Map Data Features

Human and Computer Driven Players and Opponents

The number of possible opponents in a game is currently limited to the physical constraints of the computer the game is run on. These opponents can be any number of human and computer driver players. Opponents may be individually restricted in regards to what units they will be able to build and produce.

Solitaire Player - Empire Deluxe Enhanced Edition allows a greater number of computer opponents to play with you, or you can set up only computer opponents and watch them duke it out.

Email Features - Players are able to play games against other human players in an email game style, already commonly used with previous versions. Email play will be secure, and can be changed to a different play style if the need arises.

Network Play - Network play is easily facilitated and secure, with the ability to advertise your game for other players to see if more human opponents are desired. In long games, players will be able to log in and out of the game.

Computer Opponents - Empire Deluxe Enhanced Edition is truly taking a bold step where most strategy games dare not go by opening up its Artificial Intelligence players with an exposed programmable API for other players to build their own competition. If programming is not your thing and you don't have a tech-geek friend to team up with, some of the computer opponents will support scripts that can be adjusted to change the behavior of the computer opponents.

Additional Victory Conditions

Every game in the Empire series so far has mainly been focused on one road to victory: The complete surrender or annihilation of all of your opponents. While this is truly a noble goal, additional optional paths to victory will be available in Empire Deluxe Enhanced Edition. These will include:

Conquest like victories such as the number of cities controlled, destruction of an enemy capital, or a regicide (special unit killed) victory.

Statistical conditions available based on number of units, their damage strength, or the cumulative or average city production values.

Scoring victories available for games such as King of the Hill (control an area) and Capture the Flag.

Game Play Management Features:

With larger maps, game management is an important aspect of Empire Deluxe Enhanced Edition. The game will have features to curb the less than exciting aspects of global conquest by providing:

Other Additional Features:

To avoid purchasing multiple copies just to play multiplayer on your home network, lower costing EDEE "Remote Client" programs will be available for you to purchase to facilitate home and Internet play.

All game artwork and graphics is exposed for players to edit or change.

Historical game playbacks can be stored and accumulated, allowing for players to watch an entire game unfold after it has been played.

Units List

Below is a list of many of the units that will be available in the game. See a unit missing an attribute or not there altogether? Not a problem, you can add it to your own custom levels with the unit editor!

Ground Units:

Infantry - You cannot control an area unless you have troops on the ground. Being able to capture cities, the infantry unit is the primary unit of conquest for the game.

Armor - Faster and more durable than the Infantry (and more expensive of course), this unit can quickly cut across clear terrain, but can be slowed down with forests and cannot event enter mountainous areas.

Light Artillery - The Light Artillery is not able to directly attack other units, but instead can fire at them with its guns. These units prove effective for harassing enemy ships bombarding the coast, or setting up a defensive perimeter for ground units.

Heavy Artillery - The Heavy Artillery is a mean ranged fire unit, unable to move on its own and very vulnerable to attack, if properly positioned this unit can attack ships off shore and pound enemy ground positions.

Anti-Aircraft - The crews of the Anti-Aircraft unit are trained and equipped to strike at air units and missiles that approach their position.

Truck - The Truck is the workhorse for transporting units over land. Roads will enable this unit to move other units much faster.

Engineers - Engineers the ground units busy with construction that will make your fighting force more effective. They can build roads to improve ground units movement, as well as capable of building Fortresses, Airbases and Ports. They can create minefields and build Oil Facilities on discovered oil resources.

Air Units:

Fighter - Sometimes considered Infantry with wings, the Fighter aircraft are an important aspect to every conqueror's force. Their speed and ability to fly over terrain enables them to explore uncharted areas quickly, and perform effective recon missions or search and destroy missions.

Bomber - Feared by every enemy citizen working in the local despot's factories, the bomber can strike an enemy city, disrupting and damaging its production.

Air Transport - The Air Transport is the unit for transporting units by air. It is able to drop certain units while in flight to raid enemy shores.

Helicopter - The Helicopter is a light air transport unit with some attack capability. These units can prove effective in a battle against enemy ground forces, delivering forces and providing them some cover.

