrush, Snow	Bush C Tree (Dead)
Forest, Dragon Tree	Dirt 1	Tree (Dragon)
Forest, Jungle	Underbrush	Tree (Jungle)
Forest, Mangrove	Shallows, Mangrove	Tree (Mangrove)
Forest, Mediterranean	Underbrush	Tree (Cypress) Tree (Olive) Tree (Italian Pine)
Forest, Oak	Underbrush	Tree (Oak Forest)
Forest, Oak Bush	Underbrush	Bush A Bush B Tree (Oak Forest)
Forest, Palm Desert	Desert, Sand	Tree (Palm Forest)
Forest, Palm Grass	Grass 2	Tree (Palm Forest)
Forest, Pine	Underbrush	Tree (Pine Forest)
Forest, Pine Snow	Underbrush, Snow	Tree (Birch)
Forest, Rainforest	Underbrush, Jungle	Tree (Rainforest)
Forest, Reeds	Underbrush	Tree (Reeds)
Forest, Reeds (Beach)	Beach, Wet	Tree (Reeds)
Forest, Reeds (Shallows)	Shallows	Tree (Reeds)

Water

• Beach
• Beach, Ice
• Beach, Vegetation
• Beach, Wet
• Beach, Wet Gravel
• Beach, Wet Rock
• Beach, White
• Beach, White, Vegetation
• Forest, Mangrove
• Forest, Reeds (Beach)
• Forest, Reeds (Shallows)
• Ice, Navigable
• Rice Farm
• Rice Farm, 0%
• Rice Farm, 33%
• Rice Farm, 66%
• Rice Farm, Dead
• Shallows
• Shallows, Azure
• Shallows, Mangrove
• Swamp, Shallows
• Water 2D, Shoreless
• Water, Azure
• Water, Brown
• Water, Deep
• Water, Deep Ocean
• Water, Green
• Water, Medium
• Water, Shallow

Terrain files

Each terrain has an associated texture file (.dds) which determines how the terrain looks. Each terrain also has an associated sound file (.wem) which determines the ambience sounds which play when the player is in-game. The exact mechanism of the ambience selected is not known, but it roughly depends on the tiles currently in view of the player, randomly chosen from the possible ambient sound files associated with all terrain types on visible tiles.

The list of texture and ambient file names for each terrain is tabulated below. The table also mentions which terrain is walkable (land units), buildable, and which are navigable by ships:

