Gameplay
Days of the East is played as any other 'age of-' RTS. The two major differences however, are ones that you learn to understand in the far-east: first off, there is never a shortage in personell. Which means no pop limit, or pop resource at all. Secondly, there ain't really a shortage in space. The smallest available map size is the usual 'large' with the biggest taking twenty minutes to cross with the fastest unit.

Resources
As stated earlier, there is no such thing as population. In the far-east, you can always obtain more personell. There are two main resources: Coin, which is obtained from harvesting metal; different metals give different coin values. Gold and silver top, copper and iron middle, tin, zinc, and lead giving the least. Food, harvested from farms. By building a single farmhouse, you sacrifice an enormous area (equivalent of four city-centers) for farming. Each region has two of the three crop types available, each crop type is suited for a certain climate and terrain. Each provides a different food amount; soy, available for Northern and Southern regions, requires dry land and a warm climate, but provides a large food amount. Wheat, available for Northern and Central regions, requires dry land only but provides lesser of a food amount. Rice, available for Central and Southern regions, requires wet land but provides an amount of food equal to that of wheat. The last and lesser resource is called 'mind'. It reflects social order and control of the people. Each City Center provides a trickle of mind, depending on religion, technology, map exploration, foreign contact, military victories, etc. Mind is only required for technologies and elite units. There is an element of upkeep, at a ratio of 5% for every 50 troops (siege and ships count as 2). There is no element of 1% for every 10 troops, though.

Ages and Technology
There are four ages in Days of the East: the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Steel Age, and finally – the Gunpowder Age. In the Bronze Age only the basic units are available, and only the later ages are really playable. Starting in the Bronze Age, you have 1 research building; the Palace, which also serves as a City Center. Starting from that age, you have 3 available researches in the palace every age. In the iron age, you also gain the Temple, which again gives you 3 researches every age from that age forward. In the Steel Age, you also gain the Academy, which again lets you research three new technologies from that age forward. In the Gunpowder age, you get the Laboratory which serves the same purpose as the other buildings. Thus you have 3 technologies for the first age, 6 for the second, 9 for the third, and 12 for the final.

Decisionary Upgrades
Starting at the second (Iron) age, a player can choose between five different upgrades each age. These upgrades are researched at the palace, and are a necessity to advance to the next age. The first upgrades, offered in the Iron age, are the five choices of tactics:
*Horde: bonus to cavalry, especially ranged cavalry
*Navy: bonus to ships, also ships that require 3 engineers require only 2
*Conquest: bonus to infantry and siege, very good for times of war
*Fortification: bonus to buildings, especially walls, towers, and fortresses
*Guerrilla: bonus to archers, who are hidden when not moving or attacking
In the Steel Age (the third age, that is) there is a choice between five religions:
*Buddhism: has Monks, units can meditate to regain health
*Confucianism: has Philosophers, Mind produced 20% faster
*Taoism: has Shaman, units and buildings have greater LOS
*Shintoism: has Scholar, Coin is mined faster
*Islam: has Priest, infantry and cavalry cheaper and trained faster
In the Gunpowder Age (the fourth and final age, at this point) there is a choice between five government types:
*Centralism: gives all bonuses fully and only to the palace and it's surroundings, can have 1 leader, troops receive okay AI
*Colonialism: gives bonuses to coastal cities and island cities, can have 3 Admirals (ship leaders), troops receive okay AI
*Imperialism: gives no bonuses to cities, but strengthens troops and defenses, can have 3 leaders, troops receive excellent AI
*Kingdom: most bonus percentage goes to palace, but at-least half is divided among important cities, can have 4 leaders, troops receive okay AI
*Confederacy: bonus percentage is divided between all cities equally, though it's very small, can have 10 leaders, troops receive good AI

The Universal Units:
Starting at the Bronze age, there are only 2 military units. These two are upgrades in the Iron age, and are joined by 2 new units of each class (infantry, archery, cavalry, siege, ships). In the Steel age you also receive 2 new units for each class. In the gunpowder age, there is an addition of only 1 new unit per class, plus the upgrading of ALL units.

