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Warrior

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Ranger

0 (0%)

Knight

3 (75%)

Priest

0 (0%)

Mage

1 (25%)

Total Members Voted: 4

[Hanzoku]

The Duke of Aladda has died and left his last will and testament to his only child and heir. The Duke’s legacy is a gallant one, replete with deeds of valor in the defense of Aladda. By dint of his efforts, the former capital of the western realm of the Aragonian Empire has returned to a proud state. It was the Duke’s deepest wish that his heir once again extend Aladda’s dominion and eventually sit on the emperor’s throne in the city of Tetrada.

What is the Sword of Aragon?

Sword of Aragon is a DOS turn-based strategy and role-playing game developed by good old SSI back in 1989. The basic concept is to conquer the entire map through diplomacy or war, managing an army of infantry, archers and cavalry with Mage and Priest support against orcs, bandits, giants, and worse enemies.

There are five types of heroes in this game – warriors, knights, rangers, priests and mages. These heroes support the regular units, which consists of infantry, cavalry, archers, mounted infantry and mounted archers.

Sword of Aragon supports a fair amount of customization – each hero and unit can be given a custom name.

A basic overview of the units

(Mounted) Infantry/Warrior: The basic footsloggers and a backbone of any army. Infantry can be everything from unarmored peasants with slings to plate-armored elites wielding pikes or greatswords.

In terms of combat, infantry are one of the most solid defensive options – while knights can individually have more hitpoints and armor, you can pack far more infantry into an individual hex.

Mounted infantry are something of a midway point between infantry and cavalry. They are more mobile then infantry, but less powerful then cavalry.

Warriors are the hero version of this unit – they can be equipped to fulfill either role.

(Mounted) Archers/Ranger: They kill enemies with pointy sticks fired at a distance. They come on foot or mounted on horses, and exist to punish the AI for stacking units in the open, as each ranged attack will strike every unit in the target hex at full strength.

Foot archers are slower, but high level ones have access to composite longbows, allowing them to rain pointy death from half a battlefield away.

Mounted archers are more mobile, but their horse bows don’t have the same range or punch as longbows, meaning they’re generally close enough to take return fire from hostile archers.

Rangers are something of an odd duck – like Warriors, they can be built to be either foot or mounted archers. They also have some (very) limited spell-casting abilities, but nowhere near what high level Mages and Priests can manage.

Cavalry/Knights: The final type of units, cavalry are your tanks. Deadly and near unstoppable in the open, but vulnerable to being surrounded and cut to pieces if they get entangled in poor terrain or trying to storm a city on their own.

Pound for pound, cavalry are the hardest hitting units on the battlefield, but they make up for it by their high cost per unit and their limited stacking abilities – you can stack 100 heavy infantry in plate armor and tower shields in the same space as 33 heavy cavalry.

Priests and Mages: The spellcasters, they only come in hero flavors. Priests are better armored, but really can’t keep up with Warriors and Knights and shouldn’t try to do so. Mages are squishy people in robes and should do their best to never be in range of anyone trying to hurt them.

Where they come into their own is once they hit their highest levels. Priests will become capable of healing and resurrecting whole units as long as a few members are still alive, turning crippling casualties for your army into minor wounds. Mages will start disintegrating enemy commanders and spamming fireballs across multiple hexes, when they aren’t raising fortifications from the ground around your infantry right before an enemy cavalry charge tries to strike home.

Joining In

If you want to submit a character, feel free – I need a name, and a class. If you also want to command a unit, give me a unit name, type and a general idea of what you want them to be.

Like all others, the protagonist (my character) must choose among the five hero classes. This has slightly more effect then others – Warrior, Ranger and Knight provide recruiting bonuses, which Priest and Mage do not. The three physical classes can be regarded as somewhat ‘easier’ then the other two for that reason.

Warrior – Purchasing infantry costs 50% less
Knight – Purchasing cavalry costs 25% less
Ranger – Purchasing bowmen and mounted bowmen costs 25% less

Resources

To help with the above, I wrote some guides a while back regarding what combination of equipment can be equipped, which I’ll include links to here.

Equipment Restrictions Spreadsheet
Quick Gear Rules

[Hanzoku]

Leadership choice
The main character starts at a higher level then other heroes, but as with on old-school D&D, their level depends on their class, as some classes level faster then others.

