12

10

8
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3

0
Row 1

Row 2

Row 3

Row 4

*****************************************************************
Contained in this 'ReadMe' file:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Mastertronic quick reference guide

About Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Instructions for installing the software.
Instructions for loading the software.
Last Minute Information & FAQ's
Troubleshooting.
Product Support

*****************************************************************
1. MASTERTRONIC QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
*****************************************
Loading computer games can sometimes be a daunting task. We
here at Mastertronic try to make the installation of our games
as quick, simple and effortless as possible. To aid yourself in
the installation of this piece of software it is helpful that
you have at hand certain bits of information regarding your
system set-up.
1. The drive letters associated with your machine:
All computers have letters assigned to different drives. By
default your 'floppy' drive will have the letter A:\ assigned to
it, your hard drive will be C:\ and your DVD-ROM will be lettered
D:\. If, let's say, you have more than one hard drive then it is
most likely that the second hard drive would be D:\ and your
DVD-ROM would have E:\ assigned to it.
To avoid confusion, it is recommended that you familiarise
yourself with the letters assigned to your computer's drives

before trying to install your game.

To do this, click on the 'My Computer' icon on your Windows
desktop with your right mouse button and then select 'Explore'
with the left mouse button. The left-hand window will contain
all your drives and applicable letters.
2. When we specify 'default directory' it
drive that the game installation has been
You may change the installation directory
games are installed to a directory called

means the directory and

pre-set to install to.
if, let's say, all
'Games' on your system.

*****************************************************************
2.

ADOBE ACROBAT READER AND YOUR ELECTRONIC MANUAL

*******************************************************
We have provided an electronic manual for this product.
This manual is in a PDF format, which requires Adobe Acrobat
Reader to view the file. We have provided you with Adobe
Acrobat Reader for Windows.
Once you have successfully installed Acrobat Reader you can
open the electronic manual PDF file, which is located on your
DVD-ROM and called MANUAL.
Use the scroll bar to browse through the pages (for full
instructions on Acrobat Reader use the on-line guide from the
Help menu).
You are free to distribute Adobe Acrobat Reader but you must
follow to Adobe's License Agreement and proprietary notices that
are contained in the Reader installer program. For further
information see the README file within the MTXONE\ACROBAT folder
on your DVD-ROM.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
-------------------To manually install Acrobat Reader you should do the following:
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\MTXONE\ACROBAT\SETUP.EXE
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
Manual
-----To view the manual you should do the following:
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\MANUAL.PDF
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
Or simply open the manual by clicking the 'View Manual' button

on our installer.
(Scroll down to section 3 for details on how to launch the
Mastertronic installer)

*****************************************************************
3.

INSTALLING STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE

*****************************************
The following is the complete step-by-step loading instructions
for STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE.
1.
2.

Insert the 'STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE' DVD in your DVD-ROM

drive.
The Autorun should automatically launch the Mastertronic
installer, if it does not come up then follow these
instructions:
Click 'START' on your Windows taskbar,
Select 'RUN' and then type:
D:\SETUP.NOW.EXE
(Where D: represents the letter of your DVD-ROM drive)
Click OK.
If you still cannot see the Mastertronic installer then
please refer to Section 6 (Troubleshooting) later in this
ReadMe file.

3.
4.

Click on the 'Install Game' button.

Read through the licence agreement and if you accept the
terms, click on 'I ACCEPT', then click 'Next'.

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Choose your Setup Language and click 'OK' to continue.

At the welcome Screen click 'Next' to continue.
At the License Agreement click 'Yes' to continue.
Click 'Next' to accept the default location for the game
(recommended) or click 'Browse' to select your own location.
Click 'Next' to accept the default program folder
(recommended) or select a different folder from the list and
then click 'Next'.
Click 'Next' to continue.
Please wait while the game files are now copied to your
machine.
Click 'Finish' to complete the installation.
If you have installed DirectX, you will need to restart your
PC before running the game.

*****************************************************************
4.

LOADING STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE

**************************************
Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
Select - 'Programs' or 'All Programs' (XP users),
Select - 'Firefly Studios',
Select - 'Stronghold 2',
Then click - 'Play Stronghold 2'.
You will be ready to play the game.
*****************************************************************
5.

LAST MINUTE INFORMATION & FAQ's

***************************************
PATCH INSTALLATION
==================
To bring your version of 'STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE' up to
version 1.3.1 please install the following patch.
To install the v.1.3.1 patch do the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Insert the 'STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE' Disc.

