What does 105 mean in Age of Empires 2? An Expert‘s Insights into the Psychology and Usage of AOE2 Taunts

As a long-time player and fan of the iconic real-time strategy franchise Age of Empires, few features bring me as much joy as the diverse selection of taunts available in AOE2. From the iconic "Wololo" chant to the screams of panicking villagers, these voice lines breathe personality into the game and provide endless opportunities for strategic trash talk. But of all the taunts, number 105 – "Don‘t resign! You can resign again" – stands out for its unique purpose of boosting teammate morale. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll be sharing my insights as an expert player into the history, usage, and psychology behind taunting in AOE2 multiplayer matches.

A Brief History of Taunting in Age of Empires

The original Age of Empires in 1997 kicked off the voice line tradition with a modest selection of unit acknowledgements. But AOE2 truly expanded the taunt repertoire in 1999, immersing players in medieval warfare. Some taunts referenced pop culture ("I‘ll beat you back to Age of Empires!"), while others added comic relief ("Ahhh!"). The Conquerors expansion in 2000 added further taunts and support for hotkeys. Subsequent titles like AOE3 built on this foundation with taunt menus for every civilization. Even as graphics evolved over the years, taunts remained a beloved staple of Age multiplayer.

The Art and Localization of Taunting

Bringing taunts to life requires quality voice acting and localization. English units are voiced eloquently, while Persian soldiers adopt a more rugged dialect. Wololo‘s distinctive warble transcends linguistic barriers. The care put into vocal performances enhances immersion and connectivity between units and civilizations. Taunt recordings also reflect regional accents in localized versions. Expertly localized taunts humanize the RTS experience beyond just strategic mechanics.

Usage and Mechanics: Hotkeys, Cooldowns, and More

Let‘s delve into how taunt usage functions in AOE2 matches:

• Accessing Taunts: Players can open the taunt menu by selecting a unit, or assign hotkeys to frequently used taunts.

• Cool Downs: To avoid excessive spam, taunts have a cool down period before they can be reused. This varies based on game speed.

• Triggering: Taunts are manually triggered by the player. Some scenarios and campaigns feature context-relevant automatic taunting.

• Interrupting: Units must finish their vocalization before accepting new orders, preventing overlapping voice lines.

• Stealth: Taunts break an unit‘s stealth after the first word, preventing hidden cheap shots.

• Duration: Most taunts are 2-3 seconds long, but can feel longer in heated combat. Proper timing is key.

As a veteran player, I highly recommend binding taunts to hotkeys like Numpad keys for fluid usage during battles. Now let‘s analyze some popular favorites from the taunt menu…

10 Taunts That Define the Age of Empires Experience

After extensively surveying fellow Age of Empires forums and communities, I have compiled a ranking of the definitive AOE2 taunts that have withstood the test of time:

This represents only a fraction of the over 100 taunts available. With so many options, there are endless possibilities for humor and strategy!

The Art of War: Using Taunts for Mind Games and Demoralization

Make no mistake – a perfectly timed "Ahhh!" or "Wololo" in the heat of battle can absolutely devastate enemy morale and focus. Even good sports can be momentarily distracted by the sound of their Holy Relic being converted or their newly built Castle getting sacked.

Over the decades, I have honed the art of psychological warfare through selective taunting. Here are some of my proven techniques:

• Feign Overconfidence: Excessive use of arrogant taunts like 46 can intimidate certain opponents into doubting themselves, even if you are also struggling.
• Mock Their Skill: Patronizing taunts that dismiss their ability may frustrate opponents into making careless mistakes. Use sparingly to avoid counterproductive anger.
• Demoralize Their Economy: A few quick "Ahhh!" screams as you raid idle Villagers can set the tone for an enemy‘s hopeless outlook.
• False Bravado: Act overly pompous after a modest victory to bait overeager counterattacks. "You fight like a dairy farmer!"

With great power comes great responsibility. I urge players to use taunting judiciously. Incessant spamming often backfires by enraging rivals into higher fervor.

Team Communications and Morale Boosting

In team games, taunts serve a vital role in communication beyond just humor. Allies can indicate needs and strategies through coded taunt sequences. And levity helps teams suffering setbacks to reset mentally for a comeback.

Number 105 shines here – "Don‘t resign! You can resign again." has pulled my teammates back from the brink of surrender by lighting a fire under them. Its defiant optimism reframes hopeless situations as mere setups for an epic revival. Win or lose, it keeps spirits high to the end.

Evaluating Taunting Etiquette and Sportsmanship

Of course, not all players take taunting with a grain of salt. Accusations of bad manners fly in multiplayer lobbies every day. So what constitutes unacceptable taunting? Longtime AOE specialists share their perspectives:

"Excessive taunting feels like gloating, especially closer to victory. Keep it classy." – AOC_Expert

"It‘s fine among friends, but easier to offend strangers. I avoid ‘cheap shot‘ taunts on defeated players." – RelicRanger

"New players often don‘t know unwritten etiquette rules. Go easy on them." – AOE_Advisor

The consensus seems to be exercising restraint and good judgement. The same taunt can be hilarious or enraging depending on timing and intention. Regardless of reception, learning to taunt more creatively and effectively still gives me such joy after thousands of play hours.

Closing Thoughts on an Age-old Tradition

And so we come to the end of our journey into the art, nuance, and timeless enjoyment of taunting in Age of Empires II. I hope this guide has provided helpful historical context, strategy analysis, and personal insights to all players looking to master this integral skill. If you take just one tip: bind "Wololo" to a hotkey immediately!

At its heart, taunting adds humanity and connection to the game. The iconic voices transport us into the boots of galloping Knights and trembling Villagers, making their trials and tribulations our own in a way strategic mechanics alone cannot. Even in harsh exchanges between bitter rivals, taunting reveals our shared love for the game that keeps bringing us back.

So don your armor, prime your hotkeys, and prepare your finest insults. A new battle awaits!