Mission 2: The Great Lakes
Welcome to "The Great Lakes," the second mission in Act II: Ice of the Age of Empires III campaign. This mission plunges you into the harsh realities of the North American frontier, where you must aid the Iroquois Confederacy against the encroaching British forces and the machinations of the nefarious Circle of Ossus. Your primary objective is to establish a strong presence, protect your Iroquois allies, and ultimately disrupt the British supply lines and fortifications.
Mission Objectives:
- Establish a Town Center and build a thriving economy.
- Train a significant army to defend your Iroquois allies.
- Destroy the British Fort.
- Protect the Iroquois settlements (optional, but highly recommended for bonus experience).
- Amelia Black must survive.
Starting Units:
- Amelia Black (Hero Unit)
- Settlers (x3)
- Musketeers (x5)
- Pikemen (x3)
- Wagon (Town Center Wagon)
Walkthrough:
- Initial Setup and Base Building (0-10 minutes):
You begin in the southwestern corner of the map with Amelia Black, a small military escort, and your crucial Town Center Wagon. Immediately unpack the Town Center Wagon to establish your first Town Center. Your initial priority is to rapidly build an economy. Assign two Settlers to gather food from nearby berry bushes or hunt animals (deer, bison are plentiful), and one Settler to chop wood. Queue up additional Settlers from your Town Center without delay. Aim for at least 10-15 Settlers on food and 5-7 on wood initially. Explore the immediate vicinity with Amelia and your starting military to locate treasure chests and clear out any aggressive wildlife or minor enemy patrols. Treasure guardians often drop valuable resources or experience.
As soon as you have enough wood, build a House to increase your population cap. Your next priority should be a Barracks to start training military units. The British will launch early, probing attacks, so a defensive force is essential.
- Early Defense and Resource Expansion (10-20 minutes):
The British will begin sending small raiding parties, primarily consisting of Musketeers and sometimes Hussars, from the north and east. Position your starting Musketeers and Pikemen defensively near your Town Center. Use your Town Center's garrison ability to protect Settlers during attacks. Research the "Economic Upgrades" at your Town Center (e.g., Loom, Hunting Dogs) to boost resource gathering rates. As your wood income increases, build a Market to sell excess resources if needed, and research gathering upgrades there as well.
Expand your resource gathering. Look for gold mines, which are crucial for advanced units and upgrades. Send Settlers to mine gold as soon as possible. Consider building a Mill near berry bushes or a Livestock Pen for a steady food supply. send Home City shipments. Early shipments of Settlers or resource crates can significantly accelerate your economy. Military shipments like "7 Musketeers" or "8 Pikemen" are also excellent for early defense.
- Protecting Iroquois Allies & Mid-Game Strategy (20-40 minutes):
The Iroquois settlement is located to your north. They will periodically come under attack from British forces. Protecting them is an optional objective, but it grants substantial bonus experience and can provide allied units. Aim to have a standing army of at least 15-20 units (a mix of Musketeers, Pikemen, and perhaps some Cannons if you can afford them) before actively engaging the British at the Iroquois village.
The British will often attack the Iroquois with a mix of Musketeers, Grenadiers, and Cannons. Use your Pikemen to shield your Musketeers from cavalry, and focus fire on enemy Cannons with your ranged units. Amelia Black's special abilities, such as her ranged attack or healing, can be invaluable in these skirmishes. Consider building a second Barracks to increase your unit production speed.
Scout the map with Amelia or a lone unit to identify enemy patrol routes and the location of the British Fort. The Fort is typically located in the northeastern section of the map, heavily defended.
- Preparing for the Final Assault (40-60 minutes):
Once your economy is robust (around 30-40 Settlers) and you have a sizable army (30+ units), it's time to prepare for the assault on the British Fort. Your army should ideally consist of:
- Musketeers (15-20): Your primary damage dealers against infantry and buildings.
- Pikemen (10-15): Essential for protecting your Musketeers from British Hussars and other cavalry.
- Cannons (2-4): Crucial for destroying the Fort and other defensive structures quickly. Field Cannons are a good balance of cost and power.
- Amelia Black: Keep her alive and use her abilities to support your troops.
Research all available military upgrades at your Barracks and Artillery Foundry (if built). Send Home City shipments that provide powerful units or upgrades, such as "Advanced Arsenal" or "Heavy Cannon." Gather a large force and move them towards the British Fort.
- Destroying the British Fort (Final Push):
The British Fort will be heavily defended by walls, towers, and a large garrison of Musketeers, Grenadiers, and Cannons. Approach cautiously. Use your Cannons to target the Fort and any defensive towers first. Protect your Cannons with your Musketeers and Pikemen. Engage enemy units as they sally forth from the Fort.
Focus fire on enemy Cannons and Grenadiers, as they pose the biggest threat to your concentrated army. Once the Fort's defenses are weakened, push in with your full force. Amelia Black can be used to draw fire or engage high-priority targets. Continue to reinforce your army from your base as needed. Once the British Fort is destroyed, the mission will be complete.
Strategy Tips:
- Economic Boom: Prioritize Settler production early. A strong economy is the foundation for victory in this mission. Aim for 40-50 Settlers by the mid-game.
- Balanced Army Composition: The British utilize a mix of infantry and cavalry. A balanced force of Musketeers (anti-infantry/buildings) and Pikemen (anti-cavalry) is highly effective. Add Cannons for siege power.
- Home City Shipments: Don't forget your Home City! Shipments of Settlers, resources, or military units can provide critical advantages at key moments. Save powerful military shipments for the final assault.
- Scouting: Use Amelia or a lone unit to scout the map. Knowing enemy positions, resource locations, and the Fort's layout will help you plan your attacks.
- Protect Amelia: Amelia Black is a powerful hero unit, but her death means mission failure. Keep her out of direct melee combat against large groups of enemies, and use her ranged attack and special abilities from a safe distance.
- Iroquois Alliance: While optional, protecting the Iroquois settlement provides valuable experience points, which can lead to faster Home City shipments and stronger units. They may also provide allied units to assist you.
- Defensive Structures: Consider building a few Outposts around your base or near resource gathering points to provide early warning and defense against raids.
Enemy Units Encountered:
You will primarily face British forces, including:
- Musketeers: Standard British infantry, good against other infantry.
- Hussars: Fast cavalry, effective against ranged infantry and light artillery.
- Grenadiers: Heavy infantry, good against buildings and groups of units.
- Cannons: Siege units, dangerous to buildings and clustered units.
- Explorers: British hero unit, can be annoying but not a major threat.
Treasures and Bonuses:
Scattered throughout the map are various treasures guarded by wildlife or minor enemy units. These often contain:
- Small amounts of Food, Wood, or Coin.
- Experience points for Amelia Black.
- Temporary buffs or minor unit additions.
Protecting the Iroquois settlements will grant significant bonus experience upon completion of the mission, allowing you to unlock more powerful Home City cards faster.