Click 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
Select 'Run',
Type:- D:\Patches\stronghold2_deluxe_v1.3.1_update.exe
(Assuming that the letter of your CD/DVD-ROM drive is D:)
5. Click 'OK' and follow the on screen instructions.
PATCH INFORMATION/FIXES
=======================
Features
--------

8 New Historical Castles Including Windsor in England, The

Heuneburg in Germany and Fougre in France.
3 New AI Players - The Queen, the Bishop and Noble Sir Grey.
4 New Kingmaker Maps Including maps based on Europe and Korea.
'The Conquest Trail' - A whole new game mode where you must
battle through a collection of Europes mightiest castles!
Game Balancing
-------------Pheasant hunting less productive but deer hunting more
productive.
Apple Farms more productive.
Dairy Farms more productive.
Pitch production now twice as productive.
Crossbowmens firing range and shot damage increased.
Knights cost more to build.
Axe throwers now less effective against metal armor.
Assassins not effected by traps - invisible at closer range.
Monasteries cost less to build and provide more honor.
Gong Farmers or Falconers are no longer affected by crime.
Towers are more expensive to build.
Gatehouses cost a little more to build.
Statues provide less honour.
Tunnelling range reduced.
Cannot now tunnel under water.
Moat costs reduced.
Rock throwers and baskets now have triple damage.
The range of burning logs has been halved.
Torture devices now give honour every month.
Bug Fixes
--------Various gameplay and movement code optimizations.

Fixed occasional crash in War Chapter 4 and 6.

Fixed a crash when selecting the map type in editor.
All objects in editor can now be deleted.
Fixed crash to desktop experienced playing War Chapter 4 and 6.
Fixed issues with knights mounting horses.
Fixed controlling gatehouses bug.
Fixed pitch workers turning to crime bug.
Fixed invisible outlaws bug.
Fixed Lord walking on keep bug.
Fixed speech when placing pitch.
Fixed rocks sticking through buildings.
Fixed stone tippers on walls bug.
Fixed catapults not firing stone bug.
Fixed mangonels firing at long range bug.
Rock baskets can now be placed on towers and gatehouses.
Honor from punishments is now displayed in the interface.
Stopping carter post now refunds goods.
Various other bug fixes.
Before You Start
================
Before you run Stronghold 2 close all other programs. Ensure
you have the latest graphics card drivers installed on your
machine, this is essential for the best performance and
reliability. We recommend using the latest Microsoft approved
WHQL driver or the latest driver posted on the manufacturers
website. We have listed a few graphics card manufacturers
websites below where you can download the latest drivers:
ATI
http://support.ati.com
NVIDIA
http://www.nvidia.com/drivers
Intel (Intel Extreme) http://www.intel.com/support/graphics
PowerVR (Kyro)
http://www.powervr.com/downloads/drivers
Matrox
http://www.matrox.com/mga/support/drivers
S3
http://www.s3graphics.com/drivers.jsp
3Dfx
http://www.3dfx.com
XGI (Volari)
http://www.xgitech.com/sd/sd_download.asp
3Dlabs
http://www.3dlabs.com/support/drivers

To run Stronghold 2, Microsoft DirectX 9.0c or higher must be

installed on your computer. If you have an older version of
DirectX installed on your system, the Stronghold 2 installation
will ask you to install DirectX 9.0c.
If you are having
problems installing DirectX, you can download it from the
Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx
If you are playing Stronghold 2 on Windows 2000, please ensure
you have at least Service Pack 2 installed. The latest Windows
2000 service pack can be downloaded from the Microsoft website
at http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads
We also recommend using Windows Update to ensure your version
of Windows is fully up-to-date. However we do recommend
downloading your graphics card driver updates separately.
For the best possible sound quality please also ensure you have
the latest sound card drivers installed.
Graphics Settings
=================
Changing your graphics card settings
-----------------------------------Graphics settings can be changed using the Stronghold 2 Graphics
Configuration utility accessible from the Start menu. Generally
speaking reducing settings or turning effects off will increase
the graphics performance in the game.
Basic:
Texture Detail
-------------This setting adjusts the size of the textures used in the game.
The smaller the texture size the more textures the graphics card
can fit in its memory. Adjusting the texture detail will help
users with graphics cards with no on-board memory (e.g. Intel
Extreme) or low on-board memory (e.g. 32MB) achieve greater
performance. Texture Detail must be set before the game loads
and cannot be changed in game.
Texture Filtering
----------------An effect which improves the quality of textures.
texture filtering to increase performance.