Peasant
Class: worker
Role: builds buildings, creates farms and harvests them, mines metals.

Merchant
Class: worker
Role: transports goods and tributes to other players using markets, can also decrease prices by traveling between markets

Spearman -> Pikeman -> Halberdier
Class: infantry
Role: all-use infantry, which makes it the basic unit of all armies
Attributes: cheap, fast-trained, balanced

Slinger -> Javelineer -> Firelancer
Class: archery
Role: all-use archery, with it's only weakness being infantry
Attributes: accurate, strong, fast

Engineer
Class: worker
Role: (Iron age) builds ships and siege weapons at Docks and Workshops, repairs them, and mans them. If the engineers of a siege weapon are killed, it can be manned by any player

Scout -> Spy
Class: special
Role: (Iron age) hidden fast scout used to spy on enemies

Swordsman -> Blademaster
Class: infantry
Role: (Iron age) skilled warrior, especially good against other infantry and for surprise attacks
Attributes: skilled, fast, can block

Armored Maceman -> Heavy Armored Maceman
Class: infantry
Role: (Iron age) heavy and slow soldier, particularly good against cavalry and buildings
Attributes: strong, armored, can block

Archer -> Grenadier
Class: archery
Role: (Iron age) main combat archer, has long range and can do good against crowded formations of anything
Attributes: long-ranged, fast-moving, fast-trained

Crossbowman -> Skirmisher
Class: archery
Role: (Iron age) hidden unit, good for assassinations and archery vs. archery combat
Attributes: hidden, strong, accurate

Raider -> Lancer
Class: cavalry
Role: (Iron age) assault-cavalry unit, not very effective against other cavalry, but can put-up with infantry
Attributes: fast, strong, fast-trained

Mounted Archer -> Carbanier
Class: cavalry
Role: (Iron age) mounted ranged unit, superb at outflanking and surrounding enemy formations
Attributes: fast, long-ranged, strong

Battering Ram -> Suicide Wagon
Class: siege
Role: (Iron age) batters-down enemy walls and buildings \ (Gunpowder age) self destructs to destroy buildings, walls, and anything else nearby
Attributes: fast-attacking, armored, strong

Balista -> Hwacha
Class: siege
Role: (Iron age) long-ranged siege weapon, capable at delivering damage to units aswell as buildings
Attributes: cheap, fast-trained, long-ranged

Fishing Ship
Class: worker
Role: (Iron age) used to 'harvest' fish from sea, fish have a medium food value

Transport Ferry -> Transport Ship
Class: ship
Role: (Iron age) transports land units across water

Cargo Ship
Class: worker
Role: transports goods and tributes to other players using docks, can also decrease prices by traveling between docks

Monk
Class: religion
Role: (Buddhist) can serve as ambassador to other players, enabling more diplomacy options and reducing tribute tax, can also serve as Peasant

Philosopher
Class: religion
Role: (Confucianist) can serve as ambassador to other players, enabling more diplomacy options and reducing tribute tax, can also serve as scout

Shaman
Class: religion
Role: (Taoist) can serve as ambassador to other players, enabling more diplomacy options and reducing tribute tax, can also serve as an effective warrior

Scholar
Class: religion
Role: (Shintoist) can serve as ambassador to other players, enabling more diplomacy options and reducing tribute tax, can also serve as Enginneer

Priest
Class: religion
Role: (Moslem) can serve as ambassador to other players, enabling more diplomacy options and reducing tribute tax, can also convert units (50% of conversions will result in death of the converted as a consequence of suicide)

Militia -> Rebel
Class: infantry
Role: (Steel age) cheap and fast-trained (well, all units are) unit that can be used as a support force or strategic bait for enemy forces
Attributes: cheap, fast-trained, fast

Zealot -> Zealot Master
Class: infantry
Role: (Steel age) expert warriors that cost a lot of mind, good vs. archers
Attributes: skilled, can block, loyal

