https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJGQfG2Zvp8
Happy New Year! Firefly begins a promising 2020 with a look back over an exciting year of Stronghold: Warlords and Romans: Age of Caesar development.

First a Stronghold: Warlords update straight from Senior Producer Paul Harris. From our initial E3 announcement to subsequent improvements for troops, walls, fear factor, fire and more, the Stronghold production team had a busy year indeed. Fuelled by feedback, design debates, reams of new code and a bunch of promising suggestions from the community, it's been a fast and furious ride set to continue toward release in 2020.



We then catch up with Online Producer Ben Tarrant and his co-op city builder team working on Romans: Age of Caesar. An entirely different beast full of unique production challenges and lofty design goals, Romans has made great progress in 2019. With our first public Alpha now underway and the game's update road map revealed, our dedicated group of community testers will be helping us mould this epic MMO throughout 2020 as we return to Rome!



If you want to stay up to date on everything Firefly Studios, including both Stronghold: Warlords and Romans: Age of Caesar, we will of course be continuing our regular video update schedule in 2020. In addition you can also now join the Official Stronghold Discord and follow us on Twitter to be the first to hear the latest announcements straight from Firefly!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWxcxejZeP0
We return this week for one final pre-Christmas update, Aaron coming back for our final instalment of 'History Behind Warlords'! A series of deep dive videos on the historical events leading into the single player missions of Stronghold: Warlords, this week we turn our eye to the Land of the Rising Sun. So join Aaron, Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi for a historic overview and the beginnings of their campaign to unify a fractured land.

Learn about the chaotic period of Sengoku Jidai, the Japanese Warring States Period we'll be recreating in-game in the later stages of Warlords' main campaign. One of the most bloodthirsty and brutal periods of Japanese history, with every clan looking to overthrow their enemies while keeping a watchful eye on their allies, Hideyoshi's exploits are perfect for exciting siege combat. A dramatic period in the later stages of Japanese history, Hideyoshi's sieges and skirmishes are ideal for the point in Warlords' main campaign when some of the most advanced siege weapons and tactics are introduced.



Want more? Then check out the Stronghold: Warlords playlist on Firefly Studios' YouTube for videos with more history, raw gameplay, new features, units, characters and buildings. With much more to come between now and Stronghold: Warlords' release in 2020, there's a huge amount to look forward to for strategy-sim fans everywhere!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_AnfLskMdY
Today we're teasing new features, modes and units in a rapid fire Q&A! Answering over 80 community questions from future Stronghold: Warlords players, Senior Programmer Matt Smith discusses everything from hot keys and talking peasants to the final unit count and DLC. He even addresses the pressing question of whether you’ll be able to pet the dog!



Covering a variety of topics, this new video reveals fresh details about the game and hints at upcoming events in our Discord:

• An expected release on Steam
  
• Cow names
  
• Modding through day one Steam Workshop support
  
• Warlord recruitment and abilities
  
• A possible new single player campaign
  
• Units and AI characters featured in the game
  
• Multiplayer details including map sizes and matchmaking

As a handful of developers working with our own engine we can't say yes to everything, but as an independent studio we do listen. So whether it's something small like removing unit caps as an advanced feature or a larger ask like new modes we'll continue to adjust and improve Warlords as best we can, saving larger requests for future games in the series.

As a reminder this update answers questions taken from the official Stronghold Discord. We asked and players responded with queries surrounding the Warlords system, city builder gameplay and eccentric cast of characters, after which we set to the task of interrogating Matt. So if you question wasn't answered be sure to get involved by joining the Stronghold Discord today!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5STOp7qTUyU
We've just announced six new castle economy features coming to Stronghold: Warlords next year. The latest historical real-time strategy game in our classic ‘castle sim’ series, Warlords will take Stronghold east to explore new castle economies, religion and fresh resource chains. In addition a host of series improvements are on their way, including a brand new roads system and mini-economies for the titular warlords!

• Boost troop morale with opera houses and martial arts performances
  
• Strike fear in the hearts of peasants and boost productivity with torture devices!
  
• Connect roads to streamline certain industries and resource chains
  
• Build temples and boost the Spirit of your populous
  
• Get friendly warlords to boost your industry with their own mini-economies
  
• House your peasants in luxury accommodation to keep them happy

From dancing bears and peasants skipping around the maypole to jousting, and even the controversial gong system, Stronghold has always added plenty of fine touches to help simulate the bustle of a large feudal city. City builder elements are what define Stronghold both as an RTS and a simulation of castle life, with Stronghold: Warlords adding its own unique sim elements to the mix.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOGlNTAQZkE
Join the Stronghold Discord - https://discord.gg/u3ms8MK

We're back with another episode of History Behind Stronghold: Warlords! This week we delve into another of the incredible backstories serving as your lead up for the sieges and conflicts depicted in our upcoming castle sim. Having delved into the tribal history of Vietnam and the rise of the Qin Dynasty, we now explore the history of Genghis Khan and the Mongolian Steppes.