Scenario Editor terrain name	Texture file (.dds)	Ambience file (.wem)	Walkable by land units	Buildable (except Fishing Ships)	Navigable by ships
Beach	g_bch	1923763734	Yes	Walls/Docks	Yes
Beach (Non-Navigable)	g_bch	1923763734	Yes	Yes	No
Beach (Non-Navigable), Wet	g_beach_wet	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Beach (Non-Navigable), Wet Gravel	g_gravel_wet	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Beach (Non-Navigable), Wet Rock	g_rock_wet	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Beach, Ice	g_ice_beach	521013026	Yes	Walls/Docks	Yes
Beach, Vegetation	g_bc2	1923763734	Yes	Walls/Docks	Yes
Beach, Wet	g_beach_wet	3923190460	Yes	Walls/Docks	Yes
Beach, Wet Gravel	g_gravel_wet	3923190460	Yes	Walls/Docks	Yes
Beach, Wet Rock	g_rock_wet	3923190460	Yes	Walls/Docks	Yes
Beach, White	g_bc3	1923763734	Yes	Walls/Docks	Yes
Beach, White, Vegetation	g_bc4	1923763734	Yes	Walls/Docks	Yes
Black	g_bla	151185016	Yes	No	No
Desert, Cracked	g_pal1	151185016	Yes	Yes	No
Desert, Quicksand	g_qs	151185016	Yes	No	No
Desert, Sand	g_pal	151185016	Yes	Yes	No
Dirt 1	g_des	151185016	Yes	Yes	No
Dirt 2	g_ds2	151185016	Yes	Yes	No
Dirt 3	g_ds3	151185016	Yes	Yes	No
Dirt 4	g_ds4	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Dirt, Mud	g_gr4	151185016	Yes	Yes	No
Dirt, Savannah	g_gr5	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Farm	g_fm1	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Farm, 0%	g_fc1	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Farm, 33%	g_fc2	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Farm, 67%	g_fc3	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Farm, Dead	g_fm2	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Grass 1	g_grs	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Grass 2	g_gr2	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Grass 3	g_gr3	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Grass, Dry	g_gr7	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Grass, Foundation	g_ds2	151185016	Yes	Yes	No
Grass, Jungle	g_gr6	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Grass, Jungle (Rainforest)	g_gr6	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Grass, Other	g_grs	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Gravel, Default	g_gravel_default	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Gravel, Desert	g_ds5	151185016	Yes	Yes	No
Ice	g_ice	521013026	Yes	No	No
Ice, Navigable	g_ice	521013026	Yes	No	Yes
Rice Farm	g_rm1	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Rice Farm, 0%	g_rc1	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Rice Farm, 33%	g_rc2	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Rice Farm, 66%	g_rc3	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Rice Farm, Dead	g_rm2	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Road	g_rd1	-	Yes	Yes	No
Road, Broken	g_rd2	-	Yes	Yes	No
Road, Fungus	g_sr2	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Road, Gravel	g_rd5	-	Yes	Yes	No
Rock 1	g_rck	3923190460	Yes	No	No
Shallows	g_sha	1923763734	Yes	No	Yes
Shallows, Azure	g_sh2	1923763734	Yes	No	Yes
Shallows, Mangrove	g_sh3	1923763734	Yes	Yes	Yes
Snow	g_sno	521013026	Yes	Yes	No
Snow, Foundation	g_snd	521013026	Yes	Yes	No
Snow, Light	g_sno	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Snow, Strong	g_sno	521013026	Yes	Yes	No
Swamp, Bogland	g_qs2	151185016	Yes	No	No
Swamp, Shallows	g_sh4	1923763734	Yes	No	Yes
Underbrush	g_for	811708576	Yes	Yes	No
Underbrush, Jungle	g_fo2	2245623692	Yes	Yes	No
Underbrush, Leaves	g_underbrush_leaves	3923190460	Yes	Yes	No
Underbrush, Snow	g_snf	521013026	Yes	Yes	No
Water 2D, Bridge	g_wtr	1597834659	Yes	No	No
Water 2D, Shoreless	g_wtr	1597834659	No	No	Yes
Water, Azure	g_wt5	1597834659	No	Docks	Yes
Water, Brown	g_wt_brown	1923763734	No	Docks	Yes
Water, Deep	g_wt2	1597834659	No	No	Yes
Water, Deep Ocean	g_wt4	1597834659	No	No	Yes
Water, Green	g_wt_green	1923763734	No	Docks	Yes
Water, Medium	g_wt3	1597834659	No	No	Yes
Water, Shallow	g_wtr	1923763734	No	Docks	Yes

The terrains used by different forests from the forest tool, and their texture and ambience file names are:

Forest name	Terrain used	Ambience file name (.wem)
Forest, Acacia	Dirt, Savannah (g_gr5)	2245623692
Forest, Autumn	Underbrush (g_for)	811708576
Forest, Autumn Snow	Underbrush, Snow (g_snf)	811708576
Forest, Bamboo	Underbrush (g_for)	811708576
Forest, Baobab	Dirt 4 (g_ds4)	2245623692
Forest, Birch	Underbrush (g_for)	811708576
Forest, Bush	Underbrush (g_for)	811708576
Forest, Dead	Underbrush, Snow (g_snf)	811708576
Forest, Dragon Tree	Dirt 1 (g_des)	2245623692
Forest, Jungle	Underbrush (g_for)	2245623692
Forest, Mangrove	Shallows, Mangrove (g_sh3)	2245623692
Forest, Mediterranean	Underbrush (g_for)	811708576
Forest, Oak	Underbrush (g_for)	811708576
Forest, Oak Bush	Underbrush (g_for)	811708576
Forest, Palm Desert	Desert, Sand (g_pal)	151185016
Forest, Palm Grass	Grass 2 (g_gr2)	151185016
Forest, Pine	Underbrush (g_for)	811708576
Forest, Pine Snow	Underbrush, Snow (g_snf)	521013026
Forest, Rainforest	Underbrush, Jungle (g_fo2)	2245623692
Forest, Reeds	Underbrush (g_for)	811708576
Forest, Reeds (Beach)	Beach, Wet (g_beach_wet)	811708576
Forest, Reeds (Shallows)	Shallows (g_sha)	1923763734

