6 /10 1 Votes
Mode(s) Multiplayer online | 6/10 Steam Initial release date 17 October 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Producer(s) Eric OuellettePaul HarrisMark Barney Designer(s) Simon BradburyEric Ouellette Similar Stronghold games, Firefly Studios games, Massively multiplayer online real-time strategy games | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stronghold kingdoms strategy game trailer iphone ipad android
Stronghold Kingdoms (SHK) is a massively multi-player online real time strategy game (MMORTS) with a Medieval castle building theme. It was developed by Firefly Studios and based upon their commercially successful and popular Stronghold series of games. Firefly Studios started development of Stronghold Kingdoms in 2007 as their first entry into the MMO genre. The first Alpha test began in 2009 and was open to 150 players. These were drawn from previous testers of Firefly Studios games, and volunteers of other prominent fansites. Afterwards, an open Beta was run for just under 2 years before the game's official release on 17 October 2012.
Contents
- Stronghold kingdoms strategy game trailer iphone ipad android
- Stronghold kingdoms first look gameplay commentary
- Gameplay Elements
- Ages of Stronghold Kingdoms
- Worlds
- Special Worlds
- Coat of Arms Designer
- Factions
- Houses
- Glory
- Quests
- Achievements
- Sound
- Community
- Free to play
- Premium Boxes
- Reception
- Development
- References
In addition to the central theme of castle. construction and design, Stronghold Kingdoms incorporates a variety of architectural, economic, military, agricultural, mercantile, industrial and political elements which challenge the player's ability to prioritize, direct work-flow and resources and administrate their holdings in the manner of a medieval land holder or noble. An individual player's success is not entirely predicated upon the ability to defeat computer-generated enemies, but also upon teamwork with fellow players.
The player begins relatively alone, one village among others in a single parish. From this beginning, strategic decisions are made and dialogue established with fellow parish members which introduces the social aspect of Stronghold Kingdoms. All players can vie for stewardship of the parish, dependent on rank. When two or more players wish to be Steward they can negotiate to decide who will take control of the parish, or take it by force, razing out the opposing players village from that parish. If Theology is researched, then monks can be deployed to infiltrate the parish and influence the vote. This is usually referred to as a monk war in the game vernacular. When the successful candidate becomes steward they gain control of the parish army along with the ability to set taxes (tithe), and build the necessary guilds to improve life for all in the parish.
Stronghold kingdoms first look gameplay commentary
Gameplay Elements
Communication with one's neighbors is vital to a player's advancement and enjoyment of all that Stronghold Kingdoms offers.
Players are greeted by a tutorial after placement of their village. Starting resources are given to each new player and from that beginning how the village is managed, is essential to building a strong foundation to defend against all enemies. Juggle research to unlock what the castle needs, food, weapons, or basic resources like stone and wood, used to build everything in the castle or village. Use research points to unlock different aspects of the game. Obtain honour peacefully by banqueting or choose an aggressive means by attacking wolf lairs, bandit camps and AI castles. Defend your castle in turn from an attacking enemy AI Siege Camp or enemy players. As the game progresses, honour is accumulated and used to rank higher, but honour can be gained, or lost. If you opt to attack another player, this will cost honour thereby making every decision influence the next.
Paladin's Castles, is a new AI to arrive in Stronghold Kingdoms in the shape of a green castle icon. Implemented in client version 2.0.11.3, it brings with it "good will" rather than the usual negative popularity and constant attacks. When the Paladin lands it will give a +10 or +15 popularity increase to all villages within that parish. Players can attack and clear it but will gain no honour from doing so. The castle will vanish within 7 – 14 days.
Treasure Castles, like the Paladin's Castle, does not send out attacks. This appropriately coloured "gold castle" will sit there waiting for its puzzles to be solved and will yield to the savvy player, prizes according to the level of castle and tier given. The castle, like the Paladin, will arrive and stay between 7 – 14 days before it will vanish.
Players, when attacking the Treasure Castle, need to cover as much ground as possible to uncover the puzzles/treasure. If a player fails to achieve a prize the first time then he will have to wait to attack again as there is a 24-hour cooldown period on Treasure Castles. This new AI arrived in the May update.
