Dead! - Age of Empires III

Woenstag 13th, Maart, 1642AD
Hallo Miss Claudia, I hope you are well. I cannot contain my excitement, as today, I set sail for the New World! We are to join MrBenn and a group of settlers in the town of Van Chubbs. I left the military academy in Amsterdam and travelled to Rotterdam to board the 'Grote Maan'. Would you believe that Bartel is also on board! He hasn't changed a bit! I sure am glad to see a familiar face, for this will be a long journey. I will continue to write to you, my love. I miss you dearly.
Johan.

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Zatertag 30th, April, 1642AD
Dearest Claudia, I am still stuck on this awful vessel. I have grown tired of Bartel and his jokes about the milk maid. Though I must profess, I do not understand them fully. I am told that we will be arriving at Van Chubbs in a few days now. Thank the lord, as my these bunks are killing me!
Johan.

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Dinsdag 2nd, Mei, 1642AD

We have arrived, and only lost four crew to scurvy! I arrive at the very centre of Van Chubbs. It is a small town, though surrounded by many walls and Outposts. The settlers are busy cutting down trees and working on the farms. I see one man mining silver on his own. That can't be right? Surely he needs some help? I cannot find MrBenn anywhere, and I am exhausted. I must retire to bed. 

Johan.

Hullo from Van Chubbs!

Woenstag 3rd, Mei, 1642AD

The sound of gunfire woke me this morning. I grabbed my rifle and ran to join Bartel outside. Russians! Attacking the front gate! I was nervous, I had only fired this rifle at straw until today. I fire and reload. Fire and reload. Fire and reload. Eventually the man on the horse died. I must get this rifle checked. Bartel was injured during the attack, as was the wall. I carried Bartel to the church, where the Monk 'healed' him. I spent the rest of the day standing patiently at the gate, waiting for any enemy reinforcements.
Johan.

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Donerdag 4th, Mei, 1642AD

Good news! Shipments arrived from Amsterdam today! Exactly 300 wood and 300 gold coins. Those bureaucrats are so specific! I look in the mail selection, yet see nothing addressed to me. I put in my bundle of letters to be sent back. I do hope you receive them.
Johan.

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Vrijdag 5th, Mei, 1632AD

Today I spent some time with the Monk at the gate. I asked him why we are here, and what we have to gain from this expansion. He said nothing in return. Just stared off into the distance. It was as if he wasn't really there. I look through the gate. I think I saw something purple. But I'm not quite sure. They still haven't fixed the wall. There is still a big hole in it. There are plenty of settlers just standing next to the hole. Why aren't they fixing it!!?
Johan.

"It's...a gate?

Zatertag 6th, Mei, 1642AD
They have upgraded the walls now, which seems to have fixed the hole. Stone is better than wood. Our food stocks are low, so I escorted a few settlers out to hunt some large woolly cows. I stand guard as they strip the meat from the bone and we return home. The lumber yard is overfull. Why does no one use this resource in Van Chubbs.
Johan.

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Zondag 7th, Mei, 1642AD
I am bored Claudia. There is nothing happening in this Town. There are hardly any other soldiers around. I am writing this entry earlier than I am used to. We received a cannon from home this morning and we setup an outpost. I am beginning to think being sent here was a waste of time. Wait. That sound...it is the Town Bell! "The Russians are attacking again! To the west!" I hear Bartel cry. I grab my gun. I must end this entry here.
Johan.

"Siege of Van Chubbs", c1642

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Summary

Johan didn't survive the Siege of Van Chubbs. In fact, no one did. Once again I was trounced by the AI, even though I built walls! And upgraded those walls! And put towers next to them!. I don't know. I mean, I really had fun playing this game. Even though its seven years old, it still looks really nice, plus I wasn't on the highest settings!

"Death of a Soldier" c1642

Even though I (technically, Johan) died, I didn't find Hard mode too challenging. My mistake in this game was not training enough troops, and instead, buying upgrades and new buildings that gave you more upgrades. I never had an army. The walls certainly helped! Though I had to google how to repair them afterwards (turns out you have to click on them, then click on the hammer to repair them, not try to repair them with your workers)

Two games down, and both of them have been really enjoyable! Though you know what's next... it's only Neil's favourite game.

So....that's good.

mrbenn

STATS!

Playthrough: 13/03/1642... err... I mean...07/11/2012

Difficulty: 3 x Computer - Hard
Time until (Johan's) death: 40mins.
Biggest Fail: Not knowing how to repair walls.
Biggest Probable Inaccuracy: The dates of the diary.