Strategy Post - 5/25/2010

Barony Specialization

In Kingsword, you have several different 'options' for game play - depending on your personal style and choice. Specialization allows a baron to be very, very good at one particular aspect of the game, while choosing to be less good at others and is most effectively done as a member of an alliance who will offer protection for those areas of weakness.

We thought we'd list a few of the most popular build types:

1) Warmonger.
It wouldn't be a war game without war and warmongers keep things interesting. These barons specialize in large numbers of barracks (soldiers) often partnered with markets (gold) and farms (food). Since attacking another player costs a great deal of food and gold, the warmonger will often try to be self sufficient in that regard. Warmongers will normally have very few weapon smiths, iron mines, temples, and resource production buildings - electing instead to build only what is needed for military strength.

Strengths: You need Warmongers to break defending armies and alliance armies. Having 4-5 Warmongers in an alliance gives you powerful attacking options as well as a nice alliance army defense - protecting the non-warmonger barons.
Weakness: Warmongers are vulnerable to spies and, with some work, can be substantially weakened and even defeated by a Spy Master without any fighting whatsoever.

2) Spy Master.
If combat isn't your "thing", another more subtle option is the Spy Master. Instead of being focused on barracks and armies, the Spy Master works to keep his influence as low as possible - staying out of range of the larger armies. The Spy Master normally focuses on a strong defensive army/walls/stronghold and, instead, builds tons of Spy Academies. The Spy Master accumulates espionage points in order to devastate an enemy baron either by killing his general or poisoning his peasantry. Going into a raid or a kingdom war, it is always a good idea to have 1-2 Spy Masters available to help.

Strengths: Powerful spy actions that can cripple an attacking or defending baron and his/her army. Easily has the ability to "drain" opposing barons of espionage points. Can "steal" (or borrow) weapons and gold to help his alliance mates.
Weaknesses: Vulnerable to attacks. If a War Monger can get within range and the Spy Master isn't online - it's usually going to be a rough day for the Spy Master.

3) Weapons Master.
In Kingsword, all army units (except the guard) need weapons provided for them. These weapons have to be built by the players. At high influence levels, it takes longer to build these weapons, so the Weapons Master often will forgo the barracks and armies and focus mainly on iron mines, blacksmiths, and keeping his/her influence as low as possible. A good Weapons Master can make upwards of 1500 weapons a day, which can be traded to friendly War Mongers or sold at high gold prices on the market. Every alliance needs 2-3 Weapons Masters that are actively producing large quantities of weapons for the alliance.

Strengths: Weapons are always in demand and providing weapons can be very lucrative. A Weapons Master can usually keep his/her influence very low - thus staying out of range of the War Mongers and Spy Masters.
Weaknesses: Weapons Masters are vulnerable to both War Mongers and Spy Masters. Most of their acreage is allocated towards weapon production and not spy defense or armies. Weapons Masters need War Mongers to offer them alliance army protection.

4) Farmer.
Food is required for attacking. You have to feed your troops or they just won't do what they're told. War Mongers are constantly stockpiling food and farmers can provide a valuable service to the alliance by making it so that the other specializations don't need to waste acreage by building farms.
Strengths: A good farmer will make it so that alliance mates don't need to build as many farms, thus making everyone around them more economical in their specialization. Food is easy to trade in large quantities. Everyone loves a farmer.
Weaknesses: Vulnerable to pretty much everyone. A support specialization. Farms take up a lot of acreage.

5) Merchant.
Gold is also required for attacking. Much like the Farmer specialization, the Merchant can be a valuable contributor to an active alliance. Money makes the world go around, and in Camlyn, it is also true. The Merchant will often utilize the Black Market - buying huge quantities of weapons or resources and then distributing those to his/her alliance members. It's nice to have at least 1 Merchant in an alliance.

Strengths: Having the ability to buy large quantities of weapons instantly can make a difference in a raid or a kingdom war. The Merchant makes everyone around them a bit better.
Weaknesses: Like the Farmer, is vulnerable to the other specializations - not having a strong army or powerful spy infrastructure. A support specialization.


Most players play with a combination of 2 or more of these specializations. Play around with them and find what best suits your personality and play style. Each one plays a key part in the success of a strong alliance.