Reign: Conflict of Nations

Reign: Conflict of Nations is a large-scale historical strategy game set largely in Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages (1350-1650). Players select one of the 26 available factions and try to change history by building a large empire. This is done through warfare, diplomacy, economics and political government. It is played in real-time but the action can be paused at any moment.

The game is played entirely on a world map where each faction has a capital city and a number of smaller settlements. Resources are gathered automatically, but this is influenced by constructing a number of buildings (not visible in the city) to follow different technology trees. The player's visual presence on the map is represented by hiring characters based on six professions: monarch, commander, governor, priest, alchemist and spy. No more than twelve of the player's characters can be on the map at the same time, but they can retreat into a city and they exercise influence based on their vicinity to a city. Each profession comes with specific skill sets the player has to invest in. The monarch will exercise political influence while the commander can build barracks or train peasants to become soldiers. Very specific skills are handled by hiring agents, such as ambassadors (to negotiate with other states), merchants (forming economic alliances), preachers (convert citizens to a specific religion to exploit the advantages) and assassins (able to kill other characters on the map).

Battles are simulated through an overview screen, but the player can give specific instructions to target the weakest units, retreat when in danger, or fight until death. No visual battle is shown, it is generated by the computer AI. Since resources are scarce the player has to make decisions to invest in specific technology, such as siege weapons to attack other cities, or rather spend money on diplomacy. When a neighbouring city is conquered, its shield changes on the world map.

Changes on the map are often announced through messages. Succeeding by relying on an army alone is not possible, the city's economics need to be carefully managed, by hiring workings and making sure morale is high. The main campaign come with specific goals (usually capturing a set number of states), but there are also side quests and random events such as revolts, surprise alliances, famine, or diseases.