Games PC LORDS III User Manual
Table of Contents
Part I: Getting Started
................................................................
2
Book I: Of the World and Its Denizens............................................................................2
Book II: Of Succor in Times of Need..............................................................................2
Book III: Herein You Create a Noble..............................................................................2
Book IV: Of the Scenarios You Can Play..........................................................................3
Part II: The Battle Level
...............................................................
4
Book I: On the Main Window.......................................................................................4
Book II: Herein the Army Display is Revealed...................................................................5
Book III: Of the Mini-Map and Its Uses............................................................................5
Book IV: Valiant Actions and How They Are Performed........................................................5
Book V: Knights and the Companies Under Their Command.................................................6
Book VI: The Soldiers of the Realms.............................................................................7
Book VII: How a Noble Moves and Faces His Units............................................................15
Book VIII: The Wise Noble Organizes His Men..................................................................16
Book IX: On the Abilities of Soldiers............................................................................18
Book X: Wherein Men are Set to Battle Each Other...........................................................18
Book XI: How a Knight Shall Lead His Men.....................................................................19
Book XII: On the Breaching of Walls and Fortifications......................................................19
Book XIII: On Taking a Castle.....................................................................................21
Book XIV: On Defending Castles................................................................................21
Book XV: The Perils and Rewards of Doing Battle.............................................................22
Part III: Strategic Level
..............................................................
23
Book I: On the Interface..........................................................................................23
Book II: On Vassals and Their Duties............................................................................25
Book III: Regarding the Use of Armies..........................................................................30
Book IV: On the Feeding and Care of Armies...................................................................31
Book V: Herein Are Explained Mercenaries....................................................................32
Book VI: How Castles are Constructed and Repaired.........................................................34
Book VII: On Garrisons............................................................................................35
Part IV: Diplomacy
..................................................................
35
Book I: Wherein the Ratings are Explained....................................................................36
Book II: On War, Peace, Alliance, and Gifts...................................................................37
Book III: Regarding the Attitudes of Nobles....................................................................38
Part V: Multiplayer
.................................................................
38
Book I: Setting Up a LAN Game..................................................................................38
Book II: Setting Up an Internet Game..........................................................................39
Book III: Wherein In-Game Controls are Described...........................................................39
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Part I: Getting Started
G
reetings, noble lord. Herein begins a chronicle for deeds of arms and acts of chivalry with
full and proper instruction in the arts of war and the training proper to a prince for the
good governance of his lands. May the wise prince profit well from this so that he shall be
proclaimed as one of the Lords of the Realm!
BBooookk II:: OOff tthhee WWoorrlldd aanndd IIttss DDeenniizzeennss
As a newcomer to the Realm, you will encounter many new and wondrous things. As you explore
your surroundings and build your kingdom, you should keep the following in mind:
The World Is Split in Two (or Three). Action in Lords III takes place primarily on two lev-
els: the Battle Level and the Strategic Level. On the Battle Level, you fight. On the
Strategic Level, you move armies, grow food, earn money and manage your kingdom.
There is also a Political Level. Here, you interact with other lords and review your ratings.
Time Never Stops. Time continues to pass on all levels no matter which level you are cur-
rently visiting. So, if you are fighting on the Battle Level, resources continue to be gathered and armies continue to march on the Strategic Level. Likewise, while you are moving
armies and overseeing your lands on the Strategic Level, your armies keep fighting on the
Battle Level. Visiting the Political Level doesn't stop time either: activities on the Strategic
Level and Battle Level continue.
You might find that your attention becomes divided. Not only do you have to keep track of
the Battle, Strategic and Political levels, you also may find yourself fighting more than one
battle at a time. Luckily, you are not alone.
Vassals Live to Serve You. Vassals take care of the details so you can keep your mind
focused on strategy. The four types of vassals are Knights, Burghers, Serfs and Clergy.
Knights act as generals on the Battle Level when you are not there to command the battle
yourself. On the Strategic Level, Serfs grow food, Burghers earn crowns and the Clergy see
to the health and well-being of your people. With willing vassals at your disposal, you can
rest assured that you will never have to address little, everyday details.
BBooookk IIII:: OOff SSuuccccoorr iinn TTiimmeess ooff NNeeeedd
Use the Help command ("?" on the interface) for assistance while playing the game. Left-click this
button and then select an item on screen to view additional information about that item.
