Studies have long suggested that humanity and its less-than upright ancestors have been violently prodding one another with sharp sticks for at least five million years. With further evidence telling us that the humble stone-tipped spear has been in production for 300,000 of those years, given that the oldest swords have been dated no earlier than 3300BC, and that it’s only been during the last few centuries that such weapons have fallen out of favour, the spear has had a pretty good run.



It’s easy to understand why. The simplest spears were as easy to make as clubs and you didn’t even have to be human to make one. Plus, it’s an incredibly versatile weapon.

Yes, it’s just a sharp point wedged into the end of a stick, but it has a reach comparable with the ponderous Poleaxe, a speed of attack that’s not far off that of a dancing Dual Blades character, and, when arranged in a phalanx of friendly pikes, can deter the most eager of cavalry charges. A variant of the spear - the javelin - even makes for a pretty decent missile, though, sadly, not in the current version of the game.



The Spear weapon specialization is characterised by the zaġāya, the signature weapon of the Berber warriors. These nomadic tribes people helped to conquer much of medieval Spain and establish the Moors as the dominant civilisation across north africa and the western mediterranean.



Although a distinct lack of plate armour, compared to the similarly-equipped Poleaxe, allows the Spear warrior to unleash a flurry of attacks that are as indiscriminately effective while on foot or when mounted, spear-equipped characters are more vulnerable to multiple or concentrated attacks. Thankfully warriors with spears are able to use the reach of their weapon combined with superior agility to more easily disengage and, hopefully, live to fight another day.
 

• Gungnir's Greeting: Gungnir was the name of Norse god Odin’s spear, which was said to have been so well made that it always hit the target, no matter how bad the person wielding it was in a fight - which doesn’t say much for Odin’s combat abilities.
   
• Return of Jangar: By virtue of the fact that there’s not much to unbalance it, a spear’s centre of gravity means that the blunt end can be just as effective as the pointy bit up top - as this skill demonstrates.
   
• Heaven's Fury: Somewhere between a precision attack and a wild and uncontrolled swing is this flurry of attacks, ostensibly designed to clear a narrow path forward through the enemy ranks.

Despite the fact that they quickly evolved and went on to dominate the battlefield, at the time of their introduction, the complex to make, unreliable to use and difficult to maintain arquebus was a vastly inferior weapon to the humble bow.



As well as being a centuries-old design that could be easily fashioned from ready-to-hand materials, bows were in common civilian use and populations were actively encouraged, through sport and hunting, to keep their archery skills maintained. It was only when beknighted warriors became veritable tanks, and the draw strength of the typical archer was no longer sufficient to guarantee armour penetration, that the comparatively feeble musketeer became its wholesale replacement.

In Conqueror’s Blade, despite sharing the same historical space, the game’s three varieties of ranged weapon - two of which are bows - couldn’t be more equally poised or effective. Although on per-shot terms the Bow is more powerful that the flighty Short Bow, compared to the Musket the Bow cannot always guarantee a significant amount of damage, especially when levelled against a heavily armoured enemy.



The Bow certainly has the advantage in being effective at distances far beyond the range of any buckshot - with only other long-range archers, stray siege munitions and twin-bladed assassin’s to worry about. In addition both bow classes have no need to be encumbered with armour, and can swiftly be repositioned to take advantage of any tactical situation, whether in support of a rapid advance or a hasty retreat.

As a rule the archer-types of Conqueror’s Blade should try to support any allied assault to secure higher ground, as it’s only from elevated positions that they’ll be able to take advantage of having increased range and a deeper field of fire over any enemy archers keen to bring them down.



Being lightly armoured, nearby cover is an important consideration, but not so much as being able to rely on agility and maneuverability to evade close combat, since the last thing thing an archer wants is to stand toe-to-toe with an enemy brandishing a sharp blade. A musketeer can at least use the butt of their weapon to attempt to better an enemy attack - the archer has no such last resort.
 

• Rain of Arrows: There are some reports that claim a skilled archer could launch more than 20 arrows into the air within a minute. In reality it was probably half that number. Considering that there was no such thing as a minute during the medieval ages, with this ability you can confidently place yourself among history’s undocumented elite.
   
• Flaming Arrows: While the musketeer can create a lot of noise and smoke with their fancy high-tech boomstick, but what use is smoke without some cleansing fire! With this skill you can draw from your quiver a pitch-tipped shaft, set it ablaze and launch it at something flammable - such as an enemy who hasn’t bathed in a month. Vup!
   
• Exploding Arrows: Sure, it’s not going to blow a hole in the wall, but if you want to create a bit of chaos and confusion with the enemy ranks, and maybe keep their barber surgeons busy for a good time afterwards, it’s hard to beat the effectiveness of an improvised explosive device.

Typically, we associate big freaking swords with woad-skinned highlanders exposing themselves to the English in the name of freedom. However, as with most varieties of melee weapon, the two-handed sword was as natural an evolution of the one-handed blade as the plague was to poor public health. Indeed, as with most period weapons, such swords predate even the Dark Ages, with the zhanmadao of the Han Dynasty cutting a path across China back when the Romans were still lording it over the Mediterranean with their cute little gladii.



As with the Scottish claymore and the Landsknecht zweihänder, the Samurai nodachi was a weapon of the late medieval era and, like it’s counterparts in other parts of the world, it was as intimidating as it was impractical. While it was common for two-handed sword-wielders to strap their weapons to their back, the difficulties of drawing their weapon in time to thwart a surprise attack inspired some Samurai to a clever solution - have a hapless follower close by to help unsheath the weapon in times of sudden need.