Proclamations, arrived to Stronghold Kingdoms in client update 2.0.1.1 This gave Stewards, Sheriffs, Governors and Kings the ability to send messages. Proclamations, cannot be responded to by players that receive the notice.
Captains, are an elite unit used to capture or raze an enemy village. In peaceful mode they are used to purchase a village charter. In order to unlock captains, a player needs to first unlock leadership research. This becomes available at rank 12 when a player is able to start his second village. Up to 25 villages are allowed per player, per game world.
Captains, once unlocked, have a delay ability. This is useful when capturing a village as a player will put the captain on a delay of up to 200 seconds. If the captain dies then the capture or raze fails. Captains have other unique abilities called Tactics but these were weak until client update 2.0.4.2. The powers were buffed and are now worth researching, considering a player can use up to 5 captains in one attack.
Attack Formations, found under Advanced Options, this gives players the ability to save their favourite attack formation and removes the need to set up each attack manually. This was a community idea which Firefly implemented in May's update. Initially limited to five formations, the newest update of 1 August 2013 removes that five limit and gives players the added ability to custom name each attack formation. A further improvement to the formation screen was implemented with the Community Gameplay Update released on 7 November 2013. A player can now see how many troops make up each saved formation and gives the ability to the player to clear a formation when setting up an attack.
Domination World Rule Set
New Rules for Domination World 2:
Rules retained from Previous Domination World:
To qualify for the prize at the end of the world, a player must be in the top ten of the Leaderboard or part of a winning house.
Ages of Stronghold Kingdoms
The Second Age
This age begins when the Glory challenge ends leaving one house standing.
The second age heralds a world reset which includes the following changes:
There are a number of integral gameplay changes brought into effect with the second age. These include the following:
The Third Age
The Russian world of Mir 1 is the first world to enter Stronghold Kingdoms Third Age.
World reset includes:
Gameplay Changes include:
The Fourth Age
The biggest change with the introduction to the fourth age is the use of "gunpowder" with a new defensive castle structure called "The Bombard"
Gameplay Changes include:
The first world to experience this new Fourth Age is English World 4.
The Fifth Age
The changes to gameplay features in Stronghold Kingdoms™ in this age will present opportunities and challenges for both new and veteran players.
These are:
NB: Please note that all features of the game world other than those mentioned above will remain as is at the time of the start of the fifth age. Players will retain all their villages, research, cards, points etc.As with every Age transition, all Factions and Houses will be disbanded at the beginning of the Fifth Age. The capital forums will be cleared and all players removed from their elected positions.
The Sixth Age
The biggest change with the introduction to the sixth age is the availability of weapon stashes on the world map.
The gameplay changes coming to Stronghold Kingdoms™ are:
The Final Age
The Final Age will introduce five extra levels for Capital buildings, Royal Tower system, as well as a veteran only world to Stronghold Kingdoms™.
The Changes to the Gameplay in the Final Age are:
At the end of the Final Age prizes ranging from gold to bronze will be distributed to members of houses Which have fulfilled the victory conditions.
Worlds
English Worlds:
World 1, (English Language Server) the original Alpha world is modelled upon Britain. At the beginning of the beta phase in November 2010 it was announced that World 1 would not reset, as it had through the previous Alpha iterations. As of May 2011 there were over 14,000 active players on this world. World 1 evolved to the Second Age on 1 February 2013 and then to the Third Age on 19 July 2013.This world transitioned to the fourth age on 25 March 2014.
World 2, (English Language Server) as World 1 filled with players and demand grew stronger for the game Firefly Studios launched World 2 on Tuesday 8 February 2011. This world has the same map and all players from world 1 could join world 2. This also introduced the ability to start in different areas of the map rather than in a cluster. This world evolved to the Second Age on 29 May 2013 and to the Third Age on 16 September 2013. This world transitioned to the fourth age on 23 April 2014.
World 3, (English Language Server) launched on Thursday 1 March 2012 due to increased demand for the Medieval game. This world Evolved to the Second Age on 7 October 2013.
