:Fire: Roadblock to 1500 ELO - PROFESSIONAL HELP NEEDED :Fire:

Age of Empires III: DE III - Discussion
1

Hello there, I’m stuck

Been playing forever and 1443 was the top score I ever achieved on ranked 1v1 (I was playing EVERY DAY back then and actually using a build order I designed).

So… what can I do to improve?

:arrow_right: MY “CV”

Long ago, a fallen hero formed this list, this is what I checked from it:
(Lemme focus as if I was playing INCA, it’s my fav civ along Russia)

Aging up times :watch:

:check_box_with_check: I can consistently age up from age I to age II before 3 minutes with this civ.

Town Center Control :house:

:check_box_with_check: I begin training my first villager within 10 seconds of the game starting.
:check_box_with_check: I use hotkeys to select my town center and to train villagers.
:check_box_with_check: I avoid having an idle town center before having enough villagers to age up.
:check_box_with_check: I routinely rally the villagers from my town center to their intended destination.
:check_box_with_check: (advanced) I effectively garrison & ungarrison my villagers to save villager seconds.

Herding :deer:

:check_box_with_check: I accurately anticipate where a herd of animals will flee to, after being shot.
:check_box_with_check: I maintain an appropriate amount of animal carcasses on the ground.
:check_box_with_check: I routinely keep animal carcasses immediately adjacent to the town center.
:red_exclamation_mark: I herd multiple herds of animals during the transition phase.
(I should do this more often)
:check_box_with_check: (advanced) I can shift click villagers onto individual carcasses to avoid idling.

Scouting & General Explorer Control :compass:

:check_box_with_check: I understand the concept of an efficient scouting path.
:check_box_with_check: I utilize shift clicking to maximize scouting efficiency.
:check_box_with_check: I keep any additional scouting units I have on the move, and avoid them going idle.
:check_box_with_check: I scout the necessary resources around my base before the transition period.
:check_box_with_check: (advanced) I scout what my opponent is doing as they enter and exit the transition period.
(My main go to, so I can raid hunters)

Collecting treasures :treasure_chest:

:check_box_with_check: I do not leave unguarded treasures on the ground.
:check_box_with_check: I understand which treasures I should be prioritizing and when.
:check_box_with_check: I can anticipate how much health a guardian will cause my explorer to lose.
:check_box_with_check: I know how to approach each individual guardian, and when to engage in melee vs ranged.
:check_box_with_check: I know when to use my “crack shot” and when not to use it.
:check_box_with_check: (advanced) I can routinely predict the invisible ring around treasures.

Early-Game Macro Management :cut_of_meat:

:check_box_with_check: I avoid overgathering unnecessary resources before aging up to the commerce age.
:check_box_with_check: I send my first shipment within 2 seconds of being able to send it from the home city.
:check_box_with_check: I understand my pre-defined goals in the transition period.
:check_box_with_check: I appropriately allocate my villagers to the relevant resources during transition period.
:check_box_with_check: I avoid ‘floating’ resources unless I am attempting to age up.
(I’m guessing this one means “I don’t keep an unused stockpile”)

Game planning & Build Order :scroll:

:check_box_with_check: I have researched a standard build order for the civilization I am playing.
:check_box_with_check: I have practiced this build order in a skirmish against the AI.
:check_box_with_check: I understand the goal of the build order and where I need to be flexible.
:check_box_with_check: I understand my win condition and have a plan on how to achieve it.
(I usually go with a semi ff, but I can prolong an age II until I’m comfortable to age up).

Civilization Specialization :triangular_flag:

:check_box_with_check: I know the optimal build order for land maps.
:check_box_with_check: I have a build order & plan prepared if the map is a water map.
:check_box_with_check: I have a build order & plan prepared if the map has 4 or more trading posts.
:check_box_with_check: I have a build order & plan prepared if my opponent will pressure me early.
:check_box_with_check: I understand which unit composition is optimal for my civilization.

Game Knowledge :clipboard:

:check_box_with_check: I can recognize what each civilization is, and understand the way in which it is likely to play.
:check_box_with_check: I can identify each unique unit from every civilization.
:check_box_with_check: I understand the importance of a complimentary unit composition.
:check_box_with_check: I can infer my opponents plan for the game by their civilization choice and their deck.

Contesting Water :sailboat:

:red_exclamation_mark: I know which civilizations are likely to attempt a water boom.
(This one escapes me, since 1/4 games are water based, still, I explore the shore lines for enemy docks)
:check_box_with_check: I routinely check the deck of my opponent to scout their water intentions.
:check_box_with_check: I understand the importance of establishing a multi-pronged water contest.
:check_box_with_check: I acknowledge that winning water doesn’t mean destroying the opponent’s entire fleet.
:check_box_with_check: I can pull back my ships before they die and heal them up at my docks.

Side note:

People should really start using culverins more often when fighting in water, they do SO MUCH DAMAGE.

Micromanagement :military_helmet:

:check_box_with_check: I understand basic unit counters.
:check_box_with_check: I understand how to “shoot and scoot” with ranged units (Kiting).
:check_box_with_check: I understand the importance of watching the fight and moving units if needed.
:red_exclamation_mark: I understand how to house dance.
(Not sure what this one refers to)
:check_box_with_check: I can zone my opponents’ units with my ranged units while sieging their buildings.
:check_box_with_check: (advanced) I am routinely able to perform a “pull trick”.
:check_box_with_check: I routinely use HOTKEYS and COMMAND GROUPS to manage my units and buildings

This is how I use command groups:

1 Heavy cavalry :horse:
2 Light cavalry :horse:
3 Heavy infantry :military_helmet:
4 Light infantry :military_helmet:
5 Siege or artillery unit :fire:
6 MISCELLANEOUS (Culverins, healers, scouts, spies…) :star:
7 Artillery foundry (Or embassy) :office_building:
8 Stables (Or Kallanka) :office_building:
9 Barracks (Or war hut) :office_building:

I also use hotkeys to select all idle military, all military, all military buildings, and more…

So… yeah, if you made it this far into the post, then below are 2 recordings, one where I won and 1 where I lost.
If anyone can get any hindsight on why I’m stuck in 1300 ELO, be sure to drop a comment.
Cheers.

Ranked 1v1 INCAvsCHINA WON.age3Yrec (10.0 MB)
Ranked 1v1 INCAvsBRIT LOST.age3Yrec (11.8 MB)

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Join the academy. For integrity.

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I haven’t watched the recs, but just from reading I’d say add a control to pull up your plaza. It’s very important with all the native civs and having it on attack when in a big fight, fertility when remassing, or xp/wood most of the remaining time is important.

You also probably don’t want to be flipping the dance over too early. If you switch to attack dance and start marching towards the enemy base you lost out on free stuff and gave them advanced warning (all players can see some dances).

Psychological tip: I’ve noticed sometimes the people who “gl hf” or “glhf” will play some kind of cheesy build or sometimes just a dirty build. I believe I’ve upped my defensiveness based on seeing it. Theoretically (if you want every possible advantage) you could use it as a bluff and go eco heavy or something. Inca can cheese too, which probably plays into the concern as well.

#notproadvice

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