Field of Glory II: Medieval - Rise of the Swiss

From the late 1300s some Swiss started to carry the long pike, at first as a minority weapon, the bulk of their soldiers still carrying the halberd. In 1422, a small Swiss army was beaten at Arbedo by a Milanese army containing a large number of men-at-arms, who dismounted after their initial mounted charge failed. It was noticed that the pikemen fared better in combat against dismounted men-at-arms than the halberdiers, due to the longer reach of their weapons.

From that time onwards the proportion of pikemen in Swiss armies was steadily increased, so that by the end of the fifteenth century it had become the dominant weapon. The halberd was only retained by a small number of experienced soldiers to defend the banners, and to break up an enemy's formation if the pike advance was halted.

The new Swiss system proved an astounding success on the battlefield: victorious in the Burgundian Wars, defeating the Holy Roman Empire in the Swabian War, and as mercenaries they were a key component of French King Charles VIII's armies in Italy. Soon pike formations were adopted in many western European countries, notably in Germany by the famous 'landsknechts'.

In Bohemia, war had broken out between the followers of Jan Hus, a Proto-Protestant religious reformer, and the Catholic royalists. The Hussites were mainly common people, and they had few nobles to provide heavily armoured men-at-arms. To counter the royalists’ advantage in heavy cavalry, they adapted simple agricultural wagons into the 'Wagenburg', a mobile fortress, from within which the Hussite soldiers could fight. This was mainly a defensive weapon, although at the Battle of Kutna Hora in 1421 it was used to break through a royalist army.

In Spain, the Reconquista was finally completed when the Kingdom of Granada was conquered in 1492. Here, the armies of Castile and Aragon had also adopted the pike, but Castile had in addition revived the use of sword and buckler men, in imitation of the ancient Roman legionaries.

England saw a series of wars between the Lancastrian and Yorkist branches of the Plantagenet royal family. Today these are known as the Wars of the Roses. Here the battlefield was still dominated by the longbow and dismounted men-at-arms, although a few mercenary pikemen were recruited for some campaigns.

Another backwater was Scandinavia, where Sweden fought to break free from the Kalmar Union, which was dominated by Denmark.

• Additional coverage for the following nations and factions from the introduction of Swiss-style pike tactics or Hussite war wagons by themselves or their opponents until 1500 AD: Aragonese, Berber (Wattasid), Bohemian (Catholic), Burgundian, Castilian, Danish, English (Lancastrian, Yorkist and Tudor), Florentine, French, German (Imperial, Feudal and City armies), Granadine, Hungarian, Hussite (Taborite and Utraquist), Low Countries, Milanese, Neapolitan, Papal, Polish, Rus, Scots, Swiss, Venetian. Each of these has their own historically-based banner. (Several European nations are already covered up to 1500 AD by previous DLC).
• 22 new units.
• 60 more army lists allowing historically realistic armies for each of the above factions and their allies at different dates during the period, and bringing the total number of Medieval army lists to 303. In addition armies can include contingents from historical allies. This gives over three hundred thousand permutations. You will never run out of new matchups to try.
  
  • Aragonese 1450-1479 AD
  • Berber (Wattasid) 1466-1500 AD
  • Bohemian (Catholic) 1419-1449 AD
  • Bohemian (Catholic) 1450-1500 AD
  • Breton 1456-1465 AD
  • Breton 1466-1491 AD
  • Burgundian 1450-1464 AD
  • Burgundian 1465-1470 AD
  • Burgundian 1471-1477 AD
  • Castilian 1476-1497 AD
  • Danish 1488-1500 AD
  • English (Britain) 1450-1454 AD
  • English (Lancastrian) 1455-1484 AD
  • English (Yorkist) 1455-1482 AD
  • English (Continental) 1475 AD
  • English (Yorkist) 1483-1485 AD
  • English (Yorkist) 1486-1497 AD
  • English (Tudor) 1485-1500 AD
  • Florentine 1400-1414 AD
  • Florentine 1415-1439 AD
  • Florentine 1424 AD
  • Florentine 1440-1500 AD
  • French 1466-1479 AD
  • French 1480-1483 AD
  • French 1484-1500 AD
  • German (Imperial) 1425-1449 AD
  • German (Imperial) 1450-1487 AD
  • German (Imperial) 1488-1500 AD
  • German (Feudal) 1450-1489 AD
  • German (Feudal) 1490-1500 AD
  • German (City N & W) 1450-1487 AD
  • German (City N & W) 1488-1500 AD
  • German (City S & E) 1425-1449 AD
  • German (City S & E) 1450-1487 AD
  • German (City S & E) 1488-1500 AD
  • Hungarian 1441-1500 AD
  • Hussite (Taborite) 1419-1434 AD
  • Hussite (Utraquist) 1419-1479 AD
  • Low Countries 1450-1477 AD
  • Low Countries 1478-1487 AD
  • Low Countries 1488-1500 AD
  • Milanese 1400-1439 AD
  • Milanese 1440-1500 AD
  • Neapolitan 1400-1439 AD
  • Neapolitan 1440-1500 AD
  • Papal 1400-1439 AD
  • Papal 1440-1500 AD
  • Polish 1455-1500 AD
  • Rus 1470-1500 AD
  • Scots 1438-1500 AD
  • Swiss 1360-1399 AD
  • Swiss 1400-1422 AD
  • Swiss 1423-1424 AD
  • Swiss 1425-1475 AD
  • Swiss 1476-1477 AD
  • Swiss 1478-1490 AD
  • Swiss 1491-1500 AD
  • Venetian 1400-1414 AD
  • Venetian 1415-1439 AD
  • Venetian 1440-1500 AD
• 8 more historical scenarios covering key engagements of the period on an epic scale: Kutna Hora 1421, Towton 1461, Brunkeberg 1471, Grandson 1476, Loja 1482, Bosworth 1485, Fornovo 1495, Dornach 1499.
• 41 more historical matchups added to Quick Battle mode, increasing the total to 239, most playable from either side.
• 4 more historically-based campaigns covering major leaders and conflicts of the era: Rise of the Swiss, Hussite Wars, Charles the Bold, Louis XI.
• Sandbox campaign expanded to include all the new army lists, allowing you to lead any nation (and their historical allies) against any other nation (and their allies) – giving over eighty thousand permutations.
• Time Warp modules expanded to include the new army lists.