A warrior starts at 6th level, the Knight at 5th, the Ranger at 4th, the Priest at 3rd and the Mage at 2nd. The practical effect is minor – the two classes that will end up in melee and need the HP are the highest level to start with.

What the game says about the units

Infantry
Advantages:
- More hits per man
- May be equipped with short ranged missile weapons
- Can be heavily armored
- Can employ a variety of pole arms (strong defense)
- Powerful attack abilities
- Advance in levels the fastest of all units
- Somewhat cheaper to make, maintain and train
- Start at 1st level if the player character is a Warrior

Disadvantages:
-   Slower than other unit types
-   Missile weapons are not as effective as bowmen and archers
-   Attack is not as powerful as comparable cavalry

Bowmen
Advantages:
-   Very good missile attack for range and damage
-   Cheaper to make and maintain than cavalry
-   Somewhat better movement than infantry
-   Advance in levels faster than mounted bowmen
-   Start at 1st level if the player character is a Ranger.

Disadvantages:
-   Poor number of hits per man
-   Poor armor class
-   Poor hand attack
-   More expensive than infantry to maintain
-   Advances in levels slower than cavalry, infantry, and mounted infantry units

Cavalry
Advantages:
-   Superior movement
-   Harded hitting of all units (if properly equipped of course)
-   Can use crossbows
-   Good number of hits per man/horse
-   Advances in levels faster than bow units
-   Starts at 1st level if the player character is a Knight

Disadvantages:
-   Most expensive of all units to make, equip and maintain
-   Greater movement costs for certain types of terrain
-   Not able to stack as many men in a square (depends on horse type)
-   Poor missile attack

Mounted Bowmen
Advantages:
-   Very rapid movement
-   Excellent missile attack
-    Good compliment to independent commands of mounted troops
-   Start at 1st level fi the character is a Ranger.

Disadvantages:
-   Very expensive units to make, train and maintain
-   Less effective missile attack compared to archers
-   Poor number of hits compared to cavalry
-   Poor hand attack
-   Advances in levels slowest of all units

Mounted Infantry
Advantages:
-   Very rapid movement
-   Good attack ability
-   Good armor class
-   Missile capability
-   Advances in levels faster than archer and cavalry units
-   Starts at 1st level if the main character is a Knight or a Warrior

Disadvantages:
-   Expensive to make, equip, train and maintain
-   Fighting ability is less than regular infantry
-   Armor class is less than regular infantry
-   Advances in levels slower than regular infantry

The History of Aladda
As told by the Court Historian

Twenty years ago, Aladda was a miserably poor land, a pale reflection of its former glory as capital of the western half of the once-mighty Aragonian Empire. Its people were terror-stricken, though the land itself was rich in resources: fertile soils, abundant forests, and varied mineral assets graced the surrounding areas. In its weakened state, Aladda was also an easy mark for an array of monsters who periodically raided its territory, stripping the land of its sustenance. On the rare occasions that Aladdans resisted these incursions, bravery met evil and was overcome.

Then one day the humiliations came to an end. A band of fiendish goblins ransacked the village with plunderers’ glee. Pillaging and looting, publicly humiliating residents. The horde now prepared to take its leave. Suddenly, two riders appeared on a hill south of the village: a knight and his squire. The tall knight rode a giant warhorse and raised his lance high in the air. The knight and his horse were both draped in dusty, worn – and sturdy mail armor. For a few moments, the knight and his loyal squire sat motionless. Both raiders and peasants were transfixed by the sight. The knight lowered his lance and put spurs to his mount’s flank. He charged down the slope directly at the startled mob.

At first, the Goblins did nothing, paralyzed at the sight of the attacker on his furious charger. Once they realized that this man was for real, they drew their weapons and scattered. The marauders’ fate was already sealed. The villagers watched in amazed delight as their mysterious champion cut a swath through the fleeing Goblin horde. None was spared the knight’s righteous wrath that day. In gratitude, the villagers cared for the knight’s wounds and the needs of his squire. When the knight recovered, a delegation from the village approached him with a proposal. They offered their undying allegiance in return for the knight’s pledge to lead and protect the village.

