Stronghold: Definitive Edition - Free Build Gameplay (ft. Community Q&A)

Buy Now - store.steampowered.com/app/21...
We will soon be answering your latest questions! Will custom maps from Stronghold 1 be compatible? Will DE offer all original content featured in the first game? How about difficulty levels? Language support? Music? We discuss all this and more as part of Steam Next Fest, while providing your very first look at Free Build gameplay in Stronghold: Definitive Edition.
Whatever your question... Between this new video and our extensive recent Community Q&A we have you covered. Our goal has been to stay as transparent as possible with our community during development. We released a playable demo shortly after our announcement, followed by Q&A videos like this one to get everyone on the same page before launch. That's why we revealed our price point, core feature set and will continue to discuss as many planned additions as possible, starting with this new Q&A.
So whether you're curious about major features, bug fixes or smaller quality of life improvements Nick and Dave are here to answer those questions! Join us for your very first look at Free Build mode gameplay in DE, with Aaron building an impressive fortress and attempting to withstand a mammoth invasion after just 30 minutes. Will he survive? You'll have to watch to find out...
Like what you see? Then be sure to wishlist Stronghold: Definitive Edition ahead of launch on November 7th!
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[@fireflyworlds]

🏰🏰 FRIDAY FREE BUILD VIBES 🏰🏰 Btw, our brand new Stronghold: DE demo is STILL LIVE! Head to our Steam Store page in the description to download it Have a good weekend Strongholders!

[@9PD5ALQ77KUJQ]

@fireflyworlds the in-game timer starts before player places keep and granary, which shouldn't happen

[@judemorales4U]

I was just going to ask for three hours or something free play! I will download the demo, I am excited. I am a 70 year old woman and I've been playing S Crusader HD for like 15 years I think❤

[@mahmoodali5043]

Guys it does not show anything about a demo or a demo download

[@raskolnikov6443]

My only big complaint about the updated designs is the scribe. The old one is iconic. Is there no hope that we will eventually see him in the game?

[@aKolkaa]

I agree. He looks creepy. He looks like John Malkovich. I have nothing against him, but I think we should make him look less creepy.

[@dziobakowski]

Totally agree. New scribe looks untrustworthy and gives uncanny valley vibes. I prefer the old one 100%.

[@Jonjon13Jonjon13]

Fun idea: give us different skins for the scribe, including the older version! :D

[@REGAL-uf1nz]

@@Jonjon13Jonjon13 That would be great

[@giogio5838]

Agreed. Old Scribe is iconic and should be in the Definitive Edition, even as an alternative choice.

[@jet2135]

Dear Firefly, please add some weather and day/night effects to this legendary game. This will enhance the game's medieval atmosphere so much

[@SparkleDerPolarfuchs]

then make feedback ^^

[@jet2135]

@@SparkleDerPolarfuchs Already did. They seem to be ignoring such messages for some reason. Probably not willing to mess with the game engine and take the easy way simply remastering the existing graphics

[@scorpiom8053]

Yeah would be a great enhancement. I mean SH3 had a nice day night cycle.

[@REGAL-uf1nz]

They tried some night mode battles on Stronghold 3 and people didn't like it

[@genesisSOC]

Dang this would be wonderful

[@marvintiger9631]

