This is a 6-scenario campaign about the Chou dynasty of China. Each scenario has a historically accurate pre-game instruction map, and custom AI's and PER'S. In the campaign, you lead the Chou from their beginning as a small frontier tribe, to their demise during the Warring States period. The Chou dynasty (1027-221 BC) lasted longer than any other Chinese dynasty. The Chou were a seminomadic people from the Wei Valley region in China. The founder of the dynasty was Wu Wang, "the Martial", who claimed that Shang dynasty misrule justified the transfer of the "mandate of heaven". Under the Chou, agriculture and commerce developed further, iron implements and metal coins came into use, cities grew up, and the philosophies of Confucius, Lao Zi, and Taoism flourished. The six scenarios are: 1. Uprising 2. Fall of the Shang Dynasty 3. River Raid 4. Onslaught 5. Confucius 6. The Age of Warring States
I found this to be an excellent campaign. The author obviously put a lot of time and effort into this work and it shows. The scenario introductions are well done with a rich history and background. Each of the 6 scenarios are introduced with a good looking map with pertains to the mission about to be played. There is a lot of variety contained in these 6 scenarios. There are a couple of conquest missions and a few in which artifacts need to be recovered. Tribute plays a major role in several of the missions. In the third scenario, River Raid, the map consists of several large and small land masses interconnected by numerous shallow passages. You must not only retrieve the two artifacts, but it is also in your interest to keep your ally, which you share a town with, in the game to help relieve pressure from your own forces. This map is really well done and it was my favorite scenario in the campaign. In another of the scenarios, I thought that I nearly had the game won. I was knocking at the gates of his city with a powerful army. I was looking for his government center which I had come to destroy. Suddenly, out of nowhere, came a massive force of cavalry charging through the gates. They wiped my precious army out in less than a minute. This campaign has many such surprises in store for the player. A word of caution is in order. Many of these missions are quite difficult. New players will need to brush up on their AOE skills. If you are up to a challenge, this campaign is sure to provide it to you. Highly recommended!