Hera (2753) vs Nicov (2715) | Malians vs Armenians | Age of Empires II

Cast of Empires
18 Apr 202439:46

TLDRIn an intense match of Age of Empires II, Hera and Nicov showcase strategic gameplay as the Malians and Armenians, respectively. The game unfolds with both players focusing on rapid advancement to the Feudal Age, utilizing their civilizations' unique strengths. Hera's Malians boast powerful infantry and cavalry, while Nicov's Armenians excel with enhanced archers and unique units. The battle is a seesaw of skillful trades, clever maneuvers, and economic management, with Hera eventually emerging victorious through attrition and superior resource management.

Takeaways

  • 🎮 Hera (playing Malians) and Nicov (playing Armenians) are competing in a high-level game of Age of Empires II, showcasing strategic gameplay and unique civilization abilities.
  • 🏰 Malians have strong infantry and cavalry units, with the unique ability to upgrade their cavalry for a significant attack boost, making them formidable opponents.
  • 🏹 Armenians are also infantry-focused with unique units like the Warrior Priest, which can heal friendly units, and the Composite Bowman, whose attacks ignore enemy armor.
  • 🛡 Both players start with 16 villagers and must manage resources strategically, with Malians having a slight advantage in wood cost for buildings and gold mining efficiency.
  • 🏞 The map features different terrains and resource distributions, which influence the players' strategies for base placement, resource gathering, and potential for walled defenses.
  • ⚔ Early game skirmishes set the tone for the match, with Nicov taking an aggressive approach and achieving several kills, highlighting the importance of unit composition and upgrades.
  • 🏰 Castle Age brings new unit types and upgrades, with Hera and Nicov both advancing to this age, indicating a shift towards more complex military strategies and economic development.
  • 🏺 Relics become a point of contention, with both players vying for control over these powerful map features, which can grant significant bonuses to the controlling civilization.
  • 🛡️ Defenses and siege warfare play a critical role in the game, as both players construct castles and use siege units like trebuchets and bombard cannons to gain advantages.
  • 🏗 As the game progresses, both players expand their military-industrial complex, with Nicov focusing on light cavalry and Hera on a mix of cavalry and siege units, reflecting their civilization's strengths.
  • ⏳ The game concludes with a war of attrition, where resource management and the ability to adapt strategies to changing circumstances are key to victory, ultimately won by Hera.

Q & A

  • In the game of Age of Empires II, which civilizations are represented by Hera and Nikov?

    -Hera is playing as the Malians in blue, and Nikov is playing as the Armenians in red.

  • What is unique about the Malians' cavalry in Age of Empires II?

    -The Malians' cavalry can be upgraded to receive a massive plus five attack boost, which is higher than that of a Paladin, making their cavalry one of the strongest in the game.

  • What special ability does the Malians' unique unit, the Gabo, have?

    -The Gabo is a quick infantry unit with a strong ranged melee attack, but it has terrible HP and zero base armor.

  • What advantage does the Armenian civilization have with their infantry units?

    -All Armenian infantry units come with extra line of sight and are available an age earlier, meaning they have access to Spearman in the Dark Age, and Long Swordsman, Pikeman, Two-handed Swordsman, Champions, and Halberdiers in the Feudal Age and Castle Age, respectively.

  • What is the role of the Armenian unique unit, the Warrior Priest?

    -The Warrior Priest is an infantry unit that can heal friendly units and also gather relics, blurring the line between a man of war and a man of the cloth.

  • How does the Malians' economy benefit from their buildings costing less wood?

    -Since all Malians buildings except for Farms cost 15% less wood, they have plenty of wood to train their units, which can be advantageous for an archer-focused strategy.

  • What is the strategic advantage of Hera's base layout in terms of forest coverage?

    -Hera's base has a triangle-shaped smallish forest cover, providing a decent opportunity to wall off his settlement, with a few extra forests to the south making it easy to defend.

  • What is the significance of the first fortified Church for the Armenians?

    -The first fortified Church for the Armenians comes with a free Relic, which can significantly boost their military capabilities and economy.

  • How does Nikov's base resource location compare to Hera's?

