| “ | When the French entered the war on the American side, the colonists were finally able to throw off Britain's yoke. | ” |
| —Scenario description | ||
The Battle of Yorktown is the eighth and final scenario of Act I: Fire in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs. It is based on the final great battle of the American Revolution, the Battle of Yorktown.
Summary[]
The scenario starts off with the cinematic "There at the End" in which Amelia Black narrates that Nathaniel fulfills his final promises to Washington in fighting the battles of Charleston, Camden, and King's Mountain. Nathaniel then prepares to face the redcoats for the final time at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. After the scenario is complete it followed by an epilogue "The Revolutionary", entailing Nathaniel's living his remaining years after the war in a Haudenosaunee village.
This scenario has several objectives, many of which are optional and do not need to be fulfilled in order to complete the scenario. The enemy AI is smarter this time and attacks vulnerable military units and flees battles when necessary. Lastly, this scenario requires a slightly more set up and planning ahead, as British and Hessian troops attack at different places at different times.
Objectives[]
Primary objectives[]
- Destroy the British Frontier Outposts.
- Build a Town Center.
- Destroy the British Town Center.
Secondary objectives[]
- Destroy the Fixed Guns.
- Destroy the British Redoubt Cannons.
- Destroy the British coastal Outposts.
Players[]
Player[]
- Black Family Estate (
Black Family Estate) - The player starts in the south of the map fighting against waves of Musketeers. After the waves are defeated, the player must destroy two Outposts to receive new reinforcements from Washington in form of a Covered Wagon and ten Villagers.
Ally[]
- Lafayette ( French) - Forces are lead by General Lafayette, who fights against the British alongside the player, as well supplying the player with Caravels, Frigates, and Petards. They have a base in the west of the map, from where they put pressure on Cornwallis' troops.
Enemies[]
- Cornwallis ( British) - Forces are lead by General Cornwallis. He has a base in the east of the map with Outposts and Fixed Guns, from where he pressures Nathaniel and Lafayette's troops and ships. The player must destroy the Town Center to win the scenario.
- Cornwallis ( British) ( Germans before the Definitive Edition) - Forces are also lead by British General Cornwallis, consist of Jaegers and Uhlans guarding the redoubts.
The map[]
Mini map
The map features a large landmass, while a smaller jagged peninsula with two Fixed Guns is seen towards the northern edge of the map. The terrain is similar to Carolina. Trees are plentiful in the map and provide a bounty of wood. Herds of Deer are found cautiously foraging throughout the western landmass, although they aren't a recommended source of food, as they are far from the main settlement and the enemy coastal Outposts can attack the player's Villagers. Berry Bushes are found in less quantity and are near the main settlement. Silver Mines are dotted throughout the map and near the settlement where Villagers can mine them for coin, as long as they do not approach the eastern wall of Yorktown. Cod are found swimming in the vast expanse of ocean, although they aren't a reliable source of food due to the enemy British ships constantly sailing by from Yorktown, the coastal Outposts, and the Fixed Guns attacking anything upon sight.
Strategy[]
Players start out south in the map near a small creek, immediately in combat with enemy Musketeers. As soon as these Musketeers are killed off, a primary objective of destroying the British Frontier Outposts is revealed. Additional reinforcements of 4 Revolutionaries and 2 Falconets are provided. Shortly after, another band of enemy Musketeers pour in from the north, and player should use their two Falconets to fire across the creek to take out the Musketeers before having the infantry finish the job.
Now the player should use the Falconets long range to their advantage to take out the first Outpost near the creek, another brigade of more Musketeers is alerted and marches in south. This time the player can use the hit and run strategy with the Falconets, firing twice before using the militia and Skirmishers to finish off the brigade. After this brigade is defeated, the player can proceed razing the two enemy Outposts.
After the two Outposts have been destroyed, Washington's forces supply the player with 10 Villagers and a Covered Wagon from the south of the map. The Town Center should be built close by the dirt road running through map while the 10 Villagers should be split on gathering wood and coin. Meanwhile the first shipments should be used on 3 Fishing Boats, and a Farm Travois.
The French provide the players with 5 Petards along the southeast coast. Back at base, the player should start building multiple Houses to allow population for a necessary large army of around 10 Falconets, 20 Revolutionaries, and some Tomahawks. Once these forces are built the player can proceed to complete the final objective of destroying the British Town Center at Yorktown.
The forces should be directed northwest to the British stronghold at Yorktown. Upon close arrival, enemy Longbowmen and Musketeers fiercely guard an Outpost and a Redoubt containing a Redoubt Cannon. The player should take out the Redoubt Cannon first with their Falconets before taking out the infantry and proceeding to raze the Frontier Outpost.
At this point, the player arrives at Yorktown and a highly contested battle with take place. Enemy Hessian Jaegers in black uniforms fire at the player's forces taking out scores of Militia while Uhlans guard the remaining 2 Redoubt Cannons. Once again the player should use their artillery to take down the Jaegers and Redoubt Cannons before using Washington and the Revolutionaries to take down the Uhlans.
After the final enemy troops are successfully taken down, the player can pave their way to victory and destroy the nearby British Town Center. After the Town Center has been razed, the scenario is complete and the player has finished all scenarios of the Act I: Fire campaign.
Trivia[]
- This is the only scenario in the Age of Empires III campaigns where the black color is used for an enemy player.
- The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution. After this, in 1783, the British accepted the Paris Peace Treaty where they recognized the independence of the United States, and there would be no major conflicts between the United Kingdom and the nascent nation until the War of 1812.
Gallery[]
