The Return of the Old King

The Return of the Old King

Mordsweiler: This town is located at the foot of the mountains and this is a very infertile region. As your enemies have allied against you and Dracorian, perhaps you should consider requesting some occult help from the Bone Church or the Enchanted Tower.

Outraged at his daughter’s rebellion, King Konradin mobilizes his army to face Princess Zoé on the battlefield. Determined to succeed where Field Marshal Ludowig failed, King Konradin enlists the aid of the devious King Balderus.
With Dracorian at her side, Princess Zoé continues her fight for Tandria’s freedom.

Enemy Forces

King Konradin and King Balderus

Konradin and Balderus each start the map with one General and five soldiers.

Starting Resources

Wood  15    Plank  50    Stone  50    Coal  20    Iron Ore  15    Iron  10    Gold  15    Coin  15    Grain  15    Flour  5    Bread  10    Fish  20    Animal  10    Meat  20    Horse  3    Water  10    Beer  10    Paper  5    Book  3    Wool  10    Cloth  10    Garment  10    Jewelry  5    Weapon  3    Wheel  5    Tool  25

Established Production Chains

None

Overview

Friendly Sectors: 2
Enemy Sectors: 9
Neutral Sectors: 18

Event Location: Bone Church

Put Them in Their Place

The dark cult is feared all over Tandria for its dark rituals and cruelty. Defeat the cultists to persuade them to leave the Settlers alone, and your heroic deed will be rewarded with a Victory Point.
Base Army: Pikeman  5, Musketeer  , Cavalier  3
Reward: Victory Point

Bloody Initiation

The cultists lack the breaking wheels needed for the initiation of their newcomers. Help them out and they will use their dark magic to summon an Earthquake in your most successful enemy’s territory.
Base Cost: Wheel  12
Reward: Earthquake

Joining the Dark Side
The Cult Priestess wants to enlarge her dark cult by training more obedient disciples. Send her some of your own clerics and she will grant you Free Passage through her sector.
Base Cost: Novice  4, Brother  2
Reward: Free Passage

Event Location: Enchanted Tower

I Don’t Believe in Witchcraft

The Witch claims that her magical potions have made her minions unbeatable in battle. Send your soldiers and prove the old lady wrong, and you will receive a Victory Point.
Event Location: Enchanted Tower (continued)

Base Army: Pikeman  5, Musketeer  4, Cavalier  3
Reward: Victory Point

A Wicked Dress

The Witch wants to attend a ball but cannot find the right dress to wear. Send her some fine Garments and Jewelry to get her to reveal a Technology from one of her magical books.
Base Cost: Garment  12, Jewelry  8
Reward: Forced March
Healing Hands
The Witch’s minions love to fight, but are still stricken from their latest raid. Send some of your clerics to help them recover, and they will gladly attack your most successful enemy.
Base Cost: Novice  5, Brother  3
Reward: Marauder Army

This map must be won by claiming and holding six of fifteen available Victory Points.
Banker
Emperor
Sun King
Metropolis
Field Marshal
Generalissimo
Fountain of Knowledge
Most Trading Outposts
Special Sector
Genius (static)
Abbey (static)
Special Trading Outpost (static)
Special Trading Outpost (static)
Bone Church (static)
Enchanted Tower (static)
Mordsweiler offers very little Fertile Ground. This prohibits Bread and Beer production until well into expansion, and makes Technology research a relatively ineffective strategy.
Fishing Grounds are available outside your town, but may not support an expansive economy for the duration of play. Consider using all available Hunting Grounds to support Meat production, and place all active Noble Residence work yards on Fancy Food boosts.

Iron, Coal, and Gold Mines are all available in the neutral sectors near your town and should be acquired as quickly as possible. Warfare is the only expansion method available early in the map. The small army provided at the start of play is sufficient to conquer one sector immediately, but you should use all early Coin production to hire reinforcements while you are capturing more sectors.
Small amounts of Gold and Coal are available in your Storehouse, but securing new mines should your top priority.
Because many basic resources are scarce, Trade is a valuable tool in supporting your economy. King Konradin begins play with an established Export Office, so move quickly to secure the Marketplace for yourself.

Dracorian tends to lead the map in Technology research, and usually earns the Fountain of Knowledge Victory Point before long. However, it’s unlikely that he will invest beyond basic Technologies, so the Genius Victory Point probably will go unclaimed.
Dracorian builds a strong army very quickly. This discourages most opponent attacks, but it also gives Dracorian the ability to capture the valuable resources around your town. Use soldiers hired at your Tavern to expand your territory before Dracorian makes his way across the map.

Establish A Stronghold

The small army provided is sufficient to capture at least one neutral sector. Send your General to capture the Coal Mines west of your town sector as soon as play begins.

Use initial resources to construct a Stronghold and establish essential production:
Noble         Residence  3
Butcher’s  1
Blacksmith  1
Mint  1
Mountain Shelter  1
Quarry  1
Iron Smelter  1
Lodge  2
Woodcutter  2
Sawmill  1
Hunter  2
New soldiers will quickly consume living space, so build additional Residences as needed. When laying out your town sector, leave a large area around your Stronghold for Prestige Extensions. Place Fancy Food boosts on the Butcher, Blacksmith, Mint, Quarry, and Iron Smelter work yards.

