Microsoft Game Studios - Rise of Nations

Germans: The Power of Industry

When playing as Germany, good players certainly have the ability to attack at any time during the game - all good players do. But German economic might and powerful late game Heavy Cavalry units make it an especially fearsome boom nation. Economic stimuli don't wait around for the late game, though - start gathering early and you'll build a mighty war machine early.

Germany has always been noted for hard-fighting foot soldiers, and the German player has four unique units that allow Heavy Infantry superiority from the Ancient (first) Age all the way into the Gunpowder (fourth) Age. The Solduri (Ancient), Barbarians (Classical), Vandals (Medieval), and Landsknechts (Gunpowder) can truly dominate when at the disposal of the shrewd player. All of these units can be recruited faster and more cheaply than their counterparts from other nations, and all of them are very good in combat versus cavalry.

Germany's martial prowess does not end with the advent of gunpowder weapons, however. In the Modern Age, the appearance of the Tiger Tank gives the German player hard-hitting, fast-moving power, and this advantage continues into the Information Age (the game's last), with the debut of the Leopard tank. Both are extremely potent against any foot unit.

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As with each of the 17 other nations in the game, the German player gets economic, as well as military, benefits not available to anyone else. In this case, that means that Wealth and Timber, two of the game's resources, are collected 10% faster. In addition, German Submarines and Fireships (the predecessor to the Submarine) cost 25% less, and German air units are created 25% more quickly.

Unique Units

Solduri - Heavy Infantry, Ancient Age (I)
Powerful, slow melee units; tougher and faster to build than normal Hoplites.

Barbarian - Heavy Infantry, Classical Age (II)
Powerful, slow melee units; tougher and faster to build than normal Phalanx.

Vandal - Heavy Infantry, Medieval Age (III)
Powerful, slow melee units; tougher and faster to build than normal Pikemen.

Landsknecht - Heavy Infantry, Gunpowder Age (IV)
Powerful, slow melee units; tougher and faster to build than normal Elite Pikemen.

Tiger Tank - Tank, Modern Age (VII)
Armored and substantially more powerful than ordinary Tanks.

Leopard Tank - Tank, Information Age (VIII)
Heavily armored and substantially more powerful than ordinary Tanks.

MG42 - Machine Gun, Modern Age (VII)
Moves slowly; devastating against enemy foot troops.

Volksgrenadier - Modern Infantry, Modern Age (VII)
Fast, powerful, rapid-firing foot troops; slightly tougher and faster than normal Infantry.