The brave young knight accepted the villagers’ proposal. Some say it was a sacred vow that he took to protect all who are weak. Others believe that the pretty young maid who nursed him back to health was truer inspiration for the knight’s decision. The maid became his bride, and after a proper amount of time had passed, the noble pair were blessed with a child.

The knight began his work in earnest, but soon found that slaying a horde of goblins is easier than dealing with the multitude of daily problems that confound a land. There were many frustrations and many setbacks. There were more raids by creatures that roamed the wilderness, but the knight and his small but growing force of soldiers repulsed them. Under his leadership, Aladda moved towards a happier reality. Before long, the people began calling him “The Duke” of Aladda.

Throughout the heir’s childhood, Aladda prospered. As his father’s prowess in battle grew, he gained knowledge of both nearby and faraway places. The Duke’s scribes recorded bits and pieces of information about foreign lands brought by travelers to Aladda. His spies and scouts ranged far and wide, collecting information on all facets of these lands, from their customs and histories to their economies, politics and military potential.

As the heir approached adulthood, the Duke provide him with a formal, well-rounded education – along with intensive military training. He hired a number of teachers from distant lands to instruct his son in the arts of diplomacy and leadership. The Duke’s personal example amply reinforced the scholar’s diligent efforts.

Over time, the Duke’s plans and dreams have gradually been revealed. It was his fondest hope that Aragon would one day regain the glory of bygone days when the blessings of civilization were known to all the people of the realm. Cities prospered, their residents free from the encroachment of marauding creatures. The citizens prospered through industriousness and individual initiative.

Alas, the Duke will not fulfill his dream. An Orc raiding party surprised his forces, pressing into the village itself. At a critical moment, the Duke arose in fury, surpassing his previous martial deeds. Orc after orc fell before his blade. The battle was nearly won when a priest of some hideous, orcish deity managed to cast an evil enchantment upon the Duke and slew him! The remnants of the orcs then withdrew, presumably to find reinforcements for a final battle against Aladda and its people.

And so the mantle of leadership has been literally thrust upon the heir’s shoulders, years before his time. The hard-won gains of his father are now in his hands. His success depends on wide choices – and the element of chance. In this time of trial, his father’s testament and journal – and a cast of able advisors will guide him. Praise the Aladdan cause!

[Mephansteras]

Oh, neat! Never played this, but damn does it sound up my alley. Really wish I'd had this back in the day, I imagine I'd have loved it.

Might have to check it out, see if it is on GoG.

In any case, I'd like to submit a character.

Hero: Ranger
Name: Danedan/Danlia (Male/Female name options)
Eventually I'd like to have them leading around a force of mounted archers, acting as a hit and run force multiplier on the battlefield.

[Hanzoku]

I don’t think it’ll be on GoG, but SSI is gone, and its freely available on abandonware websites.

Do you have a preference between a male or female character?

[Mephansteras]

Not a strong preference, though Danlia shows up more often in games that I play, so go with Female I suppose.

[FakerFangirl]

Unit name: Faker's Militia
Type: Bowmen
Mission: To protect the city from threats.
Alignment: Prioritizes civilians & trade routes.

[Hanzoku]

Do you also want a hero Faker, or just a unit?

[Hanzoku]

Spoiler: The Third Battle of Aladda (click to show/hide)

The Last Testament of the Duke of Aladda
To my Heir and Successor:
Now, my son, you should know of my origins. They are part of my personal legacy, part of our family history. I was once a knight in the service of Baron Strumberg of Sothold. One day, while riding alone, three men attacked me. Two I killed outright, the third I wounded. I questioned him and found to my chagrin that Lucinian III had put a price on my head of 5,000 gold pieces!

I immediately realized that I, a remnant of the ruling family of once-great Aladda, was the target of Lucinian’s violent scheming. Already, Lucinian’s program of assassination and intimidation against the descendants of the ancient royal families had swept through Tetrada. His malevolent reach extended southward as far as Sothold! Hoping to evade Lucinian’s deadly assassins, I fled toward the mountains in the west. I was careful to watch my back as I went. My instincts proved correct, for two more of Lucinian’s murderers descended upon me. I spared neither of their lives when we fought but suffered a serious wound from a poisoned blade.

