Dragon Empires is Codemasters' persistent state project in which these are the three playable races. Named by renowned fantasy author Piers Anthony, the land is divided into five empires, each protected by one of the titular creatures. Scattered about the varied terrain are some 50 communities of various sizes, from villages to cities, with each region having its own distinctive style of architecture. Any clan that controls one of these centers gains the ability to impose taxes. As a result, they are highly desirable as sources of revenue and wealth. This means they're prizes worth fighting over, a dynamic the development team has made into a core feature via a system of sieges. With development progressing toward launch later this year, the team agreed to familiarize us with various features and elements we'll be seeing before very long.