Yes indeed, as was promised the play through of King Arthur begins. As with last time, I’ll switch over to italics if I’m going ‘out of character’ to explain some mechanic or what not with the game.
This first post will be considerably longer than the following ones to get a bit of a foothold on the whole storyline and get some of the mechanics of the game explained as well. So don’t lose your shit if this ends up being a monstrosity, as I won’t be delving in to quite as much per-battle detail in the posts to follow. I’ll be sure to link every screenshot to a full size 1024×680 version. I’m also going to put some more detail text on the pics themselves, so if you hover the mouse over them, you’ll learn a bit more.
Also, this is pretty much an excuse for me to mix sarcastic jokes and dramatic prose, so I’m about to let loose on this beeyatch and ain’t none o’ y’all bastards gonna stop me. And…yeah…I think that’s pretty much it. So let’s get this rolling!
Our story begins where they so often do…the past. My father ruled this entire land once, the whole of the isle kneeling before him as their righteous king. Since his death, this nation has been torn asunder by warfare, rival tribes and clans tearing at each other to pick up a few more scraps of what remains of once proud Britannia. Attracted by the clash of steel and sounds of war, others have come as well. Elves, ogres, creatures more man than beast…all of the realm oft regarded as fantasy have returned, sensing a weakness in their rival man.
It is during this maelstrom of chaos that the great Merlin invited all with noble blood to a meeting place. Many showed up, retinue in tow, to what turned out to be an abandoned keep. In the midst of that cold edifice lay a stone, a sword plunged deep within and locked in the steel grip of the rock itself. Many tried to draw free the blade, and all failed. Then it was my turn. The sword came free. I was the man of whom the stories told.
I had set up in a small coastal village in the South West of Cornwall province, back to the sea and trying to decide where to go when Sir Ector, my adopted father and advisor, let himself in to my tent. He had a habit of doing that, particularly when I was admiring certain types of…err…’graven images’ for which one pays a little extra.
Luckily, I was not ‘indisposed’ at this moment, rather just feeling a bit sorry for myself. I had made good on the legend, the kingdom of my father was rightfully mine. Yet few agreed. The meeting had ended in an angry shambles, the same petty rivalries and longstanding rifts continuing to splinter the noble houses. All went their separate ways.
I was left with Ector, his son Sir Kay, for now the lone knight at my disposal and a knight without even a horse at the moment. THAT was a little bit embarrassing. Watching him try to convince the lasses of the ville that sure, he WAS a knight, he just didn’t have a mount at the moment was depressing indeed. The fact that they often still invited him back to the bedchamber was sadder still, and certainly a good sign that this tiny town was not exactly regal…
Aside from he, my rag tag army consisted of nothing more than Footmen…basic infantry with rudimentary battle training and cloth armour. A single unit of Heavy Footmen, better trained men with something resembling armour and better weapons, was my only real vestige of legitimate military force. It’s not exactly a group that sets the minds of men ablaze with fear.
Still, Ector was convinced that it was time to make myself known. He told me that I couldn’t very well be King if I did nothing but feel sorry for myself and fuck the somewhat overweight ladies of a fishing village. I suppose he does have something of a point, but where can I go?
East of us is a small village called Bodmin Moor, set within a swamp. Rebels, nothing more than brigands fighting as one, have set the town afire and are held up in the neighbouring watch tower. Yet even they possess bowmen, something my meagre force does not have. Still, he has convinced me…the time for petulance is over.
We reach the battlefield.
My Army wasn’t exactly mighty, and three units of archers lay in wait across the river ahead. To cross in to the teeth of a storm of arrows would not exactly make for tactical genius, but no other option is available. Luckily I have a few other tricks up my sleeve, one supplied by Merlin himself.
As my forces approach the river, I empty the contents of a bottle handed to me by the great magician in to the air, and a great fog begins to set down over the battlefield. It thickens ever deeper, blinding the archers to the approach of my men. As it starts to lift, it is too late. Magic actually has a fairly pronounced position in the game. This is the only starting spell that I have, but others become available during certain battles, as will be seen later.
