Tzar The Burden of the Crown

Tzar: The Burden of the Crown is Haemimont Games' year-2000 fantasy RTS, set in the kingdom of Keanor where the Imperial Guard has fallen and a prophesied hero must rise against darkness. The game lets you build vast armies of Knights and Archers, train Wizards to unleash arcane powers, conjure Dragons, Jinni and Undead, and construct siege weapons to smash enemy defenses.

The campaign offers 20 unique missions across three playable races (European, Asian, Arabian), each with their own special buildings and troop types. The race choice substantially changes how a faction plays beyond aesthetic differences. An infinite supply of random maps generates additional skirmish content beyond the campaign.

The game environment goes beyond standard RTS conventions. Climate changes affect gameplay (seasons impact crops and unit performance), wild animals roam the maps as either obstacles or hunting targets, magical artifacts are scattered for discovery, and ancient ruins offer exploration rewards. Resource management, economy building and tactical army composition combine with the fantasy elements for a distinctive entry in the late-90s RTS era.