Morbus is the leader of the Dark Tribe, the baddest bunch of no good-niks around, and because he instigates a revolt against the highest of the Gods, he is doomed to receive the worst punishment he can possibly imagine - banishment to planet Earth. As soon as he arrives on Earth, Morbus and his Dark Tribe begin their battle against all that is good and pure about earthly greenery and the Settler world.The objective of Settlers IV is to build up a colony with a thriving construction and mining industry, food, tool and weapon production. The player's skilful use of resources, combined with the irrepressible get-up-and-go of the diverse Settler characters, form the foundation for a robust colony. Ensure that the settlement becomes more attractive and it could be a paradise, if it weren't for the neighboring races and Morbus, with his evil machinations.The player can decide whether he wishes to lead the Romans, the Vikings or the Mayas. The races differ not only in their appearance and their architecture but also in a variety of details. They raise different farm animals, produce different alcoholic beverages, make and use different weapons and their priests cast unique spells.All Settlers are actually peace-loving folks, but there is always that annoying neighbour that occupies the land with those large deposits of gold or sends long-fingered brethren over to swipe your freshly harvested crops. This can cause the industrious Settlers to engage in magnificent battles on land and at sea, battles where the outcome will depend less on the number of troops but more on skilful tactics and a well-organised strategy.The Dark Tribe plays a special role in carrying out the evil plans of Morbus to rid the earth of its greenery, leaving a desolate wasteland in its place. His Dark Gardener plants lots of shadow weed (a fast-spreading ground- cover) which draws all the nutrients from the soil, then withers away. To keep the Dark Tribe in check, the player has to use his own gardener to make the soil fertile again. Only then can you capture the dark temple.Settlers IV Gold Edition contains the original Settlers IV, of course, plus the previously available Settlers IV Mission CD and The Trojans and the Elixir of Power, meaning there's a whole heap of extras on offer. Over 100 additional missions, multiplayer maps and wallpapers is just the tip of the iceberg.