Front page:

• Index

Now reading:

• The Britons

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 -> Civilization -> The Britons -> Page 2

The Britons

Unique Unit: THE LONGBOWMAN

The AoK Longbowman was considered the king of archers. The Mayan Plumed Archer has taken that title for archer-to-archer combat, but the Longbowman still remain a potent unit. Once massed they are still a force to be reckoned with for any civ. With the longest range in the game for a non-siege unit, these are the ultimate standoff weapons. They mass quickly (Build Time :19) and are cheap (35W,40G). While their true power comes in the Imperial Age with the Elite upgrade and when you have the economy to mass them; the Castle Age Longbowman can be an effective unit in Castle Age to escort Rams, protect Knights and disrupt Villager operations.

Unique Technology: YEOMAN

British Free Men, or Yeomen, were especially skilled as archers and are presented in the game by the addition of +1 range to foot archers and +2 attack to towers. At a cost of 750W/450G, this tech is in the middle compared to the range of unique technology costs. Yeoman, in addition to the other range upgrades gives the Briton foot archer a +6 range bonus. Arbalests (with a base of 5) max out at 11 range while Elite Longbowmen max out at 12 range.

While the effects of this incredible range are somewhat muted by the lack of 100% accuracy (Thumb Ring) and the correlation between increased range and decreased accuracy, the complete field of fire is staggering. There is also the question of whether the additional range allows any extra shots to be fired, and if not, if the decreased accuracy of the first shot actually results in less damage on approaching enemy. Still, the appearance of even longer-range archers can only magnify the usefulness of archers as a standoff unit.

A Briton player may give some additional consideration to Yeoman and its +1 range in a standoff situation. For example, where tribes/armies are potentially going back and forth over a crossing with little real progress. The +1 range keeps enemy forces that much farther back and gives that much more warning of Onager movements. As long as the archers are do not get wiped out or are kept alive by good barriers (i.e. Halberdiers or terrain), there should be some measurable payback for this unique technology. But again, this is sort of a last-to-research archer technology.