It took me many years to cross the rugged and perilous mountains to get to Aladda, the ancient capital of the Westrealm. My squire and I nearly succumbed to the numerous orc patrols near Zarnix, but managed to evade their fortress in the pass. I tell you, without bravado, that I killed more than two hundred orcs in those years.

In the year 851 QJ, I finally arrived in Aladda and have ruled since, as you know. It has long been my desire to restore our family to its glory and station of centuries past.

A few short years after I was called upon to become the protector of this fair domain, I began to send scouts to neighboring lands. It was my desire to know and understand the dynamics of the area’s political and economic systems. And I was particularly interested in the state of the region’s military power. I instructed these emissaries to immerse themselves in the culture, politics, and religions of the foreign realms. I asked them to report their findings to me.

Now many of the scouts have completed their reports, some after many lonesome years away from home. I fervently hope that the delay of the remaining scouts does not portend ill tidings. Please express my gratitude to the families of those that, for whatever reason, have not returned.

The findings of my trusted agents are herein recorded. Some of the information is vague, as certain lands evaded our most persistent inquiries. Some reports clash with others. I have added my own knowledge of the history of this part of the world. I trust that this journal will serve you in your efforts to advance Aladda’s security and well-being.

I have always dreamed of the day when a rebuilt Army of Aladda would venture forth to avenge our family and permanently loosen Lucinian’s grip on Tetrada. As a young man I was vain enough to think that I would live to see the day. The fact that today you read this parchment page proves that I have not. With God’s help, you will yet achieve what I have not.


Karl sighed as he lowed the parchment. It was just like the Duke, he reflected. Not a personal word to him beyond the salutation, only a focus on the wrongs done to the man in his youth, and his burning desire to redress those wrongs, against all logic and reason.

Whatever the Duke may have desired, those were distant dreams that Karl had no chance currently of addressing. The Duke’s death, alongside the death or desertion of a large part of Aladda’s fledgling army left the town in a precarious position.  He looked across the table to the hooded, bearded man who stood, waiting on his pleasure.

Karl: Orick. I am glad to see you are recovered.

Orick: Your Grace… I am sorry for the loss of the Duke, your father-

Karl raised his hand, cutting off the man and shook his head.

Karl: There will be time to mourn his loss later. The goblins who raided the town knew they almost had us, and they’ll return with as many of their kin as they can scrounge up. The question is, how soon?

Both he and Orick turned their attention to the weatherbeaten young woman standing next to Orick, who appeared uncomfortable at the sudden scrutiny. Despite that, she answers in a firm, clear voice.

Danlia: Soon, Capt- Your Grace. My scouts have tracked several tribes passing close by our lands, mustering to our west. Tonight, at the earliest. Two or three nights from now, at the latest.

Karl: Thank you, Danlia. Please, keep me informed of their movements. Now, what can we muster to defend Aladda?

Orick: Much of the army was killed in battle, your Grace, or fled in shame and cowardice when the Duke passed of his wounds. Of the regular army, your personal guard and Danlia’s Outriders are the only intact units. I have taken the liberty of pulling together those infantry who remained in service together into a single unit, the Aladda Foot, but they number only fourty men.

Danlia: There is another thing. I have a report that the hunters and caravan guards in the city have pulled together. They are calling themselves Faker’s Militia, though we don’t know who leads them yet. There appears to be about a score and a half of them in total.

Karl: So… a score and a half of knights or horse archers, two score infantry and a score and a half of bowmen. Well… it will have to do, we don’t have time to raise more forces. Here is my plan: The Foot will hold the western wall. Orick, you will be with the Militia, stationed on the higher buildings in the center. Use your ability to create light to allow them to target the goblins. My guard, and the Outriders will be stationed outside the walls to the east. We’ll keep them from approaching the undefended walls while they dash themselves against the Foot.

Orick:Danlia: Yes, Your Grace.

Karl: Let us prepare, for this will be a bloody night.


The forces of Aladda on the eve of battle
Heroes




Units





The state of Aladda



The Third Battle of Aladda


Aladda’s forces are deployed as described, with the infantry holding the fortifications against the Orcish advance, Faker’s Militia behind them, and the two horse units outside the city walls.


The orcish forces approach from the north-west, impeded by the river flowing nearby.


