Field of Glory II: Medieval - Sublime Porte

At the end of the thirteenth century, with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum in terminal decline, Anatolia was divided into several small independent Turkish principalities, called beyliks. One of these beyliks, bordering the Orthodox Christian Byzantine Empire, was led by Osman I. Osman's tiny state would gradually expand over the next two hundred years to become one of the world's great empires, known to posterity as the Ottoman (Osmanli) Empire, after their first leader.

At first the Ottomans battled against the Byzantines for control of the local Anatolian cities, but in 1354 they seized their first European territory when they took Gallipoli. This brought them into conflict with the other Balkan Christian states, including Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Wallachia, Moldavia and Albania. The Ottomans were generally victorious in these wars for the next fifty years, resulting in them becoming the dominant Balkan power. Their advances led to the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396, where a western crusade met with disaster. In the east, most of Anatolia had been conquered from the other Turkic beyliks.
This run of success was briefly interrupted in 1402 when the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur defeated the Ottomans at the Battle of Ankara. With Sultan Bayezid I captured, and dying in captivity the following year, the empire was thrown into a chaotic civil war between Bayezid’s sons, with order only being restored in 1413 when Mehmed I became Sultan.

The conquests resumed, and another Crusade was defeated at Varna in 1444. Finally, the Turks conquered the great city of Constantinople in 1453, making it the Ottoman capital. A number of brilliant Balkan leaders rose during the 15th century to challenge Ottoman hegemony; John Hunyadi and his son, Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, the Albanian hero Skanderbeg, Stephen the Great of Moldavia, and the Wallachian Voivode Vlad Țepeș 'The Impaler'. Despite the many victories of these men, however, by the end of the fifteenth century the Ottomans were the dominant power in the eastern Mediterranean.

Timur was born in 1336 into a noble family in the Turco-Mongol Barlas confederation in Transoxiana (in modern-day Uzbekistan). Rising to control Transoxiana by 1370, he went on to create the Timurid Empire in modern Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran. Never defeated in battle, he won victories against the Golden Horde, the Delhi Sultanate, the Ottomans and the Mamluks, becoming the most powerful ruler in the Islamic world. His defeat of the Ottomans at Ankara in 1402 set back Ottoman expansion by several decades. His empire fragmented soon after his death in 1405, but his great-great grandson Babur created the Mughal Empire in India - which was to last until 1857.

The Catalan Company was formed from almughavar and other unemployed veterans of the War of the Sicilian Vespers in Sicily. In 1302 the Company was hired by the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II to combat the Anatolian Turkish beyliks. Over the next two years the Company was so successful against the Turks, and so rapacious in its treatment of Byzantine civilians, that the Byzantines became alarmed and had the Company’s leaders treacherously murdered. Thereafter the Company fought the Byzantines and their mercenary Alan allies in Thrace. In 1308, the Company moved to Greece, where in 1310 it entered the service of Gautier V de Brienne, Duke of Athens, and rapidly defeated his enemies. He, however, failed to pay the agreed amount for their services, leading to his defeat and death at the Battle of Halmyros in 1311. This left the Company in control of the Duchy of Athens, which it ruled until 1388.

Added in this DLC:

• Additional coverage for the following nations and factions from 1260 to 1500 AD: Albanians, Anatolian Turcomans, Black Sheep Turcomans, Bulgarians, Byzantines (Central, Epiros, Trebizond and Morea), Catalan Company, Chagatai Khanate, Kingdom of Cyprus, Georgians, Indians (Muslim, Rajput, Hindu and Vijayanagaran Empire), Islamic Persians, Jalayirid Sultanate, Latin Greece, Mamluk Egyptians, Moldavians, Navarrese Company, Order of St John, Ottoman Turks, Serbians, Timurids, Venetians, Wallachians and White Sheep Turcomans.
• 22 new units.
• 62 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 361. In addition armies can include contingents from historical allies. This gives hundreds of thousands of permutations. You will never run out of new matchups to try.
  
  • Albanian 1356-1430 AD
  • Albanian 1443-1478 AD
  • Anatolian Turcoman 1260-1379 AD
  • Anatolian Turcoman 1380-1500 AD
  • Black Sheep Turcoman 1350-1467 AD
  • Bulgarian 1320-1395 AD
  • Byzantine (Central) 1262-1399 AD
  • Byzantine (Epiros) 1262-1319 AD
  • Byzantine (Epiros) 1320-1359 AD
  • Byzantine (Morea) 1349-1460 AD
  • Byzantine (Trebizond) 1262-1359 AD
  • Byzantine (Trebizond) 1360-1399 AD
  • Byzantine (Trebizond) 1400-1461 AD
  • Catalan Company 1302-1304 AD
  • Catalan Company 1305-1319 AD
  • Catalan Company 1320-1379 AD
  • Catalan Company 1380-1388 AD
  • Chagatai Khanate 1338-1500 AD
  • Crusade of Nicopolis 1396 AD
  • Cypriot 1291-1319 AD
  • Cypriot 1320-1414 AD
  • Cypriot 1415-1474 AD
  • Cypriot 1475-1489 AD
  • Georgian 1300-1500 AD
  • Indian (Hindu South) 1336-1500 AD
  • Indian (Muslim) 1340-1469 AD
  • Indian (Muslim) 1470-1500 AD
  • Indian (Rajput) 1340-1500 AD
  • Indian (Vijayanagara) 1336-1399 AD
  • Indian (Vijayanagara) 1400-1469 AD
  • Indian (Vijayanagara) 1470-1500 AD
  • Islamic Persian 1245-1393 AD
  • Jalayirid 1336-1432 AD
  • Latin Greece 1320-1432 AD
  • Mamluk Egyptian 1340-1399 AD
  • Mamluk Egyptian 1400-1489 AD
  • Mamluk Egyptian 1490-1500 AD
  • Moldavian 1359-1399 AD
  • Moldavian 1400-1429 AD
  • Moldavian 1430-1500 AD
  • Navarrese Company 1375-1382 AD
  • Navarrese Company 1383-1394 AD
  • Navarrese Company 1395-1402 AD
  • Order of St John 1292-1319 AD
  • Order of St John 1320-1399 AD
  • Order of St John 1400-1449 AD
  • Order of St John 1450-1500 AD
  • Ottoman Turkish 1299-1361 AD
  • Ottoman Turkish 1362-1429 AD
  • Ottoman Turkish 1430-1500 AD
  • Serbian 1320-1344 AD
  • Serbian 1345-1379 AD
  • Serbian 1380-1459 AD
  • Timurid 1360-1398 AD
  • Timurid 1399-1469 AD
  • Timurid 1470-1500 AD
  • Venetian (Colonial) 1440-1500 AD
  • Wallachian 1330-1399 AD
  • Wallachian 1400-1429 AD
  • Wallachian 1430-1500 AD
  • White Sheep Turcoman 1402-1469 AD
  • White Sheep Turcoman 1470-1500 AD
• 8 more historical scenarios covering key engagements of the period on an epic scale: Apros 1305, Saint George 1320, Kosovo 1389, Ankara 1402, Varna 1444, Târgoviște 1462, Krujë 1467, Vaslui 1475.
• 63 more historical matchups added to Quick Battle mode, increasing the total to 302, most playable from either side.
• 5 more historically-based campaigns covering major leaders and conflicts of the era: Rise of the Ottomans Part 1, Rise of the Ottomans Part 2, Catalan Company, Timur, Matthias Corvinus.
• 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 a hundred 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.