What are the biggest differences between AOE2:DE and AOE3:DE?

[Fetito Fazzito]

What are the biggest differences between AOE2:DE and AOE3:DE?

Thank you!

[mayosrojas]

There are several differences between both. First, the historical period they represent AOE 2 focuses in Middle Age (even a little bit earlier considering there are Goths and Huns) since here until the Renaissance, kind of. AOE 3 begins in Renaissance and goes aproximately until the end of XIX century.

AOE 2 has many more civs than AOE 3, but in the second one the civs are better differenced aesthetical and "mechanically" (specially talking about different cultural regions like Europe and Asia (in AOE 2 basic infantry and cavalry line looks exactly equal for all, for example).

Finally but not less important, the way to play each one of them is very different speaking about economy and battle. You may like one of them more than the other. That's about personal tastes I guess.

[themazingness]

AoE 2 civs are almost the same with small features/units that make them different. AoE 3 civs have larger differences but similarities by continent. AoE 3 civs tend to have more of their actual identity whereas 2 lacks that in favor of symmetry (most civs have petards even though that's a French thing and champions with claymores even though Aztecs and such wouldn't have those, but you get easier balance and an easier learning curve because civs are so similar in 2).

AoE 2's economy is basically gathering four resources you will run out of if you play long enough, trade being the exception. AoE 3's economy drops the stone resource leaving three of the four resources, but adds things like experience, export, and influence. Not only are you concerned with the basic 3, you need to gain map control of trading posts, level up and get home city shipments, etc. It makes for more complicated balance and strategy. Your scout/explorer isn't just responsible for finding resources and the enemy. They're responsible for finding treasure and trading posts as well. Where AoE 2's resources are finite excepting trade, AoE 3 has both finite and infinite resource options with pros and cons (infinite tending to be for later in the match).

AoE 2 has a larger fan base which means a lot more official and unofficial content than AoE 3 gets.

AoE 2 has historical campaigns. AoE 3 has story based campaigns. AoE 2 DLC adds more whereas AoE 3 DLC do not add more (though they sometimes add historical battles).

[Rhalius]

Other than what has been said already, AOE 2 also plays a lot slower. It takes a while to get going because there are no home shipments giving you extra resources, troops and al that.

But there is a way bigger population to play with, AOE2 DE has a population cap of 500, and no unit takes up more than 1 population.

On the other hand, ships and siege feel less signifigant in AOE2. It's cheaper and does less though of curse AOE3 using cannons also plays into it being more destructive.
These things cost more in AOE3 but also are stronger.

While fishing boats take up population, other ships in AOE3 do not and instead have their own cap, you can only build a limited number of each ship type.

[FloosWorld]

Originally posted by Rhalius:

Other than what has been said already, AOE 2 also plays a lot slower. It takes a while to get going because there are no home shipments giving you extra resources, troops and al that.

But there is a way bigger population to play with, AOE2 DE has a population cap of 500, and no unit takes up more than 1 population.

On the other hand, ships and siege feel less signifigant in AOE2. It's cheaper and does less though of curse AOE3 using cannons also plays into it being more destructive.
These things cost more in AOE3 but also are stronger.

While fishing boats take up population, other ships in AOE3 do not and instead have their own cap, you can only build a limited number of each ship type.

The first paragraph ofc only applies to Random Map because Empire Wars tackles the issue of being slow by starting the game with an already running economy in Feudal Age.