Line #137 Characters/AgeOfEmpiresI


1	[[WMG:[[center:''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresII'' [[Characters/AgeOfEmpiresII Character sheets]]\
2	[-'''Civilizations:''' ''[[Characters/AgeOfEmpiresIIOriginalCivilizations Age of Kings/The Conquerors]]'' \| ''[[Characters/AgeOfEmpiresIIHDEditionCivilizations HD Edition]]'' \| ''[[Characters/AgeOfEmpiresIIDefinitiveEditionCivilizations Definitive Edition]]'' \| '''Return to Rome ([=AoE1=])'''\
3	'''Campaigns:''' ''[[Characters/AgeOfEmpiresIIOriginal Age of Kings/The Conquerors]]'' \| ''[[Characters/AgeOfEmpiresIIHDEdition HD Edition]]'' \| ''[[Characters/AgeOfEmpiresIIDefinitiveEdition Definitive Edition]]''\
4	'''[[Characters/AgeOfEmpiresIIUnits Non-Unique Units]]''' -]]]]]
5	Civilizations from ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresI'' and its ExpansionPack ''Rise of Rome'', as well as ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresII Definitive Edition: Return to Rome''.
6	----
7	[[foldercontrol]]
8
9	!Civilizations
10	!! Main game
11	[[folder:Assyrians]]
12	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_689.png]]
13
14	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Archer and Siege Civilization
15	-> '''Tileset:''' Egyptian
16	-> '''Bonuses:'''
17	--> Archer unit fire rate +11%/+22%/+33% in Tool/Bronze/Iron age.
18	--> Villager movement speed +10%.
19	--> (''Return to Rome'') Siege unit upgrades cost -50%
20	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Siege Workshop works 20% faster.
21	The Assyrian Empire was a kingdom in the Mesopotamian region.
22	----
23
24	* ACommanderIsYou:
25	** '''Unit Specialist:''' Siege and Priests.
26	*** '''Siege:''' They have a full Siege Workshop roster, these work 80% faster as a team bonus, and their Siege unit upgrades cost -50%. They only lack the ability to build Catapult Triremes.
27	*** '''Priests:''' They have a full Temple tech roster.
28	** '''Economist:''' Their Villagers move +10% faster, and they have a full Market roster.
29	** '''Research:''' Their Siege unit upgrades cost -50%.
30	* CripplingOverspecialization: They have a Siege focus, which comes at the expense of almost everything else:
31	** Their Infantry lines lack all Shield upgrades, they cannot train Slingers, and their Hoplites are quite weak, not being able to be upgraded into Phalangites nor getting the benefits of Aristocracy.
32	** Despite being classified as an Archer civilization and having a reload bonus, they cannot train anything outside Bowmen, Chariot Archers and Horse Archers. They can't even upgrade the latter to Heavy Horse Archers.
33	** In the Cavalry side they cannot research Nobility (and, as a result, they can't upgrade Chariots into Scythe Chariots), nor train War Elephants.
34	* BalanceBuff: They were given Heavy Transport, Engineering and Chain Mail in ''Definitive Edition''. Update 46777 gave them also Alchemy.
35	* CrutchCharacter:
36	** Strong in early ages due to their faster villager speed, allowing them to reach Tool Age sooner than most civs, compounded by a firing rate bonus on their archers (Bowmen in Tool, Chariot Archers in Bronze) which makes them devastating in standard Random Map games. Their abysmal Government Center and Storage Pit at Iron Age serevely cripple them if the enemy survives their rushes.
37	** ''Definitive Edition'' gave them back the final armor upgrades and Engineering, bringing them closer to JackOfAllStats thanks to their already complete Swordsman line and Siege Workshop.
38	* {{Nerf}}: In the original ''[=AoE=]'' their villagers used to have +36% movement speed. ''Rise of Rome'' halved it, and ''Definitive Edition'' set it at 10%.
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Babylonians]]
42	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_336.png]]
43
44	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Defensive civilization
45	-> '''Tileset:''' Babylonian
46	-> '''Bonuses:'''
47	--> Wall and Tower HP +60%
48	--> Stone Miner workrate speed +20%, stone carrying +2
49	--> Priest rejuvenation speed +30%.
50	--> Market technology cost -30%.
51	--> (''Return to Rome'') Chariots +1 pierce armor.
52	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR'')''' Builders work 40% faster
53	----
54	* BalanceBuff: In order to make up for all the nerfs they received, ''Definitive Edition'' gave them Metallurgy and Heavy Transport, with update 46777 giving them also Chain Mail Armor.
