Matrix Games

Welcome to the fourth Dev Diary for Rajas and Tribes, the first DLC for Field of Glory: Kingdoms!

In Diaries #1 and #2, we discussed two major features of the DLC: Great Trades and War Campaigns. As you now know, these features are mainly granted to the new playable nations, such as nomads, tribal peoples, or established African and Indian kingdoms. They greatly enrich gameplay and help compensate for their partial lack of Tier II buildings—at least in the case of nomadic and tribal factions, as non-European structured kingdoms do have access to them.

But these nations benefit from several additional new mechanics. Let’s begin with the most iconic kingdom, often destined for greatness in many campaigns: the legendary Kingdom of Solomon. At the start of the game, Solomon controls only one region (historically, the kingdom had not yet emerged at this time, but this gameplay abstraction allows you to conquer power in its name). Over time, however, these petty kings—or Negus—will forge a myth that leads to the rise of the famed Solomonic dynasty.

The Kingdom of Solomon arrives in the expanded campaign with very powerful national perks.

Claiming quasi-divine origins, your kingdom benefits from two very powerful traits. The first, Keeper of the Ark, makes it significantly easier for your characters to avoid tragic events compared to other nations. This will grant your generals longer lifespans on the battlefield and help prevent the all-too-common sudden illnesses. Unyielding Legacy is the second—possibly even more powerful—gradually converting your army into volunteer units, with drastically reduced upkeep. This enables Solomon to field an army far stronger than that of its neighbors. With advantages like these, your destiny seems all but written!

The most powerful trait of the Kingdom of Solomon is likely the one that gradually converts its units into volunteers.

Now let’s turn to the Indian nations. These factions have access to three additional panels—yes, three! Two of them you already know from the previous diaries: Great Trades and War Campaigns. Thanks to a solid economy (they have access to Tier II buildings), they are formidable contenders in terms of legacy accumulation, even compared to European powers.

The new Indian nations receive 15 additional buildings, almost all of which have associated mini-events.

The third panel reflects the eastward expansion of Indian kingdoms into the unrepresented territories of India. Through decisions, you’ll be able to capture off-map provinces by deploying and maintaining a military contingent despite potential losses. These territories will grant a range of benefits (no fewer than 12 associated mini-events), including money, natural resources, and occasionally authority, legacy, or even slaves.

The Chalukya dynasty invested heavily in forces that enabled them to expand into eastern India

However, don’t assume the Indian nations are unstoppable. The Seljuqs have received several buffs, and the Mongols will also arrive later in the campaign. That said, with careful planning, it's not unthinkable for an Indian Raj and his army to reach the Mediterranean—who knows?

To wrap up, Indian nations also gain access to several new buildings, many of which are religious, either Buddhist or Hindu. These buildings emphasize the production of Piety, along with conversion and tolerance toward other religions. This helps compensate for the fact that, while they do have access to Tier II structures, they lack the religious infrastructure found in Christian or Muslim realms—no cathedrals or grand mosques. A special mention goes to the powerful effects unlocked when you manage to build four temples in the same region—but we’ll let you discover those for yourself.

That wraps up our fourth Dev Diary. The fifth and final diary will unveil two exciting surprises from the companion patch, released alongside the DLC. Calling it a "patch" might be unfair, as this free update brings two major features—one of which has been requested for a very, very long time!