Storm over the Meadows

Storm over the Meadows

Nienroth: Rovyn is about to move heaven and earth to free her brother, and rustic Nienroth is located vulnerably close to her town. Defending Nienroth and expanding toward the Observatory seems to be a good strategy to win.

Princess Zoé has finally captured the dreaded Dracorian, but it seems her troubles are far from over. Dracorian’s sister, Rovyn, is determined to free her brother at all costs. With Rovyn’s armies assembling, Zoé must fortify her position as quickly as possible.

Enemy Forces

Rovyn

Rovyn begins the map with 1 General and 17 soldiers.
Starting Resources
Wood  15    Plank  20    Stone  15    Coal  5
Iron  5    Gold  5    Coin  10    Grain  5
Flour  5    Bread  5    Fish  15    Animal  5
Meat  2    Water  10    Weapon  3    Tool  25

Established Production Chains

None

Overview

Friendly Sectors: 1
Enemy Sectors: 1
Neutral Sectors: 13

Event Location: Royal Observatory

In the Service of Science

Some marauders have quartered themselves in the Observatory, distracting the Astronomer from his work. Defeat the troublemakers to drive them away and you will be awarded a Victory Point.
Base Army: Pikeman  2, Musketeer  2, Cavalier  1
Reward: Victory Point

So Much Horsepower…

The Astronomer needs Horses to power the heavy mechanics he uses in his tower. Deliver some of your strongest stallions and he will gladly reward you with his savings.
Base Cost: Horse  5    Reward: Treasure
Changing the Weather
The Observatory is an excellent place to study Meteorology. Send clerics as researchers and they will summon a disastrous Thunderstorm in your most successful enemy’s territory.
Base Cost: Novice  10    Reward: Thunderstorm

This map must be won by claiming and holding four of the six available Victory Points.
Emperor
Sun King
Metropolis
Field Marshal
Special Sector
Royal Observatory (Static)

This map introduces the Forester and Piggery work yards. Your town sector has very few trees, so Forester work yards are particularly important to early construction. Because Hunting Grounds are not available in neighboring sectors, Animal supply depends on the Piggery work yard early in the map.

Rovyn begins play with 17 soldiers and an established Stronghold. Her superior army is able to capture several sectors right away. Because you start with only three Pikemen, it’s best to avoid a direct battle with Rovyn’s forces.
Your town sector contains a deposit of Stone and little else. With ample Fertile Ground, this sector is ideal for Grain production. An early focus on Technology research takes full advantage of starting sector resources. Cleric production is also the best way to conquer neutral sectors on this map, so ensure that Bread and Beer production runs smoothly at all times.
Your town sector prevents Rovyn from claiming the Special Sector and Royal Observatory Victory Points, which is perhaps the greatest advantage this map offers. Because these Points are out of her reach, Rovyn must claim all four remaining Victory Points to defeat you. Use the Victory Point Menu to track the status of the Emperor, Metropolis, Sun King, and Field Marshal Victory Points.
Once you’ve fortified your town sector, establish production chains and make use of Technology and Trade to expand your army and empire.

Fortify Your Town Sector

At the start of play, Rovyn’s army begins conquering the neutral sectors on the way to your territory. Establish basic production, but move quickly to ensure your defenses are ready before she can attack your town sector.
Build four Residences near your main Storehouse.

Hire two Pikemen from the Tavern and attack the neutral sector just southwest of your town,
Establish a small Plank production chain near your Residences:
Lodge  1
Woodcutter  1
Forester  1
Storehouse  1

Once your General has captured the sector to the southwest, use the Conquest Reward to gain additional Meat and Tools.
Establish Stone production and build a second Lodge just across from your town sector Stone Piles:
Mountain Shelter  1
Quarry  2
Lodge  1
Woodcutter  1
Forester  1
Sawmill  1
Storehouse  1

Once new work yards are complete, use the Population Reward to boost Plank supplies.

Use these Planks to upgrade your fortifications right away. Rovyn’s army suffers heavy losses on the way to your town sector, so basic fortifications serve to keep her at bay for a fairly long time.

Expand Production

Establish a large Plank production chain near your Gold Mine:
Lodge  2
Woodcutter  4
Sawmill  2
Storehouse  1

Head back to your town sector, and use the large patch of Fertile Ground to establish Grain production:
Farm  3
Grain Barn  6
Windmill  2
Storehouse  1

Reassign Grain Barn work areas as needed.

Research Technologies

Unlock the Stronghold, Export Office, and Church Prestige Tree option, and place a Church behind your Castle, against your town wall.