Reduce

Anisotropic Filtering
--------------------Allows textures to appear cleaner and crisper when viewed at
sharper angles. Reduce anisotropic filtering to increase

performance.
Geometry Detail
--------------This option adjusts the amount of polygons drawn on screen.
Reduce geometry detail this setting to increase performance.
Draw Distance
------------Determines how far into the distance objects in the game will
be drawn. Reduce draw distance to increase performance.
Antialiasing
-----------Reduces the jaggedness and pixelation you see on edges of 3D
objects. Reduce antialiasing to increase performance.
Shader Version
-------------Shaders are graphical effects applied to game objects to enhance
their appearance. The higher the shader version the more
graphical effects used but at the expense of performance.
Features:
Ground Shadows
-------------Turn unit ground shadows on or off.
to increase performance.

Turn off ground shadows

Arrow Trails
-----------Turn arrow trails on or off.
increase performance.

Turn off the arrow trails to

Particle Systems
---------------Turn particle systems on or off.
systems to increase performance.

Turn off the particle

Grass
----Turn landscape grass/shrubs on or off.
increase performance.

Turn off grass to

Bump Mapping
-----------Bump Mapping is an effect which produces richer, more detailed
textures on objects. Turn off bump mapping to increase

performance.
Bloom
----An effect that causes very bright objects to glow.
bloom to increase performance.

Turn off

Depth of Field
-------------An effect which simulates the focal properties of a camera lens.
Turn off depth of field to increase performance.
Advanced:
Npatch Detail
------------Npatch technology is used by many recent ATI graphics cards
(8500 upwards) to smooth the curved surface of 3D objects by
increasing the polygon count through a process called Npatch
tessellation.
Distance Based LOD
-----------------This allows you to control whether you want the detail level of
objects to change as you zoom the camera in and out.
Turn on
distance based LOD to increase performance.
Detail Level
-----------If Distance Based LOD is enabled you can control how quickly the
level of detail will change using this slider. Lower the detail
to increase performance.
Frame Rate Based LOD
-------------------As the frame rate drops the level of detail of objects reduces
to increase performance.
Multipass Shaders
----------------Allows lower end graphics cards to simulate some shader effects
used by higher end cards. Enabling Multipass shaders puts more
strain on the graphics card and may reduce performance.
Known Issues
============
On computers with Intel Extreme graphics text may corrupt at
high resolutions. To fix this issue lower the resolution in
the graphics configuration panel.

If the Autoplay fails to start you can start the install by

running setup.exe in the Disk1 folder on the Stronghold 2
Deluxe disc.
*****************************************************************
6.

TROUBLESHOOTING

***********************
General Troubleshooting
=======================
Q: When I try to launch the game I get the following error:
"Debugger detected - please close it down and restart.
Windows NT users: Please note that having the WinIce/SoftIce
service installed means that you are running a debugger." I
do not believe I am running a debugger. What could be the
problem?
A: This error is caused by DivX 5.1. The issue you have mentioned
is a bug in this release of the DivX codec. The codec is
actually what`s showing the error, and shutting down Blaze
Media Pro because it is erroneously detecting the software as
a debugger. You can resolve the issue by updating to DivX
5.1.1 http://www.divx.com, and you will no longer have this
problem. If you do still have any problems please contact
Mastertronic Technical Support.
Video Problems
-------------The vast majority of problems that you are likely to encounter
are probably related to drivers that allow the game to make
optimum use of your systems resources. In particular, video
games are most influenced by Microsofts DirectX drivers, which
are responsible for various aspects of your system including:
video, sound, controller input, 3D graphic functions, DVD-ROM
access and other functions. If you do experience problems,
always ensure that you are using the latest drivers for these
devices, and that your DirectX installation shows these devices
as being certified (with DXDIAG).
DVD-ROM Problems
--------------Make sure that the DVD-ROM disc is in the correct drive, with the
label facing upwards. The DVD-ROM disc must be in the drive to
install or run the game. If you have two DVD-ROM drives, the DVD
must be placed in the drive whose drive letter comes
alphabetically first for the game to work.
Ensure that the DVD-ROM disc is free from any markings or
scratches which may interfere with normal operation. If the
disc requires cleaning, gently wipe the surface with a dry,
non-abrasive cloth.

