Urgent News
Urgent News is an Age of Empires III scenario in Act II: Shadow (scenario 4), set in 1876. The player commands Black Family Estate.
Scenario setting & objectives
The required goals are Bring Chayton to Crazy Horse's camp. (Definitive Edition: Bring Chayton to the Lakota camp). Optional goals include Run a Black Powder Wagon into a Weapons Cache to open a pass.
Mission approach
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. Keep the named demolition unit protected until it reaches the target, then use it only on the obstacle or structure required by the mission. Take optional objectives when they add useful allies, routes, resources or reinforcements without putting the primary goal at risk.
Mission objective and version differences
Urgent News is the fourth scenario in Act II: Shadow of The WarChiefs. It was called Ambushed! before Definitive Edition. The main objective is to bring Chayton to Crazy Horse's camp in the original scenario; Definitive Edition changes the destination to the Lakota camp, where Uncle Frank is waiting. A secondary objective rewards 200 experience for driving a Black Powder Wagon into a Weapons Cache to open a pass. The story begins with Chayton in an American town below a cliff while Sheriff Billy Holme and miners are above. Chayton says he intends to meet Crazy Horse, and Holme agrees before leaving. In Definitive Edition, the encounter and enemies differ: Chayton meets his uncle, Holme objects, and the enemies become bandits using outlaws and European units.
Starting position and enemy layout
The Black Family Estate begins with a southern base commanded by Chayton. Several Weapons Caches block routes through the map, and Black Powder Wagons can destroy them to open passes. The Reno Gang controls multiple Barracks and Town Centers, with major bases in the central north, west, and northeast. Bandits attack aggressively using outlaws and European units. The original scenario instead describes Lakota forces from several War Huts and Town Centers, with Cetan Bows, Wakina Rifles, and War Clubs. The map's blocked routes mean the player must choose where to spend each wagon. One pass can create a faster route toward the objective, but the wagon is consumed or committed to the demolition task and cannot be used elsewhere.
Building a safe route
Scout the approaches from the starting base before moving Chayton toward the camp. The primary objective is a delivery destination, not the destruction of every enemy base. Use the starting force to clear units threatening the road and escort Chayton through a route with enough room to retreat. Destroy a Weapons Cache when it opens a direct pass or removes a dangerous choke point; use the secondary objective when it can be completed without exposing the wagon to attacks. Keep a force near the base while the main group moves north, because the enemy has several production sites and can send reinforcements along more than one route. Chayton should not be the first unit to enter an unexplored enemy position.
Managing attacks and reinforcements
The bandits in Definitive Edition use outlaws and European units, while the original Lakota opponents rely on ranged infantry and War Clubs. Keep units suited to the chosen version near the front: ranged troops can remove approaching infantry, and cavalry or shock units can reach exposed artillery or isolated defenders. The mission's route is more important than a full base clear, so engage only enough enemy forces to make the passage safe. If the army takes damage, return to the base to reinforce before continuing; a small force can be surrounded between the three enemy territories. Use Chayton's mobility to scout, but let regular troops take the first contact and protect the Black Powder Wagons as they approach the caches.
Story context and objective pacing
The scenario sits between the conflict at A Reckoning and the later meetings with Crazy Horse. The narrative presents a fragile attempt to reach the Lakota and establish communication before the miners and natives return to open conflict. Historically, the period between the end of the Red Cloud War in 1868 and the Black Hills War in 1876 was marked by uncertain peace and repeated failed negotiations. In gameplay, preserve the force long enough to reach the camp rather than spending time destroying every Barracks. The secondary pass objective is useful when it shortens the route or provides a 200 experience reward, but the destination remains the only primary goal. Make sure the final escort includes Chayton himself; clearing the route without moving him to the correct camp does not complete the scenario.
Using Black Powder Wagons
Black Powder Wagons open paths by destroying Weapons Caches, and the secondary objective grants 200 experience for completing one such demolition. Each cache controls access to part of the map, so the player should decide which pass provides the safest route to the camp. Protect the wagon while it crosses exposed ground; bandits can attack it before it reaches the cache. Do not spend every wagon on optional paths if the primary objective can be reached through a safer opening. Clear nearby guards with the army, move the wagon to the cache, and keep Chayton behind the troops until the path is open.
Version-specific destination
The destination changed in Definitive Edition, so players following a route for the original scenario should not stop at the former Crazy Horse camp if the mission marker names the Lakota camp. In the original version, Crazy Horse is the ally and the objective explicitly asks Chayton to reach his camp. In DE, Uncle Frank is at the destination and the enemy roster shifts to bandits. The same map objective structure remains a journey through blocked passes, but the story encounter and opposition are not identical.
Protecting the convoy
The Black Powder Wagon is slow and needs the army to clear its destination. Move it only after scouting the cache and keep Chayton nearby but behind the frontline. If the enemy attacks from another direction, pull the wagon back rather than leaving it exposed beside a blocked pass.
Ending the scenario
Once the correct camp is reached, the primary objective completes and the player does not need to destroy the enemy's three bases. Any remaining bandits can be bypassed if the route is safe. Completing the Weapons Cache objective adds experience, but it is optional and should not delay Chayton's arrival.
Carry Chayton to the correct Lakota camp
Urgent News is the fourth Act II: Shadow scenario. Its primary goal is to bring Chayton to Crazy Horse’s camp in the original release; Definitive Edition changes the destination to the Lakota camp and replaces Crazy Horse with Uncle Frank in the story. The optional Black Powder Wagon can be run into a Weapons Cache to open a pass, creating a faster route if the wagon can reach it safely. Keep Chayton protected during the trip, since the objective is to deliver him rather than defeat every enemy force. Scout the pass before choosing between the direct route and the optional opening, then escort the hero with enough units to clear ambushes. The title refers to bringing news that may establish peace between the Lakota and miners, so the scenario resolves through the hero’s arrival at the marked camp.