55	* JackOfAllTrades: Have almost every units but no distinctive advantages, stone mining bonus is not really useful in competitive matches since no one uses towers or walls.
56	* {{Nerf}}: ''Definitive Edition'' hit them with the Nerf bat really hard:
57	** Their Walls and Towers used to have doubled HP. ''DE'' reduced the benefit to +75%, and update 38862 reduced it further to +60%.
58	** Their Stone Miners used to work 44% faster and carry +3 stone. ''DE'' reduced the working rate speed to +20% and the stone carrying to +2.
59	** Their Priests used to rejuvenate 50% faster. In ''DE'' the benefit was reduced to +30%.
60	* ReducedResourceCost: Their Market techs cost -50% since ''Definitive Edition'' update 38862.
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Choson]]
64	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_666.png]]
65
66	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Infantry and Tower civilization
67	-> '''Tileset:''' East Asian
68	-> '''Bonuses:'''
69	--> Axeman/Short/Broad/Long Swordsman and Legion units HP +5/+15/+20/+60/+80.
70	--> Tower range +2.
71	--> Priest cost -30%.
72	--> Storage Pit technology cost -40%.
73	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Buildings +2 line of sight
74	An ancient Korean kingdom.
75	----
76	* OddNameOut: Like all East Asian civilizations in the original game, Choson is named after a state or ruling dynasty rather than the people or culture. In this case, it's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gojoseon Gojoseon]] or Ancient Choson, a Korean kingdom that existed until 108 BC.
77	* ReducedResourceCost: Their Storage Pit techs cost -40% since ''Definitive Edition'' update 38862. Their Priests cost -32% (though the Changelog states -30%).
78	* ZergRush: Their motto in death match games, [[WeHaveReserves involving swarms of]] [[LightningBruiser fully-upgraded, bulky Legions]].
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Egyptians]]
82	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_479.png]]
83
84	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Chariot and Priest civilization
85	-> '''Tileset:''' Egyptian
86	-> '''Bonuses:'''
87	--> Gold Miner workrate speed +20%, gold carrying +2.
88	--> Chariot unit HP +33%.
89	--> Priest range +2/+3 in Bronze/Iron Ages (+3 pre-''RTR'').
90	--> Farm cost -20%.
91	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Priests +1 pierce armor.
92	----
93	* CripplingOverspecialization: They can't upgrade almost any land unit outside of Chariots and Priests.
94	* ReducedResourceCost: Their Farms cost -20%.
95	* SkillGateCharacters: Their tech tree isn't complicated and they're pretty easy to play. They're even playable in the tutorial campaign. [[note]]Assyrians are preferred for Chariot rushes, due to their economic bonus.[[/note]]
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Greeks]]
99	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_616.png]]
100
101	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Infantry and Naval civilization
102	-> '''Tileset:''' Greek
103	-> '''Bonuses:'''
104	--> Academy unit movement speed 30%, cost -20%.
105	--> Naval unit movement speed +20%.
106	--> Town Center working rate +10% from Tool Age onwards.
107	--> (''Return to Rome'') Polytheism and Astrology free (requires Temple).
108	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Market cost -50%.
109	----
110	* LightningBruiser: Their Hoplites, which are almost faster than other foot units before Aristocracy.
111	* MagikarpPower: With the worst Archery Range in the game (they can't train anyone else than the ''Tool Age'' Bowman), expect them to only pull off Cavalry and Hoplite assaults before the Iron Age. Their average (read: mediocre) Tool and Bronze Age times seal their fate in Random Map mode. Even when rushing with Hoplites, [[OvershadowedByAwesome Macedonians are better]].
112	* ReducedResourceCost: Their Academy units cost -20% in ''Definitive Edition''.
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Hittites]]
116	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_114.png]]
117
118	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Archer and Siege civilization
119	-> '''Tileset:''' Babylonian (original), Egyptian (''Return to Rome'')
120	-> '''Bonuses:'''
121	--> Archer unit attack +1.
122	--> Stone Thrower line HP +50%.
123	--> War Ships (except Fire Galley) range +1/+2/+3 in Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
124	--> (''Return to Rome'') Wheel cost and research time -50%.
125	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Towers provide +4 population.
126	----
127	* MasterOfAll: Before the Definitive Edition, where they had fully-upgraded Centurions, Chariot Archers and Heavy Horse Archers (with bonus), Scythe Chariots, Armored Elephants, Heavy Catapults (with bonus), walls and towers. They could also research all technologies in the game apart from the ones at the Temple not named Astrology. They now have frailer buildings, worse Farms and can no longer train Centurions.
