Lands to Conquer 4.0 - Preview 3: High Era Campaign

Lands to Conquer 4.0 - Preview 2

Following on from the first 2 previews(preview 1, preview 2, where i revealed that Lands to Conquer 4.0 will replace the Grand Campaign with 3 campaigns set on the map that start in different eras imitating the system used in the original Medieval Total War, and then a preview of the Early Era Campaign, i bring you the High Era Campaign.

The 3 custom campaigns present in 3.0(Hundred Years War, Italian City States, Reconquista), as well as the 3 new era campaigns will all be selectable from 1 easy list that will be accessed from the Campaigns button in the single player menu that replaces the Grand Campaign, Norman Prologue and Custom Campaigns buttons.

Work In Progress and Historical Accuracy

The High Era camapign is still being worked on, the placement of agents, beginning garrisons/units and buildings for all factions has not yet been completely finalised.

Also as always LTC does not aim to be completely historically accurate.

Guilds

One thing i am doing to add more variety between factions is carefully choosing the Guilds i will place on the map from the start in both the High and Late Era Campaigns. With a few in the High and a lot more in Late. By giving for example France a Horse Breeders Guild i help emphasise the dominance of cavalry in their armies, Woodsmith Guild to reflect Englands use of longbowmen, Merchant Guild for Venice etc. Should help also make factions feel slightly more different.

High Era Campaign.

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The High Era Campaign starts in 1210 and runs until 1530. This different start date means different starting situations for many factions compared to the Early Era. Once again the starting positions are like those of the Medieval Total War High Era Campaign.

Some factions will start out at war and allied, for instance the Holy Roman Empire will be allied to Poland and England, France is at war with England, HRE, Turks and Egypt, Venice is at war with Byzantium etc.

Byzantium

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Byzantium has lost a lot of the territory it held in the Early Era. The most obvious and damaging loss being Connstantinople. It along with Greece have fallen to the Crusaders of the 4th Crusade, and are now controlled by the Latin Empire(represented by rebels). The Byzantines will need to retake it if they are to regain all their former lands.

Denmark

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Their situation has not changed. Still bordered by the powerful HRE to the south, expansion into Scandinavia and the Baltic regions are the obvious options for the Danes.

Egypt

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A large and powerful nation in the High Era, Egypt starts wirth rich provinces and the Holy city under their control. They are also at war with the French crusaders who are also seeking to control the Holy Land. and to the north are the Turks who whilst also at war with the Crusaders, should have a watchful eye kept on them.

England

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England controls substantial lands in france as well have having both England and Wales under firm control. To the North the Scots are a constant threat to be watched, and the old tension between England and France is now shown by the open war between the 2 nations. England is also allied to the HRE in its war with France.

France

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France begins in a tough situation. On mainland Europe it is hemmed in by the HRE and England who it is also at war with. In the Holy Land, the Turks and Egypt are fighting to push the French Crusaders out of Antioch and Acre. But the French have strong Papal support which will help aid them, their cities in the Holy Land could become rich and provide the money France needs to hold off it's European rivals.

Holy Roman Empire

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The Holy Roman Empire is even bigger in the High Era than in the Early Era, and war with France provides the chance for more expansion. An alliance with Poland in the east keeps their borders there secure, though the Poles should never be trusted too much. And the HRE should never forget the Pope, who has never taken much liking to the Empire. Sicily is also a close ally, almost being a vassal to the HRE.

Hungary

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No change in the provinces Hungary owns from the Early Era campaign. The Balkans are still open to conquest, but Venice and the Byzantines must be watched closely. Perhaps Hungary can take advantage of Byzantiums weakened state to even expand into Greece.

Milan

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Milan starts out with North West Italy and the Italian islands under it's control . But Venice will likely vie with Milan to become the dominate Italian faction, and there is of course the might Holy Roman Empire to the North to watch out for.

Moors

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The Moors start out with all their provinces from the Early Era plus Valenica. But the Reconquista is still on going and both Spain and Portugal have eager eyes on the Moors Iberian provinces. In North Africa their settlements are widely spread out and vulnerable to attack. But to the South comes the rumours of wealth in the desert.

Poland

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Poland is about the same size as in the Early Era. It has an alliance with the HRE, so for now it can turn it's attention to Lithuania and the baltic regions for expansion, and then possibly Russia. And the wealthy settlements of the HRE are not to be ignored it the possibility presents itself.

Portugal

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Starting with just Lisbon, Portugal is part of the Reconquista along with Spain so the Moorish capital of Cordoba and also Granada are open for the Portugese to take. But with Spain eager for them and Valencia, Portugal might have to turn to the seas for future expansion.

Russia

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Russia starts out with a huge swathe of the steppes under it's control, though only a few settlements spread out in that territory. The Rus capital of Kiev is under their contorl, but they have lost Novgorod. Retaking it, and unifying the rest of the Steppes should be a priority for Russia. And from the East there are distant rumours of a deadly force making its way West.

Scotland

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Scotland is isolated in the British Isles. There is only Ireland to expand into beofre Scotland must come into conflict with England. Scotland should think ahead and make allies in preparation for when the inevitable happens.

Sicily

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With South Italy and Sicily under their control, Sicily starts out in a secure position, especially with the Papal States to the North. It is also very closely allied to the HRE so in the event of war it will likely receive assistance from them, though it should not be counted upon 100%. The weak Moorish North African provinces provide a perfect target for the Sicilians.

Spain

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Spain starts out in much the same situation as the Early Era. With the Reconquista ongoing, the Moorish provinces in the South are the obvious target for them, but the other Iberian provinces to the North East also provide opportunities for the Spanish as well.

Turks

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The Turks have central Asia Minor under their control. With the Byzantines losing Constantinple they are weaker than ever so this may the best moment to strike at them. Plus the Turks are at war with the French Crusaders in an effort to drive them out of the Holy Land.

Venice

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Venice starts out with of course Venice under its control, as well as the central Northern Italian provinces, and with Crete providing a presence in the Mediterranean near the Byzantines. Whilst the Latin Empire may have taken control of Constantinople and Greece, there is nothing to stop the Venetians for taking them for their own. Plus the ongoing war with the Byzantines gives them the perfect excuse. And the riches of Constantinople would be the crown jewel in the Venetians Emprie.

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Along with each Era Campaign preview will be pictures showing the updated artwork for the custom campaigns. This time i will show:

The Italian City States

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7894/mapfejw6.th.jpg https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/...phrewb3.th.jpg https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/15...garyso8.th.jpg https://img101.imageshack.us/img101/...ilanjr2.th.jpg https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/...cilyjl7.th.jpg https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/26...nicexe2.th.jpg
https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/33...hre2ps8.th.jpg https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/...ary2gf1.th.jpg https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...lan2oa8.th.jpg https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...ily2ac3.th.jpg https://img101.imageshack.us/img101/...ice2rn0.th.jpg

That is all for this preview, i hope you have enjoyed it.