Lord Pompeii being an ex-monk, was light handed but of a stern constitution.Not a swiller of wine, nor an eye for the ladies.But, an avid chess player on the board and in life....It was impossible to tell what he was thinking. St Meraglise had a bunch of his ole friends in the huge church with whom he could fellowship. De Puc had no idea who he was fooling with, for Pompeii's reputation as a successful battlemaster had not preceded him to this small location. Take pity on the Rat, he knows not what future awaits.
Well, a challenging two-part eco-map, consisting of two different phases:
Phase one, I would call it the military preparation for the future economic goals.
Here you have to concentrate on a secure defense against the constant attacks of bandits and wolves making it impossible to build up a well- operating economy in early years. In deed a strenuous job to do until you’ll reach a consolidated position by guarding the narrow land bridges that are leading to the headquarter (keep). At the beginning, it might be difficult to be successful with regard to the economic development. It is impossible to accelerate a reasonable smooth less structure of food supply, because of the limited building areas or the long distance of suitable arable land (occupied by wolves). Therefore, it’s advisable to stub up the hinterland, to eradicate the wolves and simultaneously to block up the natural accesses to the subsequent workshops. The available military units right from the beginning will help you here in an effective way. If all these preparations are finished, you’ll have to stand a period of plagues, of bad harvests and of big fires, that will extremely shake your popularity. Only when all conditions for a successful economizing are given, phase 2 will start. This is going to be an endless trial of patience because of the high level of demanded goods (especially bread and cheese). A really nerve-racking job where your marketplace will play the leading part to fulfil all objectives. Fortunately, there are no time limit and no disturbing events that would render things more difficult. In my opinion Map Design is partly too rough, many high plateau’s elements are joined together, looking a little bit unnatural without further modulations.
Summarizing I can declare that this map is a tough one concerning the permanent attacks of wolves and bandits, but the economic part is partially boring and just a question of time if you are patient.
Greetings 
Stratego
peter2008
Posted on 04/10/09 @ 10:11 AM
Stratego's review is very adequate to the mission, imo.
The landscape is tricky and maze-like. Don't underestimate the power of the bandits. They arrive in good numbers already on normal. Tricky is also that there are reasons more than one not to relocate neither stockpile nor granaray at the start. You cannot, due to big packs of wolves in the hinterlands. And you need the different starting goods. Clearing some small peninsulas will help to place some more farms relatively next to the stockpile. In the first, the fighting part, keeping or getting back balance is an exciting task. During the second half, I was happy to discover the possibilities of the market.
PS. Shaping of the apple orchard is nice (almost, the very high tiles look unreal).