The General
The General is an Age-up politician in Age of Empires III. Selected for the Imperial Age; available to Europeans. Its recorded reward is Imperial Age reward: British: 3 Rockets; Italians: 2 Papal Bombards; Ottomans: 2 Great Bombards Others: 2 Heavy Cannons.
Age-up reward & access
Selected for the Imperial Age; available to Europeans. The recorded advance cost is 4,000 Food and 4,000 Coin and takes 90 seconds. Reward details: Imperial Age reward: British: 3 Rockets; Italians: 2 Papal Bombards; Ottomans: 2 Great Bombards Others: 2 Heavy Cannons. The available choices and exact reward depend on civilization and game release.
When to choose it
Choose The General when its listed reward supports the next economic or military objective. Compare its cost and advance time with other available politicians, and check that the reward belongs to the current civilization and release.
Imperial Age artillery rewards
The General is an Imperial Age politician available to European civilizations. The recorded advance costs 4,000 Food and 4,000 Coin and takes 90 seconds. Its artillery reward varies: the British receive three Rockets, Italians receive two Papal Bombards, Ottomans receive two Great Bombards, and other eligible civilizations receive two Heavy Cannons. These artillery shipments make the age-up suitable for a player preparing a decisive siege, but their value depends on whether the army can protect them. Rockets and Bombards have different attack ranges, damage areas and counters, so confirm the actual reward before building the battle plan. The high Imperial Age cost requires a mature economy; spending nearly all Food and Coin on the age-up can leave no resources for units. Keep production active or prepare a shipment to screen the artillery when it arrives. The 90-second advance gives the opponent time to respond, so use the politician when the map position and army are ready to exploit the reward. Older releases or civilization-specific rules can alter the exact option, and The General is not a universal artillery shipment across every faction. Compare it with other Imperial Age politicians and select it when siege pressure is more useful than their economic or military reward. Use the linked unit pages for the artillery statistics and civilization entries for access details.
Choosing the artillery shipment
The General’s reward differs by civilization and should determine whether the player selects it. British Rockets, Italian Papal Bombards, Ottoman Great Bombards and the Heavy Cannons received by other eligible civilizations do not share identical range or damage behavior. Check the Home City arrival point and prepare an escort before the 90-second Imperial Age transition completes. A shipment of artillery creates an immediate siege opportunity only if the enemy cannot pick off the guns. Use other politicians when the army needs an economic bonus or defensive units more than another artillery force.
Resource and time cost
The Imperial Age transition ties up 4,000 Food and 4,000 Coin for 90 seconds before the artillery reward arrives. Begin it only when the economy can sustain the delay and the army can protect the base. The General is best when the artillery has a clear objective and an escort ready.
Escort and reward timing
An artillery shipment should arrive where it can be protected. Keep anti-cavalry or other screening units ready before selecting The General, then move the reward to a position with a clear siege target. Avoid leaving the guns at the shipment point while the opponent controls the area.
Civilization-specific rewards
The British receive three Rockets, Italians two Papal Bombards, Ottomans two Great Bombards and other eligible civilizations two Heavy Cannons under the recorded rules. Those are not interchangeable units; use each page to check range, damage type and counters before selecting the politician.
Imperial timing
The 4,000 Food and 4,000 Coin cost should be paid only when the army can defend for the 90-second age-up. Prepare the artillery landing area and escort before selecting the politician.
Choose for the current siege
The General provides artillery appropriate to the selected civilization, so identify the opponent’s defensive structures before advancing. The shipment is most useful when the artillery can immediately support a protected push, not when the enemy controls the landing area.
Imperial Age Politician and final transition
The General is an Imperial Age Politician for European civilizations in the documented profile. The age-up requires 4,000 Food and 4,000 Coin and takes 90 seconds, making it a major late-game commitment. Its reward supports the transition into the final age tier, but the exact units or resources can depend on the civilization and Home City options.
Secure the economy before committing
Because the cost is high, choose the General only when the economy can sustain the transition and the army can defend during the 90-second research. Keep production running where possible and leave population space for the reward. If the opponent is preparing an immediate attack, a cheaper military option may be safer. Check the civilization’s politician list for the current reward and any advanced-card bonuses.