Title: Perperikon
Version: 1.0
Map size: 400x400
Level: Hard
Playing as: Defender
Win conditions: No enemy or invasions left
Lose conditions: Lord killed
This is the first historically correct map that I post here at SH and I am very excited.
The advancing army it threatening to destroy the holy city. Many doubt that the enemy will be even close to the outer wall. The city has never been conquered and this confidence makes the people think less of the upcoming battle and more about fun and relaxation. One night a Thracian scout returns to Perperikon and his news shocks the city:
Scout: I spotted two armies marching toward the castle. The first is very small and doesn’t pose a large threat but the second is very massive and should be more of a struggle.
Innkeeper: This is all fools talk. Never has the city been sieged how can anything penetrate a keep that was given by Dionysius himself.
Scout: Your confidence will prove fatal these aren’t simple bandits they are an elite Byzantine army. Every trooper is with a metal armour and their ranged troops have some kind of bows that are crossed together with wood. I saw them fire at bears one shot and the beast was down. And what do we have spears and bows.
Innkeeper: We also have Dionysius’s blessings!
Man: Make way the priest is coming. Make way!
Priest : Bad news my sons we have angered the gods I can’t get any visions I can’t predict anything. By thunder we are to be killed by the all mighty hand of Zeus!!
Scout: What does that mean?!
Priest: It means we are on our own the gods won’t interfere in this battle. They only gave us the fortification and the city nothing more. Im afraid that this is a matter we have to settle ourselves.
Crowd: By the gods we’ll be slaughtered we don’t stand a chance against the elite army!!!
The havoc amongst the people didn’t help at all. Finally the peasants decided to fight instead of fleeing to the mountains. But the strategy isn’t worked out yet.
It’s your job noble knight to take control of the city and survive the two attacks. For if not the holy temple will be enslaved forever.
Authors notes:
Use the terrain to your advantage. There are a couple of ways with which you can surprise the enemy but the best strategy remains the garrison around walls. Note that if the gates fall on the first attack the game is pretty much lost.
Don’t play the map at very hard because the enemy army becomes enormous and very tough to beat. I have made this map on normal but its still very hard to defend the castle.
I'd like to give some special thanks to Ericgolf and WL_D they helped me sorten out some faults and thus making the map better.Thanks guys.
Playability: 4
This smooth playing invasion map proved to be a bit of an eye opener. Two invasions, one much larger and better armoured than the first, forms the only events you have to face in this historical reconstruction. It sounds simple enough, but this is a lesson in good map design from start to finish. It’s a relatively short scenario but this is fine; anything else would detract from the playability. The notes clearly state to protect your gatehouses in the first attack otherwise it becomes difficult to beat. I cannot emphasis this enough! There is plenty to do here, with copious amounts of careful manoeuvring of your defending army to ensure those gatehouses remain in tact. You can repair them, which is a very useful bonus, but you really do have to set your stall from the start and sacrifice a few good troops to withstand the attacks. Be alert though and recruit as many troops as your weapons manufacturers can produce. The map plays out more like a defending siege and I thoroughly enjoyed Perperikon from start to finish. It’s a simple scenario but done so incredibly well!
Balance: 4.5
You underestimate this scenario at your peril! I played on the normal difficulty setting as indicated by the designers initially, and based this review on their preferences. Withstanding the initial attack was a trial in itself and proved a frantic battle. The second invasion filled me with trepidation, and I wasn’t mistaken; it is huge and potently devastating. My gatehouses fell in quick succession despite throwing troops at the attacking pikemen and although I weathered the first attack, I was vulnerable to the second wave. It became a desperate battle of delaying the enemy whilst peppering them with my archers. Exactly how a battle in Stronghold should be! Make no mistake, this is a tough map to beat and it is all so easy to make a mistake and end up suffering a humiliating defeat. Great stuff though, very well done and balance that is almost perfect.
Creativity: 4.5
Full credit to Battle Mage Corp for tackling a reconstruction of an intensely elaborate and unusual castle/walled city design. Recreation of such an ornate and detailed structure must have been devilishly tricky. The recreation of a particularly hard topic and transposing it into the Stronghold game deserves nothing but respect and admiration. Perperikon is beautiful and the accompanying historical background is well done. Very, very impressive.
Map Design: 5
It would be folly to award anything but full marks for this work of art. The city is simply stunning, meticulously rebuilt from what must be vague sources in terms of detail and is dripping with skills in the editor not seen for a long time. The landscape fits in with the story/instructions commentary beautifully and reflects an expertly modelled rocky terrain. In fact, beautiful is a pretty accurate description of this scenario all round! I love the attention to detail given to both the city and the landscape. A very unique map indeed.
Story/Instructions: 4.5
The download description page has been used exactly as it is meant to; the description, brief story outline and clear instructions are essential in this case and it’s nice to see that there are still designers out there who are prepared to make an effort across all areas of a scenario design. The zip file includes further notes by way of a historical article and all in all I’m once again very impressed at the package as a whole. Both the story and instructions read well and are fluid, whilst content is just about right without becoming boring.
Additional Comments:
The map oozes quality, the design is stunningly rendered and the scenario plays out as a tricky and frantic invasion with lots to do and keep you occupied. Very much recommended!