The state of the forces at the start of the battle


The orcs have approached closer, revealed by the Light spells of Orick. The Outriders and Militia pepper them with arrows while the Foot dig in and prepare for the attack.


Only ten orcs have fallen so far.


During their turn, the orcs tried and failed to dislodge the Foot from their positions. The Outriders swing wide to attack from the flank.


After the archer volleys, Karl commits to the charge with his guard, wiping out the orcs closest to the walls.


Almost a hundred orcs fell in the fighting, against eight humans.


The morale of the orcs failed, and almost half their number broke and ran, shattering their ability to fight. Karl declined to let them flee without retribution.


The broken orcs flee to the north, with the Outriders harrying them with arrows while the Guard wipe out the orcs closest to the city.


In the end, it was a rout. Only one of the injured made a recovery, and while the Foot were bloodied, they were unbroken, gaining a level unit-wide.


Karl recovered the Duke’s stolen weapon from among the slain orcs.




Aladda stands, and the Young Duke’s actions have secured the morale and to a large part the loyalty of his people.

[Mephansteras]

The Outriders are proud to have done our part in the defense of our homes!

What orders now, my lord? We have driven off the orcs, but our defenses are still weakened.

[Hanzoku]

Spoiler: Slaying the Minotaur (click to show/hide)

The History of the Lands of Aragon in Centuries Past

The land of Aragon, which lies in the northeastern corner of the continent, is isolated by forbidding deserts, impassable mountains, and unfordable rivers. The vast majority of the land is lightly populated or completely uninhabited. Only a few population centers dot its imposing terrain. Most of the humans that dwell in the land of Aragon live in an uncivilized state.

Such was not always the case. Almost nine centuries ago, Justinid I established the Aragonian Empire, uniting the existing Eastrealm and Westrealm, and forming treaties of alliance with the existing elves and dwarves of Aragon. The resultant Aragonian Empire flourished for centuries. The rich lands provided bountiful harvests both to feed the large population and to export overseas. The lush forests provided materials for a great merchant Armada that conducted trade throughout the known world. The Luftgar Mountains that bisect the land from north to south contained vast mineral resources. An industrious populace learned how to exploit these resources effectively.

A succession of wide and gifted rulers continued the rich legacy of Justinid I. They utilized their governing skills and the land’s natural resources to the peoples’ benefit. The land thrived and the people were happy and content. Alas, the abundance of Aragon attracted the notice of the fiendish monsters that inhabited the surrounding wilderness. The soldiers of the empire were increasingly called upon to fend off raids by the hordes which attacked. Though it was noticed by few at the time, this frequent fighting drained the vitality of the nation.

As the invaders became more numerous and powerful, discord broke out among the ruling classes. Nobles turned against their Emperor as disputes arose over royal protection of vassal states. The authority of the Emperor waned, and in some areas he ruled in name only.

In 523 QJ, Emperor Thorivid was assassinated, leaving no heirs. Governor-General Brethon of Tetrada laid claim to the title of Emperor for himself. There was strong opposition from the southern provinces., the cities of the Westrealm seceded from the Empire, and civil war ensued. The cities in the west fought amongst themselves over petty disputes. Years of countless bloody battles in Eastrealm left the factions still at odds, but stalemated in their mutual hostility.

The fearsome Brethon initiated what were later called the “Years of Chaos.” Rare is the leader who moves History according to his designs, yet so it was with Brethon. Luckily, the Tetradan despot met an unhappy end at the hands of his kinsmen.

Just as the conflicts were abating following Brethron’s death, the “Year of Disaster” brought floods, and then, drought in 527 QJ. The resulting starvation and disease took the lives of thousands of the ancient Aragonians. Matters further deteriorated with the advent of the “Years of Horror.” First, the Justinid Pass fell to the Zarnix Orcs, a huge “harol” that swept down from the mountains and overwhelmed the weakened defenders clinging to their strategic fortress guarding the pass. Then, hordes of titans led by a charismatic mage joined with masses of goblins to form an invincible and hideous army, which rolled across the lands, engulfing and destroying everything in its way. Tetrada fell to the horde in 531 QJ and the wealth of the Aragonian Empire was lost to the monsters.

