Disciples (from English - "followers") - a series of computer games in the genre of turn-based strategy with RPG elements, made in the Gothic style. The action of the games of the series takes place in the fictional world of Nevendaar .
Disciples | |
---|---|
Genre | Step-by-step strategy |
Developer | Strategy First |
Platform | Microsoft Windows |
The first game | Disciples: Sacred Lands / September 27, 1999 |
Last game | Disciples: Rebirth / April 18, 2012 |
Content
Series Games
- Disciples: Sacred Lands (localized as the “ Sword and Crown ” by Snowball Studios and under the original name of the company “ Akella ”) - the first game in the series (1999 year)
- Disciples II: Dark Prophecy (localized as " Disciples II. Eve of Ragnarok " by Russobit-M "and as" Disciples II: Dark Prophecy "by Akella") - the second game in the series (2002 year)
- Disciples II: Gallean's Return (localized as “ Disciples II: The Return of Gallean ” by Akella) - combining two additions to Disciples II:
- Disciples II: Servants of the Dark (localized as “ Disciples II: Guard of Darkness ” by Russobit-M ”and as“ Disciples II: Servants of Darkness ”by Akella) - an addition to Disciples II that adds two campaigns from three missions for factions of demons and undead.
- Disciples II: Guardians of the Light (localized as “ Disciples II: Guard of Light ” by Russobit-M and as “ Disciples II: Keepers of Light ” by Akella) - an addition to Disciples II, adding two campaigns from three missions for factions of people and gnomes
- Disciples II: Rise of the Elves (localized as “ Disciples II: Rise of the Elves ” by Russobit-M) is the latest addition to Disciples II, adding a new game race - elves, a new source of mana and a new campaign.
- Disciples II: Gallean's Return (localized as “ Disciples II: The Return of Gallean ” by Akella) - combining two additions to Disciples II:
- Disciples III: Renaissance (Disciples 3: Renaissance) - released on December 11, 2009 with online activation.
- Disciples III: Resurrection (Disciples 3: Hordes of the Undead) is a supplement released on December 3, 2010 with Internet activation.
- Disciples III: Reincarnation (Disciples: Rebirth) - On February 14, 2012, an improved supplement was released that was completely redesigned, including extended campaigns from Renaissance and Resurrection.
- Disciples III: Mountain clans - the project was canceled due to the closure of the developer company hex studio.
Gameplay
The action of all games in the series takes place in a fantasy world called Nevendaar , also called "Sacred Lands" ( eng. Sacred Lands ). At the beginning of the campaign, the player must choose his class of ruler: a commander, high magician or the head of the guild. Each ruler has his own bonuses that determine the style of play.
Gameplay includes three main components:
- Improving the player's capital, which gives access to new troops and opportunities. The study of new spells used on the strategic map.
- Use of heroes who lead small squads for reconnaissance, attack and capture of territories and resources (gold and mana).
- Battle mode
The developers created a balance of opposition to the defenders of the Empire and the Legions of the Damned, and destroyed it with the opposition of the Hordes of the undead and Dwarf Clans. It is the lack of balance in the game that gives rise to a wide range of tactical and strategic decisions and their combinations. Each race is 3/4 different from the rest, almost universal strategies of the game are absent - each race, depending on the game map, the level and characteristics of the enemy’s development, magical and economic possibilities, and finally, the completeness of information about the map and the enemy, has its own, absolutely individual strategy.
World Disciples
The action of all games in the series takes place in a fictional world called Nevendaar. This is quite a dark fantasy world, conventionally medieval, inhabited by several intelligent races. In Nevendaar, there are several gods directly involved, whose relationships are the cause of the game’s events.
Game Races
In the series of games there are four game races: Empire, Legions of the Damned, Mountain Clans, Hordes of the Undead. Supplement "Rise of the Elves" adds a fifth - Elves. In the third game of the series, only three game races remain - the Empire, the Legions of the Damned, and the Alliance of the Elves. With the advent of the addition Disciples 3: Resurrection appeared - Horde Undead.
