Travian

Travian is a browser game and a massive multiplayer online game, developed and run by Travian Games. It combines structural elements with plunder and conquest. Thematically Travian oriented at the time of the Roman Empire. The player has the choice between three nations with different properties.

Travian is free in its original form for the player. Other functions can be enabled or " Travian gold " accounts - through paid " Travian Plus". As is usual in classical browser games, the individual characters are not animated. The player interacts via a graphical interface much more with a database. This example checks whether the available resources are sufficient for the construction of a new building.

Emergence and dissemination

Developed and published by Travian Gerhard Müller in 2004. Since July 2005 he is leading the project with the Travian Games specially founded with headquarters in Munich and 150 employees on.

Currently playing, according to the operators worldwide over 5.2 million players Travian. It is marketed in 51 countries and 43 different languages. Each region has a stand-alone game, making no contact with players from other languages ​​is necessary. In experimental games or special interest, such as the launch of a new version, many players from other regions can be found in the relevant world. Plus, players are distributed in regions with high demand in several independent game worlds - in the German version currently twelve. [ As of January 2011].

The gameplay

The player starts with a village. He must choose one of the three peoples Romans, Gauls and Teutons. Every nation has its advantages and disadvantages. Romans, for example, use infrastructural advantages, Gauls particularly fast ride and Germans fight very well. This is ( in addition to the age ) represents the biggest difference to competitors

In addition to a main building are beginning no buildings available. The player may first rely on space provided for easy building. In the course of the game, these buildings can then be expanded, for example, to increase productivity. With increased playing time, further limitations arise (eg storage capacity ), which must first be removed before a further stage of development is reached ( more under the tech tree ).

On resource fields, the four raw wood, clay, iron and crops can be degraded, which later serve as food, building materials, or further processing. The degradation occurs automatically after a specified rate per time, even if the player is not online right now. After removal of the first buildings the player can decide to further move, to act or to plunder (ie fight ). The choice of the other building and expansion stages will change accordingly. After a few weeks of playing time, if certain criteria are met, additional villages may or established villages of other players are conquered. The main village of each player is impregnable, however, even if it is destroyed in an attack down to the ground.

Game strategies can be very different. There are very aggressive players, the " Offer" be called or even defensively strong players who are called " deffer ". As in other games, too, " farm " in Travian is known ( that is, the conscious small weaker holding opponents to loot there periodically).

Alliances

Alliances are in Travian alliances of up to 60 players who join together for mutual military and economic benefits. Alliances are central to the strategy in Travian. The construction of the wonder of the world and thus the victory is not possible without a strong alliance. Allied players secure the victory by giving military support and finance the construction of the wonder of the world with raw materials. Within an alliance, players can view their mutually Battle Reports. They have a common communication system and usually an external forum for the discussion of strategy and tactics and a private chat.

As is usual in other games, alliances can be disposed peaceful, formally or informally agree to an alliance or non-aggression pact, or declare war.

The end of a round

Already towards the center of each round ( in Travian version 4 at the beginning ) is a computer-controlled people, the Natars, set in the game world ( as a deus ex machina ). Each of the Natarendörfer contains an artifact that can be captured. These artifacts bring bonuses in the game, such as faster Truppenbau, less grain consumption or increase its storage capacity for the owner. Towards the end of the round thirteen new Natarendörfer be placed in the game world, which include the ability to Weltwunderbau. Although the troops of the Natars are very numerous and strong, all Natarendörfer be conquered mostly within the first few days. After the occupation of one of their thirteen villages of the victorious conqueror there can build a wonder of the world and thus win the game. The Natars periodically contact all the wonders of the world, the other villages are not attacked by them.

By the end of the round then it often takes another two to three months, as players from other alliances repeatedly try to prevent alien world wonders in building or destroying. A mighty empire ( in the military and in the economic sense ) and a strong alliance are needed for the victory. Is the wonder of the world arrived at stage 100, the round ends. After some days the accounts are removed from the server. It comes to the reboot.

Costs / Financing

The game servers will be financed through banner ads and two forms extended accounts. The " Travian Plus" referred to paid accounts unlock additional overview and operating functions. " Travian Gold" gives players advantages in the production of raw materials. In fee-based accounts also no advertising is displayed. The community complained that " gold " accounts before individual players share over and affect the game. travian.org has long been the world's only server that verzichteter to this offer. Meanwhile travian.org was adjusted.

Awards

• 2006 - best big browser game in the category over 10,000 players from the website Gamesdynamite awarded the 2006
• 2009 - Nominated for Computec BÄM Award! Into the category online or browser game
• February 2011 - Award for Browser Game of the Year 2011 in the category " Best classic game "
• 2011 - Award for the Best German Publisher of the German Developer Awards