Sharpshooter -> Gunner
Class: archery
Role: (Steel age) similar to crossbowman only not hidden and faster
Attributes: fast, accurate, strong

Sentinel -> Hand-Cannonier
Class: archery
Role: (Steel age) slow to move and can only fire while standing steady, good for defense
Attributes: strong, armored, has large LOS

Mounted Javelineer -> Dragoon
Class: cavalry
Role: (Steel age) good spearhead force to break through infantry or archery
Attributes: fast, strong, armored

Elite Cavalry -> Noble Cavalry
Class: cavalry
Role: (Steel age) powerful cavalry, slow and good against anything. Costs a lot of mind
Attributes: skilled, strong, can block

Catapult -> Bombard
Class: siege
Role: (Steel age) long-ranged siege weapon, the only piece of equipment that can quickly demolish buildings from a safe distance
Attributes: long-ranged, strong, accurate

Flamethrower -> Flame Dragon
Class: siege
Role: (Steel age) short-ranged fast flame device used to set troops aflame in battle, deadly vs. infantry
Attributes: has area-of-damage, can set infantry on fire, can set buildings on fire

Fighting Sail -> Frigate
Class: ship
Role: (Steel age) lighter battleship, good against other ships and sinking transport ships
Attributes: cheap, fast trained, fast

Siege Ship -> Cannonnaught
Class: ship
Role: (Steel age) heavier battleship, good against buildings and advanced ships
Attributes: strong, armored, long-ranged

Stavesman
Class: infantry
Role: (Gunpowder age) similar to spearman, but much faster and equipped to handle gunpowder units
Attributes: has endurance for gunpowder attacks, fast trained, cheap

Musketeer
Class: archery
Role: (Gunpowder age) very effective and useful gunpowder unit, good as the basic soldier of an army
Attributes: cheap, fast-trained, strong

Mounted Zealot
Class: cavalry
Role: (Gunpowder age) expert warriors that cost a lot of mind, good vs. archers
Attributes: skilled, can block, loyal

Cannon
Class: siege
Role: (Gunpowder age) straight-shooter, not very long ranged, but great against anything
Attributes: strong, strong, strong

Gun Ship
Class: ship
Role: (Gunpowder age) combined attribute ship, can transport a small amount of troops, and also provide support fire
Attributes: has large LOS, fast-firing, armored

Leader
Class: special
Role: (Gunpowder age) leads troops intro battle, increasing their morale, and being a good fighter alone, may convert surrounding hostile units
Attributes: enhances nearby troops, fast, strong

The Civilizations
As said before, there are 10 civs in Days of the East. These are divided over 3 regions: the South, the North, and the Center.
The South, is the south-east asian regions south of china and east of india and bangladesh. South civs (Siam, Khmer, Vietnam) receive a technological and economical bonus, and they can grow rice and soy.
The North, is the primary northern asian regions north of main china and east of central Asia. North civs (Korea, Manchuria, Mongolia) receive a military bonus, particularly to their cavalry and archery, and they can grow wheat and soy.
The Center, is mainland china and the nearby islands. Central civs (China, Japan, Taiwan, Tibet) receive a ship naval bonus, a minor infantry-siege military bonus, a building bonus, and they can grow wheat and rice.

China

China (Zhongou), also known as the middle-kingdom, is the practical center of east-Asia. For centuries, the Chinese have been the most culturally advances, a fact which proved inequivalent for their military several time. Though dynasties changed, and even a few foreign dynasties took over, China assimilated them and engulfed them in it's culture.
Region: Central (ship, infantry, siege, and building bonuses)
Crops: Wheat and Rice
Civ bonuses: -20% cost and build time for Peasant, Engineer, Merchant, and infantry, +15% armor for walls
Cities: Beijing, Kaifeng, Shanghai, Hong-Kong
Leaders: Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wen, Zhu Yuanzhang
Unique Units:
Saboteur – (Steel age)suicide-infantry gunpowder unit
Chu-ko-nu – [whisper](Iron age)Fast-firing crossbowman-like unit

