In the beginning, games were dominated by musketfire, rifle fire, cannonfire, and heavy cavalry. This was realistic, but made Age of Empires III more rigid (there was less room for multiple strategies). Pikemen were weak, crossbowmen were UP, light cavalry was ineffective, rodeleros could not stand up to heavy infantry, and non-gunpowder units in general were less powerful. Musket and rifle units dominated the battlefield, just like in real life. Janissaries, Redcoats, Voltigeurs, Gendarmes, Abus Guns, War Wagons, Needle Gunners, Lancers, Heavy Cannon, Great Bombards, Rockets, Cassadores, Jinetes, and Stretlets were decisive in battles. Notice how these units are gunpowder.
Now, only Voltigeurs, Gendarmes, Abus guns, Lancers and Genitours (Jinetes) rule the battlefield in the same way. New itrusions in the form of MELEE AND ARROW INFANTRY are taking over. Rodeleros in age 2 defeat all heavy infantry except janissaries. Pikemen do almost as much damage to light infantry as hussars. Cassadores have been overshadowed by the stealthy forest prowlers and the cheap wakinas. Janissaries have been wiped from all but industrial age battlefields as a heroic unit. War wagons have been destroyed completely in supremacy, and have only a weak hold on deathmatch. All heavy artillery has grown weaker, with large numbers of light infantry being able to defeat them.
The arrival of native units further upset the balance. Jaguar and Skull Knights can destroy any nation except the Ottomans. Arrow Knights easily take on large numbers of heavy artillery. Even the war club can kill musketeers if massed. People actually complain that Gendarmes are OP, when in real life they could take on musketeers (the cuirass could stop a bullet).
Now about strategy. Remember when forward bases did not exist and people used mostly HI in their rush? Now, FB's are put closer to the enemy base than the closest friendly base! They can be BEHIND each other. Ottomans quit their games when they don't see a trading post or water. Games are decided in the first 8 minutes. Yet it takes an average of over 20 minutes just to START a game because people are so scared of losing. In fact, they won't start unless they believe they have a 2/3 chance of winning. My personal record is 75 MINUTES of waiting for a game/ hosting a game/ doing whatever I can to join a game.
Can you see how Age of Empires III has become so unrealistic? All these changes were made in favor of
"balance and strategy."
You may disagree with me, saying that people are getting "better." They are. I admit it, and I am getting better too. It's just that the old Age 3 spirit of musket and cannon fire is gone. We only care about attack values, hp, cost, train time, attack range, etc. Does anyone remember that Age of Empires III represents an Age of Discovery, musketfire, siege, heavy cavalry charges, and man o' war duels?......
ESO Nickname: Eisenhower
Favorite Age 3 character: Sahin the Falcon
Unban James Lock!