    -Nikov's primary gold and stone are more secure to the back, and he has a few more resource patches off to the front, whereas Hera's base has better forest coverage but his primary gold is more exposed.

  • What is the impact of the extra Pierce armor for the Malians during the Feudal Age?

    -During the Feudal Age, all Malians units from the barracks come with extra Pierce armor, which provides a defensive advantage against ranged attacks but not as effective against melee units.

  • What strategic move does Nikov make that initially gives him an advantage?

    -Nikov opts to wall off the easier part of his base first, which provides an early defensive advantage, while also managing to kill several of Hera's villagers, giving him an early lead in kills.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introduction to the Match and Civilizations Overview

The video begins with a greeting and an introduction to a game of Age of Empires, focusing on a battle between the Malians and Armenians. The Malians are described as an infantry civilization with unique units and abilities, such as the Gabo and upgraded Cavalry. The Armenians are also an infantry-focused civilization with early access to certain units and the unique Warrior Priest and Composite Bowman. The players start by advancing to the Feudal Age, and the base layouts of both civilizations are discussed, highlighting their strategic advantages and disadvantages.

05:02

🏰 Early Game Strategies and First Blood

The players, Hera and Nikov, engage in early game strategies, with Hera opting for a more aggressive approach despite being in the Feudal Age with units benefiting from extra Pierce armor. Nikov defends and walls off parts of his base while Hera attempts to raid. The first kills go to Nikov, who capitalizes on exposed villagers and scouts. The summary also touches on the importance of the Feudal Age upgrades and the players' efforts to advance to the Castle Age.

10:02

🏺 Advancing to Castle Age and Resource Management

Both players advance to the Castle Age, with a focus on building essential structures and managing resources. The narrative describes Hera's and Nikov's builds, including a blacksmith and a stable, and their decision to disengage from minor skirmishes to accumulate resources. The importance of relic hunting and the first fortified church built by the Armenians are highlighted, along with the impact of having an additional relic on the game dynamics.

15:03

🛡️ Military Developments and Unit Engagements

The video details the military developments of both players, including the training of knights and the upgrading of units. It discusses the engagements between the Malians' and Armenians' forces, with a focus on the effectiveness of the Malians' bombard cannons and the Armenians' composite Bowman. The players' strategies involve building castles in strategic locations and the use of light cavalry and unique units to control the battlefield.

20:04

⚔️ Late Game Showdown and Resource Struggles

The summary of the late game includes a description of the players' struggle for resources and the impact on their military capabilities. It highlights the importance of the bombard cannons in the Malians' strategy and the Armenians' focus on light cavalry and composite Bowman. The narrative also covers the players' attempts to breach each other's defenses, the significance of high ground in battles, and the eventual shift in power as one player gains an economic advantage.

25:06

🏯 Siege Weapons and the Final Push

The final part of the game involves the use of siege weapons like trebuchets and bombard cannons in the players' efforts to destroy each other's castles and military infrastructure. It details the players' attempts to repair and maintain their defenses while dealing with a barrage of attacks. The summary also covers the players' final pushes, the breaching of bases, and the decisive factors that lead to the end of the game.

30:07

📊 Post-Game Analysis and Conclusion

The video concludes with a post-game analysis, looking at the players' stats, economy, and military production. It discusses the differences in the players' base layouts, the conversion rates, and the supply situation. The summary reflects on the game as a war of attrition, where one player ultimately wins due to superior resource management and military strategy. It also invites viewers to share their thoughts in the comments and to subscribe for more content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Age of Empires II

Age of Empires II is a real-time strategy video game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It is the second game in the Age of Empires series. The game allows players to lead one of several civilizations from the Stone Age to the Imperial Age, utilizing military conquest and economic growth to defeat enemy civilizations. In the video, it is the main theme as players Hera and Nikov engage in a battle representing the Malians and Armenians respectively.

💡Infantry Civilization

In the context of Age of Empires II, an infantry civilization is one that specializes in or has unique strengths with infantry units, which are ground forces that engage in close combat. The Malians and Armenians, played by Hera and Nikov, are described as infantry civilizations, highlighting their reliance on foot soldiers for offense and defense.

