2 TCs · Farimba — Malians AoE4

Quarry at 2:40, wood and gold (0:00–4:35)

Click the age-up at 2:40 with 13 villagers, 3 of them builders; Age II arrives at 4:35 with 18 villagers and a Lumber Camp placed at 3:05.

0:00 — 5 villagers chop a straggler tree then go to sheep; the sixth builds the Pit Mine, then 6 Houses around it, 2 at a time. Rally on sheep up to 12.
1:25 — One villager goes to the straggler tree.
2:25 — Rally on wood.
2:40 — Age up: 3 sheep villagers build the Mansa Quarry (the standard pick: its passive gold boosts the economy); 5 others go to wood. Against Age I aggression or Age II heavy cavalry (French, Jeanne d’Arc, Golden Horde, Mongols), the Saharan Trade Network replaces it.
2:45 — The next 2 villagers rally on gold, then the rally goes back to wood.
3:05 — A Lumber Camp on the woodline.
3:25 — Rally on wood.

Place the second Town Center at 4:50 with 8 woodcutters, build enough to defend, then go up to Age III as fast as possible for the Farimba Garrison.

4:35 — Age II: the 3 Quarry builders go to sheep.
4:50 — Drop off the wood and build the second Town Center with 8 woodcutters, between the wood and the gold, or between the wood and the berries depending on the starting position.
— Next a Barracks or an Archery Range, or both, to defend. With the necessary buildings up, most woodcutters move to food and gold for Age III, and the rally follows.
— Age II army: Donsos against cavalry, Musofadi Warriors against Men-at-Arms, Javelin Throwers against archers, Archers against spearmen.
— If the opponent will be very aggressive in Age II: Double Broadax, more food and wood, defensive play, Cattle Ranches and Cattle bit by bit. Otherwise, no upgrade and no Cattle, and Age III as fast as possible.
— Out of sheep and not confident enough to go for the deer: Cattle at the Mill, but Age III will be much later. Floating wood: a few Farms.
— Age III: the Farimba Garrison, a few Barracks and 1 Stable. Ideal army: Mansa Musofadi Warriors and Freeborn Warriors non-stop, with Sofas; Donsos against cavalry.
— Once the area is safe, one more Pit Mine, then Cattle Ranches and Farms bit by bit to support the economy.

Made for an Age III timing with the Farimba Garrison: Sofas force the opponent into spearmen and crossbowmen, which are bad against Mansa Musofadi Warriors and Freeborn Warriors.
The Saharan Trade Network replaces the Mansa Quarry against Age I aggression or Age II heavy cavalry (French, Jeanne d’Arc, Golden Horde, Mongols).
Place the second Town Center between the wood and the gold, or between the wood and the berries depending on the starting position.
Against a very aggressive opponent in Age II, play defensive with Double Broadax and Cattle Ranches; otherwise buy no upgrade and no Cattle and aim for Age III as fast as possible.
Team-game variant (Jockxtar): Saharan Trade Network, a Market in a corner, constant Traders and Toll Outposts far from each other, otherwise their tolls overlap.