Field of Glory II: Medieval - Storm of Arrows

From the early fourteenth century the battlefield dominance of the mounted knight was increasingly challenged by the rising power of the foot soldier. The Flemish spearmen at Courtrai in 1302, and the Scots at Bannockburn in 1314, showed that steady foot could defeat mounted knights. However, it was the English use of massed longbowmen combined with dismounted men-at-arms that would come to dominate western European battlefields for the rest of the 14th century and well into the 15th.

During the Hundred Years War, from 1337 to 1453, the French knights suffered a string of catastrophic defeats at the hands of this combination. After Crécy in 1346, the French knights were largely forced to fight on foot, to minimise their vulnerability to the arrow storm. Eventually, by avoiding pitched battles and concentrating on capturing important cities and castles, the French won the war and expelled the English from nearly all of their continental territories.

English longbowmen also ventured to Italy and Spain as mercenaries or allies, but warfare in these countries continued to develop rather differently from the rest of Western Europe. Italy in this period was still a collection of small independent states. The communal militia infantry had declined in importance, and had been replaced by the Condottieri as the main strength of Italian armies. These were mercenary captains who were hired to provide a company of professional armoured cavalry, and sometimes infantry.

In Spain the large Christian kingdoms of Aragon, Castile and Portugal shared the Iberian peninsula with the Muslim kingdom of Granada. In addition to fighting each other and many civil wars, there was occasional conflict with the Islamic North African powers. Spanish men-at-arms still usually fought mounted, while light cavalry continued to be more numerous than elsewhere due to the influence of warfare against Muslim armies.

Meanwhile the Swiss cantons were asserting their independence from feudal rule. Initially their massed infantry columns relied on the murderous halberd and an intimate knowledge of their own mountainous terrain.

Further east, the Teutonic Knights continued to battle against the pagan Lithuanians, but in 1386 Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania converted to Christianity and became King of Poland through marriage to the heiress Jadwiga. This removed the religious rationale for the Order’s activities in the region, and gave their enemy a huge boost in military potential. The Teutonic Order suffered a major defeat at the hands of Jogaila and his Polish-Lithuanian army at the Battle of Grunwald (Tannenburg) in 1410. The Golden Horde continued to dominate the Rus principalities, but the first stirrings of change occurred in 1380 when the Mongols were defeated at Kulikovo.

During the fourteenth century gunpowder artillery was introduced throughout Europe, and became increasingly important. Initially, large bombards were mainly used for siege work, but gradually smaller guns began to be employed in field battles as well.

