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=====================
AGE OF MYTHOLOGY
FAQ
=====================


=============================================================================
| Age of Mythology FAQ Version final                                        |
| Last Modified   : April 2, 2003                                           |
| Created On      : January 5, 2003                                         | | author          : James Macarthur            james.macarthur2@sympatico.ca|
=============================================================================


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++ News of the expansion has been made!!!  It is to be called ++
++ Remeber The Titans.  It will deal with a mytological civ ++
++ in itself by presenting the player with the Atlanteans.  ++
++ 12 new God Powers, new units and myth units as well as a  ++
++ new building set and new tiles.  Should be available Fall ++
++ 2003!  Bring it on ES!!!     ++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

========
CONTENTS
========

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Revision History
1.2 About Me
2.0 Game Overview
2.1 Game requirements
3.0 Civilization Overview
3.1 Greeks
3.2 Egyptian
3.3 Norse
4.0 Gods
4.1 Greek Gods
4.2 Egyptian Gods
4.3 Norse Gods
5.0 Buildings
5.1 Greek Builings
5.2 Egyptian Buildings
5.3 Norse Buildings
6.0 Units (including unit stats)
6.1 Greek Units
6.2 Egyptian Units
6.3 Norse Units
6.4 Unit Counters
7.0 Gameplay Tips
8.0 Resources
8.1 Food
8.2 Wood
8.3 Gold
8.4 Favor
8.5 Population
9.0 Map Types and Game Styles
10.0 Technology
10.1 Common Technology
10.2 Greek Unique Technolgies
10.3 Egyptian Unique Technology
10.4 Norse Unique Technology
11.0 Relics
12.0 Frequently Asked Questions
13.0 Default Hot Keys
14.0 Web Links and Cheats
14.1 Official Sites
14.2 Community Sites
14.3 Fan Sites
14.4 Mythology Websites
14.5 Suggested Downloads
14.6 Cheats
14.7 Abbreviations
15.0 Credits
16.0 Legal

================
1.0 INTRODUCTION
================
I compiled this reference for myself as a guide, then thought, "Why not share this with others"?
So here it is.  Most of the information in this FAQ I gleaned from many places including the game, the FAQ that Jonathan Galloway wrote in his FAQ as well as newsgroups, forums and ESO chats.

I am always looking for new information and tactics/ hints as I write this, so if you see anything that needs feedback (wrong information, right information, something I missed, etc., contact me at the e-mail above.

The whole idea of this guide is to give players an all in one place to find information that may be handy to them as they crush their enemies, or are in turn destroyed.

So without further ado, the guide. (well OK, a little more ado.)

--------------------
1.1 Revision History
--------------------
08-January, 2003 - started typing the reams of info into this baby!
14-January, 2003 - completed enough to make it worth uploading.
18-January, 2003 - Added Hotkeys, added some new relics, started section on resources and added to FAQs.
28-January, 2003 - Started adding Unit stats, question about AI, some minor god info.
1- February, 2003 - More unit stats added.
7 - February, 2003 - Added unit gather rates.  Uploaded v1.2.
1 - April, 2003 - Happy April's Fool Day!  Decided I hadn't done enough lately, and got some more stuff added.
18 - April, 2003 - Finished off the last few tables I wanted.  Marked FAQ as final, although if I get new information that needs to be added, I will.  I have gone through the tables and adjusted the stats for the patches and play balance fixes that ES has made.  Hopefully I got them all.

If you can add any information or supply charts or tables to help out, e-mail me and I will add it, giving full credit to you.

------------
1.2 About Me
------------
I have been playing computer games since the dawn of time.  Well Ok, I got my first 'computer' in 1981, an Atari VCS, later the 2600 at the ripe old age of 11.  Since then I have played games on a C-64, TRS-80,
Amiga and PCs.  I love RTS games and first person shooters.  I also play RPGs when I have the time.  I have designed 1 mission for 1 game, The Unholy for Freespace2.  I play games an average of 2 to 3 hours a day (I know, no life.) and am always looking for the next great game.  I occasionally play online, but at the time of this writing, I have only played 1 rated game of AoM, which I won using Loki.  My wife plays games with me (she started with The Sims 2 years ago) and progressed to 'real' games last year with The Conquerors.
She also lets my 7 year old daughter play AoM with me.  Now if my 2 month old son could only sit at the other computer and use the mouse!  (update: I created a mod for Morrowind called Daywalker.  It's based on the movie
Blade (II) and I may or may not upload it!)

=================
2.0 Game Overview
=================
Age of Mythology (AoM) is the latest game designed at Ensemble Studios, the creaters of Age Of Empires and Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings, as well as the expansion packs for these amazing games.  AoM is published through
Microsoft Game Studios.

There are 2 versions of the game.  The standard edition contains 2 CDs, a small manual and a fold out tech tree detailing the civilizations and their god choices and technology trees.  The collecters edition is a limited edition (each numbered) that has all of the stuff from the standard, and throws in A DVD, a CD with the music from the game, a copy of Bulfinch's Mythology, a poster and a figurine.  Since I was dumb and only bought the standard edition, I may have made some mistakes with the collectors edition.