Map

The Map tool allows the user to create a brand-new map for their scenario, as well as edit several settings relating to the map.

Blank maps

Blank maps can be generated based on default terrain, with a few changes. In the Definitive Edition, any terrain is available for a blank map.

The default terrain for blank maps in The Age of Kings are the following:

• Dirt 1
• Grass 1
• Water 1

From The Conquerors onwards, any terrain can be chosen.

Random map

Random maps are more varied in terrain and some feature more realistic topography. Any non-Real World/Special map can be generated this way.

Seed map

Like Random map, but allows the user to choose a particular seed for the random number generator when creating the map.

Map size

The number listed in brackets is the size of each side of the map (every map is a square). While several maps have a recommended map size, they can be any of the following:

• Tiny (2 player) [120]
• Small (3 player) [144]
• Medium (4 player) [168]
• Normal (6 player) [200]
• Large (8 player) [220]
• Huge [240]
• Ludicrous [480] ^{(introduced in The Forgotten)}

Hidden map sizes

Since update 107882, the following map sizes are also available if the player enters the launch command "MORE_MAP_SIZES"

• Miniature (1 player) [80]
• Giant [252]
• Massive [276]
• Enormous [300]
• Colossal [320]
• Incredible [360]
• Monstrous [400]

Other settings

• AI Map Type controls what how the AI acts. Essentially, the AI will function as if it is playing the map that is selected.
• Color Mood, added in the Definitive Edition, controls what visual color shader is loaded. This can give the map an aesthetic feeling depending on which is chosen.
• Team Positions places teammates in order depending on their color.
• Extend Map allows the user to make the map bigger (but not smaller). The Map Offset is the place where the current map is relative to the expanded map.
• Script Filename is the name of the .xs file that is intended for the scenario. The ".xs" extension needs to be ommitted.

Terrain

The terrain tap allows the user to modify features of the scenario's map with different brushes.

Map

This brush allows the user to modify the map's terrain.

Terrain settings

When land and water terrain meet, they automatically generate beaches. The types of beaches generated can be controlled by the "Beach Types" table. Additionally, whether a beach creates waves can be toggled on or off.

When painting terrain, several terrain types will automatically generate eye candy. This can be disabled as well by unchecking the "Enable Eye Candy" option.

The Definitive Edition introduced a feature for 'terrain layering'. This is a simple checkbox that lets map makers combine two different types of terrain in the same map squares, which greatly increases the variety of terrains that are possible to feature in game maps. The terrain's properties are the same as the base layer (for example, grass over water has the properties of water). Some terrain combinations look very different depending on which terrain is the base and which is the layer (e.g. Ice layered over Black looks very different from Black layered over Ice).

Elevation

This brush manipulates the elevation of the map, on a scale of 1 through 7. Certain terrain (notably water) cannot be on slopes, and will instead be automatically replaced by grass.

Cliffs

This brush allows the creation of cliffs. There are three types: Granite (grey), Desert (sand brown), and Snow (grey with white tops). The three variants cannot connect to each other.

Map Copy

The Map Copy feature enables the player to copy certain objects and patch of terrain into another area. This also enables the player to make contraptions of buildings that looks like a huge, custom building, very popular with designers that concentrate on the aesthetics of their map (though the ability to disable placement restrictions in later versions has made this feature less useful). Additionally, objects can be converted via this method (though this is also possible via the units tab). There are several options to decide what to copy:

• Everything
• Buildings
• Eye Candy
• Gaia Objects
• Terrain
• Units

Erase

This brush allows the user to quickly erase objects en masse. Specifically, it allows the option to chose to delete:

• Everything
• Buildings
• Gaia Objects
• Invisible Objects (notable Map Revealers)
• Terrain Overlays
• Trees
• Units

Players

The top-left corner of the bottom window displays the player currently being modified, and can be used to switch players.

