General

Q: What is Rising Kingdoms?
A: Rising Kingdoms is a fantasy real-time strategy, in which you build and expand your empire by capturing independent colonies and use them to aid you defeat your enemies.

Q: Is there a map editor?
A: Yes. There is a fully functional map editor that has been used to make our campaigns.

Q: How does the town work in Rising Kingdoms?
A: Every player starts with a main building, a few workers and a gold mine. Should this building be destroyed the player loses the game. There are three main technology levels, which unlock new units, buildings and upgrades.

Q: How many CDs does Rising Kingdoms require?
A: Two.

Q: Will the game be released in the US/Canada and when?
A: Yes, it will be. Unfortunately we still cannot give any dates for these territories because we are still looking for a suitable distributor.

Q: Are there any cheats for Rising Kingdoms?
A: Yes. You can find them here.

Q: The items are randomly generated. However, am I able to make my own items from the map editor?
A: Yes, you can combine any of the predefined item bonuses in your custom items.

Q: Can I build buildings anywhere on the map or do I have to take some kind of limitation under consideration?
A: No, you are not able to create buildings anywhere you want. You are restricted by the town limits - you are able to build within the town area. In addition you can build Trade Posts and mines near resource deposits, and you are able to build Towers anywhere on the map by using builder units.

Q: Are there any plans to port a Linux version?
A: We do not plan versions for other operating systems.


Gameplay

Q: What's the difference between the three primary races - Humans, Foresters, and Darklings?
A: Humans are born leaders – their champions are very strong and have abilities that increase the effectiveness of your army. However, the Human units are not very strong, although they have a lot of ways to heal themselves in battle. Foresters champions are not very strong, but offer a lot of tricks that could foil the attacks of the enemy. On the other hand their units are very tough and can sustain heavy damage. Darklings have champions capable of dealing massive amounts of damage and weak units. But Darklings have a different advantage - their units and champions regenerate their health.

Q: What kind of resource system is handled in the game?
A: The resource system is very simple. There are two basic resources - gold and gems. They are generated in the traditional way by workers or buildings. In addition there is a special type of resource, which is the most important resource in the game - Glory. It is obtained by defeating independent colony guards on the map. In addition, once you capture a colony it provides you with a new way of obtaining glory, depending on the race of the colony.

Q: How does the combat system work in Rising Kingdoms?
A: There are different types of armour and attack. The different kinds of armour reduce the damage inflicted by various types of attack (or make the unit suffer more, if they are not suited for the specific attack type).

Q: Haemimont Games has made a name with the massive battles seen in its Celtic Kings series, is Rising Kingdoms different?
A: Yes. Your armies are relatively small and fast decisions made in combat are very important. You will see tactical battles that are easy to control while requiring the player to act and micromanage her units.


Campaign

Q: What kind of campaign story is implemented in the game?
A: The story will be spanned over several generations. You see all the secrets of the world’s history as you uncover dark secrets and surprising twists while the adventure unfolds.

Q: How many missions will there be?
A: 30 - 10 for each race.

Q: Am I able to replay missions I've already played?
A: Yes

Q: Usually how long does one mission continue?
A: About 30-40 minutes. It depends on the mission.

Q: Are there optional tasks which are not linked directly to the campaign?
A: Yes


Champions

Q: What is a champion?
A: Champions are powerful leaders, magicians, or assassins. They can develop skills/spells in order to support their army. The champion is able to collect powerful random generated artefacts to boost her stats or gain specific abilities such as a chance to deal a critical strike.

Q: How many champions does each race have?
A: In total there are 12 champions - 4 per race.

Q: How many skills/spells does each champion have?
A: Each champion has 7 skills in total. They are separated in 3 levels. First level offers 4 skills, second level - 2, and third level consists of only one ultimate skill. Each champion can have maximum up to 2 skills from level 1, 1 skill from level 2 and the ultimate level skill.

