Age of Empires Online

When Age of Empires Online comes out next week, the real-time strategy part -- the actual missions and multiplayer matches -- will be familiar to most RTS players. But what won't be familiar is everything that happens in-between. The gear, the crafting, the leveling up, the cities, the tech tree, and so forth. So, to give you a taste of what you're in for, let me take you on a quick tour of Chickville, a bustling city in ancient Egypt that's halfway to the level cap.

To visit Chickville, you have to be on the same server as me. This is just one of the many ways Age of Empires Online resembles a massively multiplayer game like World of Warcraft. Once you get there, you'll realize that you don't have much incentive to visit, beyond checking out my decorations and trophies (which, at this point, consist of a statue of a warrior, a modest pyramid, and two cows). This is just one of the many ways Age of Empires Online resembles a social game like FarmVille. See where this is going?

My approach to urban planning is based on functionality. In the upper-left corner, I've clustered my resource production buildings -- sawmills, skinneries, smelters, and whatnot. I need to empty these into my inventory once a day so the overflow isn't wasted. These resources are used in crafting buildings to make the equivalent of, well, potions. I make these in my crafting buildings, shoved into in the upper-right corner. I'm cranking out a power that summons cows for food, and a power that summons a handful of cavalry units.

time. Like growing strawberries in FarmVille. Hmmmm, maybe I should stop playing for a while to let them build up...

However, I can't stop playing now, because I'm about to get armored elephants. I've had regular elephants for a while, having unlocked them on the tech tree by leveling up my city. But armored elephants are among the special units you only get by utilizing one of your four advisor slots. I found the armored elephant advisor for sale in Argos while I was looking for a hat for my villagers. But to get him, I need more Argos points. If you've ever done faction-grinding in an MMO, you know what I'm dealing with here: I'm currently beating my head against a difficult mission that I'm sure I can win next time. Maybe I should use my summoning powers. Or maybe I should try a different mission.

You might be wondering about the villager hats.

Make A Hat Craft - News


Age of Empires Online
Age of Empires Online

However, I can't remember where I saw the villager hat that makes them walk 4% faster, and like all the other gear I know how to craft at this point, the villagers hats I can make are woefully behind the power curve. I'm also looking for ebony planks.



Knitters connected to global community via their craft at Yarnies

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Anne Arundel Community College's clowning class is serious fun
Anne Arundel Community College's clowning class is serious fun

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Go Back-to-School with Cool Handmade Crafts

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August 12 - 16 Events Calendar

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Make A Hat Craft - Bookshelf

Craft Wisdom & Know-How, Everything You Need to Stitch, Sculpt, Bead and Build

Craft Wisdom & Know-How, Everything You Need to Stitch, Sculpt, Bead and Build

TO MAKE THE HAT BODY 1. Cut a piece of crepe paper as long as your hat band and ... this craft has seen an explosion in both popularity and new techniques. ...

Travel the globe, multicultural story times

Travel the globe, multicultural story times

Staple a 2-by- 18-inch strip of paper to the ends of the hat to make a headband. Sources for Craft Ideas and Activities Corwin, Judith Hoffman. ...

About.com Guide to Family Crafts, 150 Simple and Fun Projects Everyone Can Make Together

About.com Guide to Family Crafts, 150 Simple and Fun Projects Everyone Can Make Together

WHAT'S HOT ► Wizards are always popular with kids, so why not take some time to make a few wizard crafts? You can make the hat shared here, ...

Craft Lacing Mania

Craft Lacing Mania

Hat head You can make up the black and yellow stick man using the same ... Cut out circles from foam board, each 3.5cm (Vim) in diameter, to make the hat. ...

All New Crafts for Thanksgiving

All New Crafts for Thanksgiving

Make a hat from a folded rectangle of white paper. ... Use craft ribbon to make a headband. Tuck a craft feather in the headband. Decorate the boy with seed ...

Casual Report Directory


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A FELT HAT USING STANDARD FABRIC STORE CRAFT FELT
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Homemade Hats - Kids' Hat Crafts to Make | Family Fun
Discover tons of Fun Ideas for Hat Crafts for Kids. Find dozens of Clothing & Costume ... Create a cute reindeer hat for your child with this fun craft; another great idea from ...

Recycled Crafts: Microwave Dinner Tray to Flower Pillbox Hat ...
Make a pillbox hat with a recycled microwave dinner tray. My daughter went *crazy* over it, especially because she isn't allowed to touch my grandmother's ...