Martial Kingdoms
A 2003 Taiwanese strategy game set in the wulin.
Martial Kingdoms (天下霸圖; tiānxià bà tú) is a strategy game for single players, released in 2003 by Taiwanese developer T-Time Technology. Its story draws from wuxia novels and takes place within the wulin, the community of martial artists, in 16th-century China. A sequel, Martial Kingdoms 2, followed in 2007.
In the game, the player selects one of twelve default martial arts organizations (with a thirteenth unlockable via a specific storyline) and aims to dominate the wulin by defeating all rivals. Each organization starts with at least one of twenty bases spread across a map of China. An organization is eliminated when it loses all its bases or its leader is killed.
To grow stronger, an organization can recruit and train new members, seize unoccupied or enemy bases to gain resources like gold, wood, and iron ore, and upgrade factories to produce better weapons, equipment, and medicine. It can also discover more powerful skills through study and battle experience, form alliances, and attract one of seven special characters. The player manages members by setting daily schedules that allocate time to tasks such as resource gathering, item crafting, or training, and by choosing which skills each member learns.
The story is set during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming dynasty. Deceived by the corrupt chancellor Yan Song, the emperor fears the martial artists' community might threaten his rule and sends secret police to provoke conflict among the organizations, hoping they will destroy each other. The player can choose from four storylines, each with different starting base distributions and some organizations appearing only in certain storylines. Alternatively, the player can create and control a new organization.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Martial Kingdoms
- Developer
- T-Time Technology
- Released
- 2003
- Genre
- Strategy
- Modes
- Single player
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The player chooses one from 12 default martial arts organisations (with a 13th unlockable via a specific storyline) to play as, and must conquer the others to rule the wulin and win the game. At the start of the game, each organisation controls at least one base out of 20, all located on a map of China. An organisation is conquered when it loses all its bases or when its leader is killed. There are different ways for an organisation to increase its strength and power, including recruiting and training new members, taking control of bases, upgrading factories, discovering skills, forming alliances, and attracting special characters.
Reader's Guide
Martial Kingdoms is a notable entry in Taiwanese strategy gaming, drawing on wuxia fiction and set during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming dynasty. Its gameplay emphasizes territorial conquest and resource management across 20 bases, with 12 default organisations and four storylines that alter starting conditions. The game allows players to create a new organisation, adding replayability. Its sequel, released in 2007, indicates continued interest in the franchise. The game's focus on managing member schedules and skill learning offers depth, while the plot involving the corrupt chancellor Yan Song and secret police provides a historical backdrop. Though not widely known outside Taiwan, it represents a niche blend of historical strategy and martial arts lore.
Did You Know?
- There are 20 bases and 12 default organisations in the game, with a 13th unlockable via a specific storyline.
- The player can attract seven special characters to join their organisation.
- The game has four storylines that affect which organisations appear and their starting bases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Martial Kingdoms (天下霸圖)?
It is a 2003 single-player strategy game made by T-Time Technology in Taiwan that drops you into the wulin — the martial-arts underworld — of 16th-century China. The core loop is picking a sect and grinding every rival faction out of a map of China until yours is the last one standing.
How many factions can you play as in Martial Kingdoms?
There are twelve default martial arts organizations to choose from at the start of a campaign. A thirteenth becomes available if you trigger a specific storyline, and each faction begins with at least one of the twenty bases scattered across the map.
What is the win condition in Martial Kingdoms?
You win by eliminating every other organization in the wulin so that your chosen sect holds undisputed dominance over all twenty bases. There is no co-op or diplomacy-based ending; the conflict resolves through direct strategic conquest.
Is Martial Kingdoms a multiplayer game?
No. T-Time Technology designed it strictly as a single-player experience, so all twelve (or thirteen) rival factions are AI-driven. You manage your sect's resources, expand its territory, and outmaneuver computer opponents turn by turn.
Did Martial Kingdoms get a sequel?
Yes, Martial Kingdoms 2 was released in 2007 and carries forward the same wulin-strategy formula. It extends the 16th-century wuxia setting and the sect-vs-sect domination gameplay established by the original.
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