Age of Empires II HD: The African Kingdoms Released!

We are also excited to announce some of the changes coming with the release of the African Kingdoms expansion. Learn more about them below.

AGE2: Patch: Version 4.4

African Kingdoms Expansion:

• The new expansion has been fully integrated into the game.
• The unified lobby has been expanded to support the new game options.
• Non-purchased campaigns/datasets are visible and link to Steam for purchase.
• New civilizations have been added to the multiplayer rotating civilization pool.
• New civilizations have been added to the History page.

Iconography:

• Campaign icons have been integrated throughout the game to show what expansion various options and items come from.
  • The red helmet represents Age of Kings.
  • The blue helmet represents The Conquerors.
  • The green helmet represents The Forgotten.
  • The yellow mask represents The African Kingdoms.
• Dataset icons have been integrated throughout the game to show what dataset is needed.
  • The single star represents the Original Game content.
  • The multi star represents the Expansion content.
• Various icon transparency issues have been fixed.

Game Setup:

• Lobby Browser Reset button now correctly resets Dataset back to Any.
• Selecting Spectator in the Lobby no longer locks out player colors.
• Selecting Custom AI now loads correctly.
• Tech Tree unit range is now correctly shown in the help text popup.
• Tech Tree Imperial Camel unit now correctly shows for the Indians.
• Tech Tree Dock units now correctly line up with their upgrades.
• Loading screens now display game setup information.

Options:

• Hot keys have been updated to include new units and Palisade Gates.
• Hot keys should now be showing up correctly and not as question marks.
• Hot keys should now be saving correctly when changed.
• Music/Master volumes no longer alter your PCs mixer setting.
• Full Screen Desktop option now updates correctly when selected.
• Record Campaign Games is now an option.

Editor:

• DLC options are now selectable when creating a scenario.
• Units, triggers and terrain filter appropriately based on DLC options.
• Testing a scenario no longer records a replay.
• Scenario Details have been added to the Save Scenario Screen.
• Campaign Editor Screen has been updated with UI improvements.
• Campaign Editor now correctly displays the scenarios within a Campaign.

Localization:

• Many missing strings have been added across all languages.
• Various cut off issues have been fixed by shortening strings or increasing the text field.
• Some grammar, spelling and formatting issues have been fixed.

General:

• In game Help text should now be displayed correctly for all units.
• In game modded taunts are now correctly displayed in the chat window.
• In game Diplomacy help cursor now functions correctly.
• In game the Chinese civilization now correctly starts with 6 villagers.
• Completing a Campaign scenario now correctly returns to the Scenario Selection screen.
• Restarting a Replay now functions correctly.
• Deleting a Saved Game or Replay no longer selects the top entry.
• Game Details have been added to the Load Saved Game Screen.
• Game Launcher should now function correctly for Windows 10.
• Script error reporting for RMS has been improved.
• 1000 win achievements have been removed.
• Pre-order achievement has been expanded to include early adopting so purchasing either expansion with in the firstfew weeks of launch grants theachievement.

Balance Improvements:

• Franks:
  • Knights +20% HP changed to Cavalry +20% HP.
  • (Elite) Throwing Axeman +0.1 speed.

• Huns:
  • Cavalry Archers cost -10% Castle Age/-20% Imperial Age (instead of -25%/-30%).
  • Marauders cost changed from 500f/200g to 300w/200g.

• Incas:
  • Couriers now gives +1/+2 armor instead of +10% movement speed.
  • Receive Keep.
  • Receive Guilds.
  • Receive Block Printing.
  • Receive Thumb Ring.
  • Slingers no longer require castle.

• Indians:
  • Villagers cost -10% Dark, -15% Feudal, -20% Castle, -25% Imperial Age (5% extra per age).
  • Receive Guilds.
  • Receive Ring Archer Armor.
  • Elephant Archer +30 HP.
  • Elite Elephant Archer -20 HP.
  • (Elite) Elephant Archer -1 pierce armor.
  • (Elite) Elephant Archer -10 food (now costs 100 food, 80 gold).

• Italians:
  • Condottiero no longer require castle.
  • Condottiero +1 attack, +0.2 speed.
  • Receive Hussars.
  • Pavise now affects all Foot Archers (instead of just Genoese Crossbowmen).
  • Pavise cost changed from 550f/300g to 300f/150g.
  • Advancing to the next age 15% cheaper (instead of 10%).

• Japanese:
  • Yasama cost changed from 400w/300f to 300w/300f.

• Koreans:
  • Turtle ship no longer requires Castle.
  • Panokseon cost changed from 400w/400f to 300w/300f.

• Mayans:
  • Obsidian Arrows now do +6 damage instead of +4.
  • Resources lasting longer reduced from 20% to 15%.

• Slavs:
  • Farming rate fixed to 1.31 rather than 1.18. Actual farming rate is now at +15% (+15% after wheelbarrow, +5% afterhandcart).

• Spanish:
  • Missionaries no longer require castle.
  • Inquisition cost changed from 400f/400g to 300g/100f.

• Teutons:
  • Ironclad cost changed from 500w/350g to 400w/350g.

• Vikings:
  • Longboats no longer require castle.
  • Longboat cost restored to 100w, 50g (original AoC cost).
  • Chieftains cost changed from 700f/400g to 400f/300g and effect +1 bonus attack.

• Overall:
  • Eagle warrior upgrade cost changed from 300f/200g to 200f/200g.
  • Eagle warrior speed from 1.1 to 1.2 (Eagle Scout is 1.1, Elite Eagle Warrior is 1.3).
  • Eagle Scout available from the Feudal Age.
  • Fire Galleys and Demolition rafts newly added to the Feudal Age.
  • Siege Towers newly added to the Castle Age.
  • Banking and Coinage research time increased from 50s to 70s.
  • Banking cost increased from 200f/100g to 300f/200g.
  • Coinage cost increased from 150f/50g to 200f/100g.
  • Cavalry Archer cost reduced to 40w/60g.
  • Trade Cogs carry +30% more per trip.
  • Transport ships can carry herdable animals.
  • Fire ships +1 armor/+1 ship armor.
  • Fast Fire ships +1 armor/+2 ship armor.
  • Scorpion projectile size increased (fixes their lack of pass-through damage).
  • Camels are no longer classified as ships.