Description[]
Specialized Buildings is the seventh scenario in the Learning Campaign of Empire Earth. Join Belisarius and learn the various special functions of multiple different buildings, including the powerful, and lavish, Wonders.
Briefing[]
Return to the West: 530 - 550 AD
(Area Effects, Wonders/Wonders Powers/Wonders Victory)
The history of the Byzantine Empire throughout the 5th and into the 6th Century was one of mediocre emperors assisted by brilliant ministers of state. But when the Emperor Justinian came to power in 527, all of that changed.
It was Justinian's dream to reconquer the western provinces of Rome and so forge anew that which had been destroyed by the barbarian tribes. And he was given a military leader with the skills to achieve it: his nephew, the Imperial Commander Belisarius.
In 530 AD the Vandal Kingdom of North Africa fell into disorder, and this gave Justinian the perfect opportunity to reassert imperial power in the West.
Justinian had dispatched Belisarius and a small army to Carthage. Belisarius' orders are to retake the city and drive the Vandals out of North Africa forever. Although the people of Carthage are eager to be liberated from the barbarian occupiers, they are reluctant to be absorbed into Justinian's new empire. They will have to be convinced in one way or another - perhaps by constructing impressive Wonders of the World.
History[]
Although the last Roman Emperor in the West was deposed in 476 AD, the Empire in the East survived nearly a thousand years longer. Given the fact that Byzantium was surrounded by enemies and existed in a constant state of war, her longevity is something to marvel at. Indeed, one of the things which made the survival of the Eastern Empire so remarkable was the relative incompetence of her emperors.
After the death of Theodosius the Great in 395, over a hundred years would pass before a man truly capable of ruling an empire would wear the crown again.
That man was the Emperor Justinian.
He began his training for the throne during the reign of his uncle, Justin. Justin himself was incompetent and many of the most critical functions of the emperor's job fell to his extremely capable nephew. In fact, Justinian briefly co-ruled with his uncle before the elder man's death.
Given the ineffectualness of the rulers who had preceded him, Justinian seemed a godsend to the empire. He reorganized imperial law in a way that had lasting effects for all of Western civilization, he brought unity to Christianity, and he presided over a tremendous flowering of the arts. But even though he was idolized in his own time, later historians have taken a more sober look at his shortcomings.
Although he was a great judge of talented men, and consistently put to work the best and most able men the empire had to offer, it is generally acknowledged that Justinian himself lacked genius. He was passionate and energetic in his governance of the realm, but obsessively so. He took on far more than he could reasonably achieve and exhausted the resources of the empire with his grand vision of a re-built Roman imperium.
It was that vision that prompted him, in the third year of his reign, to send his most capable general, Belisarius, to reconquer Carthage.
Carthage of course had been burned to the ground in the 2nd Century BC at the conclusion of the Third Punic War. But so strategic a location on the Mediterranean coast could not go forever ignored, and a hundred years later the Romans had rebuilt it.
In Justinian's time, Carthage along with all North Africa had been overrun by the Vandals. Although the barbarian kingdom had maintained peaceful relations with Constantinople, that came to an end with the rise of a new Vandal monarchy in 530. This provided Justinian with the pretext he needed to launch his ambitious military plans.
And Belisarius was the man to carry them out.
Objectives[]
- Defeat the enemy army standing between you and Carthage.
- Wipe out the Vandal Army completely.
- Build at least one House within the Capitol's area of effect. The "area of effect" can be seen as a highlighted area when you select the Capitol.
- Eliminate all the Vandal attackers.
- Build the Pharos Lighthouse within the blue flags.
- Build warships at any of the three Docks that have been provided and destroy the Vandal fleet.
- Build the Library of Alexandria within the city limits of Carthage, marked by purple flags.
- Destroy the Siege Factory in the newly-discovered Vandal town.
- Build the Coliseum within the city limits of Carthage.
Civilizations[]
Byzantine Army (blue)
They are the Bronze Age civilization you control in this scenario. You start off with only and his army of twelve Javelins, twelve Short Swords, six War Elephants and six Elephant Archers. Soon after, you gain control of Carthage's Citizens, who are only able to build selected buildings as the game progresses. You also gain control of Carthage's Docks, where you can build Battleships, Galleys and Frigates. You are able to train more troops at Carthage's military buildings if they are needed, keeping in mind that you have a pop cap of 70.
Carthage (fuschia)
They are your allies in this scenario, and where you will build your Wonders and ships as well as troops. They have only fifteen Citizens and are at the Bronze Age as well. They have two Universities and one Temple with some House, walled off with two towers at the Gates. They also have a Barracks, an Archery Range, a Stable, a Capitol and a Hospital. They also have six Docks, three of which you control later on in the game.
Vandals (yellow)
They are the enemy civilization in this game. They use Persian Cavalry and Incan Warriors. They have a Siege Factory, a Settlement, a Dock, a Barracks, five House and two Towers guarding the main road in. Apart from their military units, which they send in three waves, they also have two Fishing Boats. They are at the Copper Age.
Byzantine (grey)
Belisarius and the unseen Imperial Advisor fall under this civilization.
Strategy[]
As it is a learning scenario, it is best to experiment and learn while paying careful attention to what is explained. However, if you want a quick run through it:
Eliminate the enemy troops between you and Carthage. It's not a small army, so remember to use unit relationships here. Take your troops to Carthage's Hospital to be healed there. Use the Citizens there to build five House. Use your army, keeping them within the Capitol's area of effect, to destroy the Vandal attackers.
Heal your troops again, while at the same time building the Pharos Lighthouse near the Docks. Build two Galleys, two Battleships and two Frigates. Send your Battleships against their Frigates, your Frigates against their Galleys, and your Galleys against their Battleships. Build the Library of Alexandria.