Base Priority

When placing players together based on their team, the game uses this to determine where to place each player. For example, on Front Line, the two players in the center have a base priority of 1, with the next closest having a priority of 2 and so on. With two teams, the game places the first two players of each team in the center positions, and uses the priority to place each following player as close to an ally as possible.

Personality

Sets the AI used by the player. If set to none, the AI will not do anything (outside of some units, like Monks will still pick up Relics and Villagers will harvest sheep). Can be locked with the "Lock Personality" checkbox, preventing players from changing it while setting up a game.

Other Settings

• Starting Age: sets the age that the player starts in.
• Starting resources: sets the resources each player starts with.
• Pop Limit: sets the player's population limit.
• Color: controls the player's color.
• Tribe Name: If a name is entered, it overwrites the name of an AI player (human players will always use their name).
• Name (String ID): If a valid language string ID is entered, it overwrites an AI player's name as above (overriding the Tribe Name if entered). Useful for multi-language support.
• Civilization: sets the player's default civilization.
• Lock Civ: locks the player into their default civilization.
• Architecture: sets the architecture to the chosen civilization. If set to "Random" or "Full Random", it will use the default architecture.
• Swap Players: this option will switch the two selected players, as well as all of their units.

Units

There are 4 tabs and these include Units (standard, usually in-game soldiers), Buildings (standard, usually in-game buildings), Heroes (Heroes, usually from the campaigns, but also others) and Other (Miscellaneous objects like flags etc.). If too many units are placed on the map, the game may lag which may vary depending on the amount of units placed and the performance of the player's operating computer. Placing too many buildings, especially towers, may also cause this problem although to a lesser extent.

If a player has no units or buildings when the map is started, they will start like the standard start - 1 Town Center, 3 Villagers, and one scout unit. There will not be any additional resources, as these are controlled by the player panel. These units are generated after the game has started, and as such, the scout unit will not be able to auto-scout.

Wild animals are available in the Units subsection after setting the player as Gaia. Resources such as Berry Bush, Stone Mine, Gold Mine, individual trees, Relic, and all types of fish, are all available in the Other subsection after setting the player as Gaia.

Scenario Editor units

The following units are exclusive to the Scenario Editor and may appear in campaign scenarios. Some of these units are cheat units.

• Alfred the Alpaca
• Amazon Archer
• Amazon Warrior
• Bactrian Camel
• Bandit
• Camel
• Canoe
• Cart
• Cobra Car
• Crusader Knight
• Donkey
• Dragon Ship
• Eastern Swordsman
• Flamethrower
• Furious the Monkey Boy
• Heavy Crossbowman
• Heavy Pikeman
• Heavy Swordsman
• Horse
• Iroquois Warrior
• Junk
• Khan
• King
• Imperial Centurion
• Imperial Legionary
• Merchant
• Mounted Samurai
• Ninja
• Norse Warrior
• Ox Cart
• Ox Wagon
• Penguin
• Photonman
• Queen
• Qizilbash Warrior → Elite Qizilbash Warrior
• Priest
• Relic Cart
• Royal Janissary
• Sharkatzor
• Sogdian Cataphract
• Town Center (Packed)*
• Wild Horse

* appears in the "Building" list

Scenario Editor buildings

Unconstructable buildings can only be placed when a map is created in the Scenario Editor and are usually not available in random map games.