Join Firefly's very own Aaron Hayden and learn about the bloody foundations of the Mongol Empire, how a boy called Temüjin became one of the most influential leaders on the world stage. In Stronghold: Warlords you will join the Mongol Empire in its first conquests and skirmishes across Central Asia, so what better way to prepare yourself for the dozens of battles you'll be orchestrating than a dose of early Empire History!



https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC4j5bcx4Uo
In September we launched our Official Stronghold Discord Server and what a couple of months we've had. Stronghold players have entered and won multiple contests involving fan art, the Stronghold memes, poetry and even an acoustic love letter to The Pig! Now we’re all settled in with well over one thousand Discord members we’re finally ready to launch the official Stronghold: Warlords meta game.

Join the Stronghold Discord - https://discord.gg/u3ms8MK



The aim of our Warlords meta game is to generate coin for your team. The team with the most coin at the end of Phase One, which should end around Christmas time, wins access to our playable Alpha demo on Steam! Over the next few months our three teams will be presented with a map and a rough narrative we’ll be following. This will give you a number of decisions to make, voting on which path to take and dealing with the consequences of your actions.



If you haven’t yet joined the Discord now’s the time! Just follow our link in the description below, join the server and pick a side. Your team choices are: The Mongol Horde led by myself, the Japanese Shogun headed up by Natasha or Aaron’s Dynasty of China.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgWReVr3qYc
This week we continues our journey into the history behind Stronghold: Warlords. In this episode of 'History Behind Stronghold' Aaron takes a deep dive into one of the most revolutionary, progressive and bloody historical periods to feature in our 'castle sim' series, the famous 'The Warring States of China'. This fascinating time of interstate conflict and civil unrest was the foundation for the Qin Dynasty! How exactly did Qin Shi Huang actually become the ruler of this Dynasty and with it the first Emperor of China? Find out as we provide the historical context to your digital sieges.



If you enjoyed the video and even learnt something from this somewhat unqualified history teacher, then be sure to check our our History Behind Stronghold feature on the legendary Thuc Phan. In our previous episode Aaron takes you through the mythical origins of Vietnam, as well as the state of play for when you join Thuc Phan in the first part of our historical campaign. Learn about the heroes of Vietnamese legend including Lac Long Quan, Au Com and their tragic romance as the ancestors of modern Vietnam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmTCmNtDrlY
Make you're also subscribed to Firefly Studios on YouTube for future episodes, as we investigate amazing events that laid the groundwork for the epic battles and sieges you will be orchestrating in Stronghold: Warlords next year. Once complete History Behind Stronghold will cover the incredibly vast histories of the four different countries you will be able to play as in the final game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJVcnVYpPQw
We have just revealed the first set of units for Stronghold: Warlords, our upcoming ‘castle sim’ RTS. With a range of unique troops types from Mongolia, Japan, Vietnam and China, this new trailer focuses on units from the latter two regions. With their own strengths, counters, special abilities and tactics players will need to combine them all to succeed in the game’s 24 mission campaign and online multiplayer.



As the first entry in our long-running series to venture eastward, Stronghold: Warlords features a suitably fresh roster of units to command. Gunpowder-wielding fire lancers, disciplined samurai, imperial warriors, tribal fighters and more represent the four cultures at play, with a few Stronghold classics also making the final cut of 16 units. Units from different cultures have been a feature of the series since the release of the original Stronghold: Crusader in 2002 and we intend to build on this in Warlords! With abilities ranging from morale boosting area of effect perks to arrow volleys and precision strikes, the intention is to make each part of your attacking siege army feel like a unique threat that could switch tactics at any time.



As players progress through the main single player campaign new units will become available as players journey across the Asian content to different regions and historical epochs. Outside of units Warlords will also feature experience a single player campaign split across four regions, unique warlord characters from a period of 1500 years and siege weapons made possible only through the discovery of gunpowder.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHYR9BcFHd0
This month Firefly Studios flew across the globe! Taking the first playable alpha demo of Stronghold: Warlords to fans at Tokyo Game Show, we were able to showcase our brand new East Asian 'castle sim' full of exploding fire oxen, gunpowder traps and the game-changing warlords system.



After four days of Stronghold vets and strategy newcomers alike getting their first hands-on taste of our new strategy-simulation RTS, the pair then travelled across Japan to the city of Nagoya for location shooting and research. Soaking in the amazing feudal history, filming these medieval monoliths and documenting the features and layouts of incredible castles such as Gifu and Kiyosu, their mission was to provide first hand insight into our move east for Stronghold fans everywhere.



So sit back, relax and let Nick walk you through a brief account of the fascinating histories of Japan, China, Mongolia and Vietnam as we prepare to recreate some of the most incredible castles, battles and warlords of our time!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OQbIjzxiGU
Our first ever playable demo of Stronghold: Warlords made it across the world this month as we flew from Gamescom to PAX West, finally letting fans get their first hands-on experience with the game courtesy of our hardworking developers. Stronghold players of all ages and experience levels gathered at our booths to try out the new Warlords system, gunpowder-fuelled siege equipment, East Asian units and devious castle traps!



Why only allow the lucky few who were fortunate enough to be at these massive shows the chance to see our brand new Stronghold in action? Good question! Off the back of the warm player reception we received in both Cologne and Seattle we thought it would be a great idea to let the entire Stronghold community feast their eyes on the Warlords System and our Alpha demo in action!



In the demo Firefly's very own Aaron Hayden walks us through the titular Warlords System, also showcasing new buildings, units, siege equipment and castle defences as we present the first 'vertical slice' demo of Stronghold: Warlords.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/