BBooookk IIIIII:: HHeerreeiinn YYoouu CCrreeaattee aa NNoobbllee
When you start Lords III, you will be taken to the Scenario screen. Before playing a scenario, you
must first select a Noble. You can use the default noble provided, or you can create a noble of
your own by selecting the Create Noble button. On the Noble Creation screen, provide a name
for your noble and adjust the portrait and heraldry to your liking. When you are ready, save your
noble and you will be returned to the Scenario screen. Each Noble tracks its own campaign progression and saved games.
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BBooookk IIVV:: OOff tthhee SScceennaarriiooss YYoouu CCaann PPllaayy
In single player mode, Lords III is organized into Campaigns and Battles. Campaigns - Irish,
English, French, and German - are linked scenarios that recreate major events in each kingdom's
history. The first time through, the scenarios in a campaign must be played in order; every time
you win a scenario, the next one in the campaign is unlocked. Once you have unlocked a scenario,
you can play it without going through the campaign progression.
Battle scenarios are not locked and are played entirely on the Battle Level of the game. Resource
management, strategic movement, and politics are not used in battle games. These scenarios
give you the chance to test your generalship on the field of combat.
Conquest scenarios include all aspects of Lords III - Battle Level, Strategic Level, and Political
Level. In these games you must build a realm using all your skills. Conquest scenarios are listed
under the various campaigns.
The Scenario screen provides a description of each scenario. The shields indicate the number of
noble houses in the scenario. Selecting a shield replaces it with your heraldry and sets your starting position. The Victory Conditions tab displays the victory conditions for the position. The Start
Game button launches the scenario with the settings you have chosen. Scenarios unlocked using
one Noble are not unlocked for others.
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The Scenario Selection Screen
Part II: The Battle Level
K
ingdoms are won and lost on the battlefield, and the ability to lead your troops successfully is
a boon to any leader. Heed the following advice and you may become the stuff of legends.
Battles take place on the Battle Level screen, which is made up of the Main Window, the Army
Display, the Information Panel, the Action Buttons, and the Mini-Map.
BBooookk II:: OOnn tthhee MMaaiinn WWiinnddooww
You view the battlefield and the companies on it in the Main Window. You can change the location viewed by moving the cursor to the edge of the screen, causing the map to scroll in that
direction. The mouse wheel can be used to zoom in and out. Holding down the “Z” key while
moving the mouse allows you to rotate and tilt your view.
Your companies are composed of individual soldiers led by a Knight. You can select and give
orders to companies using the cursor or through keyboard shortcuts. Companies function as
groups, so selecting an individual soldier automatically selects all the soldiers, including the
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The Battle Level Screen
knight, of that company. You can also select multiple companies by lassoing them in this view.
When a company is selected, the base of every soldier in the company is highlighted.
BBooookk IIII:: HHeerreeiinn tthhee AArrmmyy DDiissppllaayy iiss RReevveeaalleedd
The Army Display gives you a quick look at all the companies of your army. Each is represented
by an icon that shows its troop type. Under each icon is a bar that shows the current health of
the company, measured in men lost. The background color of your company icon indicates its current morale state. The color will shift from green to yellow to orange and into red as a company's
morale shifts from good to shaken to broken. Other symbols over the company icon show when it
is in combat, taking missile fire, ordered to hold, or routing.
You can select companies directly from the Army Display, either singly or in groups by shift-selecting them. When a company is selected, its icon is highlighted. To select multiple companies via
the Army Display, hold down the Shift key while left-clicking the company icons you wish to
select. A selected company or groups of selected companies can be assigned a quick selection "hot
key" by pressing Ctrl + a number key (0-9). Thereafter that group is instantly selected whenever
the chosen number key is pressed.
Use the buttons on the left of the display to switch between your companies and your siege
equipment. Siege equipment only appears on maps with fortifications (castles, fiefs, and cities);
otherwise, your knights keep their siege trains safely away from the battlefield. Siege equipment
can be selected and controlled like companies.
When a company or siege weapon is selected, the Information Window shows the name and pictures of the company's commander and the soldier type. Right-clicking the soldier picture
replaces the commander's portrait with information on Offense, Defense, Morale, and Health for
the company. Color dots indicate the relative effectiveness in each category, from green (Strong)
to red (Weak) updating as the company’s fortunes change. A star indicates that rating is affected
by a Special Ability. The display is closed by right-clicking the soldier portrait.