Japan

Japan (Niphon-koku) is a mass of islands surrounded by a array of water-bodies, with short water-courses to north east-asia, south east-asia, and central east-asia. Fore centuries and millenia, Japan was underestimated and regarded to as weak and primitive by the central powers, while every time someone attempted to conquer or invade it, it withstood with glory.
Region: Central (ship, infantry, siege, and building bonuses)
Crops: Wheat and Rice
Civ bonuses: -20% cost and build time for ships, +15% fishing gather rate, +15% infantry damage
Cities: Kyoto, Tokyo, Ichiuji, Dao
Leaders: Oda Nobunaga, Hashiba Hideyoshi, Mori Terumoto
Unique Units:
Kamikaze – (Gunpowder age) unarmored suicide ship, explodes on impact, destroying anything and everything around it
Samurai – (Iron age) heavy, slow, but super-fast-attacking infantry unit
Ninja – (Steel age) special espionage unit, can 'assassinate' enemy units

Taiwan

Taiwan is a large island to the south-east shore of China. It is mostly mountanous but gradually smooths-down to good plains in the east. The people of Taiwan, east-asian aboriginals, are known for their peacefulness, but when the time for war comes, they can summon large armies to fight for the cause.
Region: Central (ship, infantry, siege, and building bonuses)
Crops: Wheat and Rice
Civ bonuses: +25% armor and attack strength for Peasants, Merchants, and Engineers, +15% food gather rate
Cities: Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Hsinchu
Leaders: Sui Han Tan, Koxinga, Zheng Jing
Unique Units:
Assassin – strong spearman, hidden and can kill some units with a single hit
Wildman – wildman of the jungle, has no armor, but a savage attack

Tibet

Tibet is the classic Lamaist country, lying on an enormous plateau on the Himalayas. The Tibetans ran their own society, government and military, and are famous for their loyalty to their principles, and their mountain-life skillfulness. Tibet was occupied by Mongolia at a time, which fit well as the Mongols happily accepted tibetan religion and religious sovereignty. Unfortunately, this was not so with Chinese occupation. To this day, Tibet is still working to receive full independence.
Region: Central (ship, infantry, siege, and building bonuses)
Crops: Wheat and Rice
Civ bonuses: +50% loyalty for all units, -25% terrain penalty for units
Cities: Lhasa, Shigatse, Qamdo, Barkham
Leaders: Gedun Drub, Sonam Gyatso, Tsang Yang
Unique Units:
Warrior Monk – good scout unit that can put-up a fight against any enemy
Zealot Grandmaster – (Gunpowder age)instead of Zealot Master; expert warrior that cost a lot of mind, good vs. archers
Lama – Special kind of leader, available only at the palace – can meditate and convert units

Siam

After the fall of the small ancient states and kingdoms at the area, Siam rose as a strong empire in the South. The Siamese's homeland spread over a vast territory, but their mighty armies proceeded to conquer even more land. When they conquered Cambodia, a new quarrel opened with Vietnam. Though there were no actual winners to that series of conflicts, it is clear that Siam, the only country in the region not fall under foreign occupation, was the greatest.
Region: South (technological and economical bonuses)
Crops: Rice and Soy
Civ bonuses: infantry 20% stronger and attack 20% faster, archers have 20% more accuracy and +20% range
Cities: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Rayong, Ayutthaya
Leaders: Uthong, Sukhothai Djing, Ayartoi Chyiurotti
Unique Units:
Lerdritier – (Bronze age)Light scout unit that can kick anyone's ass all marshal-arts style
Assault Cannonier – (Gunpowder age)Instead of Hand-Cannonier; faster to move, but still very slow to fire
Ram-Ship – (Iron age) unique ship that can attack other ships and buildings at hand-to-hand range

