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Berkhamsted Historical Castle Pack
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| Author |
File Description |
| Skaarj |
Posted on 11/12/05 @ 05:27 AM
| File Details |
|---|
| Map Size: |
400x400 (Large) |
| Difficulty: |
Hard |
Minimap:
 |
--Introduction--
An invasion map, and a seige map for the historical castle Berkhamsted, so you can experience the castle properly :).
--Contents of Pack--
1 invasion map
1 seige map
--Historical Information--
Berkhamsted Castle is a good example of a motte and bailey castle where the original wooden defences were later rebuilt in stone. It consists of a large bailey, with parts of its curtain wall still standing, and a motte to one side, on which there are traces of a stone tower. The entire castle is surrounded by two moats, separated by an earth rampart.
The castle was built in the late 11th century for Robert of Mortain, William the Conqueror's half brother. Between 1155-65, Thomas a Becket, Henry II's chancellor, was resident at the castle. During this time he replaced the wooden palisades around the motte and bailey with new stone defences. Further improvements were made by King John, who added wing walls up the south side of the motte, and round towers along the bailey curtain wall. These defences were put to the test in 1216 when the castle was besieged by Prince Louis of France, as part of an attempt to seize the English Throne. The castle finally fell after a two week barrage from giant catapults called mangonels.
Later residents also made modifications to the castle, including Richard, Duke of Cornwall, who is thought to have added a three-storeyed tower along the western part of the curtain wall. The castle became disused from 1495. The outer gate or barbican was lost in 1838 when the London and Birmingham Railway sliced off the south-western edge of the site.
--Objectives--
You are either to seige this castle defend it from a seige or defend from multiple invasions. If you are in controll of the castle you may need to construct additional walls, and will need to expand your economy. On top of this you will need to train additional troops to defend the castle. Good luck! :)
--Additional Comments--
I spent a fair while getting this castle to match the floor plan of the original castle, including hills, walls, some buildings, and towers. I hope you will enjoy the map, and have fun looking at the design of the castle. Please leave comments and ratings so I can improve future maps :).
Thx,
Skaarj |
| Author | Comments & Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
|---|
| Jasper Tudor |
Posted on 11/12/05 @ 12:11 PM
Playability: 4
Very fun to play, especially as the defender.
Balance: 3
Way too easy as defender, at my first try I won with only 24% troop-losses, and I still did some very stupid troop placements since it was my first attempt. Attacker was harder though.
Creativity: 4
Historical castles ain't actually very creative, but it's hard to judge this part of a map since pretty much everything has already been done. I've given this a 4 so that the overall score of the map won't be reduced.
Map Design: 4
You've hightened pretty much all of the map, which looks good, since it gives you the impression of the moat actually being dug into the terrain. The castle looks good to, but I don't understand why you've chosen to move the keep.
Story/Instructions: 4
Overall very good instructions,no story though.
Additional Comments:
A very fine map overall.
THE INVASION
Playability: 3
Rather slow, not much to do, and very easy invasions. Much of dead time...thirty years is too long.
Balance: 3
This was VERY easy, although I enjoy an easy fight, and actually had quite fun while playing, most players will find this map way too easy. Downsize the time-span, make the invasions harder and add more bad thing that occur between the invasions.
Creativity: 4
I don't want to reduce the map's score that much, since it actually is a very good map.
Map design:
Same as for the siege.
Story/Instructions: 4
Gave this a 4 for the same reason as I gave creativity a 4, although it deserves a 3.
Additional Comments:
Make the map A LOT harder. Completed the map at my first attempt at normal with only 2% (yes, TWO) troop-losses, and the enemy didn't breach the walls a single time.
[Edited on 11/12/05 @ 04:20 PM]
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| lollard97367 |
Posted on 11/12/05 @ 02:07 PM
Lollard |
| lollard97367 |
Posted on 11/12/05 @ 08:41 PM
This combo map pack is posted as a invasion. The seige played on defend (normal level) is alot more fun than the invasion. But, the invasion lets you fully develop the resources and build more on the castle and defend against even bigger attacks (500+ on the final invasion). Because both maps are fun to play, they combine to get the five rating.
Balance: 4
The invasion map is long as previously mentioned. I took off one because you dont even see any attackers for four years. Also the castle can become a huge cattle farm if you want (the ground will accept the cow farm placement inside), and this makes gathering food less of a issue. But the siege troop levels are perfect and that version of the map has good balance.
Creativity: 5
I think someone said that making a stronghold or stronghold crusader map out of the original plans of a old castle is not creative. I think that is hogwash. Old plans of castles are to be cherished and honored by these digital 'mock ups'. Some even look really like the old castle itself. If the castle seems to feel like you are really trying to defend the original, so much the better. This map is like that. The catapults destroy the large circular wall area. The invaders swarm around and follow an attack flow chart almost.
Map Design: 4
I found the gatehouses are collapsible, and only delay the attackers. Its a big castle, even though it looks small on paper. So moving troops to the keep to defend the quick breeching of the walls requires perfect timing. I found that you could send the king off to destroy the siege towers, and thus moving him around the castle (with swordsmen bodyguards). Moving the king around was a key to my success on the siege on normal.
Score
Playing Level: 5000
Troops Lost 46%: 5400
Score: 10400
Story/Instructions: 5
Write up uses historical facts, with some story. I love this timeframe of the history of the British Isles. Good job presenting this castle for all to enjoy, in two maps for one download!
Additional Comments:
Im giving this the offical Lollard "Thumbs Up" and it should be downloaded and played as soon as possible. If you liked it as much as me, then rate it high as it should be. Be sure to check out my new submission, "Glitterspike Hall"
Lollard[Edited on 11/12/05 @ 09:05 PM]
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HGDL v0.8.2 |
| Rating |
|---|
| 4.2 | | Breakdown |
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| Playability | 4.5 | | Balance | 3.5 | | Creativity | 4.5 | | Map Design | 4.0 | | Story/Instructions | 4.5 |
| Statistics |
| Downloads: | 720 |
| Favorites: [] | 0 |
| Size: | 1.43 MB |
| Added: | 11/12/05 |
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