Tambo

Tambo
Building information
Introduced in	Definitive Edition
Type	Economic Military
Civilization	Incas
Age	Exploration Age
Population	5
Use	Periodically generates resource or experience points if built on Trade Routes Trains native units and research native improvements if built on native settlements Provides population Receive Home City shipments
Construction
Wood	250
Max. builders	8
Build time	72 seconds
Statistics
Hit points	2,500
Garrison	20 Villagers
Line of Sight	14
XP build bounty	50
XP bounty	100
Ranged attack
Damage	5 + 5 * no. of Villagers garrisoned, up to 10
Multipliers	×0.25 vs. Villager ×0.5 vs. Siege infantry
Range	12
Rate of Fire	3.0
Notes
Must be built on a Trade Route or a native settlement

“	Defensive Inca Trading Post that supports 5 population and can shelter civilians, who strengthen its attack.	”
—In-game description

The Tambo is an economic/military building in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition that replaces the Trading Post for the Incas. It retains the functions of a Trading Post, but has a weak ranged attack, can garrison Villagers which increases its attack, receive Home City shipments, and supports 5 population.

Minor civilizations

Main article: Minor civilization

Units

Main article: Native warrior

Technologies

For each native or religious settlement's technologies, please see their respective articles.

Upgrades

Age	Upgrade	Cost	Effect
	Stagecoach Trade Cart Traveling Merchant Caravan Trade Trade Galleons	200 food, 200 wood	Upgrades the Trade Route where the Tambo is built to use a stagecoach (trade cart in Asian and North African maps, travelling merchant on South American maps, trade caravan for West/Central African maps, trade galleons for naval Trade Routes) which can deliver resources, moves faster, and has greater LOS
	Iron Horse Iron Llama Iron Camel East India Trading Company	300 wood, 400 coin	Upgrades the Trade Route where the Tambo is built to use a train (into the East India Trading Company for naval Trade Routes) which moves faster and has greater LOS; requires Stagecoach/Trade Cart/Traveling Merchant/Caravan Trade/Trade Galleons

Further statistics

As Tambos are unique to the Incas, only technologies that they have access to are shown in the following tables:

Building strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs.	Short-ranged units
Weak vs.	Everything, especially siege infantry, artillery, and Monitors
Improvements
Hit points	Flying Buttress (+20%)
Range	Pukaras (+3)
Sight	Pukaras (+3)
Construction cost	Cree Textile Craftsmanship (-25% wood) Tupi Forest Burning (-20% wood)

Home City Cards

As Tambos are unique to the Incas, only their cards and other civilizations' TEAM cards are shown in the following tables:

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Tambo

Green: TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team Incas Card Description Age Quipi Kamayuks Chasquis get +6 LOS, +15% speed and +1 train limit; Tambos get an aura that increases the hit points of nearby units Native Lore Native technologies cost no coin Native Treaties Each different allied native tribe sends a shipment of their respective native warriors Advanced Tambos Tambos get +30% hit points and costs -40%; +1 Chasqui and Chasqui build limit +1 Improved Buildings Buildings get +40% hit points High Ground War Hut, Town Center, Tambo and Stronghold gets +5 range and +15 LOS Monumental Architecture Buildings get +45% hit points; Town Centers get +35% attack Ceque System Tambos generate 1 XP/sec.; +1 Chasqui and Chasqui train limit +1 Huanka Support Ships 1 Town Travois and 1 War Hut Travois; Town Center build limit +1; Buildings' build time -15%; costs 250 coin Indians Card Description Age HC level TEAM Improved Buildings Buildings get +25% hit points 10 Ottomans Card Description Age HC level TEAM Cheap Trading Posts Trading Posts and Tambos cost -40% 1

Trivia

• While the Tambo is referred to and treated as a distinct building unique to the Inca, the game's data files reveal that it is actually an ordinary Trading Post with its name changed, a distinct appearance, and modified statistics.

History

“

The Inca Empire utilized an extensive system of roads to facilitate travel and transport throughout its vast territories. During the late 15th century, the Inca constructed over 10,000 tambos--administrative buildings that were staffed by locals conscripted through the mit’a corvee system--along these roadways. Tambos contained quipu records; they also served a military purpose, storing supplies and quartering soldiers stationed nearby or passing through the region. Tambos sometimes housed Inca functionaries, or even served as economic or religious spaces. Critically, they also were transit stations for the Chasquis, messengers responsible for relaying orders and information throughout the Inca Empire. A capable Chasqui could travel from tambo to tambo within the space of a day and be assured of food and lodging for maximal efficiency. The system was deemed so effective that the Spanish conquerors adopted and expanded it.

”

Gallery

Tambo image from the Compendium section