Khmer

The Khmer kingdom rose in the area of Cambodia, between Siam and Vietnam, with the fall of an ancient dynasty in the region. The Khmer were a mighty civilization, their culture and awesome power influencing others in the region. The Khmer made their capital at Angkor, and raised 'Angkor Watt' one of and possibly the greatest monument of Buddhism ever. Their power would echo through future generations.
Region: South (technological and economical bonuses)
Crops: Rice and Soy
Civ bonuses: -10% cost and build-time for all structures, -20% cost and build-time for Engineers, Palace has better defenses
Cities: Angkor, Dong-Tong, Kampot, Phnom Penh
Leaders: Jayavarman I, Suryavarman, Javarman VII, Sanivermanjata
Unique Units:
War Chariot – (Iron age) unique speed unit that can trample infantry and archers
Resistor -> Guerrilla – (Steel age) Instead of Militia -> Rebel; cheap and fast-trained (well, all units are) unit that can be used as a support force or strategic bait for enemy forces

Vietnam

Vietnam, as a kingdom, was established more then 4,000 years ago. A rogue Chinese general, tired of his emperor's despotism, crossed the mountains separating the two countries, and formed the Vietnamese state. Though taking a lot of influence from China, Vietnam managed to remain somewhat culturally independent, emerging a local power. At a certain occasion, Vietnam even occupied parts of Cambodia, and battled the neighboring Siamese kingdom.
Region: South (technological and economical bonuses)
Crops: Rice and Soy
Civ bonuses: +20% infantry health, +20% infantry LOS, Transport ships have +50% capacity, start out with more Food
Cities: Hanoi, Sigon, Vinh, Thai Nguyen
Leaders: Qin Tehn Xiang, Ly Cong Uan, Tran Hung Dao, Le Thanh Tong
Unique Units:
Frontiersman – (Iron age) light infantry, good as the spearhead of large formations
Reaver – (Steel age)Siege contraption that combines ordinary ballistics with elements of gunpowder

Korea

Korea, or Koryo, covers a medium-sized peninsula connected to the northern part of east-asia, mainly to Manchuria. Korea was originally united in a nation spreading over both it and Manchuria. It was occupied by Chinese forces in ancient times, but a resistance movement managed to reclaim independence. Korea was then divided between three major states, one overcoming the others and forming a dynasty that ruled unified Korea. Unfortunately, Korea then fell under occupation by Japan, but not after defeating several invasions. After Japanese occupation perished, Korea again divided. It is only hoped that that nation will be united once more to it's true power.
Region: North (cavalry and archery bonuses)
Crops: Wheat and Soy
Civ bonuses: -20% tribute tax, -20% City Center cost and build time, +50% loyalty for all troops
Cities: Balhae, Hanseong, Seoul, Pyongyang
Leaders: Dangun Wanggeom, Eulji Mundeok, Yi Seong-Gy, Empress Min
Unique Units:
Pioneer – (Bronze age) unique form of Peasant, builds very well
Hwarang – (Iron age)Instead of Raider; assault-cavalry unit, not very effective against other cavalry, but can put-up with infantry

Manchuria

Originally, Manchuria (or Manju) was home to several nomadic peoples, the Manchus being one of them. Manchuria was, at an ancient time, united in a nation spreading over both it and Korea. Manchuria was occupied and later assimilated by Mongolian tribes, but the Manchus overthrew them and made their own dynasty. Around the 17th century A.D, the Manchus invaded and conquered all of China. They ruled it with power for three centuries.
Region: North (cavalry and archery bonuses)
Crops: Wheat and Soy
Civ bonuses: +15% Peasant move speed, -20% cavalry cost and build time, buildings captured 20% faster
Cities: Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin, Changchun
Leaders: Jurchen Khan, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Empress Dowager Cixi
Bannerman – (Iron age)enhances other nearby troops, does not stack with other bannermen
Regular – (Gunpowder age)fast-trained troops that can put up a good fight against other gunpowder units
Royal Cavalry – (Gunpowder age)Instead of Noble Cavalry. Powerful cavalry, slow and good against anything. Costs a lot of mind

