Sun Clan 5 - The realm remains split even if Cao Cao is killed

Age of Empires II: DE II - Report a Bug
1

:play_button: GAME INFORMATION

:backhand_index_pointing_down: These details are CRITICAL; DO NOT skip them or your issue may not be reviewed.

  • GAME BUILD 101.103.13286.0: #144358 18358599
  • GAME PLATFORM: Steam
  • OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 10

:play_button: ISSUE EXPERIENCED

:backhand_index_pointing_down: DESCRIBE THE ISSUE IN DETAIL (below). LIMIT TO ONE BUG PER THREAD.
If Cao Cao is killed in the final scenario of Sun Clan, the realm is still split into two: Cao Cao in the north, and Sun Quan in the south.

In Liu Bei 5, the player has the option to betray Sun Quan. If they don’t, Cao Cao escapes and the realm is split into 3 parts. If they do, Liu Bei manages to kill both Sun Quan, and Cao Cao, the han dynasty is restored and Liu Bei is the sole victor.

In Cao Cao 5, the player defeats both, Liu Bei and Sun Quan, and conquers the entire country.

In Sun Clan 5, Cao Cao usualy escapes the battlefield and the realm is split. If, however, Cao Cao is killed instead, the game does not recognise it in the outcome slides, and the realm is split anyway. This is, therefore, a disappointing ending and a 3k campaign finale - with Sun clan being the only faction unable to get rid of both opponents and become the most powerful warlords in China.

:play_button: FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

:backhand_index_pointing_down: How often does the issue occur? CHOSE ONE; DELETE THE REST!

  • 100% of the time / matches I play (ALWAYS)

:play_button: REPRODUCTION STEPS

:backhand_index_pointing_down: List CLEAR and DETAILED STEPS we can take to reproduce the issue ourselves… Be descriptive!

Here’s the steps to reproduce the issue:

  1. Start a scenario (Sun Clan 5)
  2. Play the scenario and avoid the northern area where Cao Cao is located in order not to spook him
  3. Defeat Liu Bei, Cao Cao’s vanguard, and destroy everything Cao Cao has except for 1 castle.
  4. Build 60 traction trebuchets and research Sitting Tiger: Traction Trebuchets and Lou Chuan trebuchet weapons fire additional projectiles.
  5. Position the traction trebuchets close to Cao Cao, more or less like in the picture, and 60 fire archers or a similar unit behind them.
  6. Attack Cao Cao’s elites so that they strike at you and die in the process.
  7. Save the scenario
  8. Either attack Cao Cao or attack ground at his position - with enough luck, he will die
  9. If not, reload the scenario and repeat step 9
  10. Finish the scenario

:play_button: EXPECTED RESULT

:backhand_index_pointing_down: What was SUPPOSED to happen if the bug you encountered were not present?
Cao Cao is supposed to die and Sun Quan is supposed to become the most powerful warlord in China, ruling over the entire country.

:play_button: IMAGE

:backhand_index_pointing_down: ALWAYS attach a PICTURE (.jpg, .png, .gif) or VIDEO (.mp4, YouTube link) that highlights the problem.

20EE55~1
20EE55~11920×1080 458 KB

:play_button: GAME FILES (SAVE / RECORDING)

:backhand_index_pointing_down: Attach a SAVE GAME (.aoe2spgame) or GAME RECORDING (.aoe2record) of the match where you encountered the issue. Link it below if using an external file service.
SP Replay v101.103.13286.0 @2025.05.17 043404.aoe2record (3.2 MB)
SUN_DEAD.aoe2spgame (3.1 MB)
SUN-CLAN_FINALE.aoe2spgame (3.1 MB)

The SUN_DEAD save file is a save file right when the trebuchet volley killed Cao Cao, SUN-CLAN_FINALE is a save file with traction trebuchets ready to fire. And the recording is the recording of a dead Cao Cao and finishing the scenario. I’d be much better if we were allowed to kill Cao Cao properly, instead of with a mass of 60 traction trebuchets, and if we got the appropriate slides mentioning the Sun Clan’s sole dominance. After all, the campaign is full of carry over decisions;)