Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery (2007) Board Game

Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery is a board game adaptation of the popular video game series, Age of Empires. Designed by Glenn Drover and published by Tropical Games in 2007, this game transports players back to the Age of Exploration and colonization of the New World. With a mix of strategy, resource management, and area control mechanics, players compete to build the most prosperous and powerful civilization.

Game Components of Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery

Gameboard: Features a map of the North and South American continents divided into 9 regions, each with associated trade goods.

Colonists: 30 colonists of each color (red, yellow, green, blue, and orange) representing different nations (England, France, Spain, Portugal, and Holland).

Capital Buildings: These buildings are categorized into three ages (I, II, and III) and provide various bonuses such as colonists, specialists, gold, or victory points.

Discovery Tokens: Used to represent undiscovered regions.

Trade Good Tokens: Match the trade goods pictured on the regions.

Specialist Figures: Include captains, soldiers, and other specialists with unique abilities.

Event Boxes: On the right side of the board, these boxes allow players to perform different actions.

Merchant Fleet and Army: Components for building and managing trade routes and military defenses.

How To Setup Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery

To set up the game, players start by choosing their color and nation. Each player places one of their figures on the zero space of the victory point track to determine the turn order randomly. The first player takes 10 gold, the second player takes 11, and so on. Discovery tokens are randomly placed face down in each region except the Caribbean, which is considered already discovered. Trade good tokens are placed on their corresponding regions. Capital buildings are separated into the three ages and five buildings from the first age are revealed and placed on the board. Remaining trade goods are kept in a pile or bag for later use.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Resource Management: Players manage gold, colonists, specialists, trade goods, merchant ships, and capital buildings.

Area Control: Colonize and dominate regions in the New World.

Economic Development: Build colonial economies and trade routes.

Expeditions: Launch expeditions of discovery and colonization.

Turn Order Management: Players can change the turn order by placing colonists in specific event boxes.

Game Objective

The objective is to accumulate the most victory points by colonizing regions, building a strong economy, and leveraging capital buildings and specialists effectively. Players progress through three ages, each bringing new opportunities and challenges.

Player Experience

Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery offers a rich and immersive experience, allowing players to take on the roles of colonial powers seeking to dominate the New World. The game requires strategic planning, efficient resource management, and timely decision-making. Players must balance their efforts between exploration, colonization, economic development, and military defense. The game’s multiple paths to victory ensure high replayability and engagement.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Rich gameplay with multiple layers of strategy.

Historical Context: Immersive theme that recreates the age of colonial exploration.

Replayability: High replay value due to random discovery tokens and variable player powers.

Engaging Mechanics: Combination of resource management, area control, and economic development keeps players engaged.

Cons

Complexity: Can be overwhelming for new players due to the number of components and rules.

Long Playtime: Games can take 90-120 minutes, which may deter casual players.

Learning Curve: Requires several plays to fully understand and master the game mechanics.

Personal Thoughts on Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery

This game is ideal for fans of strategy and historical-themed board games. It is suited for players who enjoy complex gameplay and are willing to invest time in learning the rules. The game’s depth and replayability make it a great addition to any serious board game collection. However, it may not be the best choice for casual gamers or those new to complex strategy games.

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