The system of troops in the first game of the series became the basis for subsequent ones. Units by combat method are divided into five categories: melee units can hit one opponent standing nearby; "Archers" - one opponent standing anywhere; "Magicians" - hit all opponents at the same time; there are also units that have a positive effect on one or all friendly warriors and "summoners". In Disciples II, conventional units occupy one cell and require one unit of the Leadership indicator; large units, respectively, two. The maximum leadership index is 5 for the Disciples 2 series or 7 for Disciples 3, that is, there can be up to six or eight units in the unit, respectively.
Empire
Empire ( eng. The Empire ) - the state of the human race, guarded by the forces of people and the angels of the Supreme Father, including Mizrael, guarding the capital. The race of titans is in alliance with the Empire and in wars it stands on its side. The ruler of the Empire during the events of the first two games of the series - Emperor Demosthenes, who lost his wife in the First Great War and the only heir - Uther. During the events of the addition of the Guard of Light, the throne of the Empire is empty; by the beginning of the events of the Rise of the Elves, it is occupied by Baron Emry Abrisselsky and Lady Ambriel Vercillinsky. The magic of people is based on the mana of life and is aimed at restoring and improving abilities; the only element of combat magic is air.
Undead hordes
Hordes of Undead ( eng. Undead Hordes ) - the undead created by Mortis from residents of the kingdom of Alkmaar (later Hordes were joined by other corpses, as well as some humans and dragons). The main priest of the Alkmaar was Ashgan, Mortis turned him into a monster and made a guard of the capital Ord. The undead have no state system, they are all subject to the will of their goddess. The magic of the undead is based on mana of death, and is aimed at the deterioration of the capabilities of the enemy and the defeat of the magic of death.
Mountain Clans
Mountain Clans ( English Mountain Clans ) - the people of the dwarfs, several kingdoms, united under the rule of the Supreme King. The supreme king during the events of the first game of the series was Sturmir the Thunderbird, but he was killed by the Mortis warriors. To the events of Disciples II, Morok became king. Giants perceive gnomes as kin and fight on their side. The capital of the dwarfs is guarded by Vitar, a semi-deity of the Votan retinue. During the First Great War ( Disciples: Sacred Lands ) Clans and Empire were allies, but this alliance was broken. Dwarf magic is based on the rune mana, aimed at restoring and improving abilities; In combat magic, all four elements are used.
Legions of the Damned
The Legions of the Damned Legions are monsters created by the fallen angel Betrezen, and people-demon worshipers whose goal is to release Betrezen from a six thousand-year imprisonment in the core of Nevendar. Betrezen appointed Ashkael the commander of the Legions. Unlike other game races, demons do not have a centralized state. The magic of demons is based on the mana of hell, aimed at the destruction and deterioration of the abilities of the enemy; The main element of combat magic is fire.
Alliance of Elves
The Alliance of the Elves is the common name for a rather scattered elven people nominally ruled by Queen Illyumiel. In fact, elven society is split into two camps. The former seek to lead a civilized lifestyle, develop the diplomatic and cultural spheres of society and advocate close contacts with the Empire, in which they receive the support of the queen. The second civilizations prefer wildness and strongly advocate a "return to basics", arguing that ostensibly elves are wild animals by nature, and civilization is alien to them initially. Also, the elves have allies - centaurs, who are members of society, but nominally have fewer rights than full-blooded elves. The second allies of the forest people are powerful griffins. All elves worship Gallean, the god who was once the husband of the fertility goddess Soloniel, and indirectly served as the reason for her fall and transformation into the goddess of death, Mortis. Elven magic is based on "green elixir" and is aimed at weakening the enemy and causing him damage. They use all four elements (fire, water, earth and air), giving a slight preference to the elements of the earth.