Battles of Prince of Persia Q&A @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on November 17, 2005

News: A "Factions" Q&A from the card-based tactical strategy game.

While the PSP is getting a fairly straight port of Warrior Within in the form of PoP: Revelations, the DS is getting something else entirely. Battles of Prince of Persia will be a card-based strategy game that bridges the storylines of Sands of Time and Warrior Within.

The developers at Ubisoft have passed along this Q&A on the factions of the game and the "Generals" system to get everybody started.

Battles of Prince of Persia ships to stores on December 6.

How many different armies are there in the game?
There are 3 different factions (Daevan, Persian, Indian) in Battles of Prince of Persia and each faction has 3 different Generals (total of 9). This is very interesting for the player since each of the factions not only have their own characteristics and gameplay but also each Generals.

What is each of their specificities?
The Daevans are the most aggressive of the 3 factions, given that they are especially strong in close-combat. The Persians are the most mobile as they possess the most cavalry units. The Indians are versatile but have a larger number of weaker units. Depending on how you like to play your game, you can choose the one who fits the best.

Do you have to apply a different strategy whether you play with a different army?
It is important to note that while different unit types create preferences for certain tactics, the card selection a player chooses to put into a deck greatly affects a given army's strategy. Faction specific cards are heavily influenced by the faction's background, i.e. the Daevans have cards that do damage directly to other units, while the Persians have cards that affect combat results, and finally the Indians prefer to augment their larger number of weaker units. So not only you have some specific faction properties, you also have this unique card system, where you can change the pace of the round by editing your own deck. This was something crucial for us, and we thought that cards where very interesting for customization. Also, you can see how trades between players will be so much fun...

How many different soldiers (or units) can an army count?
Each faction possesses 7 different unit, or troop, types. From archers to cavalry, soldiers to catapults, the options on the field open up. Having many types of units is great, but don't forget the faction's strength, which play an important role in your field strategy.

How can we upgrade them?
Upgrading for us was top priority. Some cards have an effect that can boost or reduce a unit's combat or movement (or both) effectiveness. The kinds of unit upgrades available depends entirely on the cards that a player chooses to include in his or her deck. As you can see, with over 200 cards, no strategy is alike. This is very visible in multiplayer, where players go against each others, using their decks they built.
Also, upgrading a unit's movement for example is great for a specific situation but not as great in already close range, where boosting attack power or evasion would be wiser.

Are there some external events that can influence on your army?
Cards have varying levels of effect on units. Some cards are one time effects such as Perfect Assault (inflicts the most damage possible given the attacking unit's situation) to cards that have a more permanent effect such as Zeal which gives all surrounding units improved attack, defense and morale as long as the targeted unit is in the game. Choosing between such spells is totally up to the player, and/or the situation on the field. You can learn from other armies (computer controlled or human), and be detecting their strategies or way of playing, you can go for a shorter term boost or permanent but weaker effect.

How is the General?
The General is a unit, like any other, in a player's army and, as such, obeys all regular rules regarding movement, attack and status. They all possess their own special attack, depending on their current remaining health. Generals are very powerful on the field, but they require wise planning decisions, when it comes to move him around.

What can he do more than the other soldiers cannot?
They are very powerful... and for me, when you play against another player, they are what you are. They share their story with their armies, but they have their own personality, powers, looks etc. The General has special abilities that set it apart from regular units. A General has a command range that gives friendly units a bonus whenever they are in combat (whether attacking or attacked). Some cards can only be played with specific Generals in the battle. However, when a player loses a General his or hand size goes down and cards can no longer be played for their effects. Units around a General, when the General leaves the game, have reduced morale and combat effectiveness.