Chapter Four: Single-player Campaigns There are three campaigns in The Conquerors, each consisting of six campaign scenarios. Most are complex affairs, requiring more than just a little trial and error on your part, especially at the higher difficulty levels, so don't expect to get them right the first time. You must win a scenario before advancing on to the next one. The summaries that follow highlight only the key elements of each scenario. They are by no means intended to illustrate the only way to win the scenario. In most cases, you'll discover different, perhaps even better, paths to victory than the ones found here. Attila the Hun In the fifth century, a race of nomadic mounted people known as Huns swept into eastern Europe and the Balkans. Within just a few decades, this group of wanderers was united by a strong leader and a common desire to pillage and plunder its neighbors. For a time, it looked as if the Roman empire, indeed all western Europe, might fall as waves of displaced people fled before Attila and his Huns. 1. Scourge of God This scenario recreates Attila's initial rise to power and unification of the Huns. As a test of his leadership, you're immediately faced with two difficult tasks: capturing a Roman base camp and getting your army across a wide river to destroy a major Persian town. To make things a little more challenging, the Huns cannot advance any further than the castle age. Starting Forces You begin the game as Attila. Attila is a mounted leader with 450 hit points, an attack strength of 13, and armor modifiers of (2/2). Initially, he is the sole unit under your command. Opposing Forces Bleda's Huns Romans (Byzantines) Scythians (Mongols) Persians (Persians) Initial Scenario Objective Attila must survive. Attila must make sure that Bleda is killed, then return to the Hun camp. Only then can the Huns ride against their enemies. As the game opens, your brother Bleda invites you to take part in a boar hunt. One of your loyal soldiers makes the comment that if an accident were to befall Bleda, and he should not return from the hunt, you would become ruler of the Huns. Once you reach the Roman fort, have your men free the hostages and the Scythian scout unit. This nobleman is crucial to gaining the Scythians' friendship and assistance. Follow Bleda to the northwest, and soon, the two of you will spot boar tracks. If you help Bleda kill the boar, you are ambushed by a group of archers. However, if you change your diplomatic stance with Bleda to enemy, you can attack and kill Bleda outright, potentially with the aid of the boar. The third option is simply to ride off into the sunset and start a new village. Once Bleda is dead, return to the Hun camp. This triggers a series of accusations between men loyal to you and those still loyal to Bleda. Once the Bleda loyalists have been defeated, you are declared the sole ruler of the Huns and receive a generous tribute. At this point, you're given a new scenario objective. New Scenario Objective Defeat two of the remaining three enemies (Persians, Romans, or Scythians). Following the fight with Bleda and his men, your forces are too weak to think about any immediate campaign against your enemies. Use this brief respite to strengthen your economic base. Once you've created a sizable workforce (10 to 15 villagers), you can begin gradually rebuilding army. Venturing south before you are really prepared can have disastrous consequences. Remember, if Attila dies, you may as well start over.   « Previous Page Single-player campaigns (cont.) »