what would the game be like iffff.....

[howlingwolfpaw]

age 1 had fighting units like cross bows and pike? scout cav?

The original AOE had clubman.
just about every other RTS I can think of has age 1 fighting capabilities.
Why do you think the developers made the first age only for setting up what was to follow next?
Would that have made the game faster thus more entertaining/ competitive? like star craft.
Did they slow down the game too much? (like no one ever goes imperial in 1v1, (but in SC about half the games see most advanced units)

Not that I think AOE should be star craft I just use it as an example but I sometimes wonder why even have a discovery age when some civs can get through it much faster and have the advantage of being able to up their military first. I don't like seeing those 5 min rushes that win cause someone is trying to age but is trapped in TC unable to defend much.

[deleted_user]

It'd be totally lame

[howlingwolfpaw]

ok, why?

[deleted_user]

call it an intuition

[howlingwolfpaw]

it might be. but the question asked is how would the game change. maybe it would be awesome. no 10/10 type strats and better defense

[forgrin]

It'd be just like aoe2, nobody would use it. In fact, with shipments factored in, it'd be even more worthless.

[pecelot]

Drush is a go-to strat in AoC, though it's considered awesome when you manage to kill 1/2 vills and idle some. It's done on a much smaller scale than it would be in AoE3. In fact, it's already somewhat present with native warriors treasures available, and we all know what's the community response for that...

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[Omkar_Satapathy]

Game would have been much more intense. Since you will have to fear to be rushed from the beginning.

[momuuu]

Itd just leave out the first boring 5 minutes.

[Zhanson10]

i like it how it is. It gives you time to scout the map, potentially get a treasure advantage, start herding, and be greedy or rushy. It allows strategic variety that age 1 battles would destroy.