Cadets
Cadets is an Industrial Age General upgrade for Federal American factions in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition. The United States researches it at the State Capitol, while the Mexicans use the Capitol.
Research profile
- Civilization
- Federal Americans
- Research location
- State Capitol (United States) ; Capitol (Mexicans)
- Research time
- 30 seconds
- Food cost
- 1,500
- Effect
- General hit points +1,000
- Next technology
- Brigadier General
Effect & research conditions
It costs 1,500 Food and takes 30 seconds. Cadets adds 1,000 hit points to the General and unlocks Brigadier General. Earlier Definitive Edition rules also increased hero ransom cost by 50 Coin; update 13.27885 removed that side effect.
Research condition
Available to Federal Americans from the Industrial Age. Research it at State Capitol (United States) or Capitol (Mexicans).
When to research
Research when the General matters and the economy can spare Food without delaying a critical force. Since Brigadier General follows Cadets, budget for both stages if continuing the line. Extra durability does not replace escorts or alter support abilities.
Federal access and progression
Cadets is available in the Industrial Age, with different research buildings for the United States and Mexicans. It improves the General rather than the whole army. Completion is also the step toward Brigadier General, so budget for both research stages. Check the active faction's technology panel after a Federal State or Revolution transition, because building access depends on that path.
Definitive Edition change
Earlier Definitive Edition rules also raised hero ransom cost by 50 Coin. Update 13.27885 removed that side effect, leaving +1,000 General hit points as the current benefit. Older notes can describe a ransom penalty that no longer applies. The General still needs troops that can protect it from focused attacks.