Tactical Combat from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance

Combat Mission. Shogun: Total War. Diablo II. All of these titles are gathering dust on the shelf while I indulge in a game by a tiny, independent developer. Dedication to my job? Perhaps. But it isn’t often that the era of knights and chivalry is portrayed without the addition of wizards and dragons.

Incredible Simulation’s Medieval 2 is an incremental upgrade of their Medieval computer game. Medieval 2 is a complete game – ownership of the previous product is not required. This game is not available by retail or conventional mail order. Instead, a demo is available from Incredible Simulations’ web site. The complete game is unlocked using a key code purchased from Incredible Simulations.

Thirty-six battles are included with the complete version of the game. Ranging from the Viking / Irish battle at Clontarf in 1014, to the Spanish/French conflict at Pavia in 1525, more than 500 years of warfare are represented. An editor can be downloaded which gives players the ability to create their own battles, editing maps and unit sprites alike. In addition to the unit graphic, armor and weapon characteristics can be adjusted as well, allowing a measure of extensibility to the game system (extending beyond the 16^th century is not recommended, but the game works nicely in recreating Dark Ages conflicts).


Normans envelop northern portion of the Saxon line.	Saxons are faring no better in the south. The combat system encourages envelopment tactics.

Medieval 2 is a turn-based game, suitable for solo or PBEM play. Units are represented on the map by a sprite displaying an individual soldier, but may in essence contain hundreds of individuals. A unit, for example, may display a single crusader. This unit however will begin the game at full strength with 25 "men." The scenario may be at a 6:1 scale, meaning the unit is really a company of 150 crusaders. Each of these parameters can be set using the editor.

Unit types range the gamut from spears and bows to cannons and arquebus. They can be mounted on horseback, protected by various sizes of shield, and don armor ranging from chain and plate to ye olde birthday suit. While most of a unit’s capability is defined by combat values imparted by arms and armor, they may be designated as having a ferocious attack or beginning the scenario disrupted. Any nationality may be defined in a scenario, although aside from superficial attributes (arms, armor, and icon) and army composition, there is little to truly distinguish one army from another. There is no modeling of strategic or tactical doctrine. This shortcoming is common among most toolkit games, and is compounded in Medieval 2 by a rather lackluster computer opponent. Fortunately, a play-by-email component increases the chance a game may be played in a more realistic manner.

Each scenario begins with the opposing armies at a predetermined morale level. This level drops as casualties mount, and an army rout level results in immediate withdrawal from the battlefield for an army reaching this level (known as the "surrender point"). Objective locations may grant victory points, and the elimination of friendly and enemy units provides an ebb and flow of victory level. An objective location must be physically occupied at all times if it is to provide victory points to the owner. Not all battles have such objectives; many are meeting engagements in which body count is the main goal.

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