Exploration Fleet
Exploration Fleet is an Age of Empires III technology available to Indians; Japanese from the Fortress Age, researched at Consulate. It provides 1 Caravel with 3 Petards in it.
Research profile
- Age
- Fortress Age
- Research location
- Consulate
- Research time
- 30 seconds
- Export cost
- 425
Effect & research conditions
Available to Indians and Japanese from the Fortress Age. Research it at Consulate. Effect: Delivers 1 Caravel with 3 Petards in it. Research takes 30 seconds.
Research condition
Available to Indians and Japanese from the Fortress Age. Research it at Consulate.
When to research
Exploration Fleet provides an immediate reinforcement: 1 Caravel with 3 Petards in it. Research when this force fills a current army need and can reach the fight in time; reserve population and set a safe gather point rather than starting it as an emergency response. Use the Consulate for research. Research takes 30 seconds.
Portuguese Consulate technology
Exploration Fleet is available to the Indians and Japanese through the Consulate after choosing the Portuguese as their ally and reaching the Fortress Age. It costs 425 Export and delivers one Caravel carrying three Petards. The shipment combines a naval transport with a small siege force, so it is useful only when the map offers a coast, island, or crossing that the Caravel can reach. It is not a general land reinforcement: on an inland map, its ship and Petards may have no practical route to the target.
When the fleet is worth the Export
Plan the landing before researching. A Caravel can bring the Petards to a shoreline, where they can threaten a defensive structure or support a coastal assault, but the vessel and its passengers need protection while moving and disembarking. Scout the route and look for defenses that would make a small siege party ineffective. Since the delivery arrives as a Consulate technology rather than ordinary unit production, it can supplement an army without taking up the same training queue, but the Export cost competes with other Portuguese alliance choices.