Sound Problems
-------------Make sure that your speakers or headphones are plugged into the
correct socket, and that the volume control is at an appropriate
level. If you are using powered speakers, ensure that the power
is on.
If you continue to experience problems, ensure that the Volume
Control taskbar icon (depicted by a small yellow speaker)
is present.
Double-clicking this icon will open the Volume Control window.
Make sure that the Wave and Master Volume controls are set at an
appropriate level and that the Mute feature is not enabled.
MSVBVM50.DLL Error
==================
If the error "The MSVBVM50.DLL file is linked to missing export
OLEAUT32.DLL:421." occurs while installing the game.
The error occurs because during the setup process, the
MSVBVM50.DLL file requires a version of OLEAUT32.DLL that is
newer than what comes with the original version of Windows 95.
Therefore you will need to replace this file with the copy
supplied on your DVD-ROM.
To replace the file simply double click on AXDIST.EXE file which
can be found in \MTXONE\EXTRAS directory on your DVD-ROM.
You will also have to restart your computer for the changes to
take effect.
When done, launch SETUP.NOW again and try to reinstall.
The Mastertronic installer does not load
========================================
For the Mastertronic installer to work you must have the
following configuration on your machine:
* Display properties must be 'Small fonts'.
If you get an error message on the Preload screen then click on
the <AutoFix> button.
To change you display properties to small fonts:
-----------------------------------------------1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,

Select 'Settings',
Select 'Control Panel',
Double-click on the 'Display' icon,
Select 'Appearance',
Change the font settings to 'Small Fonts'.
Click on 'OK' button to apply changes

OR
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Select 'Settings',
Select 'Control Panel',
Double-click on the 'Display' icon,
Click on the 'Settings' tab,
Click on the 'Advanced' button,
Select the 'General' tab,
And change the font settings to 'Small Fonts'.
Click on 'OK' button to apply changes

To bypass the Mastertronic installer and load the separate

components on this DVD, follow the instructions below.
The Game
-------To install the game you should do the following...
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\Disk1\Setup.exe
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
5. You should now refer to Section 3 from step 4, to install
the game.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
-------------------To install Adobe Acrobat Reader you should do the following...
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\MTXONE\ACROBAT\SETUP.EXE
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
Manual
-----To view the manual you should do the following...
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\MANUAL.PDF
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
DirectX
------To install DirectX you should do the following...
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:

D:\Disk1\DirectX\dxsetup.exe
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
*****************************************************************
7.

PRODUCT SUPPORT

***********************
Please read the following section before calling
technical support:
Because of the millions of different hardware and software
combinations possible with today's Personal Computers, you may
still have to refer to your computer manufacturer of software
publisher to properly configure their product to run our game.
Contacting Technical Support
---------------------------If you have technical questions about the game, our Technical
Support Department is here to help. Our web site contains
up-to-date information on the most common difficulties with our
products. If you are unable to find the information you need on
our website, please feel free to contact us via e-mail,
telephone, Fax or mail (for contact us details - see below).
If possible, be at your computer when you call. The support
representative will need specific information about your computer
and may need you to access or change some of the files while you
are on the telephone. If it is impossible for you to be at your
computer, be sure to have the following information:
A listing of your computer's hardware and the settings from
Device Manager, including what sound and video card you system
has. (Contact your computer manufacturer if you aren't sure.)
What version of Windows(TM) you are using.
What version of DirectX(TM) is currently loaded on your computer?
How the game is currently configured.
The version number of the game (if possible).

Our technical support personnel will do their very best to get

our software working on your system, so please be patient
with them.
Certain times of the year (around Christmas, or when we
release a brand new game) the Technical Support lines can get
rather busy. If you need faster support or wish to view the most
frequently asked questions (FAQs) please use our website and
check the Technical Support web pages (see below). This is where
the most common problems can be fixed with easy step-by-step
instructions, and we recommend trying it before contacting the

Technical Support line. The answer to your question just might

be sitting right there.
Also, if you have any questions about this or any other
Mastertronic product, please contact our Customer
Service/Technical Support Group. For contact us
details see below.
Contact "Mastertronic" details:
===============================
Customer Service is available on Monday to Friday
(except Public and Bank holidays) from 10.00AM to 5.00PM (GMT).
Address:

Mastertronic Customer Services

122 Southwark Street
London
SE1 0SW
United Kingdom

Tel:
Fax:

+44 (0) 845 234 4250

+44 (0) 845 234 4243

E-mail:

support@mastertronic.com

Website:

www.mastertronic.com

----------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer
----------------------------------------------------------------Although Mastertronic believes this Game and any attachments to
be free of any virus or other defect which may affect your
computer, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure
that it is virus free and Mastertronic does not accept any
responsibility for any loss or damage arising in any way from
its use.
----------------------------------------------------------------*****************************************************************
Contained in this 'ReadMe' file:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Mastertronic quick reference guide

About Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Instructions for installing the software.
Instructions for loading the software.
Last Minute Information & FAQ's
Troubleshooting.
Product Support

*****************************************************************
1. MASTERTRONIC QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

*****************************************
Loading computer games can sometimes be a daunting task. We
here at Mastertronic try to make the installation of our games
as quick, simple and effortless as possible. To aid yourself in
the installation of this piece of software it is helpful that
you have at hand certain bits of information regarding your
system set-up.
1. The drive letters associated with your machine:
All computers have letters assigned to different drives. By
default your 'floppy' drive will have the letter A:\ assigned to
it, your hard drive will be C:\ and your DVD-ROM will be lettered
D:\. If, let's say, you have more than one hard drive then it is
most likely that the second hard drive would be D:\ and your
DVD-ROM would have E:\ assigned to it.
To avoid confusion, it is recommended that you familiarise
yourself with the letters assigned to your computer's drives
before trying to install your game.
To do this, click on the 'My Computer' icon on your Windows
desktop with your right mouse button and then select 'Explore'
with the left mouse button. The left-hand window will contain
all your drives and applicable letters.
2. When we specify 'default directory' it
drive that the game installation has been
You may change the installation directory
games are installed to a directory called

means the directory and

pre-set to install to.
if, let's say, all
'Games' on your system.

*****************************************************************
2.

ADOBE ACROBAT READER AND YOUR ELECTRONIC MANUAL

*******************************************************
We have provided an electronic manual for this product.
This manual is in a PDF format, which requires Adobe Acrobat
Reader to view the file. We have provided you with Adobe
Acrobat Reader for Windows.
Once you have successfully installed Acrobat Reader you can
open the electronic manual PDF file, which is located on your
DVD-ROM and called MANUAL.
Use the scroll bar to browse through the pages (for full
instructions on Acrobat Reader use the on-line guide from the
Help menu).
You are free to distribute Adobe Acrobat Reader but you must
follow to Adobe's License Agreement and proprietary notices that
are contained in the Reader installer program. For further
information see the README file within the MTXONE\ACROBAT folder
on your DVD-ROM.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
-------------------To manually install Acrobat Reader you should do the following:

1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,

2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\MTXONE\ACROBAT\SETUP.EXE
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
Manual
-----To view the manual you should do the following:
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\MANUAL.PDF
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
Or simply open the manual by clicking the 'View Manual' button
on our installer.
(Scroll down to section 3 for details on how to launch the
Mastertronic installer)
*****************************************************************
3.

INSTALLING STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE

*****************************************
The following is the complete step-by-step loading instructions
for STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE.
1.
2.

Insert the 'STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE' DVD in your DVD-ROM

drive.
The Autorun should automatically launch the Mastertronic
installer, if it does not come up then follow these
instructions:
Click 'START' on your Windows taskbar,
Select 'RUN' and then type:
D:\SETUP.NOW.EXE
(Where D: represents the letter of your DVD-ROM drive)
Click OK.
If you still cannot see the Mastertronic installer then
please refer to Section 6 (Troubleshooting) later in this
ReadMe file.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Click on the 'Install Game' button.

Read through the licence agreement and if you accept the
terms, click on 'I ACCEPT', then click 'Next'.
Choose your Setup Language and click 'OK' to continue.
At the welcome Screen click 'Next' to continue.
At the License Agreement click 'Yes' to continue.
Click 'Next' to accept the default location for the game
(recommended) or click 'Browse' to select your own location.

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Click 'Next' to accept the default program folder

(recommended) or select a different folder from the list and
then click 'Next'.
Click 'Next' to continue.
Please wait while the game files are now copied to your
machine.
Click 'Finish' to complete the installation.
If you have installed DirectX, you will need to restart your
PC before running the game.

*****************************************************************
4.

LOADING STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE

**************************************
Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
Select - 'Programs' or 'All Programs' (XP users),
Select - 'Firefly Studios',
Select - 'Stronghold 2',
Then click - 'Play Stronghold 2'.
You will be ready to play the game.
*****************************************************************
5.

LAST MINUTE INFORMATION & FAQ's

***************************************
PATCH INSTALLATION
==================
To bring your version of 'STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE' up to
version 1.3.1 please install the following patch.
To install the v.1.3.1 patch do the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Insert the 'STRONGHOLD(R) 2 DELUXE' Disc.

