Fast Imperial · Team — Macedonian Dynasty AoE4

Deer and miners (0:00–4:15)

Reach Age II at 4:15 with 18 villagers: deer instead of sheep, 4 miners, and the Imperial Hippodrome started at 2:45 by 4 villagers.

0:00 — The 6 villagers on deer, with Survival Techniques; the first new villager builds the Varangian Warcamp, then joins the deer.
1:00 — Rally on gold until 4 miners.
2:45 — Age up with the Imperial Hippodrome: 4 food villagers build it. Rally on wood.

Get the economy back in order, build the Varangian Arsenal for passive silver, and start the Golden Horn Tower at 7:00 with 8 food villagers.

4:15 — Age II: the builders come back. A House and a Varangian Arsenal (passive silver) near the gold; rally on food.
7:00 — Age up with the Golden Horn Tower: 8 food villagers build it. Specialized Pick at the same time.

Buy food back with gold at the Market to speed up, then start the Palatine School at 11:00 with 14 villagers.

8:30 — Age III: the builders go back to gold. A Market to buy food and speed up the next age; Scale Barding and Shaft Mining.
11:00 — Age up with the Palatine School, built by 14 villagers. While waiting, take the relics if they are still free.

Start the Elite Cataphracts with the silver you have saved and finish the economic upgrades, Cupellation included.

14:00 — Age IV: Elite Cataphracts in production and Cupellation. The 14 Palatine School builders move to stone.

Same plan as “Fast Imperial, Elite Cataphracts”, in a team version: deer from the start, the Varangian Arsenal for passive silver and a Market to speed up the age-ups.
The author’s marks: Age II at 4:15, Age III at 8:30, Age IV at 14:00; the Palatine School is started at 11:00 with 14 villagers.
JampiX annoys the opponent with the free Imperial Hippodrome units and defends the base with free Crossbowmen, without spending resources.
VortiX’s variant: Age III at 9:00 and the Palatine School at 11:30, for an army of Elite Cataphracts, Crossbowmen and Handcannoneers.