Kigenishi Mod in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
This page serves as a collection of information for the Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition mod that adds Kigenishi-themed content to the game. Most of the content currently being considered for the mod focuses on the island of Kigenishi during the Liberation Era.
For more information about Kigenishi, go here
For more information about Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, go here
Playable Civilizations
Majin
The “true people” of Kigenishi. The collapse of the unified Kingdom of Kigenishi has led to an era of conflict and division that has kept most Majin confined to Kigenishi, with warlords fighting amongst one another for control of the island. While a number of major nations have arisen in the last few centuries, war has become nearly constant.
Theme
The Majin are represented in Age of Empires III using the Japanese culture set and voice lines. Horses are rare to non-existent in Kigenishi, so they have access to shock infantry instead. Gunpowder is not available either, and so some weapons have been replaced or modified. (Some siege units are still classified as gunpowder units for gameplay purposes.)
Gameplay
The Majin have the following unique gameplay elements.
- Majin Villagers have more hitpoints and damage than the villagers of other civilizations. They may gather from any standard resource.
- The Majin explorer unit is the Shinobi, a mixture between the toughness of the European Explorer and utility of the Japanese Sohei Monk. The Majin only get one Shinobi, but it has more hitpoints than a Monk, does more damage, and automatically gains the Dodge and Sabotage abilities from aging up. The Shinobi can also stun guardians and use the smokebomb to return to the military gather point.
- The Majin age up by selecting a policy, using the “Politician” mechanic. Each age presents the same three policies, which may be selected regardless of prior choices.
- The Majin are capable of gathering Wood from Rice Paddies, at a low rate.
- The Majin build Keeps for housing and training military units. Similar to a Blockhouse, the Keep has a ranged attack to defend itself.
- The Majin build Shrines as a support building that provides some housing, gathers XP, and trains healers. Shrines do not attract animals.
- The Majin are capable of building the Teahouse, which functions similarly to the Native Embassy. This building provides a small amount of housing, gathers Coin, and may be used to train native units from minor civilizations.
- Unique Majin military units include: Ashigaru (ranged shock/light infantry), Soldiers/Hohei (ranged light infantry), Samurai (heavy hand infantry), Flame Launcher (siege), and the Kannushi (healer)
- Unique Majin warships include: Fune (light gather/combat ship) and Atakebune (heavy combat ship, trains infantry)
- Notable Home City Cards: Gekokujo (Ashigaru gain an attack bonus against heavy infantry), Uprising (Villager hitpoints and damage increased), Masterless Samurai (Samurai are cheaper and faster, but slightly weaker)
Nam-eun
The “remnant” of a fallen kingdom, a people of refugees that have fled their old home to arrive in “Guwon”, their salvation: the island of Kigenishi. As the descendants of outcasts and lowborn, the Nam-eun distrust any permanent authority held by mortal hands. Under the guidance of their Great Spirits, they instead elect “captains” to the different aspects of life in Guwon, replacing them often to prevent the abuse of power.
Theme
The Nam-eun are represented in Age of Empires III using the Japanese culture set, with the additions of some Chinese and Inca units and buildings. They are planned to speak using Korean voice lines. Horses are rare to non-existent in Kigenishi, so they have access to shock infantry instead. Gunpowder is not available either, and so some weapons have been replaced or modified. (Some siege units are still classified as gunpowder units for gameplay purposes.)
Gameplay
The Nam-eun have the following unique gameplay elements.
- Nam-eun Villagers may be trained from Villages. They may gather from any standard resource.
- The Nam-eun explorer unit is the Emissary, based on the Inca War Chief. They are a powerful melee explorer with high hitpoints and an aura that increases the hitpoints and damage of native units. They begin with the ability to convert human guardians, and through Home City shipments may also gain the ability to heal allied units, convert enemy units, and upgrade their aura to increase the hitpoints of all nearby allied units.
- The Nam-eun age up by appointing a new captain, using the “Native Council” mechanic. Previously selected captains cannot be chosen for later ages.
- The Nam-eun have access to the Community Plaza, allowing villagers or healers to provide certain effects to the civilization through ceremonies.
- The Nam-eun are capable of gathering Wood from Rice Paddies, at a low rate.
- The Nam-eun build Villages for housing and economic growth. Villages may train Villagers or cows (Yaks), and livestock may be tasked to Villages to fatten faster.
- The Nam-eun build Guard Posts for training infantry. Similar to a War Hut, the Guard Post has a ranged attack to defend itself.
- The Nam-eun may build the Steam Temple, a Minor Wonder that researches Market technologies and gathers resources over time.
- The Nam-eun may build the Aftcastle, a Minor Wonder that can trade resources and train siege units.
- The Nam-eun are capable of building the Teahouse, which functions similarly to the Native Embassy. This building provides a small amount of housing, gathers Coin, and may be used to train native units from minor civilizations.
- Unique Nam-eun military units include: Volunteer (weak ranged light infantry), Ranger (hand shock infantry), Marine (heavy ranged infantry), Flaming Stone (siege), and the Shaman (healer)
- Unique Nam-eun warships include: Beomseon (light gather/combat ship, trains infantry), Panokseon (heavy combat ship)
- Notable Home City Cards: Refugee Fleet (Beomseon can train villagers and provide housing), Guwon Day: Water Year (short timed boost to gather rate, repeatable), Compelling Words (Emissary can convert enemy units)
Minor Civilizations
Majin Pirates
A collection of pirates that raid the coasts of Kigenishi. They provide access to a raider that specializes in killing villagers in melee.
Available on: Rise of Kanekita
Historical Maps
Princess Osan Campaign
San’s Uprising
(story desc TBA)
A fast-paced King of the Hill-style map for two teams. Both teams seek to capture and hold the five villages on the map, and may only train new units from captured villages. Each team has access to specific Majin units, and train times are dramatically reduced to encourage quick massing of forces.
Rise of Kanekita
(story desc TBA)
An asymmetric map designed for two uneven teams. The map is divided by a lake, requiring naval control to achieve victory. The second team’s players are split to either side of the lake.
Kill the Past
(story desc TBA)
(WIP, names tentative) A thematic map designed for two teams. The second team may not ally with natives, but begins the game with a “Binding Temple” that may train special units. These units are the “Mind-slave” (weak and cheap, but very fast and cost no population) and the “Binding Priest” (expensive healers that can convert units). If a player’s Binding Temple is destroyed, it also kills all of their special units.
Founding of Guwon
Founding of Guwon
(story desc TBA)
(WIP) A thematic map designed for a single player against multiple opponents or a Tycoon match. The first team begins with only a few basic ships, villagers, and crates of wood. Everyone else has strict limits on economic units, but get a trickle of resources from their Town Center to encourage a focus on military growth. Native alliances are strongly encouraged for both sides with bonus resource trickles from Trading Posts.
Known Issues / WIP Notes
Note: In addition to what is written here, many aspects of the mod are under active development and may change over time.
- Numerous models, icons, and descriptions use placeholders
- In Historical Maps, some placeholder dialogue displays when story dialogue has not been implemented
- In San’s Uprising, AI players are not able to recognize the objective and will remain still
- In San’s Uprising, playing with more than 2 players will sometimes create incorrect starting positions
- Kill the Past exists as a file, but is not playable
- Some Nam-eun age-up captains do not have their associated bonuses implemented yet (High Shaman)
- Majin Pirates do not have a full set of native improvements
- Some units may have their names changed in the future
- Due to a bug in the base game, Kigenishi-themed treasures do not appear on Kigenishi maps