Storming the Beaches
Storming the Beaches is an Age of Empires III scenario in Act II: China (scenario 2), set in 1421. The player commands Chinese.
Scenario setting & objectives
The required goals are Build a Town Center and a Dock; Rescue Admiral Jinhai; Destroy the Zamorin's Town Center. Optional goals include Build a Wonder so your army can Age up; Build a Castle on the beach.
Mission approach
Complete required construction early enough to establish the base or route, then defend the workers and new position. Scout the named destination and keep the required hero or escort force safe on the route; clear defenders before moving the mission-critical unit into range. Scout the target and its approach, then preserve enough of the starting army to finish the required assault. Take optional objectives when they add useful allies, routes, resources or reinforcements without putting the primary goal at risk.
Establish the beachhead and rescue Jinhai
Storming the Beaches is scenario two of Act II: China, set in 1421 and inspired by Zheng He’s sixth voyage to Calicut. The player begins as the Chinese and must build a Town Center and Dock, rescue Admiral Jinhai, then destroy the Zamorin’s Town Center. This order combines base construction, an escort objective and a final assault. Protect the workers while the new base is established; a Dock is required, but the army must still be ready to clear the route to Jinhai. Do not use every starting unit to rush the enemy base before the construction and rescue conditions are complete. The optional goals are to build a Wonder to advance the army’s Age and build a Castle on the beach. Those structures can improve the position, but they cost resources and time that may be needed to complete the primary goals. First secure the beachhead, then choose whether an optional building will pay off before the final attack.
Sequence construction and the coastal assault
The mission opens with Jinhai’s fleet being driven away by the Zamorin’s forces, so the player must recover the Admiral and establish a foothold on the shore. Scout the routes around the beach and keep the starting army together until the workers can build safely. Complete the Town Center and Dock objectives while protecting the construction area, then send an escort to rescue Jinhai. Once the hero is safe, build the force needed to attack the Zamorin’s Town Center. Artillery or siege support should move with a screen; do not let it approach the target alone. A Wonder can advance the army’s Age and strengthen the later push, but only if the economy can afford it and the enemy will not destroy the builders. A beach Castle is optional and can secure the landing area, though it should not delay the rescue or final destruction target. This is a scripted Asian Dynasties/Definitive Edition campaign scenario, not a standard Chinese skirmish opening. Follow the mission markers and verify all three primary objectives before concluding the assault.
Protect the builders and the rescue route
The required Town Center and Dock need to be built while the enemy still threatens the beach, so assign an escort to the workers and keep a second group ready to clear the route toward Admiral Jinhai. Do not send the entire force away from the construction area: a raid can delay both buildings and make the later objective harder. Once the rescue is complete, regroup near the new base and prepare the attack on the Zamorin’s Town Center. A Dock is a mission requirement, but naval production should be added only when the shore and resources can support it. Keep the rescue force close enough to return to the base if the enemy attacks during the march.
Use the optional Wonder and Castle deliberately
The Wonder objective allows the army to advance an Age, which can unlock stronger units and technologies for the final push. It also asks for a major resource and construction commitment. Build it only after the required Town Center and Dock are underway and the workers are safe. The beach Castle is another optional defense that can secure the landing area, but it should not replace a field army or siege force. Before attacking the Zamorin’s Town Center, make sure the mission has registered the Town Center construction, Dock construction and Admiral rescue. Keep ranged units protected as they move through the coastal approach and focus siege on the final target.
Confirm the mission’s primary objectives
The primary list is complete only after the Town Center and Dock are built, Admiral Jinhai is rescued, and the Zamorin’s Town Center is destroyed. The Wonder and beach Castle are optional goals, not replacements for those conditions.
Build the required structures before the final attack
The Town Center and Dock are mandatory even if the army can reach the Zamorin early. Complete both construction objectives, rescue Jinhai and then destroy the Town Center to finish the primary sequence.
Build a port before rescuing Admiral Jinhai
The second Act II: China scenario is based on Zheng He’s sixth voyage to Calicut in 1421. The player must build a Town Center and Dock, rescue Admiral Jinhai and destroy the Zamorin’s Town Center. The optional Wonder enables an Age advance, while a Castle on the beach adds a defensive position. Establish the base and Dock first so naval access can support the beach operation. Clear defenders before moving the rescue force toward the Admiral, then use the fleet and land army together for the final Town Center siege. Optional construction requires time and protection, so complete it only when the base can withstand a counterattack. The mission’s coastal setting makes ship support and a safe landing route central to success.