AOE IV / Maps
Forts
Starting positions are small defensive forts, setting up an imminent clash for control.

Overview
Starting positions are small defensive forts, setting up an imminent clash for control.
Terrain and layout
Players begin in small defensible areas enclosed by shallow moats, with Stealth Forest at the narrow entrances. Depending on player count and spawn, forts can sit far apart, connect, or ring the map edge and leave an open center.
Resources and control
Starting forts contain few resources and limit building placement, so players must expand into the surrounding map. Three Sacred Sites, one Trade Post, Relics, and additional resources lie beyond the entrances.
Player considerations
Scout the spawn arrangement before committing to an early wall: in some matches the fort entrances are the main chokepoints, while in others the map is largely open. Secure space outside the moat before the starting resources run short.



