EaglePrince

Yeah, I don't know much about graphic cards, but for some reason the memory isn't the only thing that matters. Fortunately to us, I can say that I am amazed by how Stronghold 3 and Crusader 2 work with my new GeForce GT 730, which was, I must admit, one of the four cheapest options I had, after I decided to buy a 2GB graphic card. I would love to try Stronghold 3 in multiplayer now, but I just can't manage to find some time. :( Oh, and those walls and buildings that can be oriented in any direction are awesome, and the way how destroying walls work, it's just great, too bad Firefly abandoned that idea. Hopefully, they did it only to accomplish better optimization of Crusader 2. Truth to be told, I was one of those people here, and on several other forums which were saying "come on, we don't care about 3D and all that, just give us a 2D game with units collision" though I still think it would be awesome if we had that. That would make field battles way more interesting - especially considering that since Stronghold 2 fighting your enemies outside your castle is really really important part of the game.

Exactly, I also think we should close this discussions, or perhaps even delete it. We shouldn't discuss on politics. I realize you didn't have politics in mind, but that's where it's going. Also, considering that each of us know too little about this matter, this is almost like discussion about which religion is better. This is only a matter of opinion, right now none of us knows what is for the best. Still, I have to point out that no harm has been done here because of this discussion, but that is mostly because we know each other for a long time, and we respect each other. If by any chance there were more people in this conversation, it could have got out of hand.

Chris, you still talk as if England owns everything which belongs to UK. Also, you keep talking like one has completely no benefits of EU, which is not true. Whether there are more benefits than disadvantages, I don't know, I still believe that you don't know all the facts. You are all influenced by your media, and you know what you "need" to know. It's the same with me, and it's same everywhere. The only thing I can say for sure is that someone does have some benefits from UK leaving EU, but that doesn't mean UK has benefits of that too. Similar to Scotland, you keep watching them like they are infants who couldn't handle on their own. There are about 5mil Scots if I am not mistaken, and about 55mil Englishmen, so even if England has 11 as much resources as Scotland does, it's hard for me to believe that Scotland doesn't have enough to survive. You also mentioned law - why would they have to invent everything right now on their own, they can simply keep having the laws from UK, and later just change some of them if they will. Regarding studies, isn't there a possibility for some of the best students to get scholarship? In Serbia on each program there is a number of places which are funded bu the country, and if it is about 30 places, and 50 of them applies, those 30 betters ones would be able to pay tuition fee. Also, if 25 of them apply, some still may not get this privilege, as there are some minimum conditions which have to be satisfied. I would also like to add that you cannot compare Scotland to Turkey or Macedonia.

Well, as I don't have time to read how UK works, I will just assume that certain amount money from taxes goes to UK, and then UK decides how much to give to each of the countries. This way Scotland gets a certain amount of money, which they decide to invest in educations. It seems that, if educations in England isn't free, then it is because English government wanted it like that. Maybe Chris will correct me, but Chris, don't spend too much of your time in that. :) Now, when it comes to Scotland for example, they would most certainly get into EU if they want to almost instantly. They are already a member of EU, so they don't have to adopt much - like it is the case with Serbia. I know it can p**s people off when "their money" is being sent away to somebody else, and then later those other guys decide how much "to give them". And yes, I agree that I know nothing. :D But I would only add this - during 2000's (which are the years that I remember better, during 90's I was a kid), there was a lot of discussions what should be done, and what would not. Younger people (who frequently consider themselves to be the smarter ones for some reason) were following what politicians were talking more, while the elders (like my grandfather) used to be more cautious saying "this isn't going to be good", and those elders turned out to be right. Of course, some basic stuff were noticed by the younger as well, but still - those younger people were supporting these stuff which turned out to be bad for us. Yes, we all know how to use logic, but by using wrong facts one can prove anything without making a logical mistake, and there's the problem - there's too much of that which we do not know, even if everything was transparent! We don't have the time to read all those stuff on hundreds and thousands of pages on daily basis - we have other priorities, and that is how to live for another day.