128	[[/folder]]
129
130	[[folder:Minoans]]
131	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_516.png]]
132
133	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Archer and Naval civilization
134	-> '''Tileset:''' Greek
135	-> '''Bonuses:'''
136	--> Naval unit cost -15/20/25/30%.
137	--> Improved Bowman and Composite Bowman range +1/+2 in Bronze/Iron Age.
138	--> (''Age of Empires'' and ''Rise of Rome'') Farm food +60.
139	--> (''Return to Rome'') Farmer workrate +10% faster.
140	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Docks cost -20%.
141	----
142
143	* AttackAttackAttack: Can't upgrade their walls and towers at the Iron Age.
144	* ReducedResourceCost: Their ships cost -30%.
145	[[/folder]]
146
147	[[folder:Persians]]
148	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_137.png]]
149
150	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Elephant and Naval civilization
151	-> '''Tileset:''' Babylonian
152	-> '''Bonuses:'''
153	--> Elephant unit movement speed +25%.
154	--> Hunter workrate speed +30%, food carrying +3.
155	--> Cannot build Academy.
156	--> (''Age of Empires'' and ''Rise of Rome'') Trireme reload time -25%.
157	--> (''Return to Rome'') Scout Ship line fires 15%/20%/25% faster in Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
158	--> (''Return to Rome'') Wall cost -20%.
159	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Stables work +20% faster.
160	----
161	* AncientPersia: They use the West Asian architecture set, shared with the Babylonians and the Hittites. Their Triremes fire 25% faster, their WarElephants and Elephant Archers move 25% faster, and their Hunters work 30% faster and carry +3 food units. As for their tech tree, they're missing the whole Hoplite/Phalanx/Centurion infantry line, the Chariot Archer, the Chariot/Scythe Chariot cavalry unit, the Ballista/Helepolis siege unit, and the Fire Galley. In addition, they have a complete Temple tech roster (which includes techs such as Mysticism, Astrology, and Sacrifice), and their Wonder is the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggurat_of_Ur Ziggurat of Ur]], the same as the Babylonians and Hittites get.
162	* BornInTheSaddle: Outside of Chariots, their Stable units are all available and fully upgradable.
163	* MagikarpPower: Playing with the Persians is tough in Random Map games, despite their hunting bonus. This is due to their abysmal Market which only provides techs at the Tool Age, preventing them from developing their economy from the Bronze Age onwards, improving archer range (Artisanship and Craftmanship) and training the gold-free Chariots (Wheel). If they reach Iron Age unscathed, their fast Elephants will then wreak havoc on their opponents. They also have full Barracks, Archery Range (with no Ballistics nor good range though), Stable (outside of Chariots), Temple and fast-firing Triremes (with the same problems as with archers).
164	** They have a much better Market in the Definitive Edition with Artisanship, Wheel, and Coinage gained back, allowing them to fare better in random maps.
165	* WarElephants: The Persian ones have a buffed moving speed.
166	[[/folder]]
167
168	[[folder:Phoenicians]]
169	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_0576.png]]
170
171	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Elephant and Naval civilization
172	-> '''Tileset:''' Greek
173	-> '''Bonuses:'''
174	--> Elephant unit cost -25%.
175	--> Woodcutter workrate speed +15%, wood carrying +2.
176	--> Catapult Trireme/Juggernaught have -30% reload time.
177	--> (''Return to Rome'') Docks +150 HP, +4 LOS.
178	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Archers +2 LOS.
179	----
180	* ReducedResourceCost: Their Elephants cost -25%.
181	[[/folder]]
182
183	[[folder:Shang]]
184	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_331.png]]
185
186	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Economy and Cavalry civilization
187	-> '''Tileset:''' East Asian
188	-> '''Bonuses:'''
189	--> Villager food cost set in 40.
190	--> Food starting amount: -40.
191	--> Wall HP +60%.
192	--> (''Return to Rome'') Cavalry-line attacks 10% faster.
193	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Town Centers provide +4 population room.
194	One of the dynasties of China.
195	----
196	* AnachronismStew: In some versions of the Yamato campaign, the Shang are used as stand-ins for the Tang Dynasty, in spite of the 2000-year time difference between the two dynasties.
