King Javo left for war 8 months ago, but you have not heard or seen of him ever since. But a few days ago a messenger falcon came to tell you that Javo and the main army will be arriving soon. You are Javo's highest ranking general. But when your outpost guard sees the supposed Javo. It's actually your enemy, and it's your job to hold the small fort of Fortalicus.
Here is a URL to tell you about minimaps:-
http://stronghold.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forum/display.cgi?action=ct&f=17,1199,,20
Sulis
Posted on 01/14/08 @ 07:41 AM
Rating
1.5
Breakdown
Playability
1.5
Balance
1.5
Creativity
1.5
Map Design
1.0
Story/Instructions
2.0
Playability: 1.5
Based on the storyline, this is a defending siege map, therefore the scenario was played in this fashion. The map has serious AI issues that have not been resolved via playtesting. It is possible to beat this map on very hard setting without suffering a single troops loss as the AI is confused by the castle design for some reason. Only one atehouse stands between the attackers and the keep but never attacks with sufficient ferocity to cause any problems for your crossbowmen, who easily pick off all attacks. The engineers do not build siege equipment and the tunnellers fail to spring into action, standing by the signpost until the very end. The map does not offer a challenge and is barely playable, hence the score.
Balance: 1.5
As above, too easy to win, in fact it is impossible to lose. The AI issues could, and should have been addressed by careful playtesting, although I cannot understand what the problem is specifically. Even playing against the designer's request and attacking the fortress, intrinsic design flaws means that the protruding gatehouse can be taken down with ease by one trebuchet and the defending ballista on the towers are out of range of your treb.
Creativity: 1.5
Little to speak of unforunately. The design of the castle is crude, the landscape is non-existent and the map does not play at all how it should. Sadly, no signs of creativity in any shape or form are evident.
Map Design: 1
Poor. The castle is an array of towers surrounded by over-thich walls that must be seven or eight tiles in depth. The landscape is huge, but largely unmodelled and the few outcrops of raised terrain are done using large brush sizes that do not resemble natural features. Massive areas of the canvas are unused and completely redundant.
Story/Instructions: 2
The author has penned a very small description of the scenario rather than a story as such, and makes reference to the fact that you must defend against the armies of Javo. Aside from this, nothing else is included. Desperately needs content of a basic and informative nature.
Additional Comments:
A weak scenario, not posing a challenge and poor in design and concept. Regrettably, this one is best avoided.