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Europa 1400

Europa 1400: The Guild
Europa 1400 - The Guild Coverart.png
Developer(s) 4HEAD Studios
Publisher(s) JoWood Productions
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: October 25, 2002
Genre(s) Life simulation
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Europa 1400: The Guild is a simulation game set in Europe from the year 1400 up to 1815. In it, the player tries to guide a family dynasty to power and wealth, starting from one character of limited means. Players can choose from a variety of initial businesses (including iron smith, tavern, church and thieves' guild) and historic cities (including Berlin and London). As the family business and social standing grows, more options become available, even high political rank.

The game has one expansion pack, Die Gilde: Gaukler, Gruften & Geschütze, released in March 2003. The Guild Gold Edition, consisting of the original game and the expansion, was released in November 2005; A Nintendo DS port of The Guild was released in 2009.

4HEAD Studios and JoWood Productions released a sequel, The Guild 2, in 2006.

Throughout the game, the player may indulge in intrigues, rise to a position in government, and obtain titles. Each title allows the player to upgrade their house by one level, which starts as a hovel and culminates in a palace. Each successively higher title increases the player's influence, allowing such things as sabotage, spying, blackmail, or taking opponents to court.

One of the main features of the title is the good and bad duality present in the various aspects throughout the character's life. The player may bribe people to get them on their side, or they may genuinely like them. The player may kidnap members from rival dynasties or forge alliances with them. This gives the game added replayability, since the scenarios are never the same.

Another prominent quality of The Guild is the nonlinear gameplay, or, the ability to extend the same game for a very long time if the player is careful and dedicated enough. Every time the player's current character dies, the heir takes his/her place as long as a certain age requirement is met.


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