Your Butcher cannot keep pace with current Fancy Food consumption. Switch your Quarry and Iron Smelter to “On Demand,” and use Conquest Rewards to supplement Meat and Tool supplies.
Begin training soldiers at your Stronghold as soon as possible. You’ll need at least ten Musketeers to capture fortified sectors, but make sure your General has at least five Pikemen before continuing your expansion. Establish new production near your Coal Mines while reinforcements arrive:
Mountain Shelter  2
Coal Miner  6
Lodge  1
Fisher  1
Hunter  2
Noble Residence  1
Butcher’s  1
Storehouse  1

Secure the Marketplace

Once your General has at least 10 Musketeers, attack the fortified sector south of your Gold Mines. This sector should be captured as quickly as possible to prevent Konradin from establishing new Trading Outposts.
Begin constructing new Storehouses leading from your town to the fortified sector. Fortifications should be repaired as soon as your General has captured this sector, and improving your resource delivery speeds the process considerably.
Pay close attention to the size and location of enemy forces. Continue to hire new soldiers to discourage attacks until all vulnerable sectors can be fortified.
Develop the area around your Gold Mines for production and as a site for your Export Office.
Mountain Shelter  1
Gold Miner  2
Lodge  1
Hunter  2
Noble Residence  1
Butcher’s  1
Export Office  1
Storehouse  2
Place the Export Office as soon as Plank and Stone supplies can support construction.

Place Prestige Extensions as needed to begin upgrading Storehouses, Residences, and streets.

Streets can be redirected to allow for a massive Prestige Extension.
Keep an eye on the Iron Mines east of your town sector.  Dracorian may attempt to capture this sector, leaving you with no source of Iron Ore.

Dracorian should have assembled a relatively large army at this point, and he should start claiming nearby sectors. Securing the Marketplace should be your highest priority. Order additional reinforcements and monitor Dracorian’s position while this sector is fortified.

Establish Garment production near the Marketplace as resources become available:
Farm  3
Grain Barn  3
Shepherd  1
Piggery  1
Residence  1
Weaving Mill  1
Noble Residence  2
Butcher’s  1
Tailor  1
Storehouse  1
Well  2

Remove at least one Hunter from depleted Hunting Grounds, and place Sawmills or Woodcutters as needed.

Fortify your Iron Mines and any other vulnerable sectors. If Dracorian fails to fortify his new sectors, hostile armies can cut an easy path right to your Castle.

Establish production near your Iron Mines:
Mountain Shelter  2
Iron Miner  3
Iron Smelter  2
Storehouse  1

Place new work yards in your town sector:
Toolmaker  1
Blacksmith  1
Wheelwright  1

Construct new Residences as needed. Set all three work yards to “On Demand,” and apply Fancy Food Boosts if possible.

When ready, send your General to capture the other neutral sectors around your town.

Establish Trading Outposts

Begin training Hawkers at your Export Office. Resources provided at the start of play should allow you to make several trades right away. Begin upgrading the Export Office as resources become available.
Establish a Goldsmith near Gold or Iron sources to begin Jewelry production.
Jewelry is needed for Salesman and Merchant production and it also can be traded for Coin. Make sure to put the Goldsmith on a Fancy Food boost right away.

If Fertile Ground is available, construct additional Grain Barns and Piggeries.

Piggeries don’t require Fertile Ground and can be placed in any open area.
Place Fancy Food boosts on any new Piggeries, and construct new Butcher’s work yards if Animal supplies are adequate. Replace any unneeded Hunters with Fishers or Woodcutters.
Continue upgrading your Export Office until Merchants can be trained. Establish new Trading Outposts until you receive the Most Trading Outposts Victory Point.

Any Trading Outpost can be useful, but be sure to secure one that allows you to trade for Horses. Doing so provides for Merchant and Cavalier production without investing in additional Farms.
Continue producing traders, and trade surplus resources for Coin.
Upgrade your stronghold to produce advanced soldiers and hire specialized Generals at the Tavern.

Claim Victory Points

Check your Victory Point status to assess your situation.

Dracorian usually claims the Fountain of Knowledge and Abbey Victory Points, and with well-established Trade you should have easily claimed the Most Trading Outposts and Banker Victory Points.
Event Location Points are risky investments and should not be necessary to complete this map. Place additional work yards and produce enough soldiers to ensure that either you or Dracorian hold the Field Marshal and Metropolis Victory Points. Use new Trading Outposts to efficiently meet any resource demands.
Place large Prestige Extensions to gain the Sun King Victory Point.

Additional Prestige Rewards can be used to speed trader production.
Use traders to claim the Special Trading Outpost Victory Points. Because you have exclusive access to the Marketplace, you can claim these Victory Points at any time.
Claim and hold any six Victory Points to complete the map.