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Best Files » As Britain Lay Bleeding: A Pendragon Saga #1
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As Britain Lay Bleeding: A Pendragon Saga #1
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Author |
File Description |
Gordon Farrell |
Posted on 10/27/01 @ 12:00 AM (updated 10/31/01)
File Details |
Version: |
The Conquerors 1.0c |
Style: |
Mix |
Number of scenarios: |
3 |
Britain is in a time of deep crisis. She lies defenseless as hordes of barbarians swoop down from the north. But out of this anguish, a new ruling family will arise. It is the House of Constantine… the royal family that will eventually produce a legendary monarch known as King Arthur. This campaign tells the story of Arthur’s royal house decades before he himself was even born. Here you will encounter the villains and heroes who shaped the early history of the Arthurian Age: Constantine the noble, Vortigern the ruthless, Guithelinus the holy. Witness the birth of Merlin and the invasion of the Saxon horde. The Pendragon Saga begins here.
Be sure to download and install the Campaign and Sound Effects File (entitled Pen#1CPX+SFX), as well as the Music File (entitled Pen#1Music). Both are necessary for playing the game.
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Designer’s Notes: Several weeks after completing my work on Empire Earth, I found myself getting the old scenario-designing itch again. I resolved to complete an unfinished dream: the complete history of the House of Pendragon, leading up to King Arthur’s birth. And so I returned to the same material from which I’d created THE COMING OF THE UNBORN KING for AoK so many months ago. But now I have turned back the clock even further to commence the tale of Arthur’s family with his first royal ancestor, Constantine.
But also I decided to draw more heavily from the historical records which claim to document Arthur’s time, primarily Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “History of the Kings of England,” written in the 12th Century AD Gone are many of the romantic trappings of Sir Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte de Arthur.” This is the saga of a brutal age and a brutal ruling family. I hope you enjoy where I have taken the tale.
The special music files I created for this campaign were composed by Jerry Goldsmith for the feature film "The Lion in Winter." Do not copy or distribute them. If you dig this music, go and buy the cd of the movie soundtrack!! |
Pages: [1] 2 3 » Last » | Author | Comments & Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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Gordon Farrell
Official Reviewer
File Author |
Posted on 10/29/01 @ 12:00 AM
To install the campaign, sound effects and music files, just unzip each of the two packages to C:/Program Files/Microsoft Games/Age of Empires II (where "C" is drive on which AoK was installed). All the files will drop into place automatically. Good luck!
(Additional note: If you wish to make a player comment, make sure the Name of Download has #1 typed in at the end of the campaign title.) |
Andrew Dunn (id: Mechstra) |
Posted on 10/29/01 @ 12:00 AM
Note: the previous review should be deleted.
This will probably be the last AoK campaign/scenario I will have played, and I am glad it was this good.
Playability: 5
The game was perfectly laid out. Each segment of each scenario led on seamlessly to the next, and the storyline, however predictable (as I know quite a bit about the history), drew you in and didn't let go. I must also say that this is the only camapign that has ever invoked any emotions in me, and that, to my mind, gets a 5.
Balance: 4
In some battles (the winnable ones, that is) the enemy almost overwhelms you. You are left with small numbers of advanced troops to continue. Although you can make "trash units" like scout cavalry, these are soon slaughtered by the siege onagers of the enemy in the second mission. By contrast, in the 3rd mission, the waves of Saxons are quite easy to repel, as long as you follow the hints. Not quite perfect, then, so, a 4.
Creativity: 5
The idea of King Arthur scenarios is not new at all, but not many people think of making a prologue to his life, if he existed. Gordon Farrell uses it to great effect in this campaign. Although there are no really new tricks, the guidelines specify I cannot subtract points for that. A solid 5.
Map Design: 4
The map was attractive, yet nothing special. It was good to see the same map changing subtly in each scenario, but the design does not merit a 5. Another 4.
Story/Instructions: 5
Here, Farrell has excelled! The instructions are clear and the story, as mentioned earlier, is brilliant. The history is well written, and, although there are no Scouts, they are not needed. A 5.
Overall: 4.6
I recommend this campaign to all AoK players out there. |
isakmalm |
Posted on 10/30/01 @ 12:00 AM
As soon as a saw this campaign in the blacksmith i said to myself "I must review this". I downloaded it and played thrue it. Even if another review was already posted i will review this, and i hope that i wont dissapoint you.
Playablitiy:(5) I give playability 5 because the scenario was extremely fun to play all the time and i did not find any really bad parts. I found some bugs, but i wont let them lower the score. 1. Under the seige of the small fishing town, the AI got stuck whit the Seige Onaglers and never entered the city. Try to make a bigger path. 2. In the 3rd scenario you where able to research cartography and se all allied units on the map... Not good. Disable it! I loved the music and it almost made me cry sometimes. Great job!
Balance:(5) I found the scenario almost perfect in difficulty. It wasnt inpossible anytime but some scenes where pretty hard. I had no problems in the 2nd scenario whit the onaglers, i took down most of the whit the Capatracts and the rest whit Light Cavalery.
