The campaigns of the original Age of Kings and it’s expansion, The Conquerors, were probably the most enjoyed features of the game, no matter what expertise the player had. Thus when designing a new expansion, one cannot neglect this side of the game – and we sure as hell didn’t! So, let me take you into our magical world of new exciting stories to be played in Age of Forgotten Empires:

1. Alaric I

The trauma of the Hun invasion in the 4th century has shaped this fearsome warrior king of the Goths: fleeing his invaded homeland as a child, Alaric spent the rest of his life searching for a new place to settle. Whether he invaded the Roman Empire or fought hard battles for it, Alaric only asked for a home. Sadly, the Roman Empire was a place of intrigue, for the rule of the emperor was waning and all sorts of men played a dangerous game of treachery and conspiracy in search of power. Can the beloved king secure a new homeland for his people in this cruel empire? Enter a story of betrayal, despair and blood.

2. Francesco Sforza

I present to you the wondrous life of Francesco Sforza. After witnessing his father’s death, the young captain did not hesitate to take over command of the mercenary army. Always hungry for glory and wealth, Sforza wanders 15th century Italy, offering his services to the highest bidder. Plenty of opportunities present themselves on the way, for the Italians are continuously at war: power struggles in the southern kingdom of Naples, a clash between the northern city-states of Venice, Milan and Florence, and a weak papacy in the midst of all. Will you pick the right fights or make the wrong enemy? Take the fate of the young mercenary captain in your hands. Enter a story of opportunism, ambition and never-ending battles.

Hostis erat Venetus, nec Florentinus amicus.

Hostis et Alphonsus, Insuber hostis erat.

Nemo tuas Italus partis, Francisce, fovebat,

non Italis quisquis adiacet ullus agris.

Ipse tamen nudo statuens tentoria campo,

milite cum parvo solus eras metui.

Inde Briantinis Venetorum exercitus errans

collibus haud audet te proprius petere.

Insuber hinc trepidas acuit perterritus iras

ipse quidem frustra, cui deus hostis adest.

Francesco Filelfo (1398–1481), Renaissance scholar

The Venetian nor the Florentine was your friend.

Even Alfonso and the Milanese were enemies too.

No Italian, Francesco, took your part,

nor anyone in the lands nearby.

Still, though you camped in a bare field

with few soldiers, you caused great fear.

The Venetians, wandering in the Briantine hills,

scarcely dared to approach you close.

The fearful Milanese himself sharpened

his wrath in vain. For god, his enemy, was at hand.

Loosely translated, based on the literal one from: FILELFO, Francesco (transl. and ed. Diana Robin), Odes [1455], Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 2009, 116-119.

Future

By now you are without doubt overly excited, but there is even more to reveal! Looking beyond the December launch, we’re planning to bring out regular content patches to expand our ever magical world of AoFE. These updates will be themed about one civilization, but like this Italian themed release, we won’t limit the campaigns to one perspective. Thus the AoFE team will continue to satisfy your appetite for interesting stories and fun gameplay even after launch!

In this article I have introduced the exciting stories to be played in AoFE, but for a sneak peek about the stunning gameplay created by our most competent designers, I would like to invite you to our live show later this weekend (or watch the recap if you tuned in too late). If you want to us tell how excited you are, what you think about the new campaigns, or just want to say hi, you can always leave a comment.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” (Maya Angelou)

Sam “Caelir” Geens
Campaign Manager and Historian of the AoFE team