197	* BreakoutCharacter: Looks underwhelming at first but in professional tournaments they're considered top tier civs due to low cost of villager makes them reach Bronze Age very fast and quickly swarms Chariot Archers. They also have all units in Archery Range and Stable, making switching between shooting style (mostly archers), slashing style (mostly horse cavalries) or mixing (cavalry/archer) quite easy. 1v1 Shang or 2v2 Shang are common formats in amateur leagues.
198	* JackOfAllTrades: They have almost every units except Elephant, allowing a versatile gameplay. However, their units don't have useful bonuses like other civs.
199	* NecessaryDrawback: Their lower food cost for their villagers is compensated with a food unit penalty at the start of a new match.
200	* OddNameOut: Like all East Asian civilizations in the original game, Shang is named after a state or ruling dynasty rather than the people or culture. In this case, it's the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty Shang dynasty]], a Chinese dynasty that lasted until 1045 BC. Many of the AI names however are anachronistic and were not Shang rulers.
201	* ReducedResourceCost: Villagers cost 40 food rather than 50. As a countermeasure, they start the game with -40 food.
202	[[/folder]]
203
204	[[folder:Sumerians]]
205	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_554.png]]
206
207	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Economy and Siege civilization
208	-> '''Tileset:''' Egyptian (original), Babylonian (''Return to Rome'')
209	-> '''Bonuses:'''
210	--> Villager HP +15.
211	--> Stone Thrower line reload time -30%.
212	--> Farm food +125.
213	--> (''Return to Rome'') Camels +1P Armor.
214	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Town Centers cost -25%.
215	----
216	* BadassBystander: Their villagers have as many HP as Clubmen.
217	[[/folder]]
218
219	[[folder:Yamato]]
220	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_2626.png]]
221
222	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Cavalry and Naval civilization
223	-> '''Tileset:''' East Asian
224	-> '''Bonuses:'''
225	--> Naval unit HP +10/15/20/25%.
226	--> Cavalry unit and Horse Archer cost -15%.
227	--> (''Age of Empires'' and ''Rise of Rome'') Villager movement speed +10%.
228	--> (''Return to Rome'') Fishing boats work 20% faster.
229	--> (''Return to Rome'') Stable and Archery Range upgrades cost -30%.
230	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Stables and Archery Ranges cost -33% wood.
231	The ancient Japanese kingdom.
232	----
233	* AchillesHeel: Vulnerable to any civ with the Camel Rider, as they rely on cavalry to succeed.
234	* AttackAttackAttack: Can't upgrade their walls and towers at the Iron Age.
235	* BornInTheSaddle: Cheaper and fully upgradable horse units, [[PoorPredictableRock but they can't create other kinds of mounted units]].
236	* CrutchCharacter: Excellent early ages due to their vlllager bonus and can pull off Cavalry rushes with Composite Bowman support at the Bronze Age.
237	* OddNameOut: Like all East Asian civilizations in the original game, Yamato is named after a state or ruling dynasty rather than the people or culture. In this case, it's the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_House_of_Japan Imperial House of Japan]] or Yamato dynasty, the current royal family of Japan and one of the oldest monarchies in the world. Downplayed, however, as Yamato is also another name for Japan, and for the main ethnic group of Japan.
238	* ReducedResourceCost: All Cavalry units as well as the Archery Range's Horse Archer cost -15%. It used to be originally -30%, then ''Rise of Rome'' reduced the bonus to -25%, then ''Definitive Edition'' reduced it further to -20% before update 28862 settled in -15%.
239	[[/folder]]
240
241	!! ''Rise of Rome''
242	[[folder:Carthaginians]]
243	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_470.png]]
244
245	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Elephant, Camel and Naval civilization
246	-> '''Tileset:''' Roman
247	-> '''Bonuses:'''
248	--> Resource starting amount: +50 of each.
249	--> Elephant and Academy unit HP +25%.
250	--> Camel Rider HP +15%.
251	--> Fire Galley attack +25%.
252	--> Transport Ship movement speed +25%.
253	--> (''Return to Rome'') Nobility free (requires Government Center).
254	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Academies work 20% faster.
255	----
256	* MightyGlacier: Their Academy and Elephant units are bulkier.
257	* WarElephants: With higher HP than usual.
258	[[/folder]]
259
260	[[folder:Macedonians]]
261	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_630.png]]
262
263	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Infantry civilization
264	-> '''Tileset:''' Roman
265	-> '''Bonuses:'''
266	--> Academy unit pierce armor +1 (Bronze Age)/+2 (Iron Age).
267	--> Siege Workshop unit cost -25%.
268	--> Unit conversion resistance rate +400%.
269	--> Cannot build Temples.
