Age of Mythology Chapter 10: Strangers

[@94Sparkplug]

AoM has been one of my favorite games for years, and I really love your take on the campaign. The commentary especially. Thanks!

[@Melth]

Glad you like it!

[@partialbullet2215]

When you were describing the underworld and how inconsistent it’s purpose was It reminded me of God of War and how often it’s design changes with each game

[@Melth]

I never played that series. Although I can understand the many reasons for it, it does often disappoint me when a video game series is not consistent about its own lore or design

[@partialbullet2215]

@@Melth You don’t think it’s constant redesign, couldn’t be a reference to how the actual Greeks being undeceive on what the Underworld was for? I don’t want to say that God of War has the best writing, but I always thought it’s interpretation of Greek mythology was cool

[@Melth]

I don't know since I never played it. If you think it's a deliberate writing choice they made, that does sound pretty cool

[@auraldebris2733]

Hey mane, really cool videos. Perfect mixture of commentary, tactics, and great mythological insight. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of it. Thanks for making these videos.

[@Melth]

I'm glad you like them!

[@TheAndrewlifland]

Melth, these videos are awesome! (Even if this level isn't). Keep it up.

[@Melth]

Thanks!

[@zonetropper]

I used to do this mission by not sacrificing a single shade to weak myth units, (even until the last temple push). And i was playing it on titan difficulty, but i'm guessing after so many plays you know where the armies and units will spawn and attack you to properly protect your flanks. The only useful thing the shades were are killing tier4 myth units like the colossus and the medusa, even the mummy wasn't that difficult if you properly aggro it towards the heroes. (I did collect all 15 shades on the map IIRC)

[@Melth]

Yeah, I used to hoard all the shades, but there's no benefit to saving them like that. It would be a much more interesting mission if, for example, you got to keep your shades on the next level. That would encourage caution and exploration instead of just blitzing through.

[@YagoTheFrood]

Say what you will about aged graphics, but that staircase shot is still spectacular to my eyes.

[@Melth]

I agree! In general I think this game's graphics held up very well for something so old.

[@JoeFalchetto92]

I have an answer regarding Dante's use of the Kokytos. I am currently re-reading the Divine Comedy (I am Italian and we have to study it in school, but I wanted to read it older and out of the school context). In it, Dante does not exactly call the lower circle of hell Kokytos; the river has pooled into a lake frozen because of the wind coming from Lucifer's enormous wings, and has covered the whole Ninth Circle of the Inferno. "infin, là ove più non si dismonta, fanno Cocito; e qual sia quello stagno tu lo vedrai" "At the end, where man cannot leave anymore They make Kokytos; and what this lake is you will see" «Per ch'io mi volsi, e vidimi davante e sotto i piedi un lago che per gelo avea di vetro e non d'acqua sembiante» "Because I turned around, and saw in front of me and under my feet a lake, that because of the cold looked like glass, and not water" (Apologies if my translation is bad)

[@Melth]

Thanks! That makes some sense, though I'm still not clear on why he picked that one river in particular to have been at the very bottom circle.

[@starpupilz]

the one cool thing about this mission is that does hint/indicate that Hades isn't a villain in the campaign, unlike he is often portrayed in Western media

[@Melth]

That's true- though as I learned more about ancient Greek religion and read more Greek sources, it does seem like some ancient Greeks (not all by any means) thought of him as something like a villain. Some had a superstition that just mentioning his name could lead to misfortune or death for example, and he seemed to be treated with fear or avoidance rather than worship in many places. Even some of the ancient Greeks who tried to de-mythologize their myths and reinterpret the gods as misremembered historical figures portray Hades as a tyrant from whose realm the bold heroes try to steal or escape. That's different of course from some modern portrayals going as far as to treat Hades as a quasi-satanic figure, but it does suggest to me that some ancient Greeks regarded him as negative rather than just neutral

[@bezumny7208]

ong ong tactical genus at work here

[@asmodeus1234]

Call me a Melthhead, because I am binging this series!

[@Melth]

Thanks, I'm glad you like it so much!

[@kimze86]

Hey I love this series keep it up, when do you expect to upload the next episode?

[@Melth]

My schedule is to update every other Monday. So tomorrow!

[@Mandy-nl1zm]

Great content! 🙂

[@Melth]

Thanks!

[@MrSuperProoo]

insanely great content

[@Melth]

Thanks!

[@Randoman590]

Gargarensis says "Poseidon wishes his Sons returned to Power", but I thought the Titans were actually older than the Olympian Gods? Zeus was the son of Kronos saved from being devoured as a baby by Kronos' wife Rheia, I can't remember where Poseidon came in.

[@Melth]

The titans ARE older than the Olympian gods (generally). Poseidon was Zeus's older brother (I believe Hades was the middle brother). I think the sons in question refer to the cyclops such as Gargarensis himself, because cyclops like him are sons of Poseidon. Well some of them were anyway, AoM lore for the cyclops upgrade correctly points out that some cyclops were older.

[@NoLifeBrine]

Yea this was one of the missions where it's just a terrible micro mission. It's just a grind which doesn't reward us as much other than a cinematic. That aside, I enjoy playing between Zeus and Poseidon. Poseidon mostly because the Heroic and Mythic Age Heroes are playable strong. Militia are bad, but it's still free units regardless of what buildings you place. Zeus because their fortress based infantry are always the best out of 3 with a side of bonus dmg against buildings. Mythic age hero is also very strong.

[@Melth]

As a kid, I always liked Hades best among the Greeks. Not really for a logical reason, but just because it felt satisfying to know that I could get FOUR special damage upgrades for my archers, one in each age. As I recall, you could only get 3 upgrades for Poseidon cavalry or Zeus infantry.

[@aritude1]

lol Chiron runs through a metal fence at 2:01 and 4:30. What a cheater!

[@Melth]

He probably horse-jumped over it or something!

[@andreasadi591]

in the name of the fa... oops,sorry. wrong prayer😁😂

[@Cetnam]

11