Generally Suggestions (Skirmish, Modding and Generally) Tools for AI/Stats/etc.: An improved AIV(illage) Editor & UCP (2.15 or higher) for everybody! Give us the Tools for changing of AI Behaviour, so we can make even with only a few lore-friendly and classic Lords a diversity of Adversaries. Possibility of new Skins would be a nice Addition. Buildorder Unit Variety Castle Layout Early, Mid & Late-Game Behaviour Where, when Attack Limits of Buildings/Units Certain Values like Armor/Damage/Speed/Costs for Units and Production Output for Buildings. Etc. Skirmish/MP AI-Lords (3-4 Castle Layouts, more like 8 could be made by the Community): The Rat (Class 1 Lord) (Wooden Keep, Wooden Barracks) The Snake (Class 2 Lord) (Stone Keep) The Pig (Class 3 Lord) (Fortress) The Wolf (Class 4 Lord) (Stronghold) Lord Manikin OR The Black Friar (Class 1 Lord) (Wooden Keep, Wooden Barracks) Lord Woolsack (Class 2 Lord) (Stone Keep) The Marshal / Sir Longarm (Class 3 Lord) (Fortress) The King (Class 4 Lord) (Stronghold) Type of Keeps (4) / NO Saxon Hall (later/see downwards for another Idea) (Players should have the Option to choose between Keeps BEFORE a Match): Wooden Keep (Costs less than the standard Stone Keep, then Wooden Barracks) (Class 1 Lord OR Human Choice) Stone Keep (Standard) (Class 2 Lord OR Human Choice) Fortress (Costs more than regular Stone Keep) (Class 3 Lord OR Human Choice) Stronghold (Costs more than the Fortress) (Class 4 Lord OR Human Choice) *Saxon Hall (As a „new“ Building - Ranger Guild) Additional Lore-Friendly (Outlaws help you in some Campaign Missions) Unit and the „Saxon Hall“: Ranger (Hunter-Skin, maybe a bit different, WITHOUT Dog Buddy) Saxon Hall Entity rename to Ranger Guild. Ranger Guild as Recruitment-Building for Rangers. Rangers can camouflage like the Assassins from SHC. NO Bow/Weapon required but costs 50 Gold. Same as Monks, only a Building as a Requirement. Better Accuracy than regular Archers. Faster Shooting than regular Archers. Same (weak) Melee Damage as regular Archers. Same (fast) Moving Speed as regular Archers. Need a „Hold Fire“ Button, to not unconceal their whereabouts. Only if they attack or enemy Units are too close, they can be seen. (Like SHC). Market (Auto-selling Option) should be included: Like in SH Warlords Organic House vs „fixed“ - self evolving Houses: There are 3 Stages of the Houses in SH1. Would be cool to COULD have them separat, especially with enabled Building Limits.

[@whoawhoa4062]

Sometimes when fighting, units aren't doing their attack animation in the correct direction, seemingly punching air. If you look at 35:43, it shows a swordsman near the entrace of the keep fighting pikemen from two sides. After killing the one he faced directly, he did not turn when attacking the other pikemen. I assume he still did damage, but it looked a little silly regardless

[@littlearvin1641]

Are the maps bigger? That's one of the main point in Stronghold that always held it back. Size. (The other was AI Skirmish mode and, well, units all moving through each other)

[@raskolnikov6443]

No

[@overdev1993]

no

[@nuke1863]

You know, while seeing you guys building the cathedral, i thought it would be cool if one could 'produce' monks in the cathedral, kinda like it is in SH Crusader. Perhaps someone could look into it and make this available. I unfortunately forgot about this in my feedback/review ive wrote in the demo already. Plus changing our own player colour (atleast for the map editor) would be a great addition. Im really looking forward to this Definitive Edition!

[@REGAL-uf1nz]

Totally agree with the monks

[@R_5_D]

My thought is Chapels, Churches and Cathedrals should do act in a similar fashion to stables and knights. Say, Chapel = 3 monks, Church = 5 monks and Cathedral = 10 monks. Or even just 5 monks regardless of the building. It might encourage people to build more chapels as these are rarely used. Only Church/Cathedral gets built for the extra popularity boost.

[@kotzpenner]

YES! I hope for monks! Otherwise it's only a rare unit that's gifted to you sometimes.

[@hardware64]

Guys this looks so much better than the "new" 3d graphics, hopefully you can see that. The retro look is the way to go for future iterations. There are so many ways to improve on the concept without trying to reinvent the wheel every time. A construction system, new resources and buildings, increased scope, politics and social. Hopefully the definitive edition will sell well and it'll open your eyes. Take some notes from Frostpunk, which is the first game that captured me as much as the first Stronghold, this could become much bigger

[@KUZY2X]

As a Ukrainian citizen, I was very surprised and pleased with the latest diary reveal for there would be implemented Ukrainian localization. I'm waiting for the moment when the game will be available for pre-order. As we still have hard times with the war still influencing our lives, I plan to buy several copies of the game for some of my friends and family members who enjoyed playing the original game. It may not be much but at least 14 copies of the game would be bought for sure. Once again, thank you for the awesome games and for the possibility of playing at least one of them in my native language.❤

[@austinpalmer2527]

It would be cool if you could put a line out in X and Y when doing walls to help you line it up better. Also if it extended and showed which tiles are buildable it'd be great to prevent having random gaps on cliffs. I always used to mess up and have holes near those. Or just a hotkey to show all the navigable tiles.

[@El__Huron]

I hope they make the map scrolling faster. Even on highest setting it feels super slow.

