v1.0b (1 November 2003)
It's been nearly a year, but unfortunately my site is down for the count.
Luckily, IGN has decided to host my FAQs too, so it's all good. A new copyright
notice is the only change.
v1.0a (25 December 2002)
No new information, but I've changed the look of my FAQ, as well as my legal
info. I'm now carrying my guide on my own website; you can find the URL at the
bottom of the document.
v1.0 (24 August 2000)
First release.
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|+-----+|
||INTRO||
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I got this idea from reading Red Phoenix's INCREDIBLY detailed FAQ for this
game. At the end of it is a listing of the attack and movement rates of units,
unit training times, and a few other things. I've decided to continue his
research and make a completely new FAQ of my own, going a bit more in-depth.
I assure you that this list cannot help you in any way if you're just starting
out. Knowing timings is only helpful in ally games (so you can tell your ally
how long it'll take before you can attack or whatnot), and to veteran players
trying to time their strategies correctly.
My strategy, of which I won't go into too much detail in with this FAQ, is
dependent on perfect timings between my villager building times and when
resources are gathered to build the next building. If the balance and timing is
upset, I get delayed, and any delay can of course result in a loss. I've used
my strategy so much that I can time it just by "feel," but knowing real times
helps me in multi-player games. Instead of telling my ally, "I'll be there in a
moment," I can now say, "My first division will be ready to attack in 4
minutes, 40 seconds." See how much this can help?
Anyway, I will assume that I won't have to tell you what all the upgrades do.
For that information, read other FAQs (especially Red Phoenix's, who I promise
has no clue I'm writing this).
The times are sorted first by Age; then by whether it's a building, technology,
unit, or economy; then alphabetically by first appearing letter. If there are
more than 5 in one category, I'll put breaks every 5 so you don't get times
mixed up.
All buildings' times are based on 1 villager building it with the exception of
a Wonder, which I had 40 villagers working.
All buildings' times are without the Treadmill Crane. If you've researched
Treadmill crane, multiply the time listed by .8 to get the real time.
All units' times are without Conscription researched. If you've researched
Conscription, multiply the time listed by .66 to get the true time.
Units that have been upgraded do not gain or lose training time, so I haven't
bothered listing it more than once. For example, Militia, Men-at-Arms, Long
Swordsmen, Two-Handed Swordsmen, and Champions have the same build time since
they are technically the same unit. In other words, if you want to know the
build time of a unit, find the base unit.
Fishing boats' times never change.
Economy times don't change between Age III and Age IV.
I did not take team bonuses into account. I used "Full Tech Tree" mode, so it
didn't matter what race I chose for the timing. If you have a team bonus,
calculate in with the time listed.
I did not time unique units. That will come in a future edition of the FAQ.
All times are in real seconds (the game clock goes a bit fast or slow sometimes
based on computer and network speeds).
All times are based on the Normal speed setting.
Due to human error, give me .5 seconds leeway both ways.
+---------------+
|AGE I: DARK AGE|
+---------------+
BUILDINGS
Barracks -------------- 27.92
Dock ------------------ 19.42
Farm ------------------ 8.41
House ----------------- 13.76
Lumber Mill ----------- 19.18
An HTML version of this guide can be found at my website, listed near the
bottom of this document.
This document is copyright 2000-2003 for J. "PyroFalkon" Habib. If you plan to
use any of it as part of another FAQ, you need my permission first. However, if
you plan to post it on a website or e-mail it to someone or whatnot, you may do
so without my permission AS LONG AS IT IS NOT ALTERED IN ANY WAY. I'd like you
to drop me an e-mail so I know where you're going to take it, but I will not
require you to do so. You may download it or print it at your leisure.
The most updated version will always be found at these sites:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/
http://faqs.ign.com/
Other sites may have up-to-date versions, but check GameFAQs or IGN first.
If any information is incorrect, or you wish to submit something, please e-mail
me. My address is found on the bottom of the FAQ. Credit will be given where
it's due.
If you submit something to me, I will credit you by the name you signed in the
message body or by the name attached to your e-mail. I will also post your e-
mail address unless you specifically tell me not to.
If you wish to be e-mailed when this FAQ is updated, send your request to me.
If you have a junk mail protector on your e-mail program, make sure you put my
e-mail address on the safe list, or my messages may not get through.
pyrofalkon@hotmail.com
Good luck in Age of Empires II, and may you whack some Tutonic Knights!