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There once was a king ... but not English, and even quite British, not the one hundred and first, but just the first one, not Edward, and Arthur (the same if someone did not understand). It was his story, with its round tables, Merlin and other Excalibur, and we decided to tell Neocore Games.
It begins, as it should, from the moment when Arthur just one. And here it is important to overcome itself and endure training, refraining from exclamations in style "and why cities do not build it?" Or "how to hire the troops?". New opportunities open up gradually, so do not rush to conclusions and simply wait. And then you realize that Neocore had created a great game. If the Crusaders: Thy Kingdom Come, past performance of the company, reminded «Total War without a global map, then in King Arthur such already exists, but to declare the project a forgery under the 'total' series Creative Assembly no basis in fact a clone here and does not smell.
 | |  | The same "cross" that shows - you're a tyrant or a virtuous emperor, pagan or Christian. Here you can see what units, bonuses and spells are open due to promotion in one direction or another. | | And here is the Round Table. While here, though not yet a dozen knights, but sooner or later we will fix it. |
Although at first glance, everything looks like: the card is divided into provinces, the army moved on it, step by step, the battles take place in real time. But after looking closely, you see a lot of differences. Take, say, the diplomacy that King Arthur is practically unavailable. Yes, and what can be negotiated, at stake in the fate of the country, which need to unite under our scepter. And even if the plot (yes, the plot here, unlike Total War, there is, although the branches he was only two ways) you are with someone to form a union, we should not expect that my dear brother, do not hit in the back . However, the farther we molchok - the game is worth to you passed it at least a couple of times independently.
Why at least a couple, not a single? Because many of the special shift the slider to one side or another, to one of two extremes: "a just ruler - a tyrant" and "follower of Christianity - a supporter of the old gods." No, nobody forbids to be the middle, creating the mixed good and evil, and not shift as a result of any one party. But a true neutral is not allowed any "buns": no unique types of troops (which would otherwise be issued except as a reward for quests), or bonuses, to help develop their country. Yes, and it's boring, to maintain neutrality and to pretend that you are "neither our nor your".A selection of some at certain points still need to do - from the alliance with the West or East of Britain is difficult to get out, unless you're a masochist and decide to attack all at once. Only nick down: AI is extremely strong.
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Alas, if the strategic map AI is terrible and invincible at the expense of institutionalized cheating at the tactical, he is rather weak. No, spells, of course, are mostly used in time and even with the mind, but that "dissolve" a detachment of cavalry, making him a couple of minutes to chase the archers, then hiding in the woods (and disappearing from view), then running out back, no problem . Such tricks excited and a little cart, will not save even increase the level of complexity - there will be more enemies, they will be thicker, but on a variety of tricks still come across. Of course, ... eleventh army still fill up your meat, and you have to replay an earlier moment, forcing himself to save everyone pumped squad, not to be then, with new recruits against veterans.  | |  | Every knight of the Round Table may have up to twelve skills and spells. But to develop them all to the maximum practically impossible, to such a high level no one had ever lived out. | | Right on the screen of the character of his army, left - the artefacts. By the way, some things are opening their useful properties at once, have to meet certain conditions. For example, to a dozen fights or twenty times didst send some fog. |
True, he was strong his perekachannostyu. Heroes and the enemy is constantly receive additional "grants for development", so do not be surprised when your character is the eighth-level encounter with the enemy fifteenth, who has all the troops have five red rhombs in their buttonholes (that is to say get the most experience). And to cope with an elite squad, having additional useful skills, oh how difficult.
Moreover, AI is also shamelessly cheat with the economy. A small country only a few provinces to easily hold on the boundaries of three to four fully-equipped army, while for your state, even two or three of these fleets will be an intolerable burden - not enough money or food for their content. How to deal with it? It was then, and come to the aid of the tactical battle, where beat the computer opponent is quite real.
