The symbol of power begins with construction of your castle and the means with which to defend it as you build your army strength up to competitive levels. Additionally, you'll need to keep tight control over marauding bandits, ruthless outlaws and enemy armies that can bring your kingdom quickly to ruin. Your starting responsibilities begin modestly but require close scrutiny in such topics as food availability (production), distribution of labor to farm lands that can accommodate grain, cows or sheep, taxation, conscription, population, mental outlook, immigration, revolts and so forth.

You begin at a very unpretentious level of existence and through detailed planning and careful monitoring attempt to build up your land holdings and realm of influence in all areas of medieval county life. The amount of detail and the level of player involvement in every aspect of the game is far too reaching to cover in this short review. The result is a game that, at the time of release in 1994, far exceeds the accomplishments of most (if not all) games in the genre. With that goal always in mind, the designers loaded the game (and game play) with an astonishing amount of innovative and player-controlled activity and fully integrated decision making power. The simple goal of the game is for you, a noble lord of Wales or England, to out-manage up to five opponents with enough skill to be crowned King of England. The detail, background and presentation of the game is so professional and well done that the obvious care and dedication of the designers and their staffs shines through from every aspect. The initial view of Lords of the Realm will cause any serious strategy war gamer to salivate and immediately withdraw from human contact (unless, of course, the person is a potential opponent).

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