**Kingdoms of Germany - Play Guide**

**Bug Note:** If enemy runs out of field units, game appears to freeze. DO NOT RESET - it can take 30s to 5min to resolve. Reloading from save fixes crashed stats.

**Setup Tips:**
- Choose Normal or Easy (Medium is very hard)
- Turn off catapult sequence (unnecessary)
- Place castle manually in top right corner for easiest start

**Main Interface Icons:**
- Legion Flag = Army command mode
- Question Mark = Inspect areas, improve land, buy local troops
- Three Stacks = Mineral mode (hover for deposits)
- Coloured Bars = Food/Wood/Stone/Iron (click top=buy, bottom=sell)
- Shield = General stats + Load/Save
- Money Counter = Gold amount

**Food Mode:** Appears each turn. Wheat icon = buy field (10G). Wheat+figures = transfer stocks (free).

**Minerals Mode:** 5G to survey any area. After 4 failed attempts = empty. Mountains only. Exhausted mines can be resurveyed.

**Unit Costs:**
Swordsman: 1G
Archer: 3G + 1W (2 inaccurate arrows/turn)
Crossbow: 2G + 1W (1 accurate bolt/turn)
Pikeman: 2G + 1W (good defence, bad attack)
Knight: 6G + 1W (good all-round, 2 hits to kill)
Mounted Knight: 7G + 1W + 1iron (strong except mountains)
Champion: 12G + 1W + 1iron (best except grassland)
Catapult: 18G + 5W + 1iron (for castles)

**Early Game Strategy:**
- Send 10 archers/crossbow + 20 soldiers to grab high-value lands
- Local areas have only 10-25 men each
- Buy as many troops as possible from main castle each turn
- Need at least 11 men for hire to create new Legion

**Defence Tips:**
- Block off corner of map with units in each area
- ANY holes = enemy pours through behind your lines
- 25 soldiers + 10-15 bowmen + 4 champions beats most early enemies
- Keep or small castle defended with 20 Swords + 20 Cross + 4 Knights = invincible

**Attack Tips:**
- Enemies pull back when attacked, then fill gaps behind you
- Use 4th Legion to push whole line simultaneously
- 6 Champions per Legion matches any early enemy force
- Buy 1-2 Knights per turn for gradual buildup

**Legions:** Can move 2 areas per turn (faster in green, slower in mountains). Green arrows = friendly, red = attack, yellow = insufficient movement.

(Source: Lemon Amiga)