Anvil Empires

Anvil Empires is a mass MMO strategy game, in which a thousand players create their empires on a single map modeled on the Middle Ages. It was developed by Siege Camp, a studio experienced in creating multiplayer games focused on logical action.

Mechanics

Anvil Empires revolves around politics involving all players on the server, being mostly divided into two layers: developing settlements and warring with other factions. Each player starts off with some land, which can be developed by acquiring food, money and growing the population. To increase these factors optimally, we must construct appropriate buildings and send our people to work, hunt, craft or acquire resources. If our economy grows too slowly, we can also trade with other players, jointly setting prices.

If, rather than trade, we'd prefer to expand our empire, we can declare war on other players. In such a case we must form an army. Doing so consists of many minor activities, as in addition to recruiting and training units, we must also equip them, provide them with pay, food and rest to let them go into battle at full strength. We must also provide them with necessary resources: entering enemy territory lengthens the supply lines, which means our goods need more time to reach the army. Other players can also block the supply lines and seize our goods, making the process even more difficult.

Other than field battles we'll also need to handle sieges. The more elaborate the city, the more difficult it is to enter it: we'll need ladders, siege towers, battering rams, etc. The battles involve dozens of soldiers at once, depicted as animated 3D models.

Game modes

Anvil Empires was created with multiplayer in mind. Each map can hold up to a thousand players who simultaneously influence it by creating factions, settlements and roads.

Technical aspects

The game's most eye-catching features are its detailed 3D visuals and the staggering number of dynamic objects that can appear on the screen at once, such as player characters, NPCs and buildings.