BBooookk IIIIII:: OOff tthhee MMiinnii-MMaapp aanndd IIttss UUsseess
The Mini-Map shows the entire field of battle: the location of friendly and enemy companies, castles, rivers, and water. Selected friendly units can be given move orders on the Mini-Map. Rightclick the Mini-Map at the location you wish the units to move to. Left-clicking any point on the
Mini-Map changes your view in the Main Window to the selected location.
Adjacent to the Mini-Map are the Game Options and Go to Strategic Level/Victory Conditions buttons. The Game Options button allows you to save/load games, exit to the main menu, quit, and
adjust some of the game options. In single player mode, the game is paused while the Game
Options are open. The Go to Strategic Level button is only available in conquest scenarios. In
Battle Scenarios it is replaced by the Victory Conditions button. This lists the victory conditions
that must be satisfied for the battle. The status of each victory condition is also listed.
BBooookk IIVV:: VVaalliiaanntt AAccttiioonnss aanndd HHooww TThheeyy AArree PPeerrffoorrmmeedd
Companies and siege equipment can perform a variety of orders. You can issue orders by using
the Order Buttons or directly in the interface. Orders can only be given to a selected company,
and some orders are only available to certain companies. When mixed company types are selected, orders available to some but not to all selected companies (such as Fire) cannot be given.
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When a company is selected, the cursor changes when it is over an appropriate target to indicate
what command will be given.
Hand Move
Sword Attack
Glowing Sword In Charge Range
Arrow Missile Fire
Ladder Scale Wall
Siege Tower Enter Siege Tower/Move to Wall
Door Enter Castle Structure
Boulder Attack Castle (Siege Engines)
BBooookk VV:: KKnniigghhttss aanndd tthhee CCoommppaanniieess UUnnddeerr TThheeiirr CCoommmmaanndd
Armies on the Battle Level are divided into Companies composed of Soldiers under the command
of a Company Leader.
Soldiers and Companies
A soldier is a fighting man, grouped with others of identical abilities into companies. Soldiers
come in a number of varieties, including melee soldiers, archers and mounted soldiers. While soldiers follow the orders of their company, each one fights and dies as an individual. Companies
range in size from as few as ten soldiers to as many as fifty, and companies can be grouped
together to form armies. Morale is determined on a company, rather than an individual, basis.
Company Leaders
A company always has a leader. He is a powerful soldier, often with special abilities. You can
order a company leader to fight at the front or the rear of their company. You should be careful
with the company leader, though, since his loss has a strong negative impact on a company's
morale. Types of company leaders include Knights, Garrison Captains and Mercenary Captains. All
three perform the same function for their companies on the battle level.
Knights
Most of your companies are led by knights. Strong combatants, they carry the best arms
and armor. Depending on their company, knights may or may not be mounted on a majestic
steed. Each knight is different and often has Special Abilities that enhance the performance of his company in battle. Knights come in a number of strengths, including Lesser
Knights, Common Knights, Regional Knights and Kingdom Knights.
Lesser Knights are the weakest available knights, though still as tough as the most elite
soldier in the field. Lesser knights may have a special ability but are just as likely to have
offsetting penalties.
Common Knights are tough combatants, able to defend themselves against multiple common soldiers and survive. They may have multiple special abilities.
Regional Knights are powerful fighters. They fight better and can endure more punishment than any common soldier. They always have multiple special abilities and rarely have
any penalties.
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Kingdom Knights are amongst the best warriors of their day with more offensive ability and
endurance than Regional knights. They typically have multiple special abilities.
Champions (dressed in silver) are heroes in battle, performing deeds of valor that belittle
those of normal men and go down in history.
Grand Champions (armored in gold) are peers, the best of the best. They are the stuff of
legends.
Garrison Captains are better fighters than typical Swordsman, but nowhere in the league
of a knight. They are the strongest soldiers in a castle or city garrison.
Mercenary Captains are seasoned warriors, who, like knights, come in four levels of
power: Irregular, Regular, Veteran and Elite. In combat, a Mercenary Captain fights as well
as a Knight one level below them on the power scale. A regular Mercenary Captain, for
example, is as good a fighter as a Lesser Knight.
