Greetings Mercenaries!
We wanted captains to be recognized and feared throughout the archipelago, and for the player to be able to do the same. From idea to idea, we sought to link this ambition to a unique and thematically strong progression system. What could be better than a competitive ranking of all the archipelagos greatest captains, whether pirates, merchants or members of the Guard? A ranking of rivals who swear by the number of raids they've carried out or the number of ships they've boarded? We decided that you could compete in this race for notoriety, and would have to build up your reputation to take on these rivals one by one, eliminating them in a special duel, taking their unique loot and taking their place on the leaderboard!
Of course, this struggle will be highly compensated. First, by defeating a rival, you’ll put your hands on the unique gear that made them so powerful. But you’ll also find maps leading to their treasures. Each rival has one, and finding all of them will make you the most reputable crew in the entire region.
There is no shame in boarding one’s boat, slaying their crew and pillaging their treasures. But one thing we won’t allow ourselves to do is refuse a captain a proper duel: accordingly, if you want to take down a rival in combat, you’ll have to challenge them (and win). Dueling is a new gameplay feature specific to Belerion’s fights at sea. And each new rival has a special strategy you’ll have to adapt to.
But there is more to offshore fighting than duels. Many of your ship’s features can be used at either party’s advantage. But unsurprisingly, the main difference with a regular terrestrial fight will be the water. Any warrior that’s pushed overboard will hang on until a companion rescues them or an enemy precipitates their death. And obviously, while they’re hanging, they cannot fight.
There are many ways to push someone at sea but two of them are new. First, you can use your ballista (or your rival’s ballista) and inflict deadly blows to anyone imprudent enough to enter its firing line. But more importantly, you can use the many ropes attached to your deck to board your rival’s vessel in style, disappearing in the air before crashing down on your enemies. Sounds fun? It is! The downside is that your enemies can do that too.
Enemies! Let’s talk about them. In addition to the local fauna, there will be two new factions to fight in Belerion: the local peacekeepers, and the pirates. After years of ongoing conflict, the two clans have developed opposite strategies. While pirates will do anything possible to keep you close and restrain your movements, Belerian fighters will never let you catch them, and they’ll push you around the battlemap with remarkable ease.
What they have in common, though, is a new type of fighter: the pugilist. This new class will be brought to everyone in a free update. Its main characteristic will be the presence of two separate stances: attack and defense. The pugilist will be able to switch between the two at any time, changing the effects of its skills. This will allow for uniquely versatile strategies and builds, making the pugilist an invaluable addition to any kind of troop…
As always, let us know what you think of the upcoming features! Join our awesome (and passionate) Wartales community on our Discord server, Reddit page as well as Twitter.