World 4, (English Language Server) This world was launched three days after World 3 in March, 2012 due to increased demand for the game. World 4 entered the Second Age on 18 June 2013. and to the Third Age on 2 September 2013.This world transitioned to the fourth age on 6 March 2014. This World Ended on 4 September 2016, as players in the house ended the world by pressing "The Button". This world has now been closed.
World 5, (English Language Server) launched Monday 19 March 2012 due to unprecedented demand for the game. This world evolved to the Second Age on 6 June 2013, and to the Third Age on 17 October 2013.
World 6, (English Language Server) opened its server to players on 19 September 2012. This world entered its second age on 24 October 2013. This world evolved to the third age on 9 January 2014.
World 7 (English Language Server) launched 23 January 2013 This World transitioned to the second age on 8 May 2014.
World 8 (English Language Server) launched 2 May 2013 This world evolved to the second age on 24 February 2014. This world evolved to the third age on 13 May 2014.
World 9 (English Language Server) launched 2 April 2014
American Worlds
USA 1: (English Language Server) launched 4 July 2013 called the Independence Day update it brings the first United States world to Stronghold Kingdoms. This world evolved to the second age on 13 August 2014.
USA 2: (English Language Server) launched as the Labor Day Update of 28 August 2014. This brings the second United States world to Stronghold Kingdoms.
USA 3: (English Language Server) launched 2 July 2015. This brings the Third United States world to Stronghold Kingdoms.'
Europe:
Europe 1, (multilingual Server) This is a world long requested by players and finally launched on 13 February 2014.
Europe 2, (multilingual Server) Launched 10 December 2014.
Europe 3 , (multilingual Server) Launched 21 May 2015.[36]
German Worlds:
Welt 1, (German Language Server) was launched on 22 February 2011 and is modelled on Germany, Austria, Switzerland and The Czech Republic. This world evolved to the Second Age on 10 September 2013.
Welt 2, (German Language Server) launched on Friday 30 March 2012.
Welt 3, (German Language Server) was launched 18 April 2013
Welt 4, (German Language Server) was launched 10 February 2015
French Worlds:
Monde 1, (French Language Server) was launched on 6 July 2011 and is modelled on a map of France, Belgium and Luxembourg. This World Evolved to The Second Age on 12 July 2013 and to the Third Age on 16 October 2013. This world transitioned to The Fourth Age on 2 June 2014
Monde 2, (French Language Server) launched 14 March 2013
Russian Worlds:
Mir 1, (Russian Language Server) launched on 1 December 2011. The world is modelled upon Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This World evolved to the Second Age on 17 January 2013 and to the Third Age on 6 June 2013.This World Evolved to the Fourth Age on 14 March 2014.
Mir 2, (Russian Language Server) launched the same day as World 5, Monday 19 March 2012. This world Evolved to The Second Age on 1 July 2013, and to The Third Age on 13 September 2013.This World Evolved to the Fourth Age on 24 March 2014.
Mir 3 (Russian Language Server) launched on 9 January 2013
Mir 4 (Russian Language Server) launched on 9 January 2013
Spanish Worlds:
Mundo 1(Spanish Language Server) launched on 7 February 2013
Polish Worlds:
Świat 1 (Polish Language Server) launched 4 April 2013
Świat 2 (Polish Language Server) launched 23 January 2014
Turkish Worlds:
Dunya 1 (Turkish Language Server) launched 8 June, the first Turkish world is based on a map of modern-day Turkey.
Italian Worlds:
Mondo 1 (Italian Language Server) launched 10 October, the first Italian world is based on a map of Italy, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia & Albania. This world evolved to the second age on 13 August 2014.
Latin America World:
America Latina 1(Brazilian Portuguese Language Server) launched on 6 June 2014. This is the first world to encompass Mexico, Central America, Brazil, Caribbean and Cono Sur.
Global Conflict World:
Global Conflict World 1: (multilingual Server) Launched on 8 October 2015. This world is modeled on a map of the world and adds 151countries, fresh in-game politics and PvP gameplay
Global Conflict World 2: (multilingual Server) Launched on 14 April 2016.