In no time at all, my men have crushed the archers and slaughtered the foot troops behind them. We now approach the fort, where a single unit of infantry can be seen waiting out front. I split my forces, sending one group of footmen down the road while a second (and the heavy foot) head over the hill to the left to attack through the trees (the fourth unit suffered enough casualties that I hold them back). I will take this structure in a pincer.
It turns out that these enemy, though now outmanned and out equipped, are not without surprises. They ambush my attempted ambush in the forest. Still, my flank move exists in reverse, with the unit on the road coming in and slamming in to the enemy from the side, crushing them all the same and leaving me with my first victory in battle.
The day is won, and over half of the province lies within my grasp. Still, all is not well. A recalcitrant Duke has held up in a keep to the North, refusing to recognize my command of this region. As Spring turns to Summer, I must deal with this threat before the snows come. The main strategy map is turn based, with each turn representing a season. Taking Bodmin Moor took up Spring. As was true of medieval periods, movement in the Winter is basically impossible.
My confidence grown and my ranks swelled by two units of archers of my own, as well as some Light Cavalry, we set off for the capital. Because my starting units were of a rather simple variety, they easily reinforced themselves back to their starting strength as well.
This next battle was more of the standard variety for the game. As my assault caught the enemy unawares, I get to choose the battlefield. The options are determined by the terrain around, so I could choose from mountains, a coastal area or some hills and plains. My opponent has no cavalry and twice as many archers as I do, so I chose the plains. My cavalry can sweep across it effectively, and it prevents him from possibly setting up on high ground and raining arrows down as I crawl up a mountain pass.
Also, all standard battles have a morale bar across the top of the map. Battle results affect that bar, as does controlling a majority of Victory Locations. Every map has them, consisting of villages, temples, Stonehenge-esque monuments, statues, etc. This map has 5. At the start of the battle, the camera sweeps across the battle ground, showing all 5 of them (I snapped a screen shot of two), then heads back to your start point. There it sits until you start the battle.
We’ve studied the ground before us, now it is time. The plan is simple…not wanting to be caught in a river crossing by the enemy, we need to sweep across the water. My archers will set up on the near shore to provide cover if necessary. The infantry will head upstream (to the right) to cross, the cavalry in the center. Kay and his men will run down the river line to the village to my left.
It isn’t long before the enemy presents himself. He takes the monument, then sends the bulk of his force on towards the village.
The lone unit of cowards protecting the monument flees as soon as my infantry pass through the trees between them. I let them run and take the monument. Meanwhile, the rest of the rebel force has crossed towards the river. Seeing what was happening, Lord Kay was wily enough to come across the river and protect the nearby archers from attack while they let the arrows fly towards my enemy. I move my other archers up, and set up my cavalry on a plateau to the right in case the fleeing unit returns.
So far so good, but I need cover. Luckily, this monument comes with some advantages for the holder…the Storm of Avalon spell. Casting it throws a torrential rain upon the whole of the area, drenching everyone and rendering the archers on both sides worthless. Every victory location comes with an ability for whoever holds it, from faster Stamina replenishment (units use stamina moving and fighting) to one time use magical effects.
With the battlefield shrouded in rain, I launch a full scale assault. Everything comes crashing down upon the sodden force of my enemy, still mired in the river bed. It becomes a watery burial ground for dozens of soldiers, friend and foe. The final men under the Duke’s command run from the killing ground, their leader among them.
The victory is complete. The nearby city is mine. And with it coming over to my rule, all of the province of Cornwall is now the beginning of my Kingdom.
So concludes (finally) Chapter 1. It’s a bit more awkward than I’d like, but I haven’t really attempted any sort of creative writing for a good while, so I’ve gotta get back up to snuff. Again, apologies for the length here, but I wanted to introduce as many concepts as possible. I won’t be detailing every tactical battle from this point on, only those that are of enough importance to be worth it, or where I gain some shiny new unit or ability to show off.
Also, this was the opening Tutorial part of the campaign, so it was very much on rails. As the game goes on, it comes more under my control, with me deciding where to attack. I’ll also be getting more in to the Strategic side of things…building an army, deciding on unit types, alliances, keeping the Knights of the Round Table happy, that sort of stuff.
This isn’t going to be a daily write up or anything like that, but I’ll keep it fairly regular.
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