• Coverage for the following nations and factions from 1270 AD until just prior to the introduction of Swiss-style pike tactics and Hussite war wagons: Anglo-Irish, Aragonese, Austrian, Berber (Hafsid), Berber (Marinid), Bohemian, Breton, Burgundian, Castilian, Danish, English, Florentine, Free Canton, Free Company, French, German (Imperial, Feudal and City armies), Granadine, Hungarian, Irish, Italian (Guelf), Italian (Ghibelline), Lithuanian, Low Countries, Milanese, Navarrese, Neapolitan, Papal, Polish, Portuguese, Rus, Scots, Swedish, Swiss, Tatar, Teutonic Order, Venetian, Welsh. Each of these has their own historically-based banner.
• 45 new 14th and 15th century units.
• 95 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 241. In addition armies can include contingents from historical allies. This gives around three hundred thousand permutations. You will never run out of new matchups to try.
• • Anglo-Irish 1275-1319 AD
  • Anglo-Irish 1320-1399 AD
  • Anglo-Irish 1400-1414 AD
  • Anglo-Irish 1415-1500 AD
  • Aragonese 1275-1319 AD
  • Aragonese 1320-1399 AD
  • Aragonese 1400-1449 AD
  • Austrian 1155-1199 AD
  • Austrian 1200-1319 AD
  • Austrian 1320-1374 AD
  • Austrian 1375-1399 AD
  • Austrian 1400-1446 AD
  • Berber (Hafsid) 1320-1350 AD
  • Berber (Hafsid) 1351-1500 AD
  • Berber (Marinid) 1320-1465 AD
  • Bohemian 1320-1374 AD
  • Bohemian 1375-1399 AD
  • Bohemian 1400-1418 AD
  • Breton 1320-1349 AD
  • Breton 1350-1399 AD
  • Breton 1400-1491 AD
  • Burgundian 1363-1414 AD
  • Burgundian 1415-1429 AD
  • Burgundian 1430-1449 AD
  • Castilian 1320-1399 AD
  • Castilian 1400-1475 AD
  • Danish 1320-1396 AD
  • Danish 1397-1487 AD
  • English 1272-1319 AD
  • English (Britain) 1320-1349 AD
  • English (Britain) 1350-1414 AD
  • English (Britain) 1415-1449 AD
  • English (Continental) 1320-1349 AD
  • English (Continental) 1350-1414 AD
  • English (Continental) 1415-1449 AD
  • English (Continental) 1450-1454 AD
  • Florentine 1320-1399 AD
  • Free Canton 1320-1419 AD
  • Free Canton 1420-1500 AD
  • Free Company 1357-1414 AD
  • Free Company 1415-1444 AD
  • French 1320-1349 AD
  • French 1350-1399 AD
  • French 1400-1444 AD
  • French 1445-1465 AD
  • German (Imperial) 1320-1374 AD
  • German (Imperial) 1375-1399 AD
  • German (Imperial) 1400-1449 AD
  • German (Feudal) 1320-1374 AD
  • German (Feudal) 1375-1399 AD
  • German (Feudal) 1400-1449 AD
  • German (City) (NW) 1320-1374 AD
  • German (City) (NW) 1375-1399 AD
  • German (City) (NW) 1400-1449 AD
  • German (City) (SE) 1320-1374 AD
  • German (City) (SE) 1375-1399 AD
  • German (City) (SE) 1320-1374 AD
  • Granadine 1320-1492 AD
  • Hungarian 1320-1440 AD
  • Irish 1260-1319 AD
  • Irish (Bruce) 1315-1318 AD
  • Irish 1320-1500 AD
  • Italian (Guelf) 1320-1399 AD
  • Italian (Ghibelline) 1320-1399 AD
  • Lithuanian 1300-1359 AD
  • Lithuanian 1360-1385 AD
  • Lithuanian 1386-1500 AD
  • Low Countries 1275-1319 AD
  • Low Countries 1320-1414 AD
  • Low Countries 1415-1449 AD
  • Milanese 1320-1399 AD
  • Navarrese 1350-1378 AD
  • Neapolitan 1267-1300 AD
  • Neapolitan 1301-1319 AD
  • Neapolitan 1320-1399 AD
  • Papal 1320-1399 AD
  • Polish 1320-1385 AD
  • Polish 1386-1454 AD
  • Portuguese 1320-1399 AD
  • Portuguese 1400-1500 AD
  • Rus 1265-1379 AD
  • Rus 1380-1469 AD
  • Scots (Britain) 1320-1338 AD
  • Scots (Isles and Highlands) 1320-1493 AD
  • Scots (Britain) 1339-1402 AD
  • Scots (Britain) 1403-1437 AD
  • Scots (Continental) 1418-1429 AD
  • Swedish 1320-1396 AD
  • Swedish 1397-1500 AD
  • Swiss 1291-1359 AD
  • Tatar 1340-1500 AD
  • Teutonic Order 1320-1379 AD
  • Teutonic Order 1380-1500 AD
  • Venetian 1320-1399 AD
  • Welsh 1400-1409 AD
• 8 more historical scenarios covering key engagements of the period on an epic scale: Courtrai 1302, Laupen 1339, Crécy 1346, Kulikovo 1380, Aljubarrota 1385, Castagnaro 1387, Grunwald 1410, Agincourt 1415.
• 48 more historical matchups added to Quick Battle mode, increasing the total to 198, playable from either side.
• 5 more historically-based campaigns covering major leaders and conflicts of the era: Hundred Years War (English), Hundred Years War (French), Sir John Hawkwood, Henry of Trastámara, Władysław II Jagiełło.
• 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 eighty thousand permutations.
• Time Warp modules expanded to include all 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.