Age of Empires II Edit
"Conquer the lands south of the Chinese border and delve into the dense jungle, which is as beautiful as it is treacherous."—Map description
The Real World map Indochina depicts the area of the mainland of Farther India, with the southern part of the Malay Peninsula missing.
The jungle on the map is quite thick, but there are also a lot of open areas that can lead to pitched battles. The main battle is most likely taking place on the mainland, but control of the sea can proof useful, as a lot of players have their starting positions close to the shore.
Age of Empires III Edit
"With rich coastal waters and plentiful resources, the Indochinese peninsula promises many opportunities for expansion and conflict. A central river provides naval access inland, and numerous religious sites dot the landscape."—Map description
Historically, Indochina was initially a French Colony known as 'French Indochina'. Under French rule, Indochina compromised further territory which are now modern day Laos and Cambodia. After the loss of the Indochina War in 1954, Indochina became Vietnam.
Players initially start opposite each other, surrounded by the dense jungles of the peninsula and a single river which connects to the coastal waters. Although there are numerous Jesuit Missions and Sufi Mosques dotted across the map, there is no available trade route.
Utilizing the rich coastal waters will greatly benefit the player as well as the numerous treasures that dot the ocean, the central river can be bypassed by crossing areas of shallow water, of which there are two, the pathways can be effectively guarded by the use of navy.
"Indochina is another name for the southeastern Asian peninsula that comprises the territory of the countries of Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos. This region is heavily affected by the cultural influence of China, and to a lesser extent India.
The name French Indochina refers to a former federation of southeastern Asian states comprised of the French protectorates of Cochin China, Tonkin, Annam, Laos, and Cambodia. This federation was located in the easternmost region of the Indochinese peninsula and faced the South China Sea. The people of the region lived under Chinese control from nearly 111 BCE until 939 CE when they achieved independence as the kingdom of Dai Viet. Prior to the sixteenth century the region saw the rise and fall of the Khmer Empire in Cambodia, and the kingdom of Champa in Vietnam.
European influence began as early as the sixteenth century, but it was in the nineteenth century that western powers raced to colonize the area. Early on, the French took Cochin China as a colony and gained protectorates over Cambodia, Annam, and Tonkin. In 1887 they formed those four states into a union of Indochina, headed by a governor-general. Later, in 1893, Laos was added to the union. French control of Indochina officially ended at the Geneva Conference of 1954."