Disciples: Sacred Lands is a turn-based PC strategy game published by Strategy First in 1999. Set in a fantasy world known as the Sacred Lands, it was a battle for dominance between four races of the world of Nevendaar: The Empire (human

Human

Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...

s), the Mountain Clans (dwarves) the Legions of the Damned (demon

Demon

call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...

s), and the Undead Hordes (undead

Undead

Undead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...

).

Gameplay

Gameplay consisted of three major components: The Capital City, where the player recruited units, constructed buildings, and researched spells, The Adventure Map, where the player led Heroes and their parties to explore the land, and the Battle Screen, where battles were fought whenever hostile parties met on the adventure map.

The game have many similarities between Heroes of Might And Magic series; like having a leader, creature slots, city improvements, adventure map with resources and hostile creatures along with the turn-based gameplay.

Key characteristics of Disciples:

• Small squads with Experience: As opposed to the rival Heroes of Might and Magic
  Heroes of Might and Magic
  Heroes of Might and Magic is a series of video games originally created and developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing. As part of the Might and Magic franchise, the series changed ownership when NWC was acquired by 3DO and again when 3DO closed down and sold the rights to Ubisoft...
  
  franchise, armies in Disciples were not composed of 'stacks' but of small groups of individual units which could only be recruited at the lowest level and would upgrade as they gained experience.
• Fixed battle positions: The battles were not fought on a 'map' where units could move about. They had specific stations, but their representation on a plane was purely symbolic, and they could attack any enemy targets (although there were restrictions about ranks and melee attacks), similar to the battle system in tactical RPGs
  Tactical role-playing game
  A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
  
  .
• Distinctive Art style: The graphics and art in Disciples, both computer and hand-drawn, have always had a very distinctive style to them, with very dark browns and sombre colours, baroque details, and skewed proportions. The overall atmosphere of the game is greatly enhanced by the characteristic graphics.

Disciples: Sacred Lands has a sequel with similar gameplay elements, Disciples II: Dark Prophecy

Disciples II: Dark Prophecy

Disciples II: Dark Prophecy is a PC game by Strategy First that was released on January 24, 2002. The game is the sequel to the 1999 game Disciples: Sacred Lands, and has become significantly more successful in terms of both sales and popularity than its predecessor...

.

Plot

From the product description on Amazon:

It is now the dawn of a new age. The most momentous of wars has begun in the heart of the Sacred Lands. Four races - the Empire, the Mountain Clans, the Undead Hordes, and the Legions of the Damned - stand ready for battle as they fight for the survival and dominance of their war-torn world and the gods they have long believed in. The mighty lords watch silently as their disciples prepare for the daunting tasks ahead. Each warrior must engage in a struggle of swordplay, sorcery, and uncommon courage in order to complete his or her sacred quests. The Empire fight to secure their people's future. The Mountain Clans search to regain their rune knowledge. The Undead Hordes seek revenge for their accursed god. And the Legions of the Damned battle to resurrect their fallen angel's soul.

It is a struggle of desperation. Every stroke of a sword, each blast of fiery magic, must be endured beyond exhaustion, for once the clouds of destruction clear, lands will have been transformed, new armies will have been forged, and the cheers of the liberated will resound throughout the land. Only one race shall claim victory. Only the chosen will survive.

External links

• Strategy First official website