[@Mastakilla91]

I sure hope you will remake the classic Stronghold intro of the knight walking towards the castle. INCLUDING the classic Wolf character. Same goes for the old game cover. NO EXPERIMENTS.

[@Littlefinger4E]

hate to say this but 2D stronghold >> 3D

[@janonshitposts5336]

Nick with the Weights in the Background, living the Castelord grindset 💪

[@Marcos_____]

Personally, my most desired improvement would be some kind of change to the unit collision system for armies. I simply dislike the infinite one grid stacking of units in battles.

[@arash_nry]

I used to play this game and now my son plays it. thanks for this sweet sweet memory you made for our family

[@MS-zp5by]

I hope after game releases you will do more videos like this, maybe on upcoming projects

[@King-pn1ff]

Add ability for lord to move speical in multiplayer and fix lord's hiden bugs

[@pallando]

The peasant animations still look buggy, I hope this can be fixed? See for instance 26:00. Sometimes animations seem to freeze, or loop the bowing animation.

[@imanueljoseph672]

This game will forever be in my heart. I'm going to show this game to my future kids too oneday.

[@spraymantis4846]

I legit cant wait, keep up the good work guys!

[@kotzpenner]

Apart from some other things that get mentioned often, like the advisor, I'd like a toggle for the sound, when a voice speaks then the music gets quieter, this was not in the original, both tracks had the same volume. Might be easy to implement. Edit: already gave feedback but forgot about this, so that's my chance to throw it in lol

[@fireflyworlds]

We have added a sound slider for unit barks - If that helps :)

[@shoc2177]

Hey, army control hotkeys, for "Stop" "Patrol", etc... buttons, would be very nice! :)

[@lolprogamer9104]

I love everything about this game so far besides the scribe. I know it will probably be some extra work but it would be greatly appreciated by everyone if you could adjust the look to something that is based on the old design and not some generic guy. Otherwise I'm looking really forward to playing this!

[@fireflyworlds]

We have added an option in the game settings to use the old scribe if you want - See our latest video for more details: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5bEXpSLnp6tas0

[@xplodrox]

Give the options to: remove arrown trails and set to permanent decals (dead bodies and blood). PLEASE! :~

[@Yupispark]

my

[@XX-ru1le]

I play stronghold crusader to this day and extreme. In the last 15 years i must have completed every mission like 10 times. I try to stream it sometime i love it so much. Will def pick this up and try it

[@barryma2567]

The original death animation of swordman being killed by slash attack is still missing. Are you going to fix this or not?

[@raskolnikov6443]

Did you give them feedback about it? The demo has a feedback option. We need to tell them everything that is not correct yet. Hopefully they add it until launch or at least with a patch post launch.

[@barryma2567]

@@raskolnikov6443 I've given the feedback not only in demo but also on discord, however they don't fix it.

[@coltsfan6661]

I can't wait for this game to be released. I really hope you can do a remake of the origianal Stronghold Crusader game.

[@judemorales4U]

Would be hard to improve Stronghold Crusader HD❤

[@Aiorspl]

Could you add option to shrink down buildings but not flat them out? there was this kind of option in original game

[@chevalierdebryum]

i hope this remaster will be good

[@MessiLeo7]

The way the wolves and horses are moving doesn't look natural. They look like flying ghosts. Could you fix this?

[@MessiLeo7]

At 33:30 the wolves are moving faster than they should, based on how slow their legs are moving. Same goes for the horses

[@DonCarton]

Such nice juicy QoLs coming, we eating good when DE drops. My heart did drop when the fully stacked armories were deleted :(

[@fireflyworlds]

Aaron is a monster

[@craigblundell4927]

Just wondering if you own the game on Steam already if there gonna be an option to update to the definitive edition or am I gonna have to buy the whole thing again?

[@pezthegreendragon]

The upresing of the games elements looks fantastic! Time for Crusader definitive edition i rkn!

[@eleonora7490]

Why did you decide to remove the sounds for hovering over building categories (tower, hammer, apple) ?

[@Grollczech]

Just release it already, cant wait

[@MS-zp5by]

You should let us pre-buy game now, why wait ?