Click 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
Select 'Run',
Type:- D:\Patches\stronghold2_deluxe_v1.3.1_update.exe
(Assuming that the letter of your CD/DVD-ROM drive is D:)
5. Click 'OK' and follow the on screen instructions.
PATCH INFORMATION/FIXES
=======================
Features
-------8 New Historical Castles Including Windsor in England, The
Heuneburg in Germany and Fougre in France.
3 New AI Players - The Queen, the Bishop and Noble Sir Grey.

4 New Kingmaker Maps Including maps based on Europe and Korea.

'The Conquest Trail' - A whole new game mode where you must
battle through a collection of Europes mightiest castles!
Game Balancing
-------------Pheasant hunting less productive but deer hunting more
productive.
Apple Farms more productive.
Dairy Farms more productive.
Pitch production now twice as productive.
Crossbowmens firing range and shot damage increased.
Knights cost more to build.
Axe throwers now less effective against metal armor.
Assassins not effected by traps - invisible at closer range.
Monasteries cost less to build and provide more honor.
Gong Farmers or Falconers are no longer affected by crime.
Towers are more expensive to build.
Gatehouses cost a little more to build.
Statues provide less honour.
Tunnelling range reduced.
Cannot now tunnel under water.
Moat costs reduced.
Rock throwers and baskets now have triple damage.
The range of burning logs has been halved.
Torture devices now give honour every month.
Bug Fixes
--------Various gameplay and movement code optimizations.
Fixed occasional crash in War Chapter 4 and 6.
Fixed a crash when selecting the map type in editor.
All objects in editor can now be deleted.

Fixed crash to desktop experienced playing War Chapter 4 and 6.

Fixed issues with knights mounting horses.
Fixed controlling gatehouses bug.
Fixed pitch workers turning to crime bug.
Fixed invisible outlaws bug.
Fixed Lord walking on keep bug.
Fixed speech when placing pitch.
Fixed rocks sticking through buildings.
Fixed stone tippers on walls bug.
Fixed catapults not firing stone bug.
Fixed mangonels firing at long range bug.
Rock baskets can now be placed on towers and gatehouses.
Honor from punishments is now displayed in the interface.
Stopping carter post now refunds goods.
Various other bug fixes.
Before You Start
================
Before you run Stronghold 2 close all other programs. Ensure
you have the latest graphics card drivers installed on your
machine, this is essential for the best performance and
reliability. We recommend using the latest Microsoft approved
WHQL driver or the latest driver posted on the manufacturers
website. We have listed a few graphics card manufacturers
websites below where you can download the latest drivers:
ATI
http://support.ati.com
NVIDIA
http://www.nvidia.com/drivers
Intel (Intel Extreme) http://www.intel.com/support/graphics
PowerVR (Kyro)
http://www.powervr.com/downloads/drivers
Matrox
http://www.matrox.com/mga/support/drivers
S3
http://www.s3graphics.com/drivers.jsp
3Dfx
http://www.3dfx.com
XGI (Volari)
http://www.xgitech.com/sd/sd_download.asp
3Dlabs
http://www.3dlabs.com/support/drivers
To run Stronghold 2, Microsoft DirectX 9.0c or higher must be
installed on your computer. If you have an older version of
DirectX installed on your system, the Stronghold 2 installation
will ask you to install DirectX 9.0c.
If you are having
problems installing DirectX, you can download it from the

Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx

If you are playing Stronghold 2 on Windows 2000, please ensure
you have at least Service Pack 2 installed. The latest Windows
2000 service pack can be downloaded from the Microsoft website
at http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads
We also recommend using Windows Update to ensure your version
of Windows is fully up-to-date. However we do recommend
downloading your graphics card driver updates separately.
For the best possible sound quality please also ensure you have
the latest sound card drivers installed.
Graphics Settings
=================
Changing your graphics card settings
-----------------------------------Graphics settings can be changed using the Stronghold 2 Graphics
Configuration utility accessible from the Start menu. Generally
speaking reducing settings or turning effects off will increase
the graphics performance in the game.
Basic:
Texture Detail
-------------This setting adjusts the size of the textures used in the game.
The smaller the texture size the more textures the graphics card
can fit in its memory. Adjusting the texture detail will help
users with graphics cards with no on-board memory (e.g. Intel
Extreme) or low on-board memory (e.g. 32MB) achieve greater
performance. Texture Detail must be set before the game loads
and cannot be changed in game.
Texture Filtering
----------------An effect which improves the quality of textures.
texture filtering to increase performance.

Reduce

Anisotropic Filtering
--------------------Allows textures to appear cleaner and crisper when viewed at
sharper angles. Reduce anisotropic filtering to increase
performance.
Geometry Detail
---------------

This option adjusts the amount of polygons drawn on screen.

