Start Your Game

Standard game? Campaign game?
The first you need to do is select Standard game or Campaign game from the Main menu. Multi-player game is not a issue of strategy, it depends on whether you have a buddy or not. Now let�s go back to which type of game to play. I will list the advantages and disadvantages of both game types.
Standard Game Advantages
You get to choose the number of computer players (1-3) and their dumbness. You get to choose your color freely (yeah like that�s important). You can set the difficulty of the whole game. You can choose the scenario, and after playing the same scenario for a while you can remember the whole map. In some scenario you start with more than one castle. That's not always an advantage though. Since you can't see anything on map between these castles and if you have more than one castle, guess how strong those computer AIs are!
Disadvantages
You can�t really choose which type of troops to start with. One, out of four types of troops, is assigned to you randomly. Or it's rather a castle type that is assigned to you. Doesn't matter really, all the same thing.
Notes
In the standard game selection window, there is an option called �King of the Hill� if you are a newbie, DO NOT CHECK THIS OPTION. This option makes all your enemy stop fighting each other and beat you up first. I think it is an option for expert players who want an adventure and challenge. Another thing, although you don�t get the briefing window like the campaign game, you can still read something explaining the scenario when you click on the scenario you want to choose.

Campaign game Advantages
You can choose which type of troops to start your campaign with. You get a briefing window before every scenario to learn what you are supposed to do in that scenario. Every mission is different, not simply seek domination of the land; this make it much more interesting. And it does follow a story line. As simple as the story is, it's still a story. To see which type of troops to choose for campaign game, see 'troops' section. You get to choose which lord you want to choose to play as. Then you get asigned a castle that should be led by this lord.
Disadvantages
You can�t really set the difficulty level. You will always face what the computer throw at you. You don't have any control over it, but to accept everything. I always think in campaign game you are always put in a less favored situation. Others lords may be more advanced than you, and you always start with one castle.
Note
In campaign games, always pay close attention to the mission assigned to you. If you don�t finish the mission successfully, you can�t finish the scenario. You may conquer all the warlords, you still can�t finish it. Also beware of the other warlords who may finish the mission before you, then you are in BIG trouble, namely, you lose. I found that out the hard way. All the campaign scenarios stay the same at all time like standard games. Only the distribution of artifacts changes every time, not the locations but the items themselves change. This applies to both type of games.

After you have picked the type of game, a scenario starts. Like all other strategy games, you can only see a small block of the whole map, where your castle and hero stands. You have limited resource at the beginning. You have a level-one hero already hired leading minimal troops. In one word, YOU SUCK. OOps, that was two words. OK so I can't count, no surprise there, I am in college!! The first thing you need to do is click / double click on your hero AND your castle to check their status. Now go on to Hero's window.