💡Unique Unit

A unique unit in Age of Empires II is a special type of military unit available only to a specific civilization. Each unique unit has distinct characteristics that give its civilization a particular advantage or strategy in the game. For example, the Malians' unique unit is the Gabo, a quick infantry unit with a strong ranged melee attack.

💡Feudal Age

The Feudal Age is one of the four main ages of technological advancement in Age of Empires II, situated between the Dark Age and the Castle Age. It is a period where players can advance their civilization's technology to unlock new units, buildings, and upgrades. In the video, players are eager to reach the Feudal Age to enhance their military and economic capabilities.

💡Pierce Armor

Pierce armor refers to the protective covering that units have against piercing or projectile attacks, such as arrows. In Age of Empires II, units from the Malians' barracks receive extra Pierce armor, which is a defensive bonus that makes them more resistant to attacks from ranged weapons, as mentioned in the video transcript.

💡Relics

Relics are objects in Age of Empires II that players can collect to gain various benefits, typically by bringing them back to a specialized building called a Monastery. They often provide enhancements to units or economic advantages. The video discusses the strategic importance of relics in the game, as they can tip the balance in favor of the player who controls them.

💡Trebuchet

A Trebuchet is a type of siege weapon in Age of Empires II that launches projectiles over large distances to damage or destroy enemy structures. They are particularly effective against buildings and are featured in the video as part of the players' military strategy to attack and defend their bases.

💡Composite Bowman

The Composite Bowman is a unique unit of the Armenian civilization in Age of Empires II. This archer unit has the ability to ignore the armor of all land units except for siege weapons, making it a formidable force on the battlefield. The video highlights the Composite Bowman's role in the game as a significant threat to the Malians' forces.

💡Economic Growth

Economic growth in the context of Age of Empires II refers to the accumulation of resources such as food, wood, gold, and stone, which are used to train units, build structures, and advance through the ages. A strong economy is vital for a player's success as it supports a sustained military campaign and technological advancements. The video emphasizes the importance of economic management as a key factor in the game's outcome.

💡Military Attrition

Military attrition is a strategy in which a player's forces gradually wear down the enemy's forces through continuous or repeated engagements, ultimately leading to the enemy's depletion of military power. In the video, the game is described as a war of attrition, where the outcome is determined by the gradual loss of military units and resources over time.

💡High Ground

In strategy games like Age of Empires II, the high ground refers to elevated terrain that provides tactical advantages to the units positioned on it. Units on higher ground generally have a better line of sight and can deal more damage while taking less in return. The video discusses the significance of controlling the high ground during battles.

Highlights

Hera and Nicov represent Malians and Armenians respectively in a high-stakes game of Age of Empires II.

Hera, playing as Malians, has access to unique units and abilities that boost their infantry and cavalry.

Nikov, as Armenians, benefits from early infantry availability and unique units like the Warrior Priest and Composite Bowman.

Both players start by exploring and quickly advancing to the Feudal Age, emphasizing economy and military development.

Malians have an advantage in training costs and gold mining, while Armenians have mule cart technology and faster university research.

Hera's initial aggressive playstyle with extra Pierce armor showcases the Malians' early game strength.

Nikov's defensive strategy and effective use of walls provide a strong foundation for the Armenian economy.

A pivotal moment occurs when Hera's forces face off against Nicov's unique Warrior Priest, highlighting the clash of unique units.

Nikov's discovery of Hera's primary gold source leads to a strategic decision to apply pressure and engage in early skirmishes.

Hera's decision to forgo early walls in favor of rapid military expansion becomes a key strategic choice.

Nikov's efficient use of resources and map control allows for a strong economic foundation despite early military setbacks.

Both players reach the Castle Age, with Hera doing so first, indicating a potential shift in the game's dynamics.

Nikov's strategic relocation of his Castle and Hera's decision to build a new one reflect their adaptability in response to the game state.

The game becomes a battle of attrition, with both players leveraging their unique units and strategies to gain an advantage.

Hera's advanced economy and military production capabilities become a deciding factor in the late game.

Nikov's resource management and strategic military engagements highlight the importance of adaptability in Age of Empires II.

The game concludes with Hera winning through a combination of superior economy, military strength, and strategic depth.