Thus, the ancient empire fell and was stripped of much of its accumulated riches. The lands of Aragon have been in darkness during the three centuries since the “Three Catastrophes.” Only now are some cities returning to a semblance of the civilization known in ancient times. Legend has it that the ancient emperors had always possessed three symbols of authority that signified the ruler of all Aragon. Two of these items, the Scepter of the East and the Crown of the West, were lost when the Goblins and Titans virtually destroyed ancient Tetrada in the final battle of the Year of Horror. The Amulet of Aladda had also vanished, but legend has it that just before his painful death from an administered poison, Justinid XVI sent the Amulet away from traitorous Brethron’s reach. The location of these items is today an intriguing mystery.


Karl: A mystery indeed, and an obsession of the Duke’s.

Hodgkin: Your Grace, who was Justinid XVI? I thought the last Emperor was Thorivid?

Karl: Correct. Justinid wasn’t formally in the line of succession, if I remember my history correctly. He was a bastard offspring of Thorivid through a concubine. Despite that, and lacking any true heir, he had what was probably the strongest claim to the throne.

Orick: Until Brethron had him murdered, at least. Still, as a sign of his father’s affection, he was granted the Amulet of Aladda early in his life.

Karl: Either way, history centuries old does not safeguard our people today. First, I want to thank all of you for your contributions in the battle last week.

Danlia: The Outriders are proud to have done their part in the defense of our homes! What orders now, my lord? We have driven off the orcs, but our defenses are still weakened.

Karl: I promoted my second in command of the Guard to its Captaincy. This is Hodgkin, a seasoned knight. He will take the lead in military matters.

Hodgkin: The Outriders and Militia were unharmed. One of my men died in the fighting, and the Foot suffered six losses. While the people are grateful for our successful defense, there are only two new recruits this month.

Danlia: My scouts came across an escaped slave to the southwest. He was near death from exposure and starvation but reported that a monster in the nearby hills holds many hundreds more as captives.

Orick: We must also be wary of continued raids by the orcs. While we dealt with the main tribe in the area, the survivors are likely to continue raiding if they sense that we are distracted.

Karl: We secured some treasure from the slain orcs, and the taxes we bring in outstrip our expenses. However, we don’t have enough in hand to develop Aladda, recruit more champions and reinforce our armed forces.

Hodgkin: If I may suggest, your Grace, we should deal with this monster. Having such a creature lurking in the area is a threat.

Danlia: My Outriders found a beast in the woods to the northwest, not to the southwest. I believe the slave may have been disoriented. My scout returned gibbering in terror – If we wish to do battle, I believe it must be with champions alone.

Karl: Well then, it will be the four of us. Let’s deal with the beast.



The Lance of Piercing increases Karl’s chance to hit from 60% to 70% and deals 6 more damage.


Good performance in an army battle attracts a random hero. In this case, Hodgkin, a Lv. 2 Knight. You can also see what a difference levels make – magic weapon aside, Karl has twice as many HP and hits twice as hard.




The minotaur has 75 HP compared to our combined 92. It also has 7,500 GP in treasure. We want that treasure.




We deploy with the knights in front, and the mage and ranger behind. After a little maneuvering, the minotaur is right next to us. Orick hits it with a slowing spell while Danlia peppers it with arrows. Then both knights charge together. Karl takes the brunt of the counter attack, but they inflict far greater wounds then they take, and the beast is forced back.



The tactic is repeated the next round, and the minotaur falls. This is important because the gold you gain is based on the percentage of hits the force has remaining. If we drove it off with 10% of its hits remaining, we lose out on 750 gold.




We gain some brave recruits, and a great deal of treasure from the minotaur.


We use that treasure to develop Aladda. You can develop industries to their resource limit. You can pay to develop it beyond the limit, but there is no point. You pay a huge penalty to do so, and the overproduction disappears the next month, so it just wastes gold.


The state of our forces. With the extra recruits, we expand the Ducal Guard to 15, and replace the losses among the Foot, dropping them back to Level 0. I ordered training for all our units.






Another month passes. The training paid off, and all our military is Level 1 now. Aladda is developed as far as possible aside from its agriculture.



Karl: whispers to Danlia Didn’t we deal with this?

Danlia: whispers back Yes, your Grace. However, I believe she eloped with a young shepherd.

Karl: Rest assured, good sir, we will investigate this and do our best to find your daughter.