Send your Army to the Vandal town. Beware the small Vandal troops scattered around on the way there. Ignore the nearby Towers and just destroy the Siege Factory. Build the Coliseum and you're done.
Storyline[]
Imperial Advisor: The Byzantine Army has arrived at Carthage. But a Vandal Army stands between them and the city. You will have to fight your way through. Bear in mind the military relationships you learned back in Constantinople.
The Byzantine Army fights and defeats the enemy troops.
Imperial Advisor: You have defeated the Vandal army! But your troops have sustained some injuries. Enter the city, where you will find a Hospital to heal your soldiers.
As the troops enter Carthage's borders...
Imperial Advisor: A Hospital is available to heal your injured troops. Injured units near a Hospital are automatically healed over time. Bring your troops up to the Hospital.
While the troops are gathered around the Hospital...
Imperial Advisor: Now select the Hospital. You'll see that new medical technology can be researched that will improve the Hospital's performance. Notice that research requires an expenditure of resources. Click a button to research that technology.
The Hospital begins its research. While that is happening...
Imperial Advisor: General, we have just received alarming news from our spies. The Vandals are preparing to launch a counter attack on our Capitol.
To prepare for this assault, you should build House to raise the Morale of your troops. Left-click on the Capitol first, and notice the highlighted area around it.
The Capitol is selected, showing it to be the center of a green and blue bordered square.
Imperial Advisor: Now select a Citizen and construct a House within that highlighted area.
The command is given, and a House is built nearby.
Imperial Advisor: Now that a House has been completed, the Morale of the people within the area of effect of the Capitol has gone up. Notice that one gree do appears by their feet for each unit of Morale. Morale allows soldiers and Citizens to last longer in combat - the more Morale, the harder they are to kill.
Build more House to increase the Morale still further. Eventually a maximum Morale level is attained and no more is possible - no matter how many additional House you build.
Vandal troops are shown on their way to Carthage.
Imperial Advisor: The Vandal attack we heard about has come. Deploy your troops near enough to the Capitol that they receive the Morale effect. You'll see that they fare better in battle.
The Vandal attack is successfully repelled.
Imperial Advisor: The Vandal counter attack has been defeated! Well done, General. Remember, the Hospital is available if you need to heal your troops.
This victory has created considerable goodwill among the local people. It is a good chance to impress them further...
Camera moves over to a marked out location near Carthage's Docks.
Architects recently returned from Egypt with the plans for the fabulous Pharos Lighthouse. Let us build this Wonder here in Carthage. The Assembly of Carthage has asked you to place it in this area, which has been newly marked with flags. Wonders are expensive, but we have plenty of resources for the construction.
Citizens now available for the work at hand are tasked with the Wonder's construction. Soon, it is finished, revealing almost all of the surrounding ocean.
Imperial Advisor: Congratulations! The Lighthouse is complete! You can see how it reveals all the naval activity in the area with its guiding light. Marvelous, is it not?
Camera pans over the ocean to where a small fleet of Vandal warships are anchored.
Imperial Advisor: By the gods, I see the Vandals have warships! We must build ships to sink them at once.
Carthage already has a Dock that we can use to build warships. Select the Dock and build a Battleship by clicking the appropriate button. Keep in mind that warships damaged in battle can return to a Dock to be repaired, no unlike a Hospital that heals troops on land.
The Docks begin building warships. When a Battleship is built...
Imperial Advisor: Battleships are effective against Frigates, but are easily killed by Galleys.
When a Frigate is built...
Imperial Advisor: Frigates destroy Galleys, but are no match for Battleships.
When a Galley is built...
Imperial Advisor: Galleys do well against Battleships, but they get destroyed by Frigates.
The warships are completed and sent out to destroy the Vandal fleet. Once they have the destroyed their enemies...
Imperial Advisor: Let us celebrate your naval victory! It is an excellent opportunity to build a second Wonder. We also acquired plans for the Library of Alexandria. At the request of the Carthaginian leaders, you should build the Library inside the city limits of Carthage. Local merchants, pleased that the Vandal fleet has been sunk, have provided the necessary resources.
(The city limits are marked by the purple flags.)
The Citizens build the Wonder, revealing enemy buildings just out of the Pharos Lighthouse's line of sight radius.
Imperial Advisor: Congratulations! The Library of Alexandria is complete! With this new Wonder, all enemy buildings in the area have been surveyed, and thereby are revealed to you.
Camera pans directly over the Vandal's Siege Factory.
Imperial Advisor: Behold! With the Library, you can see where the Vandals have secretly built a new town! And they have a Siege Factory there! This building must be destroyed before it start producing Siege weapons. Take your troops to the Vandal town immediately and destroy that Siege Factory.
The Roman Army is sent to the Vandal town, where they destroy the Siege Factory.
Imperial Advisor: Good work! Your destruction of the Vandal's Siege Factory has averted a possible threat to Carthage. The Assembly of Carthage has approved the construction of one more Wonder - a Coliseum like the one in Rome. When this structure has been built inside Carthage, the people here and in the surrounding areas will see that there is nothing the Byzantines cannot accomplish. No longer will anyone question your authority here.
Once more, the Citizens set about to building another Wonder. As the Coliseum begins to take shape...
Imperial Advisor: The Coliseum with its incredible seating capacity actually increases your Population Capacity. Moreover, the Population Capacities of your enemies are decreased by the same amount. The sooner it is finished, the better!
Soon enough, it is done.
Imperial Advisor: Success! The three Wonders built in Carthage have proven even to the Vandals that resistance is useless. You have secured the future of the Byzantine Empire in North Africa. Good work!
Gallery[]
