Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion

[GroggyGrognard]

Looks intriguing and 33% off now on steam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbcdT8Fm7Ao



Groggy

[spelk]

If you like turn based fantasy combat, with storied battles, and A Game of Thrones like set of factions, then you'll probably like Ravenmark. It's been out for a number of years on the iOS platform (and they also made a multiplayer, free-to-play, collectible freemium title out of the IP) but has only just recently been extended and touched up a little for the PC.

The unit graphics are very nice (I've often shown them when talking about Tiller's games, ie. if Tiller's games had unit graphics this good, I'd be a happier bunny than having to play with those old 90's barely-able-to-see pixellated ones).

The thing that stands out for me is that the units have multi-unit formations, and combination abilities (1 unit =dagger, 2 units locked = deuce, 3 units locked = trine). Their is an initative system. A command points system (where you can only dish out so many orders to your ever growing numbers of troops). But also a Standing Orders system where you can tell a shield wall locked Trine (three units in a line) to keep advancing in a particular direction, and then you don't have to spend any Command points on them. Or you can tell a Cavalry Dagger (a single unit) to pursue a particular enemy and it will until the unit is killed or you use a command point on it to change its orders.



The combat system is WEGO, so you plan all your moves and then depending upon initiative the moves play out interleaved. You can check the initiative score for each unit, even enemy, before you plan the move/attacks. So you can plan quite complicated stuff based on who will do what and when in the turn playout.

The named heroes have personalities, and different abilities. Plus they can have area wide morale abilities that can be important.

Theres some decent artwork and stories on offer, as well as a Codex, telling you all you need to know about the units, or the enemies you've encountered.



Well worth a look if you like this sort of thing, I suppose its a bit more wargamey style Wesnoth, without many pretentions towards an RPG.

[tgb]

I've been looking at this since yesterday and been on the fence.  The graphics, to me, are a little off-putting,  Still, for $10, it might be an enjoyable little diversion.  Is it any deeper than something like Advance Wars, for example?

[Jarhead0331]

Is this just an iOS port, or have they added to and improved it?

[spelk]

Is this just an iOS port, or have they added to and improved it?

According to PCGamesN:

http://www.pcgamesn.com/ravenmark-scourge-of-estellion/ravenmark-scourge-of-estellion-comes-to-pc-in-extended-edition

"The game has been updated and expanded for the PC release, with the campaign now being added to with an epilogue storyline that spans eight new scenarios. The game has also been retooled to make the most of our beefier platform, adapting features so they'll match up to the expectations of PC players. "

[spelk]

I've been looking at this since yesterday and been on the fence.  The graphics, to me, are a little off-putting,  Still, for $10, it might be an enjoyable little diversion.  Is it any deeper than something like Advance Wars, for example?

Not sure why the graphics are off-putting, especially if you're willing to stomach Advance Wars graphics! ;)

I don't think its anything deeper than the likes of AW or Wesnoth, there is a storyline, and factions and these play into setting up various different scenarios.

[Possible Spoiler]
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(dunno if we've got spoiler tags in these forums! - sorry)

One of the ones in the Prologue is where your main Shield guy goes in to an enemy camp disguised as a supply truck that you captured in the previous mission. He has to engage the enemy, and get their attention, and then you storm the camp with your other men and mop up.

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[/Possible spoiler]


Not sure how more it opens up with choices of missions later on. I bought it yonks ago on iOS, but never got to play much of it because I simply couldn't get to grips with playing long sessions on a mobile device, my decrepit hands just can't handle it. :)

So, I was very excited to see this drop on the PC.

I'm a fan of the graphics, nicely defined military units in a believable fantasy world. With characters you can become attached to.

[weateallthepies]

I got an email from Slitherine giving me another 25% off so only $7.49 if I buy through them.

Might be worth checking emails. I do own the IOS game so maybe that's why I got the email.

[tgb]

My stomaching of Advance Wars graphics took place a)several years back b)on a handheld device. :)

[ComradeP]

Ah, so the current PC version is already the Extended Version mentioned by Slitherine.

I was on the fence when I saw that there would soon be an Extended Version, but if this is already it I might buy it.

[tgb]

I picked this up this morning because $10, and I'm enjoying it so far.  I'm still in the prologue, but I can see it's deeper than it appears, especially given it's lineage as an IOS game.