OK, so Scotland gets a lot of money from UK, but from how you said it, it's like the money isn't from UK but from England. You have four states (or however you call them), and each of them gets something from UK, while it also gives a lot to UK. The same way is with England - England gives to UK, and it gets something back, while it decides on it own how to spend the money. It's not that you give some charity to Scotland, UK just gives them something back. Sure, at some moments it can be that they get more than they give, and at another moment it can be different - it's the way it is when several states are united. I don't know if I wrote it here, Chris, I wanted, but I think I deleted that... Local politicians are always like "they take away our money, give us back our money", while they actually want to do what they want to do - without being control, and all that for their own wallets, not so much for being patriots. As someone who live where Yugoslavia used to be, I can only say - screw those politicians, don't let yourself be influenced by them! Same applies to Scotland, same applies to UK. Now you have six banana republics - Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia, and each of us is irrelevant, and we are being treated accordingly. Believe it or not, it does matter how your country is treated - it does effect the quality of your living. In case of UK, England has most of population, but still, the other countries have their own resources, which you will lose if they separate. Similar to the other three, a country with population of 5 million is irrelevant compared to being a part of a 65 million people country.

This seems like an interesting contest, and right now I am have even better idea. We could make a map with cities instead of territories (or it could be territories with their cities), with all roads that we allow to be traveled by armies. Then, we could "imagine" a huge world with all those territories, but this world being too huge would not be able to be covered by the largest map size in the game. For this reason we would make a certain number of maps, and those maps together would be covering our world. Then, we split these cities among each other, and we start fighting! We would play it as Risiko for example. In each step, one player can attack another, and conquer a territory. For this reason it may be interesting to have some prebuild castles on those maps - but only with basic stuff and weak defenses (no workshops or economy buildings, unless few of them - just to make it look better), unless it is a capitol city maybe. Also, we can make this world symmetrical, so there wouldn't be too much maps to make. Maybe this could be an interesting suggestion to Firefly - it would be great if we could copy/paste the entire peaces of landscape. This would be great for stuff like this, though we could do it even without that as well. What do you say? This could be done in any Stronghold game!

Haha, it needs a clean install. :D

Unfortunately I haven't found a solution to this issue. The one who have us the more (the one who owns the YouTube channel) said that he doesn't have this issue, and that his enemies do build siege camps, but I don't know enough details. Maybe I could give a try with Steam version of the game stoner time later...

While I agree with you, I believe you may be too worried right now. What happens to the pound is not so much a danger, it's a short term thing which was expected. I mean, right now people in world are worried about what will happen to pound, and they are trying to get rid of it (in case UK falls apart), so the value of pound drops. At least that's how I see it, and it is a short term thing. Regarding lies, we in Serbia are experienced with lies. ;) They lie to you as soon as they open their mouth. :D Even now you don't know the facts. The thing is that someone wanted you to leave EU, he put some money in it, and that's all. F*ck democracy, it's only about those who have money to sponsor professional liars aka politicians. I don't have another system to offer though, but you know what I mean... And even if it was about people deciding, how the hell would they know what is the best! Nobody has enough time to read all those tiny letters, etc... About controlling your border - no, you (the British) are not wrong! What is the purpose of the border, if anyone can enter however they want? Fine, you want to help those people who flee from war, but this is not the right way. EU doesn't defend their borders, and that's what p****d the people off. Surely you can understand that. EU has made a huge mistake, and they they payed the price for it. Even Tramp isn't entirely wrong, when he says he would send away all ILLEGAL migrants, there's nothing wrong in that. Consider that you may be the one affected by media right now. I'm just saying that as an observer. You have build a well functioning system, and in order to keep it working so well, you must not let everyone in. Look at the example of my city, and the province in which I live. Until 1950's, and especially until 1990's a lot of people came here, and now they have influence in controlling the city. Many of them don't care about the legacy, they care about nothing, they destroy some of our oldest buildings in order to build some glassy c**p, they destroy old houses which were under cities protections on order to do whatever... They have destroyed an Armenian church in the center of the city in order to make a boulevard. I mean, WTF! When you accept someone, be aware of the fact that they will come with their mentality, and if they are in larger numbers, they will be able to change what you are - to destroy what you love, because you cannot give someone permission to live and work in UK, but not to give him the voting right. If he doesn't get the right, his kids will have it, and if they don't get it - that would be discrimination. I realize that this what I said in the previous paragraph will sound to you that I share opinions of Donald Trump, but I am not. I am also accepting people who are from different countries, and I actually like meeting such people. You must understand that the truth is somewhere in between (or maybe not even there), and the reality is that you are very likely not to be able to pick the best choice. Even if there was an honest politician, the other ones would destroy him like piranhas. Also, I hope that you do realize that this may not be a definite thing. Now after this they need to negotiate about UK leaving EU, and who knows what will happen, what would be offered to UK, etc... Maybe in the end you do stay in EU. Maybe this makes Europe to change in the way which is preferred by the people! And don't think that you are not sticking with your allies if you're not in EU. Your traditional allies are still with you, and you're with them, and you're not obligated to open your borders to any people who were accepted in some other country. You have that right.

