As a classic 1998 Real-Time Strategy and Simulation game for PC, you lead Roman, Egyptian, or Chinese settlers to build societies and conquer rivals under divine command. Success hinges on intricate logistics: efficiently managing citizen jobs and ensuring resources flow via physical transport across complex production chains. A distinctive feature is the ability to call upon your patron god for powerful miracles, blending deep economic management with tactical military conquest.
Players begin by establishing settlements, focusing on resource gathering such as wood, stone, iron, and food. Every citizen has a specific job, from miners and lumberjacks to bakers and soldiers. A crucial element is the complex production chain; for instance, raw iron must be smelted into ingots, which are then forged into weapons or tools by specialized workers.
The game emphasizes the role of the individual settler. Workers must physically transport resources between production buildings and storage facilities. Maintaining clear, unobstructed roads is vital for economic efficiency. If a soldier needs a sword, the sword must travel from the forge, through the road network, to the barracks, making logistics a core tactical consideration.
Combat is tactical, involving the deployment of various unit types specific to each civilization. Players must manage troop training, equipment distribution, and strategic positioning on the map.
A defining feature is the integration of the divine realm. Each of the three playable factions—Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese—is overseen by a specific god (Jupiter, Horus, or Ch'ih• Yu). These gods can be called upon to bestow powerful, game-altering miracles, such as summoning storms, causing plagues, or boosting production, provided the player has accumulated enough divine favor through successful building and worship.
Each of the three factions possesses unique architectural styles, distinct unit compositions, and slightly varied technological paths. While the core economic loop remains consistent, the specific strengths and weaknesses of the military units and the available miracles influence the preferred strategic approach for each civilization.

The official expansion pack for The Settlers III.

Mission CD features three new eight-mission single-player campaigns, ten new maps for single-player mode, ten new maps for multiplayer mode, enhanced AI for computer controlled races, and a map editor.