Mongolia

Mongolia, or – the steppe – as it is known, is located north of China, and east of central Asia. Since the dawn of mankind, the Mongols have been mounted on their horses; they even invented the first pants! Riding their horses, they lived in a tribal society that feeds-off raids and wars. A young, ambitious tribal chief, who will be known world-wide for his greatness, Temujin, wished to unite the tribes, and so he did – one way or another. United, the Mongol 'horde' advanced to become and unstoppable great empire, perhaps the greatest.
Region: North (cavalry and archery bonuses)
Crops: Wheat and Soy
Civ bonuses: +20% attack speed for cavalry, +20% attack range for archers and mounted archers, -15% cost and build time for siege weapons
Cities: Hentiy, Ulaanbaatr, Khovd, Karakorum
Leaders: Qabul Khan, Genghis Khan, Kushlug, Kublai Khan
Unique Units:
Tarkhan – (Iron age)perfect mounted archer, strong, long-ranged, fast, and can fire at any direction while moving at any other direction
Mangudai – (Steel age)champion Mongol hand-to-hand cavalry, good against other cavalry
Samkhara – (Steel age)unique camel unit that enhances nearby cavalry speed-wise, attack-speed-wise, and health-wise

Maps and Modes
There are 7 terrain types, each with it's own plantation, animals, other natural things, and terrain characteristics:
*Plains – greenish, flat, good for maneuvering large armies
*Desert – sandish, barren, hilly, may also contain mountain-ranges and canyons
*Steppe – sandish, more savanna-like, no mountains or canyons
*Forest – greenish, a lot of trees and plants, woodish too
*Jungle – full of exotic trees and plants, mazish, unsteady terrain-wise
*Swamp – like jungle, but with more water bodies, quicksand, and vegetation
*Himalaya – mountanous, snowy, hard to travel, good for Deathmatch

There are also 7 map types:
*Middle Kingdom – fully terrain
*Mediterranean – large sea in the center of the map
*Invasion – start-out on barren island and settle lush mainland
*Pangaea – central land-mass surrounded by water
*Continents – large multiple-player islands
*Islands – small single-player islands
*King of the Hill – central mountain in the middle of the map

Climate is controlled in a different way. There are four bars when setting-up a map, each bar with a minimum to a maximum. There is a 'cold-warm' bar, a quiet-typhoon' wind bar, 'temperate-tropical' rain bar, and finally a 'dry-moist' bar.

There are, again, 7 game modes:
*Supremacy – kill the hell out of everyone
*Deathmatch – kill everyone but start with a huge load of resources
*Lightning – everything is super-fast
*Hot-Spot – build a City Center at given 'hot-spots'
*Strongholds – capture all invincible neutral Fortresses to win
*Bloodbath – units are produced quickly by Palaces, send them out to kill!
*Dynasty – everyone has a king. By killing someone's king, you take over their dynasty, and their your slave-allies. You can also choose to abandon your former civ and completely move to them for extra resources.

Campaigns
As usual, there are campaigns. This time, you get a campaign for every single civ:
*Mongol campaign: Genghis Khan, from his first ascent to chiefthood of his tribe, to his unification of Mongolia
*Manchurian campaign: The story of the Manchus' invasion and conquest of Ming China
*Korean campaign: The three kingdoms, and the united Korea
*Chinese campaign: Zhu Yuanzhang's rise as the first Ming emperor, against the powerful Mongolian dynasty that ruled China
*Japanese campaign: Japan's resistance and defense against enormous Chino-Korean invasions lead by the Mongolian dynasty that ruled China
*Taiwanese campaign: Taiwan's first kingdomhood as the last Ming stronghold against the Manchurian invasion
*Tibetan campaign: How Buddhism arrived to Tibet, and the first Lama
*Vietnamese campaign: Vietnam's ascent to power and conquest of Cambodia
*Siamese campaign: Siam's ascent to power and conquest of Cambodia
*Khmer campaign: the Khmer's first rise and expansion over the nearby states, plus the surrection of Angkor

--Upcoming:

Days of the East: Setting Sun --- expansion pack

World War Three: Aftermath --- expansion pack

Age of Lost Civilizations

Wars of the Prophets

Minions: The Lesser Ones

[This message has been edited by Empror (edited 01-16-2006 @ 07:24 AM).]