Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery

The setup of Age of Empires III involves assembling the large, multi-part game board representing the New World and various action tracks. Each player receives a set of colored plastic miniatures including captains, missionaries, merchants, soldiers, and regular worker figures, along with plastic coins used as currency. Various tokens such as trade goods, discovery tiles, buildings, and scoring cards are sorted and placed on their designated areas of the board.

The primary objective of the game is to accumulate the highest number of victory points through exploration, colonization, and economic development. Players represent European colonial powers establishing influence in the Americas, competing for control over lucrative trade goods, strategic territories, and advanced buildings over the course of three distinct historical eras.

A game round is played across multiple detailed phases. First, players take turns placing their specialist figures onto action spaces on the board to determine turn order, acquire colonists, purchase trade goods, buy buildings, and explore new territories. Afterward, colonists are sent to the map to colonize regions or fight rival players for control. Finally, income is collected, new market goods and buildings are revealed, and the round tracker advances.

Scoring occurs at the end of each era and at the final game conclusion. Points are gained primarily through region dominance, where players holding the most figures in specific American territories earn major points. Additional points come from owning special building tiles, winning combat encounters, and fulfilling specific card objectives, rewarding players who successfully diversify their strategy.

The game officially ends upon the completion of the third era. All final scoring calculations are performed, incorporating remaining resources, building bonuses, regional majorities, and combat achievements. The player with the accumulated highest score wins.