You may try to see at Stronghold Heaven those AI castles made by Doomsword. I also made several corrections to Williams castles. Like this it is way more exciting to play.

Hello, Kian. How exactly does AI act? Does he send any troops upon your castle? In my case AI lords do attack me, but they don't besiege my castle. They don't build siege camps, so they just keep sending their troops in small groups which I destroy too much easily. Also, they don't send laddermen, but they do send catapults, though with no affect - like this they are too much easy to destroy. Is this what you meant, or they just sit around in their castle doing nothing?

I shall only say that in most cases you know very little, and you "know" what you are supposed to know. Just like we in Yugoslavia "had to sell our best companies because we are switching to capitalism". Now when you look at it - what the f***? It isn't forbidden in any country for a state to have its own factories or whatever. If it doesn't do well, then fine, but they were selling those best ones. Later people see how they were tricked, and by the time they lose their will to vote or do anything. That was after year 2000. During 90's we also "knew" a lot of that which weren't facts. And now regarding this one: http://forums.stronghold-nation.com/post/11303/#p11303 Why do you think that more qualified doctors from India are unable to come to UK and work today? That is not a fact, every hospital has the right to choose which doctor he wants to employ. Sure, it may be easier for the one from EU to get the job, but if the hospital cares about who is the better one, they should arrange for the one in India to get a working visa, so he could come, and perhaps even settle in UK. So, I am sorry to break it, but it is ABOUT YOU. There are other things which you mentioned - regarding controlling your borders... The current issue with EU is mostly related to migration I guess, and the fact that you want to keep control of your borders. I understand why some may want to have any holding on borders between EU countries, but if they decided to change that, wouldn't that remove at least most of the problems? For example, if you were able to do this: 1. to let certain people in with their passports after the control on the border 2. to deport foreign citizens including EU citizens 3. to not let deported people in, or anyone else who you decide not to let in (you may add something else as well, if I forgot something) would that be helpful? Still, I have to point out that this way you wouldn't require a visa from someone entering a country, but only a passport. Also, this wouldn't affect EU migrants who seek for job - if being an EU citizen automatically means having permission to work, though like I said, almost anyone can get a working visa. What would you like to have regarding this issue. On the other hand, you could require visa's for citizens of some EU countries of your choice. Sure, you have free trade, no need to disturb that, but I don't get it why shouldn't it be an issue for you to control your borders. Of course, I realize some of these would require changing of some rules of EU... But still, those few states that managed to survive though centuries have survived because they were flexible, and they were managing to adopt.

And I am sorry that you got the wrong impression that I got wrong impression about you. :P You're not W whining, that is a fact I guess, that most games are like that... And yes, you are correct, the editor is one of the most important parts of Stronghold games. Also, you are correct, it would be awesome to be able to mod the game. The only issue is how much read easy it may be for Firefly to do it, and do they want to do it. I mean, the do want to sell their next games well. And yes, Firefly does count on their fans... Without their fans, they have very little scenarios, maps, etc... Don't get me wrong, I just wrote everything quickly these few days, and in the end you can get a wrong impression. And you're not whining. :D

I'd just like to add that it's not all so bad as you describe. Yes, that's what many developers do - add busty girls, and such stuff. Still, that is not enough reason to think that because of this any "more serious game wouldn't be able to survive". Lost of us started to play these games as teenagers. Also, when it comes to nowadays teenagers, I can tell you for sure that they do appretiate those games just like we did. I thought math in elementary school and in high school, and many of them like Crusader, Age of Empires, etc... Damn, sadly it would be unprofessional from me to challenge them on a game, or to answer some if their challenges. :P So it's not about the kids, it's about the games! I'm not sure what is it exactly, but I guess that it's not only about developers, not about available engines. It seems like it was easier to make lots of things back then on 2D engines than on those 3D engines. Obviously firefly didn't manage to make moats in Stronghold 3 nor in Crusader 2. Yes, they said moats wouldn't make sense in desert, but they would give them to us if they were able to. What developers need today is to give them a quality new strategy game, with great gameplay. Yes, unfortunately, poor graphics or 2D whine could repel some if the players from butting the game, but if the gameplay isn't good enough they will impress players are first, but later they would come back, crying for they wasted their money, and writting bad reviews. This is why we taught that it could be a smart thing for Firefly to do done more work on Stronghold 2, because this wouldn't be too much effort compared to making a new game, and with Stronghold 2 they already have a good 3D Stronghold game with excellent gameplay. Well, warfare isn't so awesome as it is in Crusader, but it is much better then in Stronghold 3 or Crusader 2. In Crusader 2 you even don't have laddermen. Still, I don't say Crusader 2 is bad, I like it, but still...

