Treasures
Treasures is the second The Art of War training scenario, using the Ottomans to teach how map exploration can support the economy. The mission’s primary target is a Food threshold, with a Treasure pickup as an optional objective. It demonstrates that the Explorer and nearby scouts can secure resources in addition to revealing the map.
Scenario setting & objectives
The required goal is to gather 1,000 Food. The optional goal is to collect one Treasure. Keep Villager production active while assigning workers to safe Food sources; use the Explorer to locate and defeat nearby Treasure guardians, then collect the Treasure only when the route is clear. The optional reward should not interrupt the gathering needed for the threshold.
Mission approach
Start with the required Food total in mind and avoid idle workers or unnecessary military queues. The Treasure is useful practice for exploration and guardian fights, but it is secondary to reaching the Food goal. Repeat the scenario if needed to learn how scouting, gathering and Treasure timing fit together.
Ottoman exploration and scenario goals
Treasures is the second Art of War scenario and teaches how exploration can supplement an economy. Playing as the Ottomans, the player must gather 1,000 Food; collecting one Treasure is optional. Keep Villagers working on safe Food sources while the Explorer reveals nearby ground and locates a manageable Treasure. Treasures are guarded, so the Explorer may need help from nearby units before the reward can be collected. Do not send the Explorer into an unknown guard group simply to complete the optional goal. The scenario is also a lesson in opportunity cost: units diverted to a Treasure fight are not gathering, but a successful pickup can provide resources or experience that supports later play. Watch the objective tracker and keep Villager production moving so the Food target remains on schedule. If the guard is too strong or the route is unsafe, prioritize the required 1,000 Food and return to the Treasure only when the army can clear it. The skill transfers to ordinary matches, where scouting and controlled Treasure collection provide an early advantage without abandoning the economy.
Using the Explorer without losing tempo
The optional Treasure is a useful reward only if the guardian fight does not disrupt the main Food objective. Scout the route, bring enough support to clear the guardians and return Villagers to gathering promptly. A Treasure pickup reinforces the value of exploration, while the required 1,000 Food teaches the player to maintain the economy throughout the mission.
Skills reinforced by the lesson
The scenario’s Ottoman setup lets players practice keeping an Explorer active while villagers continue their economic work. The lesson applies to ordinary matches: reveal terrain, identify a manageable Treasure, clear it safely and return to gathering rather than allowing exploration to idle the economy.
Primary objective reminder
The optional Treasure is not required for victory. Reach the 1,000-Food goal first, and only contest a Treasure when the Explorer and support can clear it without losing the economic tempo.
Clear guardians and weigh risk against the reward
Treasures are guarded map rewards claimed by an Explorer or another eligible Hero after the guardians are defeated. Their contents can include resources, Experience or special units and abilities, so inspect the reward before committing to a difficult fight. Use the Hero’s guardian bonus and support troops to clear stronger sites, then claim the Treasure without exposing the Explorer to an enemy army. A distant Treasure can be less valuable than keeping the Hero alive to scout, build a Trading Post or establish map control. Treasure guardians vary by map and scenario; bring a force appropriate to the target rather than treating every site as a trivial pickup. In campaigns, the objective may specifically require collecting or rescuing a Treasure, so follow the mission marker and protect the carrying unit.