Age of Mythology Showcase: Set

By Elliott Chin, GameSpotPosted Jun 7, 2002 6:26 pm PT

We return to the sands of Egypt to profile the treacherous god of death, Set, and his dark followers.

Our ongoing culture showcase for Ensemble Studios' Age of Mythology has reached the halfway point, and as the spotlight turns to the fifth faction, we veer back to the arid sands of Egypt to uncover the game's next god.

We've already covered the three umbrella cultures in the game: the Greeks, Egyptians, and Norse. They all have certain traits in common but are more different than similar, each having its own strengths, weaknesses, and even fundamental play styles. Within each culture are three factions, each distinct by virtue of the major god they worship. So while the three Egyptian factions might have great similarities, their choice of god further sets them apart--thus, there is a total of nine factions.

Norse invaders storm the desert...

By now, you already know about the Egyptian culture and its unique brand of gameplay. It is the most defensive culture in Age of Mythology, and it pays homage to its gods not through direct prayer or valor in battle but by erecting massive monuments in tribute. As a culture that is more erudite than the others, its heroes are leaders at home, directing its industry and economy, yet its mythological units are still terrible enemies to behold. But even within the Egyptian culture, there are differences. And the contrast between the first Egyptian god showcased, Ra, and this month's deity, Set, is like night and day. Indeed, while Ra is a good power of light and leadership, the mighty Set is a god of evil, murder, and treachery. So diabolical was Set that he had no direct analog in even Greek mythology.

Here is what designer Greg Street has to say: "The Greeks didn't have a well-developed concept of evil. Hades ruled a pretty scary place, but he wasn't a villain, except in Disney movies. He certainly wasn't evil. Set was evil. Set is depicted as a man with the head of some strange animal resembling perhaps a jackal, but more like an aardvark. The dominant myth concerning Set (sometimes spelled Seth) concerns his tricking and killing of his brother, the god Osiris, and then dividing his body. Osiris' wife, Isis, managed to reassemble the body of Osiris, and then their son, Horus, came after Set for vengeance. Set is associated closely with animals such as the dog, crocodile, and scorpion. He is the god of chaos, the desert, and foreign lands. In the Book of the Dead, Set is called 'Lord of the Northern Sky' and is held responsible for storms and cloudy weather."

...but Set's forces rout the Nordic army.

Now let's take a look at the actual benefits you get from worshipping Set. His most striking benefit is his dominion over the fauna, which other Age players sometimes take for granted. With his bonuses, Set can turn the land's animals into his eyes and ears--and fists. Moreover, his own god powers and mythological improvements only further his power over animals. Because of the increased number of creatures on Age of Mythology maps as opposed to that in previous Age games, this list includes gazelle, crocodiles, rhinos, elephants, lions, and giraffes--even walruses are Set's to command. Street explains, "In Age of Mythology, Set focuses on two areas: archers and animals. Set's priests can convert wild animals, which can then be used for food or to attack enemies. Set-controlled animals that die in combat don't provide food for enemy villagers. Because wild animals tend to get hunted to extinction on most AOM maps, Set's pharaohs can also summon animals out of thin air for a small favor cost, and these too can be used for food or combat or even scouting." But what about Set's other bonuses? Read on.

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