Reduce geometry detail this setting to increase performance.
Draw Distance
------------Determines how far into the distance objects in the game will
be drawn. Reduce draw distance to increase performance.
Antialiasing
-----------Reduces the jaggedness and pixelation you see on edges of 3D
objects. Reduce antialiasing to increase performance.
Shader Version
-------------Shaders are graphical effects applied to game objects to enhance
their appearance. The higher the shader version the more
graphical effects used but at the expense of performance.
Features:
Ground Shadows
-------------Turn unit ground shadows on or off.
to increase performance.

Turn off ground shadows

Arrow Trails
-----------Turn arrow trails on or off.
increase performance.

Turn off the arrow trails to

Particle Systems
---------------Turn particle systems on or off.
systems to increase performance.

Turn off the particle

Grass
----Turn landscape grass/shrubs on or off.
increase performance.

Turn off grass to

Bump Mapping
-----------Bump Mapping is an effect which produces richer, more detailed
textures on objects. Turn off bump mapping to increase
performance.
Bloom
-----

An effect that causes very bright objects to glow.

bloom to increase performance.

Turn off

Depth of Field
-------------An effect which simulates the focal properties of a camera lens.
Turn off depth of field to increase performance.
Advanced:
Npatch Detail
------------Npatch technology is used by many recent ATI graphics cards
(8500 upwards) to smooth the curved surface of 3D objects by
increasing the polygon count through a process called Npatch
tessellation.
Distance Based LOD
-----------------This allows you to control whether you want the detail level of
objects to change as you zoom the camera in and out.
Turn on
distance based LOD to increase performance.
Detail Level
-----------If Distance Based LOD is enabled you can control how quickly the
level of detail will change using this slider. Lower the detail
to increase performance.
Frame Rate Based LOD
-------------------As the frame rate drops the level of detail of objects reduces
to increase performance.
Multipass Shaders
----------------Allows lower end graphics cards to simulate some shader effects
used by higher end cards. Enabling Multipass shaders puts more
strain on the graphics card and may reduce performance.
Known Issues
============
On computers with Intel Extreme graphics text may corrupt at
high resolutions. To fix this issue lower the resolution in
the graphics configuration panel.
If the Autoplay fails to start you can start the install by
running setup.exe in the Disk1 folder on the Stronghold 2
Deluxe disc.

*****************************************************************
6.

TROUBLESHOOTING

***********************
General Troubleshooting
=======================
Q: When I try to launch the game I get the following error:
"Debugger detected - please close it down and restart.
Windows NT users: Please note that having the WinIce/SoftIce
service installed means that you are running a debugger." I
do not believe I am running a debugger. What could be the
problem?
A: This error is caused by DivX 5.1. The issue you have mentioned
is a bug in this release of the DivX codec. The codec is
actually what`s showing the error, and shutting down Blaze
Media Pro because it is erroneously detecting the software as
a debugger. You can resolve the issue by updating to DivX
5.1.1 http://www.divx.com, and you will no longer have this
problem. If you do still have any problems please contact
Mastertronic Technical Support.
Video Problems
-------------The vast majority of problems that you are likely to encounter
are probably related to drivers that allow the game to make
optimum use of your systems resources. In particular, video
games are most influenced by Microsofts DirectX drivers, which
are responsible for various aspects of your system including:
video, sound, controller input, 3D graphic functions, DVD-ROM
access and other functions. If you do experience problems,
always ensure that you are using the latest drivers for these
devices, and that your DirectX installation shows these devices
as being certified (with DXDIAG).
DVD-ROM Problems
--------------Make sure that the DVD-ROM disc is in the correct drive, with the
label facing upwards. The DVD-ROM disc must be in the drive to
install or run the game. If you have two DVD-ROM drives, the DVD
must be placed in the drive whose drive letter comes
alphabetically first for the game to work.
Ensure that the DVD-ROM disc is free from any markings or
scratches which may interfere with normal operation. If the
disc requires cleaning, gently wipe the surface with a dry,
non-abrasive cloth.
Sound Problems
-------------Make sure that your speakers or headphones are plugged into the
correct socket, and that the volume control is at an appropriate

