As the Enchanted Grove event ends, Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition developers are back with new content in Patch 6.1.130. This time, they’ve added three new difficulty options in response to feedback that the previous “Hardest” AI setting provided an insurmountable challenge to players, especially when it comes to how fast the AI can gather resources.
For those who have not played Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition for quite some time, the developers added the Hardest AI difficulty in a previous update. It was made to mimic the best of the best out there to provide the most challenging experience. However, the Hardest AI was too difficult to deal with mainly because of its inherent resource-gathering bonus.
So, to address this, three new difficulty levels have been introduced in Patch 6.1.130, namely Ridiculous, Outrageous, and Absurd. The resource-gathering boosts for these new options are set at 1.2x, 1.5x, and 2x the normal rate, respectively.
The developers believe that these new difficulty levels provide a better range of opportunities for players based on the amount of challenge they’re seeking.
Aside from new difficulty settings, some general changes have also been made. For instance, fishing boats have been reprogrammed to always return to the nearest dock.
Changelog
- Canceled building blueprints no longer block future placements.
- Added additional HUD feedback when building limits have been reached for certain buildings or units, for example the Ottoman’s Military School and Grand Galley.
- Fixed an issue to ensure units only display weapons that are currently available to them. Upgraded weapons are shown when upgraded, the basic version is hidden after upgrading.
- Fixed issue where some Cheats not intended for Campaign were usable in campaign missions and potentially breaking them.
- Fixed some Masteries and Achievements to make sure playing with new AI Difficulties would still allow for completion.
- Fixed an issue with Training Mastery that would not progress for some players and added Art of War challenges for Ottoman and Malians.
- Trader income reduced by 10%
- Trebuchet Changes:
- Counter-weight Trebuchet
- Cost reduced from 500 wood 250 gold to 400 wood 150 gold.
- Health reduced from 210 to 170.
- Damage reduced from 50 to 40.
- Bonus damage vs buildings reduced from 450 to 375.
- Build time reduced from 35 seconds to 30 seconds.
- Mongol Traction Trebuchet
- Cost reduced from 400 wood 150 gold to 300 wood 100 gold.
- Health reduced from 190 to 150.
- Damage reduced from 50 to 40.
- Bonus damage vs. buildings reduced from 250 to 200.
- Build time reduced from 35 seconds to 30 seconds.
What can you say about the new three difficulty levels in Age of Empires IV Patch 6.1.130?