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Year in King Arthur is divided into four seasons. Three of them are meant for walking armies around the map and quests, in the fourth well (in winter) all the troops quickly houses in the camps (he found an army of snow in the open field - let the rest right there, fortunately, no adverse effects are not entail). But it was a cold time of year we equips its forts, which boosts the economy, help the people to choose the true faith, open access to new units. And the orders are given to the scientific laboratories is in the winter, so that put the study in the queue, and then the "points of science" be wasted. | |  | Fulfill the quest, you can send one of the heroes of the order, get to your destination. And the game even tells you what features are important when performing the task. But if you have to fight (as in this case), without a strong army is better to stay home. | | Varga - is not only valuable fur, but a few pounds no less valuable experience. Especially if you can shoot the animals before they reach your archers. |
Keep in mind at once: although the formal time limit on the battle at King Arthur is not an indirect way, this restriction imposed. The fact is that on each card (except for some scene) is the number of control points, and the army has captured more than any, than the enemy, will move the slider to the military advantage to his side. And the bigger the difference in the number of measurement points, the faster the advantage of growing. "Bah - you say - everything is simple as ABC - stealing them, and the enemy will be defeated!" "Not necessarily!" - We answer. Quite quick enough to grind the enemy army, and Victoria will not go anywhere. Another point is that checkpoint also favor some bring any - increase the number of "outliers" of the enemy of resources or, for example, provide an opportunity to use a powerful spell. Actually, such a scheme is in itself radically changes the usual for games in the Total War-style tactics. But those who do not wish to look at the settings before the first party, waiting for another surprise: the archers are incredibly strong. Several of their units easily cope with the best armies of the enemy, and at first it was the arrows majority bases its tactics. Although there are three "but". First, nothing prevents a special tweak the slider so that the master bow started to behave more realistically, ending mow clean hundreds of enemies (though it will have to put the latest patch, without which the corresponding option in the menu does not appear). Secondly, the tactical decisions based on the use of heavy infantry or cavalry in conjunction with the infantry, too, have the right to life and give quite a decent result. And thirdly, in the second half of the passage you will find a dozen squads of archers - it is certainly fine, but when will meet five characters with killer spell (or transcendental characteristics of skills and pump), will only be ordered udobnenkie such derevyannenkie makintoshiki. Other options will remain - the closer to the finale, the more "COX" heroes and the more difficult to oppose them, not finding the "mirror" response. And, you know, that's correct. After all, we tell the story of King Arthur, nice, first of all, his Round Table.
 | The Giants are strong ... No, not even this: Giants are very strong! But with our army they do not match - part of shoot from a distance, the remaining Bind melee and beat them as heroes. |
A round table - is not just a piece of wood on legs, it is - a symbol of knightly brotherhood. There will be fellowship and you, though hardly the same as in the legends and novels. In the end, only you can decide whether Mordred law deserves to be the first among equals, and one of the two brothers of the Knights (tyrant and the tyrant, or honest and virtuous ruler) to make his vassal. Just do not forget: the Knights - the guys with character. Little that is not to their liking, pomashut you handle and remember as he was called.Try to keep track of their loyalty and keep in mind that the more tyrants like to live under the same tyrant, and Christians are not too inclined to the Gentiles. However, to sweeten the pill there will always be what - someone can give a valuable artifact, someone to reward a province (gains from it in the future, of course, will go a knight in his pocket), but someone altogether ozhenit. Noble ladies here come across regularly, but give them to marry the first counter is not worth it. After all, they give some pros and cons of her hubby, and no matter how it turned out that the wedding will only speed up the newlyweds departure from Camelot.
Use the same from the Knights for at least threefold. First, they themselves warriors wherever it (but you have already learned). Secondly, the army without a Knight Commander will not budge, but will only stand and wait, when will a wise uncle giving valuable suggestions. And, thirdly, the only noble sirs can perform quests. About which, perhaps, say specifically.
Quests are different, but the trade (where you can buy any artifacts there) or fighting (just go over to the battle) is not too interesting. Another thing the text, as in "Space Rangers" or virtually unknown to the general public game King of Dragon Pass. As a result of kratenkoy history (with optional multiple-choice passage), you can not get anything, has been awarded (in the form of, for example, artifact or experience points) gain over a new hero, or simply engage in an optional fight, making a bad choice . In fact, of course, more options, but are you thinking, catch - the quests are useful, important and necessary, and the story will continue on without them. A story here - the cornerstone. But to retell it will not: try to pass on their own King Arthur. Enjoyment guaranteed.
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Speaking of King Arthur similarities with other games, comes to mind King of Dragon Pass - a strategy in 1999 with elements of adventure and RPG, remains virtually unnoticed by the general public. Were there and text quests, strongly reminiscent of those that you see in the creation Neocore. True, the development of people in King of Dragon Pass was an order of magnitude, but the control forces in battles on the tactical map is not allowed. So to claim that before the "games have been greener, we still will not. |
