Travian

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Travian

Developer(s)	Travian Games GmbH
Engine	PHP
Version	3.0 and/or higher
Platform(s)	Interpreted script; platform independent
Release date	2004
Genre(s)	Real-Time Strategy
System requirements	Web Browser, Internet
Input methods	Keyboard, mouse

Travian is a German browser-based game developed by Travian Games GmbH^[1] that is largely based on a predecessor game called Tribal Wars. In 2006, the game was ranked first in the "best browser-based game with over 10,000 players" category of the German website Travian Games. The game's developers drew roughly from Classical antiquity and particularly from the Roman Empire to create a predominantly militaristic real-time strategy. Along with two English versions, and the original German version, the game has been translated into 30 other languages^[2]^[3], and today has just over 3 million players worldwide.^[4] It is programmed in PHP and runs by definition in the browser. It was the first game of its type to be playable through a mobile phone, using a java platform.^[5]

1 The Game
2 Villages
3 Alliances
4 End Game
5 Financing
6 References
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] The Game

The player starts as a leader of a small village with two people. The village has one building, which is the main building, and around the village lie 18 fields each providing one of the resources iron, crop, clay, or lumber. Troops can be produced once a player has built a barracks and a rally point. More troops are available after the player has built an academy where troops are researched. These troops can either be used to attack villages, often in order to steal or raid resources, or to defend against Teuton, Roman or Gaul troops attacking. Once the player has fulfilled certain criteria, he can found other villages or conquer those of an enemy with a tribal leader.

The aim of the game is to increase population and to control as many villages as possible. After a certain amount of time, further buildings and concepts are introduced, namely the introduction of the wonders of the world. The game ends when a player has finished constructing the world wonder to level 100 in a Natar village.

Each player when joining an alliance, groups of players, earns points for raiding (theifing), attacking, and defending. These points make up an appropriate rank system, but also promote the alliance one is in.

There are three tribes, the Romans, the Gauls, and the Teutons. Each has their own characteristics and an appropriate style of play: the Romans having a balanced set of attributes, the Gauls being largely defensive, and the Teutons geared towards a more aggressive style.

[edit] Villages

To have a second village a palace or residence level 10 and 2000 cultural points (500 for 3x speed servers) are needed. To obtain a subsequent village, a progressively increasing number of culture points are needed. They are gained by nearly almost all buildings other than the World Wonder. The higher the building level is, the higher the culture points it produces each day. Culture points can be seen in palaces or residences. After a palace or residence reaches level 10, three Settlers or a Senator/Chief/Chieftain can be trained.

The 3 Settlers will travel to an empty spot on the map and settle a new village for the realm. Settlers need minimum resources of 750 of each type.

A Senator/Chief/Chieftain, has the ability to conquer another player's village as long as it is not a capital. By speaking to the villages people, the Senator/Chief/Cheiftain, can lower the alliegance of another players villagers. After attacking roughly five times with a Senator/Chief/Chieftain, the village will fall to the attacker's realm. The village's loyalty will not be lowered during a raid.

[edit] Alliances

The game is heavily geared towards cooperative play. In fact the only likely way to win the game is through cooperation with an alliance. It's nearly impossible for single players to win, but an alliance can (see End Game). Resources can be traded between players, and towns can be reinforced with another player's troops. An in-game alliance feature is also available, providing the main catalyst for strategic play within Travian; players join and fight together for mutual benefit. Within an alliance, players can view attack and defense information for all alliance members, and also benefit from improved communication tools such as mass alliance-wide in-game messages. Because the maximum number of members in an alliance is 60, 'wings' tend to form as an alliance develops. Being a wing entails having multiple sub-alliances, often with similar names, acting as one alliance. Wings may not fight and destroy each other due to the friendly fire rules. Towards the end of a round, different alliances often join together, resulting in larger coalitions (meta alliances) - other diplomatic agreements include Non Aggression Pacts.

[edit] End Game

Each Travian server ends with the "end game" sequence. For normal servers it begins after about 300 days, and for speed (3x) servers^[6] it begins after about 100 days. After this time has elapsed the Natars, a race controlled by the computer, are released. As the players on the server begin to build the world wonders that they have to capture from the dreaded Natars, they meet resistance. They will, every 5 levels, attack the villages with wonders until level 95 when they will attack every new level. The first alliance that builds their wonder of the world to level 100 wins the server and restarts.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Financing

Travian is financed through players upgrading accounts with Travian Plus. Faced with further financial difficulties of maintaining Travian, a further 'Gold' feature was introduced, which was met with controversy.^[7] The introduction of 'Gold' allows players to directly influence the game mechanics: for instance, by increasing resource production, instant completion of building and researches or applying a strength bonus to troops. However, it is possible to get gold without purchasing it, such as sending a request to a friend to join. After that friend has a population of 80, you receive some gold. New players also have a free trial account in which they receive 35 gold. Most recently, Travian has expanded to include a "Travian Shop"^[8] which includes Travian-related items like clothing and mugs.