Karl: sotto voice We need to find the other beast, still.

[Mephansteras]

Well, the fight against the Minotaur certainly gave us a big boost! I take it this is the general game loop, responding to various events that show up each month?

What does it take for us to start expanding our territory out?

[Hanzoku]

Generally monthly events fall into three categories: information, random events and quests.

Information tells some of the plot going on. It doesn't provide any immediately benefits or drawbacks, but can point towards opportunities. Some of this will show up in the next update. Random events provide boosts or drawbacks to cities you control, such as the good weather Aladda has been having, which has led to increased income from the farming there. The final things are quests, such as finding the Cyclops, or the Minotaur (which we did out of sequence). These provide hints of special encounters that can provide extensive bonuses if dealt with.

We could start trying to conquer nearby cities straight away, though I don't think we have enough forces yet to take them without suffering huge losses. Generally, you're trying to get a high score in addition to conquering everything, so its best to wait for events to suggest that its a good time to head to a specific city. We'll see this start to come into play in the next update.

[Mephansteras]

Neat. Seems like an interesting game.

[Hanzoku]

Spoiler: Conquering the Cyclops (click to show/hide)

Intelligence Reports on the Northwestern Cities
Name Aladda
Population 1,500 1,600
Location Northwest Aragon, on Garrish River
Resources Lumber, minerals, rich soil
Economy Farming, some commerce along the river
The inhabitants of Aladda are descendants of a highly industrious people who once possessed once of the highest standards of living in the Aragonian Empire.

The resources of the area will provide a strong economic boost. Agricultural potential is strong because of the fertile soil and a temperate climate.

Aladda occupies the broad, fertile plain between the Luftgar Mountains and the Garroth River. The navigable Garrish river bisects Aladda into an eastern and western section. Rather then divide the region, the river serves to glue the area together politically and economically.

Beyond the plains in the east sit the luxuriant forests of the Tranavan Forest. The land to the west slopes up towards the hills, forming the margin of marshland tracts near the Garroth River.

Name Marinia
Population 1,000
Location Northwest Aragon, near Garroth River
Resources River and some fertile land
Economy Trapping, fishing, some farming
Ruler Gardwell, Duke
Marinia is an inhospitable land that borders on the swampy areas of the Garroth River. The land is mostly poor, with few trees. The inhabitants make a living of sorts, through small scale farming, trapping and fishing.

A standing army exists to protect the locals from the monsters which sometimes emerge from the swamps. When the military is not busy battling monsters, it engages in domestic plunder, helping itself to the possessions of the down-trodden commoners. Though old, sickly Duke Gardwell doesn’t sanction this pillage, it coincidentally helps to supplement the poor wages lame Gardwell can afford to pay his soldiers.

Name Brocada
Population 2,000
Location North coast, western end of Galation
Resources Galation Sea
Economy Fishing, some farming and trading
Ruler Petrov, General
The area known as Brocada lies to the north of Aladda. It borders the Galation Sea, and therein lies its economic vitality. The land is flat with a few low, rolling hills. Foliage ranges from spare to thick coastal scrub brush. Most of the inhabitants live either along the coast in small villages or in the city of Brocada itself. The people are not rich, but tend to be hale, hardy and proud. Their independent character leads them to jealously guard their freedom.

The military is made up of volunteer militiamen from the city and surrounding villages. They are said to train weekly, but my spies tell me that their morale and performance would be suspect in an actual battle.

Name Paritan
Population 4,000
Location North Coast, central Galation
Resources Harbor on Galation Sea
Economy Smuggling, piracy, fishing, trade
Ruler Pitlag, Lord Redux
Paritan sits beside a harbor protected from seaward invasion by the storms that blow out of the north. Though the land surrounding the harbor is not rich, there are bountiful forests to the south (the Tranavan forest.) The lay of the land is like other coastal areas – essentially flat with a few rolling hills and rough areas.

All discernable evidence suggest that Lord Pitlag is wily and crafty. Anyone dealing with him had better keep his eyes open and watch his back. His privateering ventures are prospering, and he has created a more professional army than the rulers of other cities.

There are rumors that Pitlag has cast his covetous eye on new lands. The only question lies in the direction of Pitlag’s next expansion, towards Nuralia or Brocada – a prime location from which to threaten Aladda.

