The year is 1510, the Renaissance at its height. You begin as a mercenary captain in service to one of hundreds of lords spread across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Build a following, recruit fighters, and work your way toward capturing one of more than five hundred cities or towns scattered across the game world. From a base of operations, manage your economy, maintain diplomatic relationships, and expand your holdings. The endgame opens when you are ready to rebel against the monarch you serve and claim the crown — shifting the focus from running a city to governing a kingdom, and eventually an empire.