The computer players are reasonably challenging - they are very easy to beat in the first turns of the game, but become worthy opponents in the later stages. What should prove more interesting to an armchair commander than simplistic open-field battles are the sieges, because you must decide how many siege engines, catapults, and battering rams to use, and where to position them. Each type of troop has its own strengths and weaknesses, although an army of knights usually is practically invincible. Armies consist of peasants, archers, macemen, swordsman, crossbow troops, pikemen, and knights. When armies clash, the game switches to a tactical real-time battle mode, which looks similar to Mindcraft's Siege series, and is quite fun to play. You can also hire mercenaries at the mercenary guild, but they are costly and not always co-operative. Some peasants must also be assigned to gather other useful resources, build castles, and produce weapons of war. Sufficiency in, or surplus of, food supply helps increase population, which in turn will increase taxes and the size of your army (recruited from peasants). Each county in your empire has a fixed amount of arable land, which you can use for farming wheat or raising cattle to feed your peasants. As in the first game, your success in the game hinges on proper resource allocation and maximizing farm output. At the strategic level, you view the action from the attractive isometric map, where you can move armies, adjust economic parameters, manage your resources, and engage in diplomacy with other noble houses. taking control of troops in combat) - although you can have the computer handle the combat for you. making decisions for your entire kingdom), and tactical (i.e.
Again like the first game, you are put in charge of both the strategic level (i.e. Your objective in LOTRII remains the same as it was in the first game: The king in mediaval England is dead, and it's up to you to fight the other nobles for the throne and succeed him. This mediaval empire game improves on the already superb Lords of the Realm in numerous aspects, adding both complexity and replayability. One of the most underrated strategy games of all time, Impressions' Lords of the Realm II is in my opinion the best game designed by David Lester, prolific designer and founder of Impressions. In a siege, you can end the battle by capturing the enemy's flag or dispatching all of your opponents soldiers to the great big Realm in the sky. You are given a Warcraft-type view of the battlefield with the units in your army and have to either get them to retreat (a rarity) or kill every last one of the little buggers. When you engage your enemy in battle is when the real fun starts.
You have to hold on to your counties by building larger castles and keeping the peasantry happy and well-fed. Lords of the Realm II is a mixture of turn-based county and economic management and real-time combat.Īs the game begins, the king has died and 5 nobles (including yourself) are vying for control of the realm, including the noble Baron, the headstrong Knight, the ice princess The Countess, and the backstabbing Bishop. Up to four would-be monarchs can battle each other via LAN or modem. The single-player campaign spans eight realms, from Quaintville and Ireland to England and Germany. You must also carefully balance rations and tax levels to maintain a steady income without upsetting loyal subjects, who may decide to revolt. Changing seasons and cataclysmic events such as fires, droughts, or flooding can ruin infrastructure, potentially undermining your objectives. Gathering iron, wood, and stone lets you create fortifications and weapons, while fields and cattle help sustain the populace. Starting with one meager county, you must gradually expand your power and influence by amassing an army and conquering nearby counties. You are one of five lords vying for control of a kingdom in 1268 A.D. Lords of the Realm II is a medieval-era strategy game combining turn-based resource management and both real-time field battles and castle sieges.