Hello,
I have played through all three of the campaigns for AoE III DE on ‘Hard’ difficulty, but I found all of the scenarios to be too easy. I like this game, but I want to experience challenging singleplayer scenarios that demand the highest level of skill and expertise. I do not care if the AI cheats to some degree, I just want to be challenged.
Can anyone please recommend me the most challenging custom scenarios that currently exist in this game?
Thank you.
New Ludicrous difficulty will come with the new DLC
Probably try again after September 10th. Not sure if the new harder mode is coming out as part of the update or the DLC (though the update would make more sense imo), but they are adding a harder mode.
I played part of it (in the bata), some levels were definitely still cheese-able, but I also didn’t make it out of the Morgan Black campaign and that was never the hardest one imo.
It wouldn’t be a custom scenario, but there is always playing vs 2+ AIs on the hardest level and keeping a running list of how many you beat on each map. That lets you find a level where you’re having trouble.
From that thread I made a post that mentions New Campaign “Ludicrous” difficulty level for all Campaigns & Historical Battles! from a post below 
Don’t worry, the next DLC will include two new difficulty modes: Story, so you can play through the story without any worries, and Ludicrous, where the AI will give you a hellish challenge and attack you relentlessly…
There are several…look for Troteck scenarios or those big maps where you face multiple enemies at once (there’s a Swedish campaign where you face enemies with 600 units)…I’m even remaking the original campaigns myself so you can play with the multiplayer civs (Maltese, British, Haudenosaunee, United States, etc., etc., etc.)…
I generally found most of the campaign is easier than playing against higher level Skirmish AI. With some exceptions. The Asian campaigns were generally harder than Blood, Ice, and Steel for sure. The Historical Battles vary in difficulty.
Did anyone else find Breakout in Act 1 to be way harder than Last Stand of the Boneguard in Act 3? Maybe it’s the constant enemy waves or being stuck with Crossbow/Pikemen only…
Yes, I agree… Breakout is difficult because you’re limited and defensive, whereas with LSotB you play offensively and can advance to the final age…
I tried to finish the expert difficulty (Ludicrous) during the beta time.
It was impossible. Some of those scenarios are so hard, they are basically unbeatable.
But you will defo enjoy playing them again on that difficulty, as it is quite a challange.
Sometimes had to restart the scenarios 5 times before i finally figured out a way / pattern to overcome the constant masses.
If the enemy has a preset base, you will be overun in the first minutes, and even lateron it will be insanelyhard, as the enemy units will have a 15% stat bonus. Cannons having 90% range resist, and so on,
It doesn’t help that your army consists of purely Crossbowmen and Pikemen. Meanwhile, the Ottomans are sending waves of Janissaries, Sipahi, and even Great Bombards. I swear the Janissaries kill the Pikemen before they even do much damage to the Sipahi. They should have introduced some Hoop Throwers in this mission, not the next one.
Enemy units in Ludicrous mode must have some insane stat upgrades. Cannons having 90% range resist would make the Great Bombards nigh impossible to kill until help arrives. Some missions might not have been balanced for it yet.
Yes, I’m testing the Maltese in the Blood campaign and at least I can use the Sentinels against the Janissaries and the Sipahi…at least they could let you use the Sentinels somehow if you already have the Mediterranean DLC…
Note, that if you have ally´s ( A third yellow player, or like the panese campaign where u have 2 allies ) They also have the increased stats
Pay to win in a solocampaign..?
Nah, I don’t think so…ultimately it would simply be optional and as a gesture of historical significance…
