Front page:

• Index

Now reading:

• Psychological Warfare

Sitemap:

• Sitemap

Random Map Tactics:

• 20 Eagles in 20 minutes
• 20 Knights in 20 minutes
• Ak-47 Mongol rush
• Briton Archer Flush
• Mayan Drush
• Scout Rush Tips
• The Saracen Scout Rush
• The Smush

Road to Expert:

• Step 1 - Introduction
• Step 2 - Data Tables and Times
• Step 3 - Economy Upgrades
• Step 4 - Nomad
• Step 5 - Land Nomad
• Step 6 - Grush and Island Strategies

Guides:

• Cheats
• Psychological Warfare

Civilizations:

• The Aztecs
• The Britons
• The Koreans
• The Mayans

Interviews:

• Interview with toree

Contact:

• tonihegmail.com

Link to this page:

• 

Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors Tactics & Guides -> Guide -> Psychological Warfare -> Page 1

Psychological Warfare

1. Taking advantage of civilization stereotypes: Most players are rather stubborn in that they will focus on one strategy and will not stop, you must use this to your advantage. Usually the opponent will be this stubborn when he/she realizes that you are a civ that specializes in a certain line of units(Viking: Infantry, Persians: Cavalry, etc.) He/she will mainly only use the counter to the unit that he/she expects you to employ in battles(Persian: Pikemen, Viking: Archers), so you already know what he/she will build. What you need to do is build a complete opposite to the units that your opponent expects you to use(Viking: Heavy Cavalry, Mongol: Heavy Infantry). Usually the opposite to the stereotypical unit is the counter to the counter of the steriotypical unit, so you will easily destroy your enemy's army.

Although powerful if pulled off, using this strategy is rather risky, because your opponent may anticipate your strategy and build the counter to the radical unit that you are planning of creating.

2. When approaching your enemy, set your army to staggered formation: Along with protecting yourself from scorpion and magnonel fire, when your army is in staggered formation, it looks much larger than it really is. When you have large units like cavalry, the army's size is exaggerated even more. The use of your looking larger than it really is, is that your enemy might get frightened and may run away. Even if they do fight, they may be in a frenzy to fight off your army, which means that the amount of extra troops that your enemy might train could severly slow down his/her economy.

3. Attack your enemy on two fronts: (Note: This strategy is best used with an ally, so you will not have to switch from one part of the map to another.) Accumulate 2 armies, and situate them on either side of an enemy. First attack with one army, and when a large portion of your enemy's army is defending against your first army, attack with your second army. Most likely, your enemy will have sent all of his/her army to the other side of his/her territory, so one half will be nearly completely unguarded. This will make it much easier for your second army to break into the city. Eventually, your enemy will be forced to send his/her army to defend against your second army, allowing your 1st army to break through the city much easier. Just with the time your enemy's army takes to get across his/her territory will make it much easier for you, but it may also greatly confuse your enemy, giving you even more time.

4. Distract your enemy from his/her economy: This strategy is rather useful in the start of the game, using your scout. Although it takes a bit of micromanagement, you can use gather points on your town center, in order to save you some time. Using the scout, attack one of your opponent's villager. If it attacks, run away. Most likely, your enemy will have to send villagers out to kill your scout, in order to stop your harassments. Because he will be focused on your scout, some of his villagers may be idle. Another economic problem that the enemy will have is that the villagers that are trying to kill your scout cavalry will not be gathering resources.