I've always liked Mongolia. Not very many people like the Asian Maps, but Mongolia, along with Siberia are my favourite Asian Maps.
Players begin in generous grassland. To the north lie the fertile slopes of the steppe, where players will have to extend their reach in order to bolster their economies and reach the distant Trade Route. The number of grazing animals is astounding, and can be utilized to great advantage.
Mongolia is a map, with a rich resource region to the north, where there is a Trade Route. The resources around your town will run out fast, causing you to head north.
The map has a few good treasures, including a scout at your TC which is very useful. Look at the Common Treasures Section for more info.
On Mongolia the Natives are somewhat useful. The Sufi have a technology that allow you to train more villagers, and the Shaolin have a technology which can improve the Hand Damage that Ranged Infantry do. Check out the natives section down a bit further for more information.
On Mongolia, you will start with your usual starting crates. You receive no bonus/extra crates.
There will always be a Trading Route that runs along the top of the map. Sometimes the route will have 3 Sites, sometimes 4 and even 5.
There will be either 4 Native Trading Posts or 5 in big team games or big FFA's.
These will be a pick from:
The Shaolin can train Rattan Shield units, and provide three unique technologies. They can improve the amount of hand damage that ranged infantry deal, improve your wood gathering rates, and they can also allow Rattan Shields to deal more damage. You can have 15 Rattan Shields for each Shaolin trading post you control, and they appear on three standard maps;
Basic overview from
Aside from using the Indians, the Sufi are the only way you can access to war elephant units. The Sufi offer a variety of economical improvements. The first increases the maximum amount of villagers your civilization can have, the second allows your villagers to gather more at the expense of their HPs, and lastly they can give you a scaled amount of fattened goats depending on how long the game has lasted. You can have up to 6 War Elephants for each Sufi trading post you have standing, and they appear on 5 standard maps;
Basic overview from
Most of the information above in the
To learn more about Treasure Hunting, check out
A trapped native scout, who may join the cause of a rescuer.
Guardian/s: 1x Lion-Tailed Macaque
A crate of plums worth 30 Food.
Guardian/s: 1x Lion
Fragrant cinnamon quills worth 55 Coin.
Guardian/s: 1x Mongol Rider
Succulent eggplant worth 60 Food.
Guardian/s: 2x Black Panther
A stand of Deodar cedar worth 90 Wood.
Guardian/s: 2x Lion
A stand of spruce trees worth 85 Wood.
Guardian/s: 2x Tiger
The free scout treasure will always be at your TC, while the other treasures are scattered around the map.
This map has a lot of resources to the north, making it a great idea to take control up there early, as your resources at your town will run out early. The Trading Route has a few sites that you can build on once you take control of the north. At your starting TC, there is a treasure with a trapped Native Scout that is guarded by a Lion-Tailed Macaque. It's a great idea to get this treasure early, to help you scout out the map. It's also a good idea to take the Natives, as they can be quite useful. This map is suitable for rushing due to the resources, or it can also be used as a Treaty Map, due to no obstructions on walling off. Mongolia is a competitive map which will make some good game play.
[This message has been edited by James246 (edited 02-01-2009 @ 00:29 AM).]