Does the CPU in Age of Empires III self-allocates resources in hardest mode?

[dougfunny64]

Does the AI in AGE 3 allocates itself resources without actually gathering them (on hardest difficulty) like Age II or is building/spawning rate increased?

[MaslowK]

AFAIK the computer has to collect resources the same way any human player does, however they do work at a much faster & tightly controlled rate on the higher difficulties.

Of course this assertion is strictly based on seeing them harvesting resources manually; I'm not entirely sure how you would actually check it to be 100% sure.

[dougfunny64]

I see,I say that because it's not uncommin to see the AI rushing in less than 15 minutes with lots of infantries,cavalries and sometimes even artilleries.I wonder how the CPU can create so many settlers,gather resources and spawn military units in a small span of time(beginning from scratch in Age 1).Not mentioning they seem to advance to Age 2 much quicker than what seem to be a reasonable time.Thought it only happened to me,but some of friends who are experienced in RTS games(WOW and Starcraft,for example) can't rush so quickly(I watched some recorded matches)!Rushing with weak and basic militia is very likely,but not so much with upgraded cavalries,archers,artilleries and even ships

[Varun Highwind]

I think you are playing the game with the "Fast Building" cheat on. It is there in the AOE2, i turned it on & forgot to disable it & soon the AI was much powerful than me as it created many barracks & stuff within minutes.