Be sure to place a new Storehouse near your Church.
Use the Residences near your main Storehouse to establish Bread and Beer production:
Bakery  2
Brewery  1
Well  1
Begin Cleric production as soon as the Church is complete. Train Novices in groups of three to research each available Technology.

Establish Meat production in the open area near your Residences:
Noble Residence  2
Butcher’s  2
Farm  1
Piggery  1
Well  1
Storehouse  1
Place both Butcher’s on a single Noble Residence. The Second Noble Residence will be used to place a Mint later.
Place the Piggery on a Fancy Food boost right away, and put both Butchers on Fancy Food once enough Meat becomes available.
Use Prestige gained from Technology research to unlock the Constructor, Residence Upgrade, and Fortification Upgrade options from the Prestige Tree.

Upgrade Residences and fortifications as Stone becomes available.
Place a Toolmaker work yard on the unused Residence, and apply a Fancy Food boost. Set the Toolmaker to “On Demand” as soon as construction is complete.

With a Fancy Food boost, the Iron provided in your main Storehouse will yield up to 15 additional Tools. This should be sufficient until Iron production can be established, but knock down any inactive or redundant work yards if Tool supplies drop too low.

Quarries should always be demolished as soon as Stone Piles have been depleted, but keep the Mountain Shelter for a Coking Plant or Iron Smelter which may be needed later.
Continue producing Novices to research remaining Technologies. Place Prestige Extensions to unlock the Street Upgrade and Geologist from the Prestige Tree.
Establish a small Gold production chain near the mine southwest of your town sector:
Mountain Shelter  1
Gold Miner  3
Storehouse  1
Assign two of the Gold Miners as Geologists to resume Stone production.

There are no Coal Mines near your town sector, so establish an alternate source of Coal as soon as Gold production begins.
Place a Coking Plant on your town sector Mountain Shelter.

Use the nearby Lodge to ensure steady Wood supply. Once the Forestry Technology has been researched, the ratio of Woodcutters to Foresters should be adjusted. Regularly gage available trees against Wood and Plank supplies, and rotate work yards as often as needed.
Place a Mint on the open Noble Residence to begin Coin production.

Put the Mint on a Fancy Food boost. With only two Butchers producing Meat, Food consumption should be closely monitored. Animal supply should be very high at this point, so take the Piggery off of Fancy Food. Apply temporary Food boosts if the supply of Animal drops too low. The Animal Husbandry Technology will increase Grain consumption, so build addition Grain Barns if needed.
Use new Stone to place Prestige Extensions and unlock remaining Prestige Tree options.
Hire Pikemen from the Tavern as Coin becomes available.
Continue upgrading all Residences to accommodate new soldiers, work yards, and Novices.

Expand your Territory

Once all Technologies have been researched, use Novices to capture neutral sectors through Proselytism. Conquer the Iron Mines southwest of your town sector.

Place a Storehouse and Constructor near your Iron Mines. Establish Iron production as resources and living space become available:
Mountain Shelter  2
Iron Miner  6

Assign all Iron Miners as Geologists for a huge boost to Stone production. Upgrade streets and Storehouses in key areas to speed resource delivery.

Place new Storehouses wherever space is available along delivery routes.
Use the open area just southwest of your town sector to establish a large Garment production chain, complete with Fancy Food support and an Export Office:
Farm  3
Shepherd  1
Grain Barn  2
Piggery  1
Residence  1
Weaving Mill  1
Noble Residence  1
Tailor  1
Butcher’s  1
Export Office  1
Well  2
Storehouse  2
Place the Tailor and Butcher’s on a Fancy Food Boost.

Claim Victory Points

Between Technology research and Prestige Extensions, the Sun King Victory Point should already be in your possession, so turn your attention to remaining Points.
Train Hawkers to trade Garments at the Port.

Use new Coin to hire a huge army of Pikemen at the Tavern, and claim the Field Marshal Victory Point.
Produce enough Novices to capture the Special Sector, and claim the Special Sector Victory Point.
Continue using Novices to expand your territory until you claim the Emperor Victory Point.

This should trigger the Countdown to Victory. As long as your town sector is secure, Rovyn has no way to claim the Emperor or Special Sector Victory Points. Simply use your superior Coin and Stone production to continue hiring Pikemen and placing Prestige Objects. As long as you maintain both the Field Marshal and Sun King Victory Points, Rovyn is easily defeated.

Claim and hold any four Victory Points to defeat Rovyn and win the map.