Naval Units:

Patrol Boat - This naval unit will not be able to travel into deep water, but will be able to move along shallow seas and rivers. Its low cost and speed will make it perfect for rapid exploration and effective patrol.

Transport Ship - The sea transport is a key unit in getting your ground units off an island and out to conquer the rest of the world. It is very vulnerable to attacks, as some generals find their armies suddenly at the bottom of the sea.

Destroyer - A frequent bane of the Transport, the Destroyer is faster than other sea vessels and is an excellent submarine hunter as well as a good explorer.

Submarine - This unit creeps in the depths of the ocean unseen by most enemies, waiting to strike on an unsuspecting naval vessel. Submarines can dive and run slow, silent and deep, making them very difficult to find, as well as rise to the surface to enjoy faster movement.

Aircraft Carrier - The transport for planes over large stretches of ocean, this unit is a necessity for protecting your naval forces by providing recon flights and protecting other valuable assets.

Cruiser - A very dependable warship, the Cruiser is very effective at attacking other enemy ships, bombarding ground units in coastal areas, or fire at targets a little deeper inland. It also can effectively patrol for hidden submarines.

Battleship - Much more expensive than the Cruiser and much more powerful, a Battleship can rule the ocean as long as it is not crippled from enemy attacks. Feared when seen by ground units trying to cross peninsulas, admirals with a lesser force best call for the retreat and evade tactics than try to stand toe to toe with this naval unit.

Sea Bees - Sea Bees are the engineers of the sea, enabling bridges to be built over shallow waters as well as laying or sweeping mine fields in the ocean placed to sink unsuspecting Transports. They can also build Oil Facilities over oil resources in the ocean.

Orbital Units:

Scout Satellite - Launched from a city into the Orbital Plane, this unit can spy on a good deal of countryside as it moves around the planet. It also provides a good spotting mechanism for missile attacks.

Armed Satellite - More sophisticated (and more expensive) technology enables Armed Satellites to fire at other units in the Orbital Plane. These units can be used as the key to an orbital offensive, or be placed in a defensive position surrounding an area to combat incoming missiles with defensive fire.

Short Range Missile - If your city is being harassed by an snooping Satellite or if there is an invading unit threatening the city nearby, you may want to launch a Short Range Missile to alleviate the problem. The Missile is launched from a city unit into the Orbital Plane to attack another missile or satellite. It can also "re-enter" the map and attack units and cities on the map.

Medium Range Missile - This Missile unit costs more and has a longer range than the Short Range Missile. This weapon is good for disrupting enemy production and his invasion preparations.

Long Range Missile - This Missile weapon has the potential to reach deep into an enemy's territory, where his most important production and mustering efforts can be disrupted.

Nuclear Missile - Coming in Short or Long Range flavors, this extremely expensive unit can deal an equally expensive blow, reducing everything in its target area into a big wasteland. You won't make friends with this unit, but you won't have enemies for long either.

Other Units:

City - The desired unit of the game. Players try to capture this one to produce more units and head towards a city count victory.

Airbase - When cities are not available, an Airbase is effective in refueling aircraft. However, Airbases make the aircraft they hold vulnerable to destruction, and should not be built close to the front lines.

Fortress - Built by Engineers, the Fortress unit provides a defensive cover for other units. This unit is an obstacle that if occupied, is probably best driven around than through. In order to destroy the Fortress, all other combat units inside must be engaged and destroyed first.

Port - Constructed by both Engineers and Sea Bees, Ports provide a harbor where there once wasn't one. Units can be loaded and unloaded in a port, and damaged ships can even be repaired. Ports and the units inside them are very vulnerable to attack, so guard them carefully.

Oil Facility - The Oil Facility is built by Engineer and Sea Bee units. It can exploit oil resources, providing greater supply to your production industry. Be careful though, if your force is dependent on Oil Facilities, you may find yourself unable to produce more units if your enemy attacks these vulnerable installations.

Supply Unit - This unit will be produced by a city. With no movement on its own, it must be transported to be moved to another location. When in a city, this unit can be consumed to aid in the production of a particular unit, or to help supply the force production as a whole.

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