Imperia Online

Imperia Online

Original author(s)	Dobroslav Dimitrov, Moni Dochev
Developer(s)	Imperia Online Ltd.
Initial release	23 August 2005 (2005-08-23)
Platform	Web browser
Available in	30 languages
Type	Real-time military strategy massively multiplayer online game
Licence	Freemium
Website	www.imperiaonline.org

Imperia Online is a persistent, browser-based, massively multiplayer, online real-time strategy game developed by the Bulgarian software company Imperia Online Ltd. It was originally released on August 23, 2005.^[1][2] Set in a Medieval world, Imperia Online is a predominantly militaristic strategy game.^[3] Imperia Online has been translated into 30 languages and has over 20 million registered users.^[4][5] The game is currently in its sixth version, but there are still active Version 5 realms.

Gameplay

Imperia Online is set in a Medieval world. The game's version 6, called 'The Great People', is the current one even though there still are tens of active version 5 realms. Each player starts the game as the emperor of an undeveloped Province. The Province can be developed by constructing - and later upgrading – various economic and military buildings amongst which resource-generating buildings as well as universities, used for researching key technologies. Recruiting and training military units allows players to attack other Provinces to plunder their resources, and defend from enemy attacks. Players may trade their resources with other players after they've built a marketplace on their own territory. The Province grows into an empire through territory annexing and colonizing. Players can communicate with each other using in-game messages, and may join alliances for military and economic co-operation with other players.^[6]

Starting a game

Players must register at ImperiaOnline.org free of charge to join the game, providing an e-mail address and creating an username and a password, or using a social network account.^[7] After logging in, the player follows a tutorial that guides them through various aspects of the game and provides rewards for successful completion. After the tutorial, missions start appearing for the player which guide them even further into the Province's development. At the start of the game, the player can select a seven-day "beginner's protection" period, during which they can't be attacked.

Resources

Resources are needed for developing Provinces and training units. Three of them – Wood, Iron and Stone – are produced by resource-generating buildings: Lumber mill, Iron mine and Stone quarry. The resource output can be increased by upgrading the three generating structures so that new work vacancies are created.^[8] The fourth main resource is Gold. It is used for almost any type of research, military training and building development. It is also the universal currency for buying and selling all three other types of resources. Gold is gathered through taxes, selling resources on the Marketplace, fortress sieges, deposit interests, and as one of the possible rewards from the various caskets awarded in the game. There are also the so-called 'Special resources' that can be found throughout the realm. There are more than 50 types of special resources and their main purpose is granting bonuses to various in-game statistics like resource production, military units, experience gain, etc.^[9]

Buildings

There are 29 structures that can be built and upgraded in the capital. Buildings are constructed and upgraded through a main building, called 'Town hall'. The Town hall is the building every player starts the game with. The two main types of buildings are separated in tabs 'Economy' and 'Military'. Each building has a special function. For example, the two universities that make possible the development of Military and Economic technologies.

Provinces

Each Province starts as a single village that the player takes control of. Through building, research and battle progression the Province grows on the Global map, later annexing territories that turn into provinces of the original one, known as a Capital by that time. The development of the provinces is similar to what they player has gone through with the capital – buildings have to be built and upgraded, the population has to be predisposed to growing and kept happy and the resources and military units can be used by the entire Province. There are some disadvantages that provinces have compared to the Capital: universities for example can't be constructed on Province territory, same goes for the Palace, Headquarters, Gubernatorial headquarters, Bank, Wonders and so on. Colonization is one of the ways to expand your Empire's territory on the Global map.

Alliances

The Alliances in Imperia Online are groups of players sharing their own strategy with each other. Alliance members gather joint resources and invest them in Alliance Technologies affecting all members, waging wars, Alliance Buildings, cultural and military influence expansion. Allies can support each other in an economic and military way via gold transfer module. Alliances are ranked in a separate ranking based thoroughly on the total sum of all members’ net worth points.

Battles

Imperia Online's battle system is rich and complex, despite being built with 4 main types of military units only. The 4 main categories of units are Light, Heavy, Elite and Siege Engines. The battle system requires skill and tactical thinking from the player since there are multiple army formations that can define the end result of the battle.^[10] There are three types of attacks: Field Battle, Fortress Siege and Pillage. The first one sends the troops to fight only with the opponent's field army, without sieging the Fortress or pillaging the civil population. The only profit for the attacker are military points for slashing enemy units and honor points. Fortress siege is conducted after a successful Field battle for the attacker. A successful Fortress siege loots resources. If the player chooses Pillage, their troops engage the opponent's civil population. Gold is earned for every killed villager. It’s punished with Honor drop.

The Great People

The Great People feature was introduced with the eponymous Version 6 of the game. It added the concept of Noblemen – the Emperor and his court, which can gain experience and level up in two distinct disciplines. The Governor skills generally boost the resource and troop production in a province, while General skills improve your battle capabilities. Furthermore, each of the Great People comes with their own inborn talents, and a careful selection of your Emperor’s hereditary line allows you to always keep the crown in the hands of the most suitable people.

Lords of the Realm

Lords of the Realm is the Alliance competition for winning the realm. The winner is the alliance that controls at least 60% of the entire Global map territory for a set number of hours (depending on the speed of the realm).^[11] Around a certain time after the Era has begun (depending on the speed of the world), the stage of contest for winning the realm by one Alliance is activated. After the Alliance winner in the Lords of the Realm competition has been determined, the era finishes.

Development

In January 2005, the idea for the game is conceived by Dobroslav Dimitrov, who is responsible for the game design, and Moni Dochev, responsible for the coding on the project.

On August 23, Imperia Online’s Realm 1 goes live.^[1]

In 2006, Version 2 and Version 3 realms launched simultaneously, running parallel with V1 and offering alternative rules and gameplay to cater to different player tastes. The game was translated in 12 languages, not in small part thanks to the efforts of Community Managers appointed from among the Imperia Online player ranks. The first Imperia Online tournament is held.

In 2008, another upgrade is launched: Version 4, which serves as a prototype of Version 5. With even more complex and enriched gameplay, V4 would also later receive a significant visual upgrade, dubbed Version 4A. The same year, in the V4 realms, the very first of the emblematic Nomad Invasions tournaments is introduced.

In 2010, Version 5, Age of Conquest, is launched. It introduces new visuals and features, chief amongst them – the addition of a second playable race, the Nomads.

In 2011, the Nomad Invasions tournament, with customized rules, comes to the Age of Conquest realms. Also, for the first time the Imperia Online World Cup is held.

In 2012, the first Tactical Realm and Mega Blitz realms are implemented, offering an additional challenge for experienced players. Imperia Online V5 launches on iOS. Imperia Online World Cup 2012 is held. In 2013, Imperia Online is integrated in the largest Russian social network, Odnoklassniki.^[12] The last IO World Cup based on Version 5 is held. Version 5 launches on Android.

That same year Version 6, The Great People is launched, with complete graphics and usability overhaul, extended and improved mechanics, and new features, chief amongst them – the addition of the eponymous Great People.

In 2014, V6 launches on iOS and Android, and is also integrated with Facebook.

Imperia Online is currently localized in 30 languages.

Tournaments

Imperia Online holds varying annual tournaments. So far there have been 3 types of tournaments: Nomad Invasions, Champions League and World Cup.^[13]

The World Cup 2011 and 2012 titles are held by the Bulgarian team.

The World Cup 2013 is held by the Croatian team.

The World Cup 2014 is held by the Brazilian team.

References