Matrix Games Forums

This week's Realm Spotlight is on blasted mines of Cragenwaste...


The blasted and inhospitable hills of Cragenwaste were once forgotten hinterlands of little interest to anyone. That is, until a few intrepid explorers discovered rich ore and copper deposits. The area was quickly flooded with ambitious settlers and prospectors, and came to be ruled by a merchant prince who purchased his noble title.

Today, ramshackle towns rise overnight it seems, where new mines are discovered, only to become ghost towns as the ore is mined out. There is little of beauty here. Entertainment is crude, and anyone can be bought for coin. Despite the transient lifestyle though, Cragenwaste has stepped up borderland security to safeguard its property. Trade has been brisk with Hadrigel, Dunmar and Boruvia. But Cragenwaste's exploitation of the lands has earned the enmity of Sonneneve and Brogen Hur, while the orcs of Khazoth view the miners as fresh meat.

Cragenwaste's flag...

Cragenwaste's Merchant Prince



When a Merchant Prince serves with distinction, he may become a Legendary Hero. The player may choose one additional ability for him permanently:

Caravaneer: For the remainder of your turn, all Units you control may travel over Road at 1/2 movement cost. For every Road hex thus traveled, that unit heals 5 Life.
Shrewd Negotiator: Skip your next turn. Choose one Human Unit your enemy controls. That Unit retreats from this battle.

Only one card may be played per turn.

Cragenwaste's Trafficker...



When a Trafficker serves with distinction, she may become a Legendary Hero. The player may choose one additional ability for her permanently:

Den of Thieves: Choose one Mercenary Unit you control and place it on any undefended Objective on the map.
Veneer of Legitimacy: For the remainder of your turn, all of your units gain Crusader and Guardian. For the remainder of battle, all of your Units suffer -1 Morale.

Only one card may be played per turn.

Cragenwaste's Mercenary Captain...

When a Mercenary Captain serves with distinction, she may become a Legendary Hero. The player may choose one additional ability for her permanently:

Sea Dog: Target one enemy Naval Unit. Gain control of that unit for the remainder of your turn.
Campaigner: All Units you control heal 10 Life for every Objective you currently control.

Only one card may be played per turn.

Nourel's Mine...miners are working overtime here.

Cragenwaste's Spell Tree focuses on exploitation of resources:

Level 1
Exploit Mines: Cast on any Wasteland you own. Add 10 to its Economy. Every 4 Turns, that province suffers a -1 to its Economy permanently until it reaches 0. Exploit Mines cannot be recast on the same province.

Level 2
Acid Rain: A black rain pours upon a forested province, damaging Economy by 1.
Mudslide: Attackers entering this province must immediately make a Disorder Check. Units with Mountaineer, Mountainhome, Phantom or Flying are immune.

Level 3
Alchemy: A mountain or wasteland province you own gains +2 Economy for 6 turns.
Lodestone: Target Hero may not move for 2 Turns.

Level 4
Cursed Land: Target Province is gripped by a dark force. Economy is reduced by 2 for 15 Turns.
Earthquake: All affected provinces in the area take 1 damage. Any Forts in those provinces take 20 damage.

Level 5
Blank Slate: Destroy all enchantments in target realm. (Does not affect Global Enchantments.)
Spoilage: Target enemy or neutral capitols. Any Trade Route shipment to that Capitol is spoiled an instead costs the receiving realm 25 Gold per turn.
Apocalyptic Tremors: Every turn, 10 random provinces across the map are struck by an Earthquake.

Cragenwaste's armed security detail...

Cragenwaste's Unit spotlight: the Ballista.

Ballistae are powerful ranged Siege units, capable of attacking forts directly or being used as ranged support on the defensive. When used defensively, Ballistae are best deployed behind fortified lines. They are vulnerable, particularly to direct infantry attacks and to magical Nature attacks.

When a Ballista receives its first combat Medal, it may gain one additional ability of your choice:

Defense +1
Move +1

When a Ballista receives its second combat Medal, it may gain a final ability of your choice:

Ranged Attack +1
Range +1