Another Post on Balance Update Suggestions

Age of Empires III: DE III - Discussion
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I know there’s a thread out there already and that everyone has their opinions on balance.

Still I wanted to add my thoughts on the topic in hopes that it could be seen and considered for a future balance update. I believe in low and slow until balance is achieved, not hard and fast to bring something from overpowered to underpowered. Let me know what you guys think:

Hausa:

  • Reduce amount of Fulani Archers given from Age II card by 1 from 7 → 6
  • Raiders train time +3 seconds (nerf)
  • Akan base HP -5 from 170 to 165 including from Trading Post.
  • Explore kills now give +70 XP (up from 45)

Ethiopia:

  • Oromo Warrior: -15 base HP
  • Explorer kills now give +70 XP (up from 45)

Ottomans:

  • Cost of first Mosque Settler Limit tech increased from 100c to 125c
  • Cost of second Mosque Settler production tech Koprulu Viziers increased from 150w to 175w
  • Advanced Mosque now only reduces costs by 25% (down from 33%), all unique techs take 10 seconds longer to complete. Grants one less Nizam Fusilier.
  • Humbaraci: -5 Base HP, - 2 Siege Attack
  • Increase cost of 5 Spahi card in age III to 1200 food
  • Increase cost of “Team Timariots” (Team 4 Spahi) card by 250f from 1500f → 1750f
  • Great bombards take 2 seconds longer to train.

Mexico:

  • All revolts now take 5 seconds longer to complete
  • First revolt now costs 400f 400w 400c (up from 350f 350w 350c)
  • Chinaco: -10 base HP
  • Cuatrero: -10 base HP
  • Haciendas now award 20 less XP upon being built (-20 XP)

Russia:

  • Now starts with a single 500f large crate instead of 5 individual 100f crates

Inca:

  • Reduce cost of Kancha House by 5w from 170w → 165w
  • Increase Kancha House HP to 1650
  • Reduce cost of second TC and 8 Pikes age 2 cards from 500c to 450c.
  • Increase bolas warrior Base HP by +5 and Base Attack by +1

Sweden:

  • Increase cost of Halberdier tech from unique church card by 50f from 1700f to 1750f, grants one less halberdier (from 16 → 15)
  • Add +50f starting crate
  • Reduce Hackapellit Base HP by 5

France:

  • Cost of last Grenadier tech from unique church card from 2000f to 2500f and takes 10 seconds longer to complete.

Britain:

  • Manor houses take 1 second longer to build and awards 4 less XP when built.

Malta:

  • Carmelite Churches (2 Church card) now arrives fast
  • German Tongue Cost Reduced from 450w to 425w
  • Advanced Commandery: Now also increases Commandery Attack and HP by 20%
  • Dignitaries Card: Sentinel Cost increased by 35% only, Stats increased by 55% (up from 45%). +2 Range, +2 LOS, +2 Melee Range, +.25 speed
  • Move Auberges to Age III: Now also increases all Order Unit Attack, LOS, and HP by 5%.

India/Japan/China:

  • All consulate techs and armies take 5 seconds longer to complete/arrive.

Dutch:

  • Banks take 3 seconds faster to build.
  • Red Lancer base attack -2, base HP -10

USA:

  • All TP wagons now take 5 seconds longer to unpack/complete.
  • Chinese Immigrants now only increases TP HP by 30% (down from 40%).
  • Scottish Immigrants card now costs 450c (up from 400c)
  • The card that allows settlers to train for free trains them 10% slower

Thoughts?

1 Like
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I like the ideas for Sweden and French, although I’d add them to the ones I suggested as I think French natives are still too strong and Sweden needs some buffs (I like that the food increase I suggested to Sweden’s starting crates would be counteracted when doing the church build).

Points 1 and 5 for Malta concern me a bit. The increased xp curve buffs the Xbow pike rush which is already strong (I’ve played it a lot). It’s not a crazy strong build, but I think it’s more so an issue of the current “meta civs” being strong against it rather than it being a bad build. It doesn’t do well into French, British or Otto.

The buff to Sentinels coming in age 4 with Flintlock Rockets also seems too good. I’ve played some Sentinel builds and my concern is I think I’ve upgraded like 40 Sentinels with that card and that’s already a massive power spike.

The reduced wood cost for German Tongue and the faster delivery for the Church wagons are both reasonable. I liked the latter enough that I added it to my list.

For British I had suggested -50f from starting creates. I like your suggestion just as well. It’s a slightly slower acting nerf, but that might be better as it is a little bigger.

I don’t think your suggestions for Inca fix their core issues. Poison is massively bugged and Bolas really need to be ranged shock infantry. The issue right now is all but one of their units is countered by artillery. They need something that can tank shots while protecting their ranged anti artillery. The buffs I suggested were a bit slower, but I’m not convinced Inca needs more tempo.

I can’t really comment on the African civs, beyond saying I don’t believe they’re considered all that strong.

I do like your Russia suggestion, though I didn’t include it in my suggestions as I felt the list I had already added a lot and I somewhat targeted helping them in their worst MUs.

I have no issue with the Consulate nerfs.

I’m not sure the Otto nerfs solve all the issues. I targeted their late game a bit harder, which has been an issue in team. I just love surviving the initial push only to die later because basically all their stuff is better for no reason. Also, you’re off on Mosque Construction, it’s -50% currently.

I hope this doesn’t come off as overly negative. If I recall correctly, you are better than me, but I think you’re overlooking some things especially in team.

1 Like
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Yeah, lets make them even more useless. They should come faster but hatamotos, not slower. Export is already an slow resource.

Aztecs:

  • An option to counter skirmishers and “infantry” tag at range.
  • AKs not Heavy Infantry. It is already the only anti canon unit countered by canons lol

Edit:

India:

  • Siege eles are not countered by Skirmishers. And they get a bit of AoE in imperial age or something. India sucka vs many canons in lategame.
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Nope, no worries - feel free to express your opinion on anything my friend.

I made a few minor tweaks to the original post based on your feedback. Thank you!