BBooookk VVII:: TThhee SSoollddiieerrss ooff tthhee RReeaallmmss
There are a wide variety of soldiers available to you. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of
each is vital in achieving victory on the battlefield Each soldier type has unique skills, including
offensive and defensive capabilities, mobility on the battlefield, morale strength and special abilities. Although lords of different nationalities may favor some soldier types more than others, any
type of soldier could be encountered on the battlefield.
Troops fall into two basic groups: melee and missile. Melee troops are the core of any army. By
engaging the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, they take ground, storm castles, and break the
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enemy. Missile troops - archers and crossbowmen - are an important adjunct to any army. They
have the ability to attack the enemy at a distance and can weaken powerful enemy companies
before they engage in hand-to-hand combat with your melee troops.
Soldier types are:
Peasants. Peasants are lightly armed, disposable melee troops that win by attacking en
masse and overwhelming the enemy. Their high casualty rates are offset by the ease with
which they are replaced between battles, relative to better trained soldiers. Peasants
wear little to no armor, carry farm implements or homemade weapons and would rather be
anywhere than in the midst of battle, a feeling reflected by their low morale. Peasants
can only perform the most rudimentary of formations.
Offense Melee Dismal
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense Low
Morale Dismal
Mobility Fast
Formations Column
Line
Skirmish
Special Abilities None
Footmen. The footman is the basic untrained soldier that forms the backbone of an army's
melee forces. Footmen are not well equipped, typically having only quilted or leather armor
and perhaps a helm. They favor crushing weapons that give them an advantage over more
heavily armored soldiers. They fight in basic formations that reflect their lack of training.
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Offense Melee Good
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense Low
Morale Average
Mobility Average
Formations Column
Line
Skirmish
Special Abilities Armor Piercing
Ranged Defense
Warriors. Fierce warriors are drawn from rural or barbarian tribes. They charge into bat-
tle with gusto, wielding large two-handed battle axes and wearing light armor that does
not slow their advance. Their hard-hitting weapons are good for attack. They know few
formations. Their morale is nearly unshakable, preferring to die to the man rather than
flee the battlefield.
Offense Melee Average
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense Dismal
Morale High
Mobility Average
Formations Column
Line
Skirmish
Special Abilities Counter Strike
Mobile
Polearmsmen. Polearmsmen are the medieval army's answer to enemy cavalry. Though
lightly armored, Polearmsmen can be devastating on the attack, especially while holding
their formation. Polearmsmen move quickly over most types of terrain. Most cavalry steer
clear of Polearmsmen, not wishing to impale their mounts in a foolish charge against such
an enemy. Enemy archers are the bane of Polearmsmen, against whose projectiles they
have little to no defense.
Offense Melee Average
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense Low
Morale Average
Mobility Slow
Formations Column
Line
Phalanx
Schiltrom
Special Abilities First Strike
Swordsmen. Swordsmen are heavy infantry. Better equipped than footmen, they can
bring their shields to bear to defend against volleys of arrows and bolts, or to form walls to
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repel charges. Though their heavier armor makes them slow afoot, they are a force to be
reckoned with.
Offense Melee Average
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense High
Morale High
Mobility Very Slow
Formations Column
Line
Shield Wall
Skirmish
Special Abilities Heavy Armor
Ranged Defense
Nobles. Nobles are elite soldiers, drawn from wealthy landholders in times of war. They
are highly trained in combat, wear only the best armor and carry heavy polearms that deal
destructive blows. Unfortunately, nobles are few in number and are expensive to train and
to replace. They should be used sparingly on the battlefield, usually to support an offensive thrust that must succeed. They are far too valuable to use as
throwaway troops.
Offense Melee Exceptional
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense Exceptional
Morale Exceptional
Mobility Very Slow
Formations Column
Line
Schiltrom
Phalanx
Special Abilities Heavy Armor
Armor Piercing
First Strike
Crossbowmen. Crossbowmen are the untrained troops that make up
the bulk of many an army's ranged attack. Heavy crossbows, while
slow to reload, can punch through even the heaviest of armor. While
they wear heavier armor than bowmen, they are similarly at the
mercy of the enemy should they be unfortunate enough to get
involved in melee combat. Crossbowmen can deploy mantlets, large
shields that provide them with extra protection from ranged attacks
at the expense of their mobility.
