Germans - The Power of Industry

• Granary, lumber mill, and smelter production upgrades are 50 percent cheaper and available sooner.
• Cities gather +5 food, timber, and metal.
• Building completion bonuses +50 percent.
• Submarines and fire ships built 33 percent faster and 25 percent cheaper.
• Air units created 33 percent faster.
• Each new airbase comes with two free fighters.
• Solduri: Ancient Age heavy infantry. They're more durable than hoplites, and they can be built faster.
• Barbarians: Classical Age heavy infantry. They're more durable than phalanx, and they can be built faster.
• Vandals: Medieval Age heavy infantry. They're more durable than pikemen, and they can be built faster.
• Landsknechts: Gunpowder Age heavy infantry. They're more durable than elite pikemen, and they can be built faster.
• Volksgrenadiers: Modern Age modern infantry. Slightly more durable and faster than normal infantry.
• MG42: Modern Age machine guns. Counters enemy foot troops.
• Tiger Tank: Modern Age tank. Substantially more powerful than the standard tank.
• Leopard Tank: Information Age tank. Substantially more powerful than the standard tank.

A large array of unique units (spanning from Ancient Age heavy infantry to Modern Age machine gunners and tanks), several enticing economic bonuses (cheaper resource upgrades), and powerful late-game military bonuses (free aircraft, faster creating aircraft, and naval benefits) make the Germans a tough late-age challenge. Advance ages quickly and reach the Industrial Age to utilize the increased air power and, eventually, the more powerful tanks. A rush is also certainly possible using the Ancient Age solduri (or the Classical Age with barbarians).

Greeks - The Power of Philosophy

• Library research 10 percent cheaper (except knowledge costs) and 100 percent faster.
• Can build universities and collect knowledge from the beginning of the game.
• Libraries and universities 50 percent cheaper.
• Companion: Classical Age heavy cavalry. Faster than normal heavy cavalry.
• Royal Companion: Medieval Age heavy cavalry. Faster than normal heavy cavalry.
• Stratiotai: Gunpowder Age heavy cavalry. Faster than normal heavy cavalry.
• Royal Stratiotai: Enlightenment Age heavy cavalry. Faster than normal heavy cavalry.

The wise Greeks excel in technology research. Construct a university early and begin collecting knowledge (you'll need wealth to afford those scholars) as soon as possible so you're set up for more expensive, knowledge-required research and age advancement. Don't forget the timber required to research literacy to increase the rate at which the scholars create knowledge. The cheaper university and library help as you expand. A second library lets you research multiple library techs at once. Don't neglect this, as it will allow you to exploit the cheaper, faster researched library tech. These advantages should keep you ahead of an opponent, at least in technology.

Inca - The Power of Gold

• Mines create wealth and metal income.
• Wealth commerce limit +33 percent.
• When an enemy kills one of your units, you receive a 25 percent refund for the killed unit.
• Inti Clubmen: Classical Age light infantry. Fast, cheap, and counters cavalry.
• Inti Macemen: Medieval Age light infantry. Fast, cheap, and counters cavalry.
• Mortar: Enlightenment Age artillery weapon. Counters enemy buildings and foot troops at long range.
• Siege Mortar: Industrial Age artillery weapon. Counters enemy buildings and foot troops at long range.

Incan mines generate metal and wealth.

The Incans command wealth with a 33 percent increase in the wealth commerce limit. Furthermore, diligent mining generates even more wealth--Incan mines create wealth and metal resources. This provides a huge boom in wealth. These are nice benefits, as wealth is a tricky resource, but one that's extremely important for research and unit creation. The Incans' final benefit is rather unique--you receive a 25 percent refund for any unit killed by your enemy. The added resources are certainly a plus, but remember that you still lost the unit and must take the time to create another. You may need extra military creation structures to create units quickly for this benefit to pay off. In a large battle, those refunds can come in quickly!