I wouldn’t say the graphics are necessarily impressive, but these little touches really make Stronghold: Warlords feel alive. Millers will be turning a grinding stone, while fletchers craft arrows. When you hover over buildings, you can see your workers doing the jobs for those buildings. While Stronghold: Warlords isn’t the mode visually impressive game, I love the all of the detail. These can be resource boosts or even military help.

You can also issue orders to your warlord in the form of edicts. Capturing a warlord gives you access to their unique perk and specialty. You can take warlords by force by attacking their tower, or you can use diplomacy points to bring them to your side without bloodshed. Some warlords can help militarily, while others specialize in diplomacy or in resource gathering. Each warlord has a unique perk and specialty. The warlords act as a sort of strategic point to conquer. Warlords add an interest additional dynamic to the battlefield in Stronghold: Warlords. Decrease taxes and increase food supply to make your citizens happy at the cost of output-or put down your boot, and make the populace suffer in the name of war. City management is robust, though not as interesting as the siege gameplay: build structures to entertain your citizens, or strike fear into the hearts of those that behold them.

A happy populace means more soldiers and faster production. These peasants are your workforce, and also your potential soldiers.

The happier they are, the faster peasants can be brought in. It’s not enough to crush your enemies, though–you must also ensure the contentedness of your people.

Stronghold warlords