270	--> (''Age of Empires'' and ''Rise of Rome'') Melee unit LOS +2.
271	--> (''Return to Rome'') All non-ranged units +2 LOS.
272	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Houses +50 HP.
273	----
274	* DiscardAndDraw: All their units and buildings gain huge conversion resistance to compensate the inability to build Temples and Priests.
275	* MightyGlacier: Their signature Hoplite and Stone Thrower rush in the Bronze Age. Both units are slow, powerful and benefit from a bonus.
276	* ReducedResourceCost: Their Siege Workshop units cost -25%. It used to be -50% prior to ''Definitive Edition''.
277	* ScissorsCutsRock: The Hoplites' better pierce armor and conversion resistance allow them to take down their traditional counters (respectively archers and Priests).
278	[[/folder]]
279
280	[[folder:Palmyrans]]
281	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_8568.png]]
282
283	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Camel and Trade civilization
284	-> '''Tileset:''' Roman
285	-> '''Bonuses:'''
286	--> Villager workrate speed +25%, melee armor +1, pierce armor +1, food cost: 75.
287	--> Food starting amount: +75.
288	--> Camel Rider movement speed +25%.
289	--> Free Tributes.
290	--> (''Age of Empires'' and ''Rise of Rome'') Trade Ship gold generation +100%.
291	--> (''Return to Rome'') Trade units return +20% gold.
292	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Techs researched 30% faster.
293	----
294	* ConfusionFu: Can create several types of units, but they tend to always miss a technology or two.
295	* DifficultButAwesome: Most prospective Palmyran players are put off playing them because of the higher villager cost. They are however more efficient workers (builders and repairers are also affected in the Definitive Edition) and they are more resistant to attacks. Getting used to these changes is hard, but it pays off thanks to their wide choice of military units. [[CrutchCharacter They miss quite a large number of technologies in the Iron Age, though.]]
296	* ReducedResourceCost: They receive the benefits of the Coinage tech (makes Tributes tax-free) for free.
297	[[/folder]]
298
299	[[folder:Romans]]
300	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_6849.png]]
301
302	-> '''Classification (''RTR''):''' Infantry civilization
303	-> '''Tileset:''' Roman
304	-> '''Bonuses:'''
305	--> General building cost -10% (except Towers, Walls, and Wonder).
306	--> Tower cost -40%.
307	--> Swordsman attack reloading time -33%.
308	--> (''Return to Rome'') Ballista line +1 range.
309	-> '''Team Bonus (''RTR''):''' Priests +50% heal speed.
310	----
311	* CloseRangeCombatant: They have strong infantry and cavalry units, with their Legions being the strongest in the game. Quite fitting, indeed.
312	* ReducedResourceCost:
313	** Their Buildings cost -10%. It used to be -15% before ''Definitive Edition''[='=]s Content Update 9.
314	** Their Towers cost -40%. It used to be -50% prior to ''Definitive Edition'' update 38862.
315	[[/folder]]
316
317	!! Introduced in ''Age of Empires II Definitive Edition: Return to Rome''
318
319	[[folder:Lac Viet]]
320	[[quoteright:104:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest_075.png]]
321
322	-> '''Classification:''' Archer civilization
323	-> '''Tileset:''' East Asian
324	-> '''Bonuses:'''
325	--> Foragers work 15% faster.
326	--> Military Units created 25% faster.
327	--> Ballistae and Archery Range units +2 armor.
328	-> '''Team Bonus:''' Houses and farms built 50% faster.
329	----
330	* AnachronismStew: The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%E1%BA%A1c_Vi%E1%BB%87t Lac Viet]] people in real life were various Austroasiatic peoples which inhabited ancient Vietnam. However they use the Chinese influenced, East Asian architecture set. The region wasn't Sinicized until the Nam Viet/Nanyue kingdom, founded in 204 BC.
331	[[/folder]]
332
333	! ''Return of Rome'' Campaigns
334	!!Sargon of Akkad (Sumerians)
335	[[folder:Sargon]]
336	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sargon_of_akkad_aoe.png]]
337	Leader of the Sumerians, who believes he is destined for greatness after receiving a dream from Ishtar, the goddess of war.
338	----
339	* AGodAmI: Begins to develop delusions of divinity as the campaign progresses, leading to the narrator, who had once spared Sargon, assassinating him when he refuses to end his conquests.
340	* CoolMask: As his empire grows and he becomes more and more certain of his godhood, Sargon starts wearing a sculpted [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_of_Akkad#/media/File%3ASargon_of_Akkad_(1936).jpg metal mask.]]