Special Worlds
Domination World 1(multilingual Server) Stronghold Kingdoms Team launched the new Domination World 12 November 2013. This new fast paced hardcore world is time limited and will close after 100 days. The world has its own defined rule set to encourage combat.
Domination World 2(multilingual Server) Launched 12 June 2014. This world has an updated rule set.
Domination World 3 (multilingual Server) Launched 28 July 2016. This world has an updated rule set.
Rise of the Wolf - Beta (multilingual Server) The Rise of the Wolf, a special game world featuring classic Stronghold characters, improved AI and PvE (player-versus-environment) gameplay, was launched on 6 March 2015.
Island Warfare (multilingual Server) New Map type in Stronghold Kingdoms based on the Philippines featuring a new system of weather dependant inter island travel.
Heretic World (multilingual Server) a special game world featuring classic Stronghold characters, improved AI and PvE (player-versus-environment) gameplay in which players are able to become heretics and join the wolf in the domination of the world.
Coat of Arms Designer
The new Coat of Arms designer has full game integration and allows a player to customise his shield in many ways. To flip or rotate are just some of the options available along with over 200 symbols, designs and thirty two colours. The shield designer is available when a player logs into the game and clicks on their shield. Once designed, the shield resides atop their village on the world map and beside their name in mail and posts on the Parish Info Wall.
Firefly Studios plan to add over 300 Charges and designs and tie these into "Quests" for a player to earn.
Shield of the Week is a competition with prizes, run by Firefly Studios. Players send in an image of the shield they have designed along with their username.
Factions
As players evolve in game, the ability to join a Faction becomes available. They can create their own or join an existing one, opting for a group that has the same common purpose. The creator of the faction invites and appoints officers who in turn can invite and dismiss members. Each faction has an individual forum where participants of that faction may communicate with one another. Faction leaders may also choose to enter into an alliance or war with other factions, doing so will place a decorated white ribbon or a glowing red sword - respectively, above other player's villages. As a faction grows, they may decide to join a House that holds the same aspiration.
Houses
Houses have their own banner and designated colour. Factions apply to join a House and on acceptance are integrated and sport the house colour beneath their villages on the world map. They also receive the house banner by their name on the leaderboard.
House leaders are now able to send a proclamation to the entire house once per day, as of update 2.004.22
Glory
Glory is an ongoing challenge played in rounds between Houses. A House gain points or the control of parishes, counties, provinces, and countries. Glory can also be earned through completing quests. At the end of each cycle, which is determined when a House reaches one million points, the last two Houses in each round are eliminated and take no further part in Glory. The House that wins a round receives a gold star on their banner.
The final victory condition was set on 17 January 2012. When five Houses remain in Glory, the elimination process will now drop one House instead of two. Stars gained from previous rounds are equal to lives. If a House finishes last, it may use a star to gain a life and remain in the Glory Challenge.
Quests
Quests arrived to Stronghold Kingdoms in a summer update. This highly anticipated game play brought a bonanza of gifts in the form of in game resources. Some quests will give you the option to spin the "Quest Wheel". A wheel spin will reward the player with gold, card packs, card points, research points, faith points or the jester, who denotes a free spin. The "Quest Wheel" has five levels and the prizes grow in accordance.
To complete every quest a player will need to participate in combat, farming, trading and being a diplomat. The aim is to expand a players knowledge of the game to include every aspect Stronghold Kingdoms has to offer and reward them in the process.
The new quests are world specific so playing on more than one world will restart them. The only quest that is account specific is the Tutorial which, until this update, was the only quest available and would automatically activate the moment an account was created and a village location chosen.
Achievements
An update on 9 May 2011 brought Achievements to Stronghold Kingdoms. Awarded in the shape of a medal, players earn these by completing deeds. To acquire "Banquet King" for instance, a player would need to feast with different elements of banquet goods, to earn each rank of medal. The medals come in four ranks starting with iron, silver, gold and diamond. Medals ranked silver and above reward the player with a small amount of honour. All medals earned by players are viewable in game to both friend or foe, so you can see what other players have achieved. With over 40 achievements to accumulate, it could take a player some time, but Firefly Studios bestowed some retroactively, thereby giving players a head start with their collection.