AoM brings some new game play to the RTS (Real-time Strategy) gaming table.  It supports a full economic model, unique civilizations, technology to research and standard units.  However, it also adds twists like god powers (think a one time magic spell), and mythology (duhh!) in the way of powerful units like the troll, the Anubite, and Medusa.  Although the game can be played and won without ever creating a mythological unit, they certainly add a new dynamic to the battles that are fought.  Other cool inovations introduced in AoM includesettlements (you can only build a new town center (TC) on a free settlement) and ESO, an online game matching service.  With
ESO you can connect to other players with a similair rating (skill level) and play out the battles of myth!  Also included is a hero system through which some truely powerful humans are brought forth.  An interesting new twist on food gathering in AoM is the concept of fattening, whereby the longer a herdable animal lives, the more food it will provide when it is finally killed.

AoM also contains a great single player experience in the campaign.  There are 32 missions in the main campaign and 3 or 4 training missions.  In the story of the main campaign, the player puts on the sandels of Arkantos, an
Atlantean hero whom uncovers a terrible plot to restore an ancient evil to the world.  Ok so it is a bit cliched, but still a good story with lots of plot twists.  It does a good job of introducing the player to each of the god choices and powers as well as the three civilizations.

---------------------
2.1 Game Requirements
---------------------
Age of Mythology requires at least the following to play:
450 mhz Processor
Mouse or pointing device
56K modem (for online play only)
Windows (98, Me, 2000, XP)
128 Meg Memory
CD-ROM (double speed or better)
16MB 3D video card, 800x600 resolution
1.5Gigbyte Hard Drive Space
Highly Recommended
1Gigahertz or better CPU
256 Meg RAM or better
32-64MB 3D video card (or better)

To play online, an internet connection is required.  A 56K modem should be good for 1v1 games, while broadband is recommended for larger or team games.
AoM also plays on a LAN using TCP/IP (or direct connection).

=========================
3.0 Civilization Overview
=========================
There are 3 distinct civilizations in AoM to choose from, with each offering the player the choice of 3 major gods to choose from at the start of a game.  There are 4 ages in a standard game (less if you win or lose early!) consisting of the Archaic age, the Classical age, the Heroic Age and finally the Mythic Age.  Each time the player begins research for the next age, they will be offered a choice of two minor gods to worship and gain benefits from.
Choose carefully though as once the research is completed, you will not be able to rescind the choice made.  This means that for a full game, the player will end up with the major god choosen at the start, as well as three minor gods, each more powerful than the last.

The civilizations which can be choosen are the Greeks, the Egyptians and my personal favorite, the Norse.  Each gains favor (a resource needed to build all mythological units and research) in a different way.  Each also plays differently.

==========
3.1 Greeks
==========
The Greeks are possibly the easiest civilization to play in AoM because they play almost exactly like any civilization from earlier Age of games.  Greeks gain favor by worshipping at the temple they build in the Archaic age.  It is important to note that favor is gained by the Greeks in a diminshing returns system.  Greek heroes are all named units from stories everyone knows.  They are very powerful units and as a result are capped at a limit of 4 heroes.  They are researched at the toen center and each major god grants unique heroes at each age advance.  The only exception to this rule is Poseidon, who grants an extra hero who is researched at the dock.  This unique hero is
The Argo and is a naval only unit.  All other Greek heroes are land only.  Greeks start each game with a scout unit called a Kataskopos.  He can not be replaced if killed, although he is fairly swift so should be able to scout large amounts of the map before he is killed.  Once a temple is built, the Greek player can also build Pegasus as much as they like.  Pegasus is an aerial unit and as such can only be killed by ranged units or buildings.  Each Greek major god also grants a unique unit in the Mythic age, built at the fortress.

The following chart shows a suggested god path to follow to gain the maximum benefit for each 'Focus' in your game.

FOCUS   Archaic Age Classical Age Heroic Age Mythic Age
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economy   Poseidon Hermes  Aphrodite Hephaestus
Infatry   Zeus  Athena  Dionysus Hephaestus
Archers   Hades  Ares  Apollo  Artemis
Cavalry   Poseidon Hermes  Dionysus Hephaestus
Mythological Units Zeus  Athena  Apollo/Dionysus Hera
Naval Units  Poseidon Hermes  Dionysus Artemis
Defense   Hades  Athena  Apollo  Hephaestus

=============
3.2 Egyptians
=============
Egyptians are slightly more difficult to play, mainly because one of their best units (the Pharaoh) is a unit unlike any unit in any other game.  He is given the ability to 'empower' buildings.  This simply means he is able to speed up whatever is occuring at that building.  If it is researching, it happens faster.  Units are built faster and all gathering done at that particulair drop site is enhanced.  With one exception, only the Pharoah can empower.  The
Pharoah is an Egyptian hero who is also very effective in combat.  Egyptians can also build further hero units (the preist) at their temples.  Preists can not empower buildings (with the exception of those who worship Ra), but can be very effective in combat versus myth units.  Preists also heal nearby allied troops and a considered a ranged unit for purposes of combat.  Egyptian favor is gained through a series of five monuments, built by the laborers.  Monuments start small, but gain considerable size and power as they are built.  By the time the fifth monument is built, favor is generally rolling in quite quickly.  Egyptian players are granted automatic tower upgrades when they reach the
Classical age, making them a good choice for a defensive player.  Egyptians are also not as reliant upon wood as the
Greeks and Norse.  Egyptian buildings are quite often free, taking only time to build.  Egyptians are the slowest builders in the game, but can be sped up with the use of the Pharoah unit.

The following chart shows a suggested god path to follow to gain the maximum benefit for each 'Focus' in your game.