Rockies
Rockies is an enclosed Age of Empires III map where players begin among a mountain range. The mountains leave the northwest side open, so the map has both restricted passages and a route that bypasses much of the enclosure. Its original-game layout is also present in Definitive Edition.
Map character
The terrain does not cover the northwest, and usable routes through the range vary with the generated layout. Scout the mountain approaches and the open side before committing to a base expansion or a forward position. Narrow passes can channel movement, while the northwest opening provides a different line of approach; neither guarantees that a starting economy is safe.
What to scout
Use the terrain to delay an attack only after identifying every way around the range. Keep vision on the northwest opening, preserve an alternate reinforcement route and scout before moving siege through a pass where it could be trapped. Place defensive structures to cover a specific approach rather than assuming the mountains form a complete wall.
The northwest opening changes the defense
Rockies can look naturally enclosed, but the northwest gap prevents the mountains from sealing the map. A player who concentrates every defender at a pass can leave the open side exposed. Scout both the gap and the nearby mountain approaches, then decide whether to hold a choke or keep a mobile force able to respond across routes. Resource and treasure positions vary with the map layout.