Knights and Merchants: The Peasants Rebellion

Knights and Merchants:
The Peasants Rebellion

Developer(s) Joymania Entertainment (since changed to Joymania Development)
Publisher(s)
  • DE BlackStar Interactive
  • RU Snowball.ru
Designer(s) Peter Ohlmann, Adam Sprys
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)
  • DE November 27, 2001
  • RU April 5, 2002
  • NA November 5, 2005
Genre(s) Real-time strategy
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer (IPX, TCP/IP, Modem, Net-Games Lobby)
Rating(s) ESRB: Everyone (E)
Media/distribution CD (1)
System requirements

Pentium 233 MHz CPU, 64 MB RAM, 90 MB HD

Knights and Merchants: The Peasants Rebellion (abbreviated to TPR) is a historical Real-time strategy game, developed by Joymania Entertainment (since changed to Joymania Development) and published by TopWare Interactive. The scenery is inspired by the Anglo-Saxon period, circa 1000 AD. The gamer plays the role of the palace guard captain whose goal is to win back all of the lost provinces that once belonged to the king. The game was released in 2001, but only in a few countries. Later in 2002 it was released in additional countries and in 2005 it was finally released in the US. The game has not yet been released in the UK. A digital version is available on Good Old Games.

Contents

Overview

Knights and Merchants: The Peasants Rebellion is commonly referred as a gold edition or an expansion pack for its prequel, Knights and Merchants: The Shattered Kingdom. It is a stand-alone game, but includes the 20 original missions (although strangely, the Russian release doesn't seem to include the original campaign) as well as a brand new campaign that consists of 14 missions, a scenario mode with 10 different scenarios, and new buildings and units.
Unlike most Real-time strategy games, Knights and Merchants: The Peasants Rebellion only has a single civilization, so all players have the same tech trees to play with.

Technology

The game's tech tree is simple and straightforward, and most new technology is accessed upon new building completion. To begin, the player can only build a school house that trains basic workers, but as the game advances more buildings and units become available. When playing a scenario or multiplayer mode, the player's technological advancement is not restricted, however in the single-player campaign some buildings cannot be built until the player progresses to later missions. The AI always begins with a technological advantage against the player, allowing them to develop at a higher level.

Economy

The economy in Knights and Merchants: The Peasants Rebellion is complex, stemming from the game's variety of resources, ranging from wood and stone, to sausages and wine. Many resources need to be transported to other buildings to be refined, and then delivered - which presents the challenge of building placement and interconnecting (every building has to be connected by roads) as the player develops.

The citizens in Knights and Merchants: The Peasants Rebellion get hungry - from workers, to farmers, to soldiers. This creates a challenging dynamic for the player - between managing combat, resource gathering, city building, as well as making sure there is a stable food supply for all the units. Unlike other RTS games, Knights and Merchants: The Peasants Rebellion has no unit cap - aside from limited map size and hunger features, which help to limit the player's sustainable unit numbers.

Units

Citizens

Name Occupation
Serf Delivers wares
Laborer Builds and repairs
Stonemason Quarry
Woodcutter Woodcutter's
Carpenter Sawmill, Weapons Workshop, Armory Workshop, Vehicles Workshop
Farmer Farm, Vineyard
Fisherman Fisherman's Hut
Baker Mill, Bakery
Animal Breeder Swine Farm, Stables
Butcher Tannery, Butcher's
Miner Gold Mine, Coal Mine, Iron Mine
Metallurgist Metallurgist's, Iron Smithy
Blacksmith Weapons Smithy, Armor Smithy
Recruit Barracks, Watchtower

Archers

Name Attack Defense Special Requirements
Rogue 35% 25% Ranged, slow attack speed Gold x2 (Townhall)
Bowman 35% 50% Ranged Longbow, Leather Armor, Recruit (Barracks)
Crossbowman 100% 70% Ranged, slow attack speed Crossbow, Iron Armament, Recruit (Barracks)

Infantry

Name Attack Defense Special Requirements
Militia 35% 0% Storm Attack (2x Speed) Hand Axe, Recruit (Barracks)/Gold x2 (Townhall)
Axe Fighter 35% 50% Storm Attack (2x Speed) Hand Axe, Leather Armor, Wooden Shield, Recruit (Barracks)
Sword Fighter 55% 70% Storm Attack (2x Speed) Sword, Long Shield, Iron Armament, Recruit (Barracks)
Barbarian 100% 25% Storm Attack (2x Speed) Gold x5 (Townhall)
Warrior 75% 50% Storm Attack (2x Speed) Gold x5 (Townhall)
Rebel 25% 25% Attack +60% vs. cavalry Gold x1 (Townhall)
Lance Carrier 25% 50% Attack +55% vs. cavalry Lance, Leather Armor, Recruit (Barracks)
Pikemen 35% 70% Attack +80% vs. cavalry Pike, Iron Armament, Recruit (Barracks)

Cavalry

Name Attack Defense Special Requirements
Vagabond 40% 25% Mounted (2x Speed) Gold x3 (Town hall)
Scout 35% 50% Mounted (2x Speed) Hand Axe, Wooden Shield, Leather Armor, Horse, Recruit (Barracks)
Knight 55% 70% Mounted (2x Speed) Sword, Iron Armament, Long Shield, Horse, Recruit (Barracks)

Siege Weapons

Name Attack Defense Special Requirements
Catapult 3x50% 25% (50% in SR2)(Not very good) Siege Weapon (Speed x0.5) Timber x5, Iron x5 (Vehicles Workshop)
Ballista 100% 25% (50% in SR2)(Not very good) Siege Weapon (Speed x0.5) Timber x5, Iron x5 (Vehicles Workshop)

Map Editors

No official map editor was provided by the developers. Due to the call for a map-editor from the game's fanbase, a handful of independent players have created their own map editors. Editing the terrain requires a "map editor" and the mission (or script) must be edited separately using a "mission editor". There are currently no fully functional combined map/mission editors.

Mods

Several Mods are available but the "KaM Remake" is the biggest mod for Knights and Merchants: The Peasants Rebellion. The KaM Remake is a complete rewrite the game engine and features functional online multiplayer. The Mod is free to download but will not install unless the user owns a legitimate copy of the original game Knights and Merchants: The Peasants Rebellion.

See also

Knights and Merchants: The Shattered Kingdom

External links