Stronghold (1993 video game)
A D&D city-building RTS with neighborhood defense.
In 1993, Stormfront Studios developed and SSI published *Stronghold*, a real-time strategy game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe that blends city-building with tactical defense. Players manage resources to construct a town composed of distinct neighborhoods, each featuring its own architectural style. When the city is attacked, residents and craftspeople from these neighborhoods can be called upon to defend any section under siege. A variety of neighborhood leaders are available, including Mages, Clerics, Thieves, Fighters, Elves (who combine fighter and mage traits), Dwarves (sturdy fighters skilled at mining), and Halflings (capable farmers with some thief abilities). For instance, a spawned Elf might be used to erect a building on a plot or trained to gain levels, eventually leading an army overland to defeat a neighboring monster. Alternatively, a player can focus solely on urban development and win that way. The game’s maps are built from triangular wireframe tiles, with each tile’s color indicating terrain—water, plains, mountains, or hills—and a random map generator is included.
Reviewing *Dungeons & Dragons Stronghold* in *White Wolf #39* (1994), James Trunzo gave it a “Very Good” rating, noting that the game is lengthy and can become tedious, especially early on when combat is years away. He observed that players must enjoy the mundane but crucial aspects of city management, and suggested setting the countryside to “hostile” rather than “peaceful” for more action. GameSpy reported that while cities could quickly become difficult to manage, devoted fans considered it one of the most addictive management simulations they had ever played.
- publisher
- SSI
- developer
- Stormfront Studios
- release_year
- 1993
- genre
- City-building real-time strategy
- setting
- Dungeons & Dragons
- notable_reviewer
- James Trunzo (White Wolf #39, 1994)
Lore & Background
In Stronghold, players balance resources to build a town with unique neighborhoods, each with its own architecture. Residents and craftspeople can be summoned to defend any part of the city under attack. Players choose from neighborhood leaders including Mages, Clerics, Thieves, Fighters, Elves (fighters and mages), Dwarves (stout fighters and miners), and Halflings (farmers with thief abilities).
Reader's Guide
Stronghold offers multiple paths to victory: players can spawn an Elf to build a building or focus on training to level up characters, amass an army, and march overland to defeat a neighboring monster. Alternatively, a player can focus entirely on city development and win that way. Maps are constructed from triangular wireframe colored tiles, with colors designating terrain types—water, plains, mountains, and hills—and include a random map generator. James Trunzo noted the game is long and can grow tedious, especially early on when combat is years away, and recommended setting the countryside to 'hostile' for more action. According to GameSpy, cities could become very difficult to manage, but fans found it one of the most addictive management simulations they had ever played.
Did You Know?
- The game uses triangular wireframe colored tiles to designate terrain types: water, plains, mountains, and hills.
- Players can choose from seven neighborhood leaders: Mages, Clerics, Thieves, Fighters, Elves, Dwarves, and Halflings.
- James Trunzo reviewed the game in White Wolf #39 (1994), giving it a final evaluation of 'Very Good'.
- GameSpy reported that fans swore the game was one of the most addictive management simulations they had ever played.
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