341	* FromNobodyToNightmare: Rose from being a simple cupbearer to the ruler of the first empire in history, and his ambitions only grew from there.
342	* MysteriousPast: His exact origins are largely unknown, with some believing he descended from the heavens, and others, that he was an orphan who was found in a basket, or that he was the son of a priestess who'd [[MysticalPregnancy never lain with a man]]. The only response Sargon ever gives, was to smile at the rumors, being only interested in his future.
343	* SanitySlippage: At first Sargon belives he's enacting a prophetic dream from Ishtar and rules fairly, but by the end of his life Sargon is convived that he's a PhysicalGod, and taxes and mistreat's his citizens so badly that they are in open revolt.
344	[[/folder]]
345
346
347	!!Pyrrhus of Epirus (Macedonians)
348	[[folder:Pyrrhus]]
349	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pyrrhus_of_epirus_aoe.png]]
350	Leader of the Macedonians, an ambitious Greek king fated to endure great difficulty.
351	----
352	* BloodKnight: Pyrrhus's lust for battle is the cause of many of his problems.
353	--> '''(Intro to "Pyrrhic Victories"):''' ''Pyrrhus now neither had enemies to fight, nor pressing disputes to manage. It was the first period of prolonged peace that he had experienced in many years, and he hated every minute of it. Men like him are built for war, and they start to break down come peacetime. Pyrrhus was looking for any excuse to rally his men again.''
354	* {{Determinator}}: To his credit, Pyrrhus refused to give up no matter how many frustrating setbacks he faced.
355	* IJustWantToBeSpecial:
356	** In the intro to "A Second Alexander", Pyrrhus tells Cineas that the one thing that makes life worth living is the legacy left behind.
357	--> ''"For him, carving a legacy is the one thing that truly gives life meaning. He says, 'a man must fight unrelentingly to become stronger than all others, until he finds himself alone on the throne of the world - just as Alexander did."''
358	** After his defeat at the end of "Sisyphus", he tells Cineas that despite the odds placed on him, [[{{Determinator}} he refuses to give up]]:
359	--> '''Pyrrhus:''' ''Perhaps it is pointless in the end, and perhaps I will die before achieving what I set out to do. It does not matter. If you give up on your ambitions, then you might as well be dead — for you are already dead inside.''
360	* PyrrhicVictory: The UrExample. While he earned many victories they'd often cost him in the long run, especially those won against the Romans.
361	[[/folder]]
362
363	!! UsefulNotes/{{Trajan}} (Rome)
364	[[folder:Trajan]]
365	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/trajan_aoe.png]]
366	Leader of the Romans, who with his cousin UsefulNotes/{{Hadrian}}, seeks to bring Rome out of turmoil.
367	----
368	* CrazyPrepared: In the outro to "Roman Repute", Trajan orders his best architects to build a bridge on the Danube River. That way, if Dacebalus shows hints of treachery, Trajan will have a direct route onto his kingdom.
369	* MarriedToTheJob: Though HappilyMarried to his wife, Trajan never sired any children, viewing the empire itself as his family.
370	* MyCountryRightOrWrong: In the intro to "Legates and Legions", Trajan mentions that the soldier's blood is the rich men's currency, however, as a Legionnaire, he must answer Rome's call.
371	* ThePeterPrinciple: Averted as he realized from the example of Emperor's past, that running an empire requires delegation.
372	* ToughActToFollow: While otherwise content, on his deathbed Trajan worries this of himself. That the strong precedent he set will cause emperor's after him to aim for similar acts of greatness, and this may one day lead to Rome's downfall should their reach exceed their grasp.
373	* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Discussed by Trajan himself in his deathbed. He wonders, after leaving a bar too highly raised, if he's Rome's savior or its doom-bringer.
374	--> ''"Yet, at the same time, doubt and dread gnaw at me. Now that I have raised the bar, others will try and match it and their vain ambition, conceit, and impossible expectations could drag Rome towards the same familiar decline from which I rescued it. Was I Rome's savior, or its doom?"''
375	* WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility: Trajan knows very well that leading an empire like Rome requires a lot of responsability, something he makes clear in the intro to "Roman Repute".
376	* WorthyOpponent: Viewed the Parthian ruler Osroes as such, recognizing much of himself in the man, and how easily his own fortune may have turned had he suffered the same setbacks Osroes did in his war effort.
377
378	[[/folder]]

Context Characters / AgeOfEmpiresI