Name Nuralia
Population 3,000
Location Coast north of Luftgar
Resources Rich soil, lumber, minerals
Economy Agriculture, mining, logging, commerce
Ruler Wilfreed, Duke
Nuralia occupies the fertile plain between the northern reaches of the Luftgar and the Galation Sea. Nuralia possesses many natural resources: black soil, varied minerals, plentiful forests and easy access to markets. The foothills to the south abound with hardwood forests. The land flattens out in the north into a plain of rich soil. Most trees in this northern region are found along watercourses. Along the coast both thick and thin scrub brush dominate.

Nuralia suffers from raiding Goblins out of the Gernok area. The military is thoroughly professional, though reports indicate it is poorly led. The army is hard pressed to hold its own. There are also hints that opposition exists in the ranks over the methods used to fight the invaders.



After a month of scouting in the hills to the southwest by the army of Aladda, except for the Foot who remained to guard the growing town, Karl and the others finally succeeded in tracking down the hidden lair of the monster.



Unlike the Minotaur, the regular soldiers were eager to defeat this monster, and so it faced the Ducal Guard, the Outriders and the Militia in addition to the champions.


The moment the army caught sight of it, they filled it with arrows before the Guard charged home, slaying the cyclops instantly. In the aftermath, Danlia, Orick and Hodgkin all gained levels. You might also notice Pheiwald, a Priest that was hired the previous month.



The surge in recruits were put to good use, raising a unit of mounted infantry named the I Cohort. The money was also spent improving the equipment used across the rest of the army.

Orick: Your Grace, I notice that your naming for the new unit echoes the old Empire.

Karl: Yes, intentionally so. I want to start giving Aladda and the army a feeling of connection to our past.

Orick: The Empire fell in the end, your Grace.

Karl: Yes, but it ruled for hundreds of years before doing so. And if we rekindle the spirit of the empire in Aladda, has it truly fallen? Or only slumbered until it was time for it to be reborn?


Despite the continuously rising reward, Karl is loath to march from the city as the weather draws towards winter.

Danlia: I’m afraid we had better stay put in the city. Already, movement is slowed by the fall rains. Once the temperature drops, we run the risk of men dying to the cold.

Hodgkin: Aye. Even bringing warm furs, marching and fighting in falling snow runs the risk of frostbite. An archer who loses his fingers might still be alive, but for our purposes he would need to be replaced as surely as if he died.



With the death of Duke Gardwell, his army has turned outright to brigands, sacking the very town they are supposed to protect with depressing regularity. Meanwhile, General Petrov is beginning to feel caught between Aladda’s slowly growing might to the south and Paritan’s armies to the east.



In December, a case was brought before the Young Duke, as the people of Aladda had begun calling Karl. Weighing the pleas for mercy and the evidence, Karl chose to pardon the young man.

Pheiwald: Your Grace, young Olaf is one of the faithful of my congregation. As many others have said, I would judge him a truly harmless young man.

Karl: I appreciate your support of his character, but do we have any other witnesses or evidence one way or another?

Pheiwald: No, I’m afraid not, your Grace.

Danlia: I’ve had my scouts search the road where the witnesses indicate a fight took place, but with the weather, there is little to find.

Orick: I have examined young Olaf, your Grace. He shows no signs of having been involved in a struggle.

Karl: There are two witnesses to this robbery. Why did they not intervene?

Hodgkin: A good question, sir. And one they cannot answer to my satisfaction. Olaf is not such an intimidating figure that three men would be unable to prevail against him.

Karl: Very well. I will pardon this man, but Danlia, have one of your scouts keep an eye on him. If he robbed this man, see if he spends more coin or has other possessions that would be out of place.

Danlia: We will do so, your Grace.



His clemency was rewarded the following month as the crime’s victim returned to Aladda, only to accuse one of those who bore witness against Olaf.



The state of Aladda after the first year. The Outriders have been expanded to 30, Faker’s Militia to 35, and the I Cohort has been created.


I forgot to screenshot this from the main game, so I played forward from an older save until this news item popped up. In our case, it was January news.

[Mephansteras]

Things seem to be going well for us.

Is there any diplomacy in the game, or is outright conquest our only option for gaining new lands?