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Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome

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Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome Expansion
center Box cover
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft
Release date: 1998
Genre: RTS expansion
Game modes: Single player, MP over IPX, TCP/IP, Modem or Microsoft Gaming Zone.
ESRB rating: Teen
Platform: Windows
Size: 1 CD
System requirements: P90 mhz CPU, 16MB RAM, 30 MB HD (plus 80MB from AoE)
Input: Keyboard, mouse
[[Image:AoEx screenshot.jpg center|Age of Empires screenshot]]

Rise Of Rome was the expansion of the 1997 award-winning RTS Age of Empires. As the name points out, it's based on the rise of the Roman empire. It featured a new architectural design, unit queuing, five new units (Armored elephants, Camel riders, Fire galleys, Scythe chariots and slingers), four new techonologies to be researched (Logistics, Martyrdom, Medicine and Tower shield) and four new civilizations (Carthage, Macedonia, Palmyra and Roman)

The expansion, however, is regarded much more lowly than AoE. Only one building design was added and it does not add notworthy features to gameplay. Larger maps were available, several parts of the interface were tweaked (such as unit queueing, using the Home key to cycle through recent events, balancing damage done by catapults. However, matchups between Egyptian and Macedonian were popular both online and single player. While egyptian priests are the most powerful in the game, Macedonian units were four times more resistant to conversion.

New units

  • Armored Elephant
The armored elephant is an upgrade to the existing War elephant. It had increased attack and armor, could trample nearby units and has a bonus against towers and walls, making it a good siege weapon.
  • Camel Rider
A completely new unit, the camel rider is essentially a defensive unit against cavalry and chariot attacks.
  • Fire Galley
Also a new unit, the fire galley is a defensive unit against other ships. It is a short range boat, armed with Greek fire that has bonus against most boats, but taking extended damage from Juggernaughts and Catapult triremes and ground siege weapons.
  • Scythe Chariot
An upgrade to the chariot, the Scythe Chariot has increased attck over priests and is highly resistant to conversion. It can also damage nearby units, which made the unit not recomendable while defending allied AI territory or in joint attacks, since after a certain damage was done, the AI would turn against the player
  • Slinger
The only new low-tech unit, the Slinger was a unit capable of disrupting archer lines and ballistas, as well as attcking enemy fortifications

New technologies

  • Logistics
Logistics reduced the barrack unit count by half, allowing the player to create a high number of foot units without passing the population limit
  • Martyrdom
By reasearching Martyrdom, priests could sacrifice themselves while converting enemy units. The target unit would be converted instantly
  • Medicine
Medicine increases priest healing rate
  • Tower Shield
The roman square shield decreased damage against Ballista and Helepolis and other missile weapons.

New civilizations

  • Cartaginian
Transport boats 30% faster
Fire Galley +25% attack
Academy Units and all elephant units +25% hit points
  • Macedonian
Academy units +2 armor vs. Slinger, Ballista, Helepolis, missile weapons
Units with no range +2 line of sight
Siege workshop units cost 50% less
Units 4 times more resistant to conversion
  • Palmyran
Free tribute
Gold per tarde trip doubled
villagers cost 50% more, have armor and work 20% faster
Camel riders 25% faster
  • Roman
Buildings cost 15% less, except towers, walls and wonders
Towers cost 50% less
Swordsmen attack 33% faster


official Microsoft site
official Ensemble Studios site