That with the popularity, if you population drops to zero or few peasants, then your popularity jumps to 75, i think they made this in purpose so they would give a chance to a ruined player to rise again. I used it free weeks ago when I was playing a mission given us by Chris. I didn't give them taxes to +8, plus ale to +8, but I just shut down the workshops, and I trained troops. With this population dropped to 1 (I kept the inn working), and popularity jumped to 75 from 0.

I'm not home at the moment, and i can't watch the video, but from what you said I guess this only works in map editor - it wouldn't work for castle in skirmish game?

Sure. Right now I am not home, but I may try to watch it at some moment when I get better WiFi signal, and when I have several minutes free. :) Looking forward to see it.

Although I agree with you that Firefly wanted to make a game for majority of players who would prefer fighting over castle life, we have to agree that they could have thought a little bit better when they were making Stronghold 2 and newer Stronghold games. Fighting, besieging castles, and defending a castle is way more interesting in those older Stronghold games, but not because those were simpler in Stronghold Crusader, but because those were way more complex in Stronghold Crusader. In Crusader you are able to choose which troops would be the best to defeat certain opponents, so while swordsmen are great if you want to attack the Pig, macemen would be far more efficient in killing the Caliph. In newer Stronghold games it's all about knights unfortunately. That's why I love to play with swordsmen. :P (which becomes impossible if your opponents have tons of knights, then you must have knights as well) There's nothing that can stop knights as efficiently as another army of knights. But still, I do like Stronghold 2 multiplayer games as well!

Well, I didn't have in mind posting a defeat screen, but if you insist, I do have one defeat screen as well. :)

Yes, fire in general is way more effective in Stronghold 1 and Crusader 1 than in any other Stronghold game. That makes sieges way more interesting in my opinion, I don't understand that new logic of Firefly... Yes, knights are more expensive, and they should be more resilient than other troops, but not against fire, their heavy armors shouldn't make them almost fireproof. So yes, for such reasons I prefer fighting in Stronghold 1 and Crusader 1 more then in any other Stronghold game, and fighting in Stronghold 1 is especially interesting because of slower economy. In both games you can get yourself easily in a bad position, but in Stronghold 1 you need to be even more careful. :) And yes, I agree, more missions such as this one would be great! I liked it way more than "produce as much as you can", or "kill as much as you can", etc... But I don't say those aren't interesting, those are interesting too!

Now I took a look into your castle. From what I saw I assume you also had issues with their assassins. In my case too those assassins were acting just like they knew what they were doing - unlike in most of skirmish games I play against Nizar. Those assassins were targeting either one of my towers to take down my archers, either the gatehouse to open it for other troops. That is why after several attacks I decided to use those boiling oil. Flame throwers are usually fine for the task as well, but since they acted so well, they didn't do the job well done as engineers with boiling oil would. Lord Chris, the scenario is awesome!

I certainly didn't use anything which hasn't been mentioned here at some moment, but I will tell tomorrow what was it. One thing - from the first moment I knew that I will have to use portable shields, which I avoid to use even in multiplayer games. In my first attempt (after looking around and thinking what are my options) I managed to survive until 1198 I think. And yes, it becomes the most difficult in the moment when you run out of bread. I will tell tomorrow what was the other thing I was doing. The map maker could have easily prevent me from doing what I did though. But one hint, I acted like my government. :)

Let's say I would be able to survive for as long as I want. :P But I suggest to Chris that if nobody else manages to do it like this, to give me and the second one to share the prize for this week. I gave everything to make this result. Let's say that I "went to the dark side". :) I was using tactics which I avoid to use in skirmish or multiplayer games. EaglePrince 1.sav

Wow, this is really great to hear! I must tell you that I love how you made all those buildings differently, one can be sure that you put a lot of effort into that, but many things turned out to be better than in the original Stronghold, such as hovels, and many other things, you did an awesome job. :) You could have read all what I said now in some older posts, we were discussing the look of your buildings, and we all agree that it is great; but in case that you didn't have time for reading those older posts - I'm telling you now. :)

Lord Chris, does this mission have any end? :/