[@jointgib]

I was playing the demo and sometimes my archers on the ground just didn't seem to want to attack. Been playing the game for 20 years so i know when they should be shooting

[@fireflyworlds]

Thanks for letting us know! Please submit this issue in full via the in-game form or our support site - firefly-studios.helpshift.com/hc/en/3-firefly-studios/contact-us/

[@jointgib]

okey dokey@@fireflyworlds

[@NuclearShot]

put the demo back up, i missed it

[@pureplay7071]

It's like that remaster you think you want but you don't.

[@pskierczy]

Hi guys. With DE I'm expecting to see some speedrun attempts (as fan of Lutel, he already said he will make a trial). Do you consider doing Dev Commentary over those speedruns? (you know, just to see how many unintended features the same has :D)

[@fireflyworlds]

Thanks for the suggestion and big love to Lutel!

[@Fury_99]

now look stronghold 2 in the face and bring a nice optimization update

[@romanfrolov1301]

thanks, you are cool!!!

[@javierg3325]

After 20 years you have not realized that people like the first stronghold because it has "realistic" graphics and a realistic scale with respect to the size of people and buildings, that is why the last strongholds have failed, because they are cartoon-like , a 3D stronghold could work if it met these scales and that type of realistic image, that's why people will always like stronghold 1 and crusader. Something like the graphics of epic battle simulator or total war series.

[@Ealdorman_of_Mercia]

Would have been nice to have included AI as a faction through skirmish modes, that would have massively increased replayability value.

[@wessellabuschagne826]

Would you be able to play online player vs player or is it only skirmish? And campaign?

[@fireflyworlds]

No skirmish but DE will have Steam multiplayer, a new 14 mission campaign (in addition to the original ones) and a 10 mission Castle Trail of siege scenarios - Featuring historical castles :)

[@wero5694]

are we going to have definitive edition for stronghold crusader HD?

[@fetube7750]

How to build Walls afar from Base? In mp

[@andreasb.9465]

Will there be a skirmish mode like in stronghold crusader ?

[@AshtonvanNiekerk]

Please please please add customizeable hotkeys! And I want to be able to select the buildings I want to by with they keyboard, instead of having to click every time. Also the Barracks and unti creation should be hotkey-able.

[@azerus4502]

Is there any information about whether Stronghold Definitive Edition will be released for macOS (M1/M2)?

[@fireflyworlds]

No plans for a Mac version at the moment, however if that changes we'll let you know :)

[@JamesLDCarragher]

1:04 I would love to be as wonderful as Aaron :D

[@legendofJupp]

Are cathedrals bugged? they dont seem to give the permanent popularity bonus

[@budyniozaur]

Hi guys, could you make ALT+TAB work, where it throws you onto your desktop and minimises the game onto the taskbar, instead whatever it's doing now.

[@fireflyworlds]

This should be working properly. Please submit a bug report if you're having issues - firefly-studios.helpshift.com/hc/en/3-firefly-studios/contact-us/

[@ruslank.8442]

Stronghold 2 remake/reboot or something similiar

[@tewzoful]

Smoke animation and empty building sign look like slide shows, please make them flowing and one motion, its really noticeable

[@ariebrinkhof281]

You're talking about langueuges of country's where you've got fans. I'm dutch, maybe also making in the game Dutch availeble?

[@justinwang3294]

Maybe get some meat from killing the rabbit. After seeing them pop up frequently enough, you'd think you got something out of it.

[@PROLIFIC_TRAVELS]

❤❤❤❤

[@Kamykkk100]

Bring back old scribe!

[@fireflyworlds]

We have added an option in the game settings to use the old scribe if you want - See our latest video for more details: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5bEXpSLnp6tas0

[@yevheniiherasymchuk]

thank you a lot for great approach of releasing a lot of content. And for Ukrainian language as well ❤ Can't wait for a game, so much love for a whole team working on old engine and code, keep pushing to deliver lovely extension for fans.

[@alexanderkolesnik7540]

🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@jointgib]

double clicking a unit used to select all of the same type

[@fireflyworlds]

This should be working in the game :) However please submit a bug report if you're having issues - firefly-studios.helpshift.com/hc/en/3-firefly-studios/contact-us/

[@jointgib]

i'll see how it goes when i get the full game in November, i was paranoid that you'd taken it out@@fireflyworlds

[@AbsolutCool_]

Please i need that game on DVD

[@jointgib]

V key used to lower walls so you could see behind them

[@fireflyworlds]

Space bar should do that! You can also assign this to any key such as V using the new key bind function for flatten landscape :)

[@jointgib]

that's great, thanks@@fireflyworlds

[@jointgib]

hold on, space bar does a different thing to V. Space flattens everything whereas V just lowers the walls and keep. Have you decided to drop this feature? @@fireflyworlds

[@Ab7trAct]

Thanks for your work! Wait for the game

[@yugohehe]

Please make a new Stronghold Legends game or an definitive edition

[@user-ny8tl9zp6n]

It is impossible to explain why so many years in this incredible innovative idea of developing a castle simulator of the highest aesthetics and detail have not been added buildings, fortifications, production chains, riverside trade, ech. Dozens of things are missing that we expect to be added, and so far you don't seem to be doing anything. It is sad

[@PhenMr]

16:30 best thing in the game!

