Age of Empires: Chess Style 

Strategies: "Push"

Use this simple strategy when your enemy has decided to wall himself up inside his base, but are unsure whether he will charge if you get close. This strategy is executed early in the game, and involves 75% of one's units. View and endgame shot here.

1. Destroy all enemy outposts except those adjacent to his base.
2. Using 6 of your villagers, fortify the 4 center squares of each raised diagonal between your base and the enemy's. Always scout ahead to make sure it is safe for your villagers to advance.
   
3. If you can, build 2-4 bombard towers in back of the fortified squares on the front line. 
4. Also, build a few watch towers to garrison your weaker, shorter ranged archers.
   
5. As each line is complete, Advance the following contingents: ALL archers, ALL stable units, 6 onagers, ALL missionaries, 4 priests, ALL hand cannon units, 6 Elephants, 6 bombard cannon, 6 trebs, ALL huskarls, and pikes, war wagons and scorpions. Place them in the following formation ===>
6. Once you reach the front line, carefully set the posture of your units to defensive stance. Crowd your stable units in the space between diagonals, leaving just enough room to pick away at the enemy's walls and front-facing towers using bombards and trebs. Use your bombards and trebs to destroy enemy bombards and trebs as they appear. Use your camels, mamelukes and pikemen to handle incoming cavalry. Any other incoming unit should be taken care of by your ranged units.
7. Once the enemy's force has dwindled, advance to the next diagonal and finish him off.

Counters

If you decide to turtle in the beginning of the game, this strategy can be used in reverse to maximize the effectiveness of your defense. Being that you build fewer walls and travel less, you can get your troops into position faster and gain a significant advantage over the attacker. Keep in mind however that both of you cannot simply turtle and wait indefinitely for the other player to attack.

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