This is where it gets time consuming! With such a wealth of management options by the time you have 25 or more cities you can loose hours honing tax rates, building troops/buildings, navigating your units through terrain. But it is hear the complexity of the game engine shines. For example, one settlement may revolt, forcing you to lower taxes, damaging buildings and making a loss. But this can be balanced by increasing taxes in a more grateful settlement; a luxury you don’t have at the beginning of the game. If you feel over awed by the complexity of economic and build options you can turn ‘auto manage’ on and let the AI take the strain while you concentrate on the more important business of conquering territory. This broadens the appeal and accessibility of the game, although im sure die-hard strategists would prefer to have complete control over every aspect.
| Moving units across the map is simple. Just left click to select a unit and right click where you want it to deploy to. A multicolored arrow will show you how far this unit can move in each turn to get to their destination. There are couple of minor issues however. Once you have made a move it is impossible to cancel it and return your unit to its former position (within the same turn).
This can be frustrating in places if you realize you shouldn’t have moved to a certain point, or simply change your mind. Another annoyance is the fact you have to continually ship your Generals (see box out) around the map as they only ‘spawn’ in your capital. While you can choose which city is your capital, you can guarantee that the one general that dies is in the City furthest away, meaning various turns are spent marching a new commander over vast terrains to take his place. Units adhere to terrain, so they have to march around impassable areas such as mountain ranges and navigate rivers by bridges.
If an enemy blocks your path, such as a bridge, then u may well have to fight to get across. Armies are easily created through merging units created at one or more of your settlements. If you want to attack an army or enemy settlement, then select your army and click on your target. You can then choose to auto resolve, or command the army in battle yourself. |
Characters of the Campaign Map
 Generals: Needed to command your Armies, improve morale in your cities, and advance your ambitions. Can summon mercenaries, build forts and watch towers in times of need, or to fortify unguarded terrain.
 Diplomats: Great fun can be had with the diplomats, especially when you have amassed considerable finances. Allow you to bribe oncoming armies, and even defect enemy generals to your side, as well as bartering for trade rights, alliances and map information from allies and enemies.
 Spies: Send out your spies to gain valuable map information, infiltrate enemy buildings, and if you send more than one into an enemy settlement, they may even open the gates and invite your advancing forces in for the welcoming party
 Assassins: As their name suggests are used to assassinate enemy generals, as well as sabotage enemy buildings creating untold havoc!
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The Battlefield:
This is where the game really takes off – on the battlefield. The first sight of a truly huge army is breathtaking. Lined up and poised for action, your Cavalry stamp their feet impatiently, as infantry rattle their swords. Before each battle your General makes an empowering speech to rally the troops – take care of him, as he is the most important unit on the battlefield. The arena for each battle directly relates to the geography and terrain on the campaign map, so if the area is hilly, you will have to use this to your strategic advantage, as with standoffs over bridges for example. Strategy is key. Each unit has its strengths and weaknesses. Cavalry is fantastic for ploughing through infantry, crashing through men and sending them flying through the air. However, send Calvary head-on into a formation of spearmen, and the enemy will be feasting on Roman horse shish kebab for dinner! Similarly, Archers are fantastic for thinning out numbers at range, but near useless for close quarter’s combat, while heavy infantry are useful in defeating spearmen. A lot of thought has been taken over some of the units brought to the battlefield.
Wardogs & Elephants
Animals of Warfare - Elephants are the most dangerous units on the battle field, although viscious war dogs will chew your enemies arms off! War dogs are vicious, persistent hunting beasts that tear enemy infantry apart and can easily unsettle a formation. War elephants are a formidable foe, virtually unmatched on the battlefield, creating destruction in their wake as they toss their foes around in midair. To combat such beasts are the most unlikely of creatures – pigs! Yes, little fat squealers.
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