Creativity:(5) I found many nice and well-made scenes in the scenario, like the fleeing villagers in the 1st scenario and the first scene in the 3rd ( I wont spoil it for you, but you almost cry)
Map Design(4) I wasnt sure if i should give map design "5" or "4" but i gave it a "4" because of some pretty ugly map-parts. In some places there where lots and lots of Sea-rocks gathered in a small area and that didnt look very nice. I like the way you used different grass and dirt, but there where to little evelation in the scenario and the ground looked to flat.
Story/Instructions: I think the instructions where really well-done and you never asked yourself "What am i supposed to do now?". The story was amazing and never boring, and the music added lots to it.
Final Thoughts: Great scenario that everyone should play! Download now! And dont cheat yourself... Download the music pack!!! |
Gordon Farrell
Official Reviewer
File Author |
Posted on 10/30/01 @ 12:00 AM
The cpx file has been changed to correct a glitch that was found by one of the early players. DLs from #154 onwards will have the corrected cpx file. |
Shiva |
Posted on 10/30/01 @ 12:00 AM
Dl's from 154 onwards will have trouble playing the cpx because they won't be able to download it. I'm serious, I can't d/l the thing.
Shiva |
Jeffery Jair (id: Jeffery_Jair) |
Posted on 10/31/01 @ 12:00 AM
Introduction - There are many reasons why I downloaded this scenario. The author did a nice description of the whole campaign in the description area. And it's a nice name for the campaign. Nice.
Playability - The playability deserves a "5" because one thing of course is that it's really fun. I'm being dragged into the story, and waiting to go to the end of what happened! Every scenario had a easy and a hard part. Even it out.
Balance - Not all too bad, but with less units to command and to destroy a large mass of army is really outmatched. I tried not to do cheats. The author could even the power a bit. But I like challenges.
Creativity - ...You might played several Medievil scenarios or campaigns but this one truly a masterpiece of the story of King Arthur. It's not new, but somehow it sounds new to me after I played and finished the campaign.
Map Design - I saw nice mixed of terrain, but I can't spot any eye-candies anywhere. The map design was wonderfully layout but with no attractive eye-candies.
Story/Instruction - Magnificent!I can't tell how much I loved the story and the description of it's history and how astonishing how he writes these hints so well. Sotry was truly great. He explained all the basic of the history. The intro, and the conclusion was well written. The hints and instructions is great, and no trouble of what to do! Great!
Overall - A nice campaign, and a must download. Nice Job!
Improvement - More map design of use of eye-candy, and balance the power a bit more to the good guys. =) |
Prin Settasatian |
Posted on 10/31/01 @ 12:00 AM
The server's probably down. I can download it right now. |
Musashee |
Posted on 11/01/01 @ 12:00 AM
"Angel of Mercy,Angel Delight,give it its reward in the heavens tonight*"-reviewers-,are they all politicians or at least studying politics?Yes,yes the story-line is 'xcellent (it's a 10)and I like 'the archbishop-warming-up' & 'the knights to horsemen' -scenes.Really wait for the'official' review.Come on "Sweet Angels*",give it a try.....
*quoting (somehow) Dire Straits |
Scorcher |
Posted on 07/23/02 @ 12:00 AM
Playability:
I played this campaign on hard and found it to be fairly easy.The first part was a hybrid cut-scene with some role playing and mostly running.The second part was a little one dementional.There was a couple of minor skirmishes in the beginning,but you only had one objective,which was eliminating a small fixed force in one town.Which by the way,does not attack you unless attacked.In the third part the action heats up with wave attacks,which can prove deadly.I enjoyed it immensely,but it was over too soon.The final objective came too easy,too fast.There were no bugs or lag in any part.Don't get me wrong,this is a good campaign,but playability is one of the major things that keep this from being a great campaign.
Balance:
This was a pure role playing campaign with a little strategy involved.It was one of the better role playing campaigns i've played lately,but;when i finished playing i felt as though it could have been made great with some build and destroy integrated with the role playing.The heros and opposition had a good balance for a pure role playing campaign.
Creativity:
This is the most important aspects of any role playing campaign and probably the strongest point of this campaign.There were alot of good,well placed triggers.
Map Design:
The 3 maps were great.Good use of elevation,terrain and plenty of eye candy.
Story/Instructions:
There was a exceptional story to this campaign.Along with some historical notes.The instructions were clear and easy to follow,with several good hints.I loved the incubus part.
In closing,i would recommend downloading this campaign.Especially if you enjoy role playing. |
Tanneur99
Official Reviewer |
Posted on 11/04/02 @ 12:00 AM
@ Musashee
I played this campaign some time ago and it is certainly one of the top downloads. Your song was heard and you do not have to “wait for the ‘official' review“ much longer. I am not exactly an Angel, but could play again and give it an official review. |
Pages: [1] 2 3 » Last » |
HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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4.6 | Breakdown |
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Playability | 4.6 | Balance | 4.4 | Creativity | 4.8 | Map Design | 4.4 | Story/Instructions | 5.0 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 15,877 |
Favorites: [] | 2 |
Size: | 935.68 KB |
Added: | 10/27/01 |
Updated: | 10/31/01 |
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