[@milosavdic]

greatest game of all time ^_^

[@DD-lu5ey]

is there gonne be custom gameplay against ai?

[@fireflyworlds]

No skirmish mode in DE - However there will be a new campaign, castle trail, Steam multiplayer and much more :)

[@LaomerKedor]

22:07 well, if I would put my whole economy into sleep mode, in original Stronghold, I would have many more archers at once. Doesn't this translate into Definitive Edition?

[@fireflyworlds]

Yep you can do this in DE :)

[@khashayaaar5036]

For the language decision, can you add Farsi? Iranian community loves stronghold series and we had to translate the game to farsi back home. But if you can add it, it would be awesome!!! (Although, ppl might still get the game illegally because everything is banned there(steam,paypal…,lol)

[@vanitas3873]

🏰🏰🏰

[@adelcherbal5048]

THE WAR EFFECTS ARE STILL BASIC . WE WANNA SEE CRUMBLING WALLS AND GATES EFFECTS AND LIKE WHEN THE CATAPULT FIRES AT THEM

[@piotrm5635]

I need to say the mission from new campaing (that one in the demo) is making me want to rage quit like really this mission is a pain due to fact how often you are getting attacked this mission would be much less painfull if bandits wouldn't attack SO OFTEN

[@itellyouwhy6957]

Get good bro

[@piotrm5635]

@@itellyouwhy6957 I am good at this game

[@REGAL-uf1nz]

Won it on the first try on very hard and I'm not flexing, I'm a poor player. Just go for the stone first, adjust your fletchery to making crossbows, make some armors and put two stone towers with crossbows uphill, close to the keep. Just protect your cheese and you are gonna do fine. All this while placing the other industry buildings you need. Also play it on slower speed

[@DoctorGester]

After a couple of tries I almost completed it on very hard, only missing 30 out of 360 pitch and only because I ran out of storage space and didn't notice :D It's definitely doable if you are careful (and lucky with the fire and specific bandit spawns).

[@Zarturael]

I have to agree with the comment above mine, I did it on very hard on my first try as well, and I'm also no pro player by any means It is a bit more difficult than the average campaign mission in the OG campaign, true, but it's really not that bad or impossible either I for one think that the constant attacks are really great because it gives you that feeling of urgency and desperation that really should be there, given the circumstances of the campaign

[@antgaming8156]

Stronghold 2d>>>>>>>>>>>stronghold 3d

[@AksoChannel]

Thank you very much for adding Ukrainian! ❤

[@420pharma]

Dont simp for ukraine, ta

[@wessellabuschagne826]

Pleas make the game to be 3D pleas always wanted a remake off the first legendary stronghold one.Big fan off stronghold got all the games every singel one except this one can't wait. Love the music and medieval texture and so forth. It you could made this stronghold one like stronghold 3 kind off graphics and 3D but I this picture looking off game this wil be the best. And you should never changed it to deserd always the green lands pleas veels more right for the medieval wibe. And motes looks best the water to stronghold two.and would be cool if the soldiers collect their weapons at the armory to gear up. Would be nice feature. The best thing for me is if the chain doors closes on Castle it says castle is closed. And that you can click it to close and open. Not like stronghold 2 it closes by it self it enemy is close by.keep up your lengendery game. It's my best one off all.pleas never change the medeval game to Samurai its just not medieval stronghold. Thanks for the best battle sim medieval game ever made.

[@NobleKnightMain_06]

no new units ???? pffff its looks the same shit only graphic change... look aoe2 so much better change

[@9PD5ALQ77KUJQ]

Please remove the music volume lowering on speech, or at least add an option to disable it, it’s very annoying

[@Cgeta4]

I love how the camera is still rotated when starting that map, like in the original Also I hope we'll get unlimited rocks in the editor