Q: Do the champions take from your population limit?
A: No

Q: How many champions am I able to call?
A: 3 per game

Q: Do the champions level up?
A: Not exactly, because they have no level. However, champions become stronger with time by acquiring more skills as well as using special Potion items, which increase their stats when picked up.

Q: So if the champion cannot level up how can I make him learn new skills?
A: Champions learn new skills through a special resource called "Glory".


Units

Q: Can any unit equip additional weapons, armour, items, etc. or this is priority for champions only?
A: No, they cannot. The player is not able to equip units with items but the unit could drop a random item upon death.

Q: How many units can you select at once?
A: 12

Q: How many different kinds of units there are in the game?
A: We have 3 primary (playable) races - Humans, Foresters and Darklings. Each primary race offers a choice of four Champions as well as between 8 and 11 different units, not counting the ones that can be summoned by spells. We also have 5 secondary races with colonies that you can capture and then use to train new types of units. Each secondary race has between 2 and 4 such units available, some of them being very powerful legendary creatures.

Q: What is the unit cap in the game?
A: You can have a population limit between 70 and 90, which makes about 30 military units. It depends on the main race you have chosen and the upgrades you have researched.

Q: Do units have any skills?
A: Yes. Most of the units have skills or acquire new skills after certain upgrades are developed.

Q: Do I have to activate units' skills in order to use them or my troops use them automatically?
A: We have designed the game not to require the user to click with the mouse beyond his physical limit. Units that have skills use them automatically. Some of the creatures have more than one skill and you have to decide which of them is more suitable in a certain situation.


Colonies

Q: How many different colonies there are in the game?
A: There are 5 different neutral colonies which could be captured by the player - Trolls, Elves, Shades, Dragons and Nomads.

Q: Do the colonies have any special abilities?
A: Yes, they have. Every colony has three specials. When you capture a minor race (a colony) you have to choose one special out of two provided.

Q: What kinds of specials are available?
A: There are different kinds. You can choose an effect such as Immortality (a champion is automatically resurrected after death), or a legendary unit that is very powerful, such as the Elves' Spirit of Creation (a healer, who uses its own health to heal friendly units), or Dragon Fury (sends dragons to devastate your opponent's lands). The choice is yours.

Q: When I select a special and I don't like could I go back and choose again?
A: No, once the special is selected there is no going back.

Q: Do the specials change the appearance of the colonies?
A: Yes, they do.

Q: If I don't succeed to capture the colony will the guards be reborn when I return?
A: Generally no. But they increase with the development of the players, so you can find more guards when you return.

Q: When I capture a colony will somebody guard it from enemies?
A: Yes. Once you capture it, some units specific for the race you have conquered will appear. They do not take from your population limit, however, they cannot be controlled.

Q: Am I able to train units of the minor race I have conquered?
A: Yes. This is the way to diversify your army and boost your main race.

Q: My colony has been destroyed. Am I able to rebuild it?
A: No. However, Nomads have a special that allows you to rebuild a destroyed minor race colony.


Multiplayer

Q: How does the multiplayer take place in Rising Kingdoms?
A: You are able to play over LAN or online via custom game or the Online Battle ranking system.

Q: Am I able to play over TCP/IP?
A: Yes

Q: Which ports need to be opened in order to play?
A: 40445 to 40447. If you want to play over GameSpy you have to open their ports as well.

Q: Am I able play with an A.I. player against other human participants?
A: Yes, you are able to do that in custom games.

Q: How does "Online Battle" ranking system work?
A: The "Online Battle" is an automatic ranking system where you can play against other human opponents. The system matches the players’ stats and pairs them together. So you will be sure you will not play against somebody who is much stronger than you. You are able to play this system only if you are connected to the Internet. Besides, you have to create an account in order to play.

Q: Does Online Battle support a global ranking system?
A: Yes

Q: Are there ranks and levels for the Online Battle ranking system?
A: Yes

Q: Am I able to play custom games off-line in order to master my skills for online games?
A: Yes. In this case you must simply play against the A.I.