Sound
An update put out on 16 June 2011, takes the client build to 1.20.4.63 and delivers for the first time to Stronghold Kingdoms, music. The background music is a medley of beautiful medieval sounds that make a welcome début to the on-line game and will be instantly recognisable to fans of the Stronghold series. Those wonderful notes composed by Robert Euvino are now incorporated into Stronghold Kingdoms. Listed in the music folder is a battle medley that includes two endings, one for defeat. Along with the battle music there are various pieces including, Under an old tree, a poignant piece titled Stained glass-all, and an ecclesiastical sounding Monks1. The music can be turned off altogether or reduced depending on player preference.
Sound Effects were added to the game on 17 October 2012. This update brings to life the players battle reports, as his troops clash with the enemy. Village life has also received attention and is no longer silent. A player can click on every building and hear the reflected sound; Wood being worked, stone quarried and the fletcher going about his daily business, as the jester laughs in the background.
A later update to sound effects put out on 24 October brings the client to version 2.0.0.5 and gives the player the option to turn off the battle sounds. The audio visual menu located under settings in game, now gives the player total control over all game sounds.
Community
The stronghold community grows stronger and to strengthen this bond the Stronghold Team has implemented a player news page. The Daily Pillage will spotlight the in game stories from players which are submitted via e-mail. This news page is available in English, German, French, Russian, Spanish and Polish.
Free-to-play
CEO of Firefly Studios Eric Ouellette, stated Stronghold Kingdoms would be free-to-play. A set number of free cards are given each week depending on criteria achieved in game. An option exists to also purchase crowns. These crowns are then used to buy strategy cards and Premium Tokens, to enhance gameplay.
Strategy Card Packs
The Independence Day update implemented card filters and a card search option. This gives the player quick and easy access to those vital cards when needed. Firefly Studios also launched a card tutorial video.
Premium Token
This token gives the option to automate some of the play actions while one is offline. Auto scout, attack, trade and recruit. A research and build queue is also included as well as a Villages Overview screen, providing players with all important information across all their villages in 4 simple screens. There are three different premium tokens, 2-day, 7-day, and 30-day.
Vacation Mode
Vacation mode was added in the winter update and requires that a player have a 7-day or 30-day premium token in play. Once activated this gives the player between 3 – 15 days, twice per calendar year. In this mode a player cannot be attacked and all game worlds become inaccessible.
Premium Boxes
Two premium box editions have been released that include special content. The Stronghold Kingdoms Deluxe Edition is the English version while the German Premium Edition differed only in offering a 10% lifetime discount when purchasing crowns. A code within the box gives access to the exclusive content. Accounts may only redeem one code.
The redeeming of one code per account changed briefly with the updated deluxe box from getgamesgo. The new deluxe code works with the old deluxe pack code but again the caveat being, a one use per account.
Reception
Stronghold Kingdoms has achieved a Metacritic score of 75, indicating generally favorable reviews.
Strategy Informer gave a score of 85/100, with reviewer Emmanuel Brown describing it as "mission accomplished" and saying that "for the most part, they get it absolutely right." Gaming XP's review praised how the classic Stronghold format was "implemented very well for this MMO".
Development
Alpha 1, this was a closed alpha and the game at this stage was very basic. Some parish screens were blank but for a tax setting. Barracks were limited to the stewards command research which scales with each level attained.
Alpha 2, religion was added where previously the research for this had been greyed out.
Alpha 3, parish guilds were implemented and strategy cards introduced.
Alpha 4, most of the screens were now in place. The only major addition to this alpha was the introduction of captains. These were now necessary when buying or capturing a village. They were also fleshed out with their own tactics.
Beta, An open Beta was run from November 2010 until the games official release in October 2012.
Gold Stronghold Kingdoms was officially released on 17 October 2012.
Current Client Version: 2.0.20.7
Mac Osx - Mac Client Version released 19. Jan 2015
IOS - Coming Soon
Android - Coming Soon