• Aachen Cathedral
• Amphitheatre
• Aqueduct
• Arch of Constantine
• Army Tent
• Barricade
• Cathedral
• Chain
• City Gate
• City Wall
• Colosseum
• Dome of the Rock
• Dormition Cathedral
• Fence
• Fire Tower
• Fortified Palisade Wall
• Fortified Tower
• Fortress
• Gol Gumbaz
• Granary*
• Great Pyramid
• Hut
• Minaret of Jam
• Monument
• Mosque
• Pagan Shrine
• Palace (before the Definitive Edition)
• Pavilion
• Poenari Castle
• Pyramid
• Quimper Cathedral
• Rice Farm
• Rock Church
• Sanchi Stupa
• Sankore Madrasah
• Sea Gate
• Sea Tower
• Sea Wall
• Shrine
• Storage
• Temple of Heaven
• Tent
• The Accursed Tower
• The Tower of Flies
• Tower of London
• Trade Workshop
• Yurt

* appears in the "Other" list

Scenario Editor objects

Miscellaneous objects and eye candy.

• Animal Skeleton
• Barrels
• Black Tile
• Blocker
• Bonfire
• Bridge (various)^*
• Broken Cart
• Buddha Statue A
• Buddha Statue B
• Buddha Statue C
• Buddha Statue D
• Burned building
• Cactus
• Castle Runs
• Chapel
• Church Ruins
• Cracks
• Crater
• Dismantled Cart
• ES Flag
• FE Flag
• Fern Patch
• Flag A
• Flag B
• Flag C
• Flag D
• Flag E
• Flag F
• Flag G
• Flag H
• Flag I
• Flag J
• Flag K
• Flag L
• Flag M
• Flame 1
• Flame 2
• Flame 3
• Flame 4
• Flare
• Flare A (Permenant)
• Flare B (Permenant)
• Flower Bed
• Flowers 1
• Flowers 2
• Flowers 3
• Flowers 4
• Gallow
• Goods
• Grass Patch, Dry
• Grass Patch, Green
• Grass, Dry
• Grass, Green
• Grave
• Hay Stack
• Head
• Ice, Navigable
• Impaled Corpse
• Indian Ruins
• Indian Statues
• Loot
• Lumber
• Map Revealer
• Map Revealer Giant
• Map Revealer Medium
• Mountain 1
• Mountain 2
• Mountain 3
• Mountain 4
• Mountain 5
• Mountain 6
• Mountain 7
• Mountain 8
• Nine Bands
• Old Stone Head
• Nubian Pyramid
• Old Stone Head
• Pagoda A
• Pagoda B
• Pagoda C
• Paifang Gate
• Path 1
• Path 2
• Path 3
• Path 4
• Plant
• Plant (Bush, Green)
• Plant (Dead)
• Plant (Flowers)
• Plant (Jungle)
• Plant (Rainforest)
• Plant (Shrub, Green)
• Plant (Underbrush Tropical)
• Plant (Underbrush)
• Plant (Weeds)
• Quarry
• Rekha-Deul Temple
• Rock (Beach)
• Rock (Jungle)
• Rock 1
• Rock 2
• Rock Formation 1
• Rock Formation 2
• Rock Formation 3
• Roman Ruins
• Rubble 1 x 1
• Rubble 2 x 2
• Rubble 3 x 3
• Rubble 4 x 4
• Rubble 8 x 8
• Rugs
• Ruins^*
• Sea Rocks 1
• Sea Rocks 2
• Shipwreck A
• Shipwreck B
• Sign
• Skeleton
• Smoke
• Snow Mountain 1
• Snow Mountain 2
• Snow Mountain 3
• Statue (Civilization)
• Statue (Column)
• Statue (Left)
• Statue (Right)
• Stelae A
• Stelae B
• Stelae C
• Stump
• Stupa
• Svan Tower
• Target A
• Target B
• Temple Ruin
• Torch A
• Torch B
• Trowulan Gate
• Vases
• Waterfall (Background)
• Waterfall (Overlay)
• Wooden bridge (various)^*
• Well

* Listed under Buildings tab

Manipulation options

• Place: places the unit. This can be used to garrison objects by clicking on the building or unit they are to be garrisoned inside. The unit can be rotated with the scroll wheel.
• Delete: deletes the unit under the cursor. All garrisoned units are also deleted.
• Garrison Delete: deletes the highlighted unit in the "Garrison" box.
• Move: moves the unit under the cursor.
• Rotate: rotates the selected unit. The scroll wheel can be used to expedite the process. Note that certain objects (notable houses) use their rotation to dictate their aesthetic variant.
• Select: selects the current object, and shows its garrison.
• Convert: converts objects belonging to the selected players to the right of the option to that of the player in the box on the left. The size of the brush can be configured. This does not allow conversion of gaia-exclusive objects to a normal player.