Offense Melee Low
Offense Ranged Low
Defense Dismal
Morale Dismal
Mobility Slow
Formations Line
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Column
Mantlet
Skirmish
Special Abilities Armor Piercing
Bowmen. Bowmen, unlike their crossbow wielding counterparts, are trained professionals
who have grown up firing the bow and training to use it in formations. Bowmen wear little
armor, preferring to stay light and mobile. When forced to engage in melee combat, they
drop their bows and pull out swords. Still, they are no match for trained men at arms or
cavalry and try to avoid direct engagements whenever possible, often firing from behind
the protection of a line of melee units. When holding position, Bowmen often plant stakes
in the ground to dissuade enemy cavalry from charging.
Offense Melee Dismal
Offense Ranged Average
Defense Dismal
Morale Average
Mobility Average
Formations Line
Column
Skirmish
Stakes
Special Abilities Flame Arrows
Light Cavalry. Light Cavalry are drawn from your poorer vassals. They own mounts and have
light but effective weapons and armor. Though they have not been trained as soldiers, a lifetime of riding allows them to use their speed and maneuverability to their advantage. Light
Cavalry are the ultimate skirmishers, and no other soldier moves faster. They can engage an
enemy, do some damage and then move quickly away before they are overwhelmed.
Offense Melee Low
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense Low
Morale Low
Mobility Exceptional
Formations Line
Column
Skirmish
Special Abilities Mobile
Heavy Cavalry. The heavy cavalry is made up of wealthy vassals, their associates and will-
ing family members. To secure their services, the knight often provides horses, armor and
weapons to these fighting men. Dressed in full chain hauberks and armed with war hammers for close combat, heavy cavalry is perfect for flanking an unwary enemy or charging
into lightly armed peasants, archers or soldiers. Heavy cavalry is most wary of formations
of Polearmsmen, who set their long weapons against its charge.
Offense Melee High
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense High
Morale High
Mobility Very Fast
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Formations Line
Column
Skirmish
Special Abilities Heavy Armor
Armor Piercing
Welsh Longbowmen (England). Practitioners of the longbow spend years learning their
craft, and no place has the art of the bow been taken to greater heights than in Wales. It
is the Welsh who are credited with first using the longbow in war and later perfecting the
tactics. Welsh longbowmen are often found amongst the wealthiest of lords in England or
as highly paid mercenary bands in other countries. They can shoot with more deadly power
than any other archers of their time.
Offense Melee Low
Offense Ranged Exceptional
Defense Dismal
Morale Average
Mobility Average
Formations Line
Column
Skirmish
Stakes
Special Abilities Armor Piercing
Flame Arrows
Chevaliers (France). The flower of French chivalry, Chevaliers charge headlong into battle
on their steeds with the best arms and armor their noble wealth can provide. They attack
and defend better than typical heavy cavalry soldiers. A charge of chevaliers is a fearsome
thing to behold, even for soldiers in formations designed to defeat cavalry.
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Offense Melee High
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense Exceptional
Morale Exceptional
Mobility Very Fast
Formations Line
Column
Skirmish
Special Abilities Armor Piercing
Masterpiece Armor
Highlanders (Scotland). The fierce highlanders of Scotland are rugged warriors, famous for
their large two-handed swords called claymores. Highlanders are experts in traveling
quickly over rough terrain and making swift hit and run strikes. Possessed of nearly unshakable morale, Highlanders use their claymores to launch devastating attacks on much larger
enemy formations.
Offense Melee High
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense Average
Morale Exceptional
Mobility Fast
Formations Columns
Line
Skirmish
Special Abilities Counter Strike
Mobile
Gallowglass (Ireland). Descended from fierce Viking stock, the typical Gallowglass stands
more than a head taller than most they face on the battlefields of England, Ireland and
Scotland. Known to be fearless and ruthless, they carry huge battle axes called sparths and
charge into battle shouting warcries. Gallowglass are most often found in the employ of a
powerful Irish king or chieftain, or working as mercenaries in the Scottish highlands.
Offense Melee Good
Offense Ranged N/A
Defense Good
Morale High
Mobility Average
Formations Column
Line
Skirmish
Special Abilities Armor Piercing
Counter Strike
Heavy Armor
Teutonic Knights (N. Germany). Modeled after the Templars and the Hospitaliers, this
German order of knighthood consists of a mix of fighting men and priests. Well-funded and
very professional, the Teutonic Knights are also well versed in the healing arts, and suffer
far less from the pitfalls of a campaign.
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