

You will also need fletchers and other craftsmen to create weapons for the soldiers on your walls. Yet, this core foundation has an extensive list of gameplay elements that add an incredible amount of variety to the day-to-day running of your budding empire.īasic buildings such as hovels, apple orchards and woodcutters will kick start your economy but you will soon need bakeries and pig farms to provide your people with enough variety of food to make them happy with your rule. It is possible to expand into other locations - either by purchasing an empty plot of land or through conquest - but no matter how big your kingdom grows, your efforts will always be geared towards managing your economy and strengthening your castle. The second plot features a small keep that is in dire need of additional measures to protect it from being overrun. In short, everything you need to build up the flourishing economy that you will need to support your war effort. It contains farmland and suitable areas for stone quarries, iron mines, farming and forestry. The first is perfect for building a village. In fact, that is what Stronghold Kingdoms is all about: building up your castle and preparing it for battle.

The actual battles play out without any intervention from either side, but there are a number of things you can do to prepare beforehand. I am rather pleased about that, as it seems to prove I am where I need to be at this point in the development of my castle.īeing an online game - and officially out of beta as of this month - Stronghold Kingdoms is not a game where you save and try again until you get it right.

As it turns out, I needn’t worry, my archers take out the enemy army before they can do any significant damage. I’m nervously wondering if the basic stone walls will be able to withstand the attack. It is the first time that I am being attacked, and it is somewhat of a nail-biting experience as such. “My defences -must- hold” I mumble to myself as I watch the enemy army approach the walls of my far-from-complete castle.