level. If you are using powered speakers, ensure that the power
is on.
If you continue to experience problems, ensure that the Volume
Control taskbar icon (depicted by a small yellow speaker)
is present.
Double-clicking this icon will open the Volume Control window.
Make sure that the Wave and Master Volume controls are set at an
appropriate level and that the Mute feature is not enabled.
MSVBVM50.DLL Error
==================
If the error "The MSVBVM50.DLL file is linked to missing export
OLEAUT32.DLL:421." occurs while installing the game.
The error occurs because during the setup process, the
MSVBVM50.DLL file requires a version of OLEAUT32.DLL that is
newer than what comes with the original version of Windows 95.
Therefore you will need to replace this file with the copy
supplied on your DVD-ROM.
To replace the file simply double click on AXDIST.EXE file which
can be found in \MTXONE\EXTRAS directory on your DVD-ROM.
You will also have to restart your computer for the changes to
take effect.
When done, launch SETUP.NOW again and try to reinstall.
The Mastertronic installer does not load
========================================
For the Mastertronic installer to work you must have the
following configuration on your machine:
* Display properties must be 'Small fonts'.
If you get an error message on the Preload screen then click on
the <AutoFix> button.
To change you display properties to small fonts:
-----------------------------------------------1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,

Select 'Settings',
Select 'Control Panel',
Double-click on the 'Display' icon,
Select 'Appearance',
Change the font settings to 'Small Fonts'.
Click on 'OK' button to apply changes

OR
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,

Select 'Settings',
Select 'Control Panel',
Double-click on the 'Display' icon,
Click on the 'Settings' tab,
Click on the 'Advanced' button,

7. Select the 'General' tab,

8. And change the font settings to 'Small Fonts'.
9. Click on 'OK' button to apply changes
To bypass the Mastertronic installer and load the separate
components on this DVD, follow the instructions below.
The Game
-------To install the game you should do the following...
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\Disk1\Setup.exe
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
5. You should now refer to Section 3 from step 4, to install
the game.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
-------------------To install Adobe Acrobat Reader you should do the following...
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\MTXONE\ACROBAT\SETUP.EXE
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
Manual
-----To view the manual you should do the following...
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\MANUAL.PDF
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.
DirectX
------To install DirectX you should do the following...
1. Go to the 'Start' button on your Windows taskbar,
2. Select 'Run',
3. Type:
D:\Disk1\DirectX\dxsetup.exe
(Assuming that the letter of your DVD-ROM drive is D:)
4. Click 'OK'.

*****************************************************************
7.

PRODUCT SUPPORT

***********************
Please read the following section before calling
technical support:
Because of the millions of different hardware and software
combinations possible with today's Personal Computers, you may
still have to refer to your computer manufacturer of software
publisher to properly configure their product to run our game.
Contacting Technical Support
---------------------------If you have technical questions about the game, our Technical
Support Department is here to help. Our web site contains
up-to-date information on the most common difficulties with our
products. If you are unable to find the information you need on
our website, please feel free to contact us via e-mail,
telephone, Fax or mail (for contact us details - see below).
If possible, be at your computer when you call. The support
representative will need specific information about your computer
and may need you to access or change some of the files while you
are on the telephone. If it is impossible for you to be at your
computer, be sure to have the following information:
A listing of your computer's hardware and the settings from
Device Manager, including what sound and video card you system
has. (Contact your computer manufacturer if you aren't sure.)
What version of Windows(TM) you are using.
What version of DirectX(TM) is currently loaded on your computer?
How the game is currently configured.
The version number of the game (if possible).

Our technical support personnel will do their very best to get

our software working on your system, so please be patient
with them.
Certain times of the year (around Christmas, or when we
release a brand new game) the Technical Support lines can get
rather busy. If you need faster support or wish to view the most
frequently asked questions (FAQs) please use our website and
check the Technical Support web pages (see below). This is where
the most common problems can be fixed with easy step-by-step
instructions, and we recommend trying it before contacting the
Technical Support line. The answer to your question just might
be sitting right there.
Also, if you have any questions about this or any other

Mastertronic product, please contact our Customer

Service/Technical Support Group. For contact us
details see below.
Contact "Mastertronic" details:
===============================
Customer Service is available on Monday to Friday
(except Public and Bank holidays) from 10.00AM to 5.00PM (GMT).
Address:

Mastertronic Customer Services

122 Southwark Street
London
SE1 0SW
United Kingdom

Tel:
Fax:

+44 (0) 845 234 4250

+44 (0) 845 234 4243

E-mail:

support@mastertronic.com

Website:

www.mastertronic.com

----------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer
----------------------------------------------------------------Although Mastertronic believes this Game and any attachments to
be free of any virus or other defect which may affect your
computer, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure
that it is virus free and Mastertronic does not accept any
responsibility for any loss or damage arising in any way from
its use.
-----------------------------------------------------------------