- Patrician 3
Infobox VG
title= Patrician III: Rise of the Hanse
caption=
developer=Ascaron
publisher= Encore
distributor=
designer=
series= Patrician
engine=
version=
released= flagicon|WorldOctober 24 ,2003
genre= RTS
modes= Single player /Multi-player
ratings=
platforms= Windows
media=CD (1)
requirements=Pentium 233 MHz CPU, 32 MB RAM, 4 MB GPU
input= Keyboard"Patrician 3" is the latest
computer game fromAscaron in their Patrician series. It is a game simulating trading, piracy, politics, and economy. The series was originally released in German, as "Patrizier" and "Patrizier 2". "Patrizier 2" had an add on release called "Patrizier 2 Gold Add On". "Patrician 3" is theinternational release in English of the combined "Patrizier 2" and its expansion. The game has an international group of followers and, even though the German version was released in2000 , and the English version in2003 , it is still a very much discussed and played game.etting
The game is set in the
Hanseatic League in the14th century . There are twenty four cities on a map of the Baltic andNorth Sea . Towns includeLuebeck ,Stockholm ,London , and others of the Hanseatic League.Gameplay
The game is a trading and economic
simulation . Goods or varying types are produced in thetown s, and may be sold in other towns on the game map which do not produce them. You start as a fledgling trader with one or twoship s of small size, a trade office in the town of your choosing, and somemoney .As you gain wealth and
reputation , you may be permitted to open additional trading offices, and can build larger and better armed ships. Industrial andagricultural businesses can be opened to supplyraw material s such asgrain ,timber ,pig iron , orwool and finished goods such aspottery ,iron goods,cloth , orbeer . There are a series of ranks which you can attain through wealth and popularity. These ranks are placed in order of increasing power. Shopkeeper, Trader, Merchant, Travelling Merchant, Councillor, Patrician, Lord Mayor, and Alderman.Competitors roam the seas, as do
pirate s. The method in which one must increase their rank is to increase their financial status and gain reputation. One can organize feasts, donate to the church, donate public buildings, and defend against attack. You can also turn to the dark side, engage in piracy, smuggle goods, and even attack towns, among other things, for cash and goods.If needed goods are not supplied to the cities, population and
market s decline. With adequate goods, the league thrives. The system becomes increasingly difficult to manage as it grows. From a starting population of a few tens of thousands, growth to many hundreds of thousands is possible. New cities may be founded, and socially as you advance you may become lordmayor of your town, in charge of its defense against pirates,marauder s of thecountryside , or the local Prince who may besiege and loot your city. Undertake missions as mayor, and you may ultimately become theAlderman , the leader of the Hanseatic League. Trade with theMediterranean cities (which must be discovered) and also with American tribes is possible as well, for potentially great profits.The game may be played either as solo player or in a
multiplayer game modes with various difficulty settings; a map editor permits addition of different cities.Critical reception
The game received generally favorable reviews from critics. On the review aggregator
Game Rankings , the game had an average score of 72% based on 12 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/915052.asp |title=Patrician III Reviews |accessdate=2008-02-21 |publisher=Game Rankings ] OnMetacritic , the game had an average score of 75 out of 100, based on 8 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/patrician3 |title=Patrician III (pc: 2003): Reviews |accessdate=2008-02-21 |publisher=Metacritic ]References
External links
* [http://www.Ascaron.com Publishers] website
Fan sites
* [http://www.drunkenscotsmen.com/TSR/ The Patrician 3 forum] in the Tavern Side Room
* [http://www.patrizierforum.de Patrizier II] German forum
* [http://www.Ascaron.com The developers] official German and English forums
* [http://patrician3.free.fr Les Patriciens 3] a French fan site
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