Field of Glory II Medieval is a turn-based tactical game set in the High Middle Ages from 1040 AD to 1270 AD.

This was the heyday of the mounted knight. Armoured from head to toe by the later 12th century, European knights rode heavy horses in tight formation, and delivered a devastating charge with couched lances.

Major themes of the period include the struggles of the Kings of France against the Kings of England and the German Emperors, the English wars of conquest or attempted conquest against the Welsh, Scots and Irish, the Baltic Crusades and the Mongol invasion of Eastern Europe. With dynastic struggles and rebellions by powerful nobles thrown into the mix, Europe was in an almost constant state of war.

Field of Glory II Medieval allows you to take command of the armies of the Anglo-Saxons and Normans, post-conquest England, France, Germany, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Low Countries, the Free Cantons, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Bohemia, Poland, the Teutonic Knights, the pagan Old Prussians and Lithuanians, Russia, Hungary, the Cumans, Volga Bulgars and Mongols in an endless variety of battles and campaigns set in 11th-13th century North and Central Europe.

ARMIES
Lead your chosen army and its named generals to victory in set-piece historical battles or "what-if" custom battle situations against an AI or human opponent. Choose your forces from historically accurate orders of battle allowing all of the options and variations that would be available to a real general of that nation at any date during the era.

Field of Glory II Medieval has more than 100 beautiful and historically accurate fully animated troop units, each with multiple variations to bring out the colour and variety of the era. Watch the swords flash and the arrows fly! Count the cost of victory or defeat as bodies litter the battlefield.

BATTLES
Field of Glory II Medieval has a campaign system that concentrates on the battles, and allows real strategic decisions without time spent moving armies around a strategic map. Each battle is vital to your progress. Your army will gain experience and elan as it goes from victory to victory against your enemies and their allies.

There are four historically-based campaigns covering major conflicts of the era: The Angevin Empire, The Northern Crusades, Alexander Nevsky and the Mongol Invasions. There is also a sandbox campaign system that allows you to lead any nation (and their historical allies) against any other nation (and their allies) – giving thousands of permutations.

Victory will require determination and tactical mastery.

FEATURES:

• Accurate simulation of battle in the High Middle Ages.
• 29 nations and factions covering North and Central Europe from 1040 AD to 1270 AD.
• 57 different army lists allowing historically realistic armies for each of these factions at different dates during the period. In addition armies can include contingents from historical allies. This gives tens of thousands of permutations. You will never run out of new matchups to try.
• More than 100 historically accurate units, built from fully animated 3D troop models.
• Historical scenarios covering key engagements of the period on an epic scale. These include Hastings 1066, Tinchebrai 1106, Trutina 1110, Crug Mawr 1136, The Standard (Northallerton) 1138, Steppes 1213, Bouvines 1214, Otepää 1217, Kalka River 1223, Bornhöved 1227, Lake Peipus 1242 and Kressenbrunn 1260.
• Custom Battle system allows unlimited “what-if” scenarios using historically realistic armies from carefully researched army lists, on realistic computer generated terrain maps. Armies covered include Anglo-Saxons, Normans, post-conquest English, French, Imperial and Feudal German, Lowland Scottish, Highland/Isles Scottish, North and South Welsh, Irish, Anglo-Irish, Low Countries, Free Cantons, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Bohemian, Polish, Teutonic Knights, Old Prussians, Lithuanians, Russians, Hungarians, Cumans, Volga Bulgars and Mongols. 12 selectable scenarios include: Open Battle, Enemy expecting Reinforcements, Own side expecting Reinforcements, Flank March, Rearguard, Advance Guard, Kill the King, Escort Baggage Train, Own Side Defending, Enemy Defending, Relieve Besieged Fortress, Enemy Relieve Besieged Fortress.
• Quick Battle mode allows you to quickly select from 65 pre-set matchups between historical opponents.
• Campaign mode allows you to play through historically-based campaign scenarios or “what-if” campaigns between any two opposing nations with thousands of permutations. Each victory increases the experience and elan of your core units. You can give each of them its own unique unit name. Quick to resolve strategic decisions allow you to go straight from one battle to the next without any delay.
• Random map generator produces an infinite variety of historically realistic battlefield maps for custom battles and campaigns.
• Classic turn-based, tile based gameplay.
• Easy to use interface, hard to master gameplay.
• Battles can range from a few units to as many as 80 units per side.
• Named generals who can influence combat and morale of units under their command.
• Single player and multiplayer battle modes.
• Effective AI makes sound tactical decisions.
• 6 difficulty levels allow the challenge to increase as you develop your battlefield skills.
• Numerous different unit organisations, combat capabilities and tactical doctrines allow full representation of tactical differences and developments.
• Mod friendly game system with built-in map editor.
• Multiplayer mode allows historical scenarios and “what-if” scenarios to be played by two players using Slitherine’s easy to use PBEM server.