Best scenario I have played since Olympics. Not extremely hard, but
requires both military and builder/manager skills.
Masada is a desert mission. The only water and farming land is on the
elevated terrain that is controlled by Judean army - during the first
two years several invasions of 120 men each occur in that area. You are
starting with a ring of tent cities with 1000+ population around this
mountain, each walled and supplied with basic services (prefect,
engineer, temple, wells), and with healthy military basis : 3 barracks,
academy, 5 forts partially manned, some towers. From the mountain lead
two ramps to your city, one more or less straight, second winding along
the slopes of the mountain. Both ways are closed with trees, so that you
can decide when to start the battle. Until you cut the trees, enemy will
wait at the mountaintop.
When you have dealt with the rebels, you should at once start building
at the mountain, as requests for food from Caesar will come soon. One of
the tent cities can be fed from wheat import, but to reach 4000
population and 35 prosperity you need to establish housing at the
mountain and bring it to Insulae. It is your decision then, whether to
leave the tent cities as tents, or feed them with surplus food you will
produce later - or whether you delete them altogether. Because of lack
of fountains they will never reach better than Large Shack level. I have
used a mix of all possibilities - deleted some tents, from the rest one
part was living on imported wheat, one on produced fruit, and the last
(smallest) was left at Large Tent without food.
In the second half of allotted time there are some smaller invasions,
including Caesars request for army - nothing serious, just a reminder
that the end is near and welcomed distraction from building. If you are
quick, you can finish the game before they come.
The game has several stages that require different tactics, and it isn't
boring a single minute during the whole playtime. Development is quick,
time limited, but sufficient. I have replayed the final part once again,
so that I could see the invasions that come after the sixth year - at
first attempt I finished before them - and very probably I will replay
it once again. Map is nice to look at, terrain features are realistic
and at the same time precisely corresponding with the needs of the game.
Only the story didn't seem as intriguing as in most BTL's missions.
Excellent work!
