Hi, Strongholders out there. This time it's my turn to say "my first map".
Story
So you're new in the desert and just want to celebrate a birthday party today?
Then wake up 'n hurry cause you're late. Your neighbours, friends and foes, are all up and busy fighting. While you're still trying to enjoy a birthday morning. Looking around from the keep you think about what's left undone.
Ah, yes, food supply is a severe problem. When crossing the Mediterranean Sea one of the ships was driven away northward. Unfortunately it carried all the farmers, millers and bakers that accompanied your crusade. Perhaps they have a happy life at Tyre now?
This evening you cannot serve beer alone to your guests. Hm, bread will take too long and cheese isn't that productive. Then let's decide on apples. But where to get the fruits from? ... you may be forced to lend or steel?
Calling your cellarer you tell him: "My allies are coming tonight, good ol' Sultan and Caliph, and maybe some captive lords. Many guests will join, too. So get me lots of apples ;) no matter how!" As the man leaves you hear him mumble a complaint.
Outside you meet your true knights and soldiers to whom you give the order of the day: "Necessity is a hard weapon. Take that."
The troops keep on looking at you. Did this mean attack or defence?
The horses are neighing - the animals like apples, too.
Author's notes
With the original course of this map I partly failed during its realization. The idea was to get an invasion map with allies on it who can be asked for tributes. For that I changed the root map into a skrimish type and back into an invasion. Unfortunately any events and invasions don't work any more. The win condition - apples - has been left just for fun.
I still liked the opening scene and chose to nevertheless submit the map.
Quitting the mission or simple restart will end up in the skirmish section. Please do the custom maps starting procedure again.
(Spoiling hints and screens included in the zip file.)
Hey, many thanks for playing the map and for the review.
When I look on the minimap today, I think the greenery should be distributed in a different way. The usual skirmish maps leave an empty circle for the AIs to build their castles. But of the save-to-map trick is used one can bring the green fields closer to the villages again.