Product overview

Everything worth knowing.

A detailed, evidence-led view of the product—not a generic sales summary.

Stronghold: Warlords for PC is a sequel and more of a real time strategy (RTS) game which moves away from the original game’s premise. That was a simple defender game with ever increasing hordes of enemies trying to breach your defences – this game adds the warlords of the title (see below) and along with them comes other differences. About the Game It is a combat-focussed game with city building and a pretty even balance between the two. You can play both single player and multiplayer campaigns. Compared with the original game, this iteration spends a lot of time and action away from your stronghold as you manage your warlords and bases, but do not neglect it as the evocative sieges so loved in the first games do eventually return, and you will need it to be strong and sturdy when they do. As in the first game, you will need to build a stronghold – but this game offers so much more. The maps are larger, so large that you will need some well-placed ally bases. This is because between enemy bases and your stronghold are any number of neutral warlords. If you go to battle with them and win, you earn their loyalty, absorbing their lands, armies and resources into your stronghold. If not, they could join the enemy’s side and attack your stronghold! The Nitty Gritty Managing and designing your fiefdom is one of the game’s strengths just as it has been in every iteration of the game. There are five lengthy campaigns (of six missions each) to play through – with one campaign being entirely financial rather than battle-based like the others. You don’t have to battle against the neutral warlords to win them over; instead, you can use diplomacy to schmooze them into doing your bidding which can include sending you resources, fighting battles on your behalf and sheltering your tro