Highlands
Highlands is a Definitive Edition map in The African Royals set among the highlands of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. Players fight around a rugged mountain with narrow paths. Two separate Trade Routes run through the lowlands, while most resources lie at higher elevations.
Map character
Scout the climbs and narrow paths connecting the lowlands to the elevated resource areas. The elevation separates the routes from most resource gathering, so a player may need to defend both access to the highlands and one of the Trade Routes. Jesuit Mission, Somali and Sudanese are the listed settlements; Desert Archers and Desert Warriors are listed Outlaws. Terrain and treasure positions differ by map generation.
What to scout
Use high ground and narrow passages to control movement, but keep a second route or reserve force available if the opponent attacks another path. The two lowland routes create a choice about whether to invest in one or contest both. If workers must travel uphill to reach resources, protect the path and establish vision before expanding far from the base.
Resources sit above the lowland routes
Highlands separates its two Trade Routes in the lowland from most resource sites at higher elevations. A player who controls the route may still need to secure the uphill approaches that supply the economy. Narrow paths can make an attack easier to anticipate, but they also constrain reinforcement and retreat, so keep units positioned where they can respond without becoming trapped.
Three settlements support different plans
Jesuit Mission, Somali and Sudanese are listed Minor Civilizations. Identify which settlement lies nearest a safe path and choose an alliance that fills a roster need. Desert Archers and Desert Warriors can appear as Outlaws; scout before sending a hero through a narrow route, since a blocked approach can make treasure recovery costly.