Medieval fantasy RTS Bannermen will hold an open beta test next week
Bannermen is a medieval RTS with dynamic environments that we first looked ata couple of years ago. It was in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign that seemed to be going well at the time, but it ran into trouble and was ultimately cancelled. Development went on, however, and it's now slated for release on February 21. Ahead of that, gamers will have a chance to see what it's all about in an open beta that will take place from February 8-10.
The game is set in the "semi-fantasy medieval realm of Valtoria," and mixes conventional units and weapons with powerful "nature magic." Base building and effective resource management are important to success, as each map has unique powers that can be unlocked and turned against enemy forces by building and defending temples in "holy spots."
There's also a "strong focus" on unit control: Each unit in your army can be controlled manually, and you'll also have a hero unit at your disposal that can be levelled up to cast more powerful spells. It will offer a single-player campaign, skirmishes against the AI, ranked and unranked online multiplayer, and custom games with support for up to eight players at once.
It sounds like a fairly straightforward fantasy RTS, although that's not necessarily a bad thing, and that's why the open beta is a nice option: Betas rarely go perfectly smoothly, but publisher 2tainment said it "will give players a sense of the game, its story, and the tactics they will use to shape the world and deliver a victory for their Lord."
Bannermen will be available on Steam, and you can find out more at bannermen.net.
Follow an abandoned lord who recently lost his land and nobility. The campaign constitutes a journey from the bottom to the top, where the goal is to make your lord retake his position as one of the mightiest in the realm.
Fight for the world of Valtoria and push back the evil that has come to possess it. You are Valtoria's last hope. Taking the role of Lord Berrian, you must defeat Valtoria's oppressor Lord Karthor, but he is not a conventional foe. Even though you won many battles in your days, this is will not to be like you ever seen before. You will have to seek help and use your own sword to bring victory. This time, it is not just your life that is at stake, but the whole world.
If you seek glory beyond our lands, there are plenty of other lords willing to take up your challenge. Join the ladder or play with your friends.
The Bannermen multiplayer offers something for everyone. You can play with friends, either against others or AI. Choose between several different maps, with free team compositions in up to 8 player games.
Or why not challange the ladder to prove your skills in a more competitive scene? We provide 3 regional ladder with skill-based matchmaking. Our dedicated servers are located in Europe, North America and Asia.
Bannermen takes place in a vast kingdom where the climate varies. Therefore, the maps and the environment varies depending on where in the realm you are located. You will experience everything from wintry landscapes to green valleys and deserts.
Experience many unique places which all have their own unique characteristics.
Nature powers
Temple buildings allow you to wield supernatural powers and unleash tremendous power. Whether it be electrocution, or calling in a sandstorm depends on the map.
Dynamic level events
Watch the map transform as the climate change. Magic surrounds these lands, sometimes in the shadow, other times in the open.
Use traps and take advantage of different environmental properties to destroy your enemy.
There are many different buildings, each fulfilling its special role in the game. Use the buildings to train troops, research upgrades, improve your defense and much more.
Bannermen contains various units - melee, range and spellcasters. Find powerful combinations and compose your army to counter your opponent.