Diplomacy

This tab allows the player to adjust diplomatic relations for each player. Under default settings, computer players are more likely to randomly change diplomatic stance of the user from enemy to neutral the more computer players are on the map.

Global Victory

This tab serves to determine how the overall game should be played. Gameplay can be set to standard, conquest, score with or without the time limit or using custom settings. The custom settings are conquest, exploration victory, and relic victory. Any number can be selected, and it can require either all or any one. This also allows for a secondary game mode in Empire Wars, Sudden Death, Regicide, and King of the Hill, all of which are able to be selected independently of each other.

Options

This tab allowing the creator to disable the creation or development of certain units, buildings or technologies for each player. Full tech tree can be checked for each player (this does not disable civilization bonuses) as well as the AI difficulty when testing the scenario. The player's starting view can also be changed under this tab. This can also disable human players from changing alliances, cause Villagers to lose their resources when re-tasked to a different resource, and enable units automatically moving out of the way of others.

Messages

This tab serves a similar function to the previous game in that it offers the player to create and edit crucial background information about the scenario which is always presented before the game starts if available. Sections include scenario instructions, hints, scouts reports, victory and loss messages, and history. There is also a box to use string table IDs instead.

Cinematics

This tab is optional and provides the player to insert a short video clip related to the scenario both before and after the game based on whether the player successfully completed the scenario. To perform this action, the video file must be present in the "data" folder of the "Age of Empires II" folder. It is also possible to include a background image for the instructions.

Triggers

Main article: Trigger

This feature enables the player to create and activate a variety of effects once certain conditions are meet. Triggers can be used to enhance scenarios and simulate many genres, e.g. Defend-the-Spot, Role-playing games, Build and Destroy, and Fixed Force effectively. If used creatively, triggers can be used to create objects that can be found nowhere else in the game. The Definitive Edition has the added ability to copy and paste triggers, making scenario editing quicker.

Changelog

Definitive Edition

• In a patch^[When?], the Desert cliff was added, but made visually identical to the preexisting cliff.
• With update 95810, the Desert cliff was given its own appearance, and the Snow cliff variant was added.

Gallery

Various decoration items; the flags, torches, Nine Bands, impaled corpses, and Dismantled Ox Carts can have player colours

East Asian and Southeast Asian themed decor: Paifang Gate, Trowulan Gate, Buddha, Pagoda, Stupa

Mountains (8 types) and Snow Mountains (3 types)

Various Nubian Pyramids, Greek temple ruins, and the Rekha-Deul Temple (the last one added in Dynasties of India)

All the Burned building variations (all are based on the Central European architecture set), rubbles, fires, and smoke

Various floral decorations

Various aquatic decorations (Shipwreck, Sea Rocks, Ice navigable) and fish (Shore fish, Box turtles, Dorado, Perch, Salmon, Dolphin, Snapper, Tuna, Great Fish Marlin)

A Ruins object (on the right), compared with a Greek-architecture set Barracks from Age of Empires: Definitive Edition (on the left)

Dust path, cactus, Cracked earth, and crater

Various sculptures (only right facing shown, left facing also exist), columns, stelae, grave heads, and gallows

Various types of decorative rocks

Indian themed ruins and statues added with Dynasties of India

Church ruins based on the Fortified Church added with The Mountain Royals

All models of the Svan Tower decoration objects with a unit for scale

The Chapel decoration object, based on Noravank Monastery in Armenia

Castle ruins based on the Castles of the Armenians and Georgians

Customizable functional bridge designs using Bridge Piece--Middle and Bridge Piece--Rails parts

Wooden Bridge and the three types of stone Bridges

Closeup of Wooden Bridges with a Trebuchet for scale