Sadly, nodachi-equipped Generals in Conqueror’s Blade won’t have such close support, although it’s probably just as well as soft-skinned personal assistants would make for too tempting a target for muskets and bows. Instead, players will have to rely on their ability to use their chosen weapon to best effect, which being long and sharp, puts it alongside poleaxes in its ability to cut through a wide arc. Since the nodachi isn’t paired with heavy armour, its General is unable to stay for too long in a hotly-contested chokepoint. However, by charging in on horseback, delivering a couple of strikes from above, then dismounting to cut a path around an enemy’s flank, they can cause significant casualties. It helps that many Nodachi class abilities are geared towards powerful and penetrating alpha strikes.

• Samurai’s March: A fearless lunge into the enemy ranks that with careful timing can be quickly followed up by a second attack. If the first strike causes an enemy to stumble, the second could well be fatal. Simple but effective.
   
• Dragon’s Leap: This charged attack, if successful, will cause you to spectacularly surge forward and inflict significant damage upon your foremost enemy. There aren’t many better ways in which to introduce yourself to a stranger - first impressions count!
   
• Tiger’s Claw: This ability proves that attack is the best form of recuperation. It’s a powerful, raking swipe that doesn’t just leave your enemy bleeding, but helps you to claw back a few precious health points just when you most need them.

They say you should never bring a gun to a knife fight, which in the case of the earliest firearms was probably sound advice. Though for those with no military training they were easier to point and shoot compared to a bow, the first gunpowder weapons – arquebuses - were painfully slow and complex to load, had poor range, worse accuracy and were next to useless in wet conditions.



And yet, of course, thanks to its ability cause a sulphurous kerfuffle and blast through heavy armour with ease, the nascent musket thrived. Once the effectiveness of volley fire was established as the medieval era yielded to the Renaissance, the musket became as standard-issue as a jolly tune and a pair of stout boots.



Unfortunately, as the Musket class in Conqueror’s Blade, the billowing gunsmoke from dozens of rifles isn’t always going to be at your side, making your role that of the ranged cudgel: dancing into medium range, unleashing as much devastating gunfire as accurately as possible and retreating to reacquire your bearings.



Practically naked armour-wise and with what amounts to a wooden paddle for close encounters, the musketeer makes for a woeful melee choice and in most situations is a comparatively difficult class to get to grips with. Against the right enemy, however, such as a slow-moving wielder of a heavy blade - especially when in support to a friendly knight - the musketeer should be able to make their presence felt.

• Close Combat: When not carefully aiming to fire, the musketeer needs to always be moving to find their next target or angle of attack. If that’s not possible because they’ve been ambushed and set about with swords, a leg sweep with the butt of their rifle should give them ample opportunity to make a bid for freedom and to find their next quarry.
   
• Blackpowder Grenade: Though rare (on account of how delicate the clay was that encased the unstable concoction inside), medieval grenades were for centuries an effective support weapon that in reality probably caused more mayhem than maiming. The grenadiers of Conqueror’s Blade will no doubt hope the opposite outcome  is more forthcoming.
   
• Liquid Fire: You’d be hard pressed to devise a more mass panic-inducing hand weapon for the medieval battlefield that this ancient napalm equivalent. Launch a vial of this nasty flaming goop into the midst of an enemy unit and you’ll be hearing their screams in your dreams until the end of your days.   

We’re happy to announce the availability of three pre-order packs for those eager to Steam into Conqueror's Blade as soon as possible. In addition to Premium Account time, an early access headstart and exclusive decorative armour items, all three packs come with guaranteed access to all closed testing phases. Stay tuned to the news for each testing phase announcement.


The standard-issue beta access pack, the Explorer’s Pack, is the easiest way to guarantee beta access and ensure a head start in the game. The decorative highlight is a unique set of ‘Furious Samurai’ armour, which like most Segoku-era battlefield adornments, is designed as much to intimidate and impress the enemy as to protect the wearer. The pack also comes with the ‘Explorer’ in-game title and ‘Explorer’s Kit’.


If you’re feeling a bit more… well, adventurous, perhaps the Adventurer’s Pack is for you? As well as the ‘Furious Samurai’ armour, you get the matching horse armour and banner, plus ‘Ashigaru Detachment’ armour for your units (to complete that oh-so intimidating battlefield look), as well as the ‘Adventurer’ title and Kit. The pack is topped off with an extended 7-day early access head start, rather than Explorer’s 3-days.


This is the ultimate founder’s pack. It comes with all of the above (the ‘Conqueror’ title replaces the Adventurer one), plus the ‘Templar Commander Kit’ and the ‘Order of the Knights Templar’ unit armour, so you, your trusty steed and your most loyal troops, can look like history’s most celebrated righteous combatants. We can’t guarantee that looking like Templars will ensure you fight like Templars, but we’re confident that many of your enemies will think that you can, before turning tail and fleeing for the hills.


Be aware that many of the pre-order items - the armours especially - are extremely limited, with the packs being withdrawn from sale soon after Conqueror’s Blade launches. If you want to be sure that you look the part on the battlefield, and be among the first to establish yourself in-game, a pre-order pack is the way to go. It’s also the best way to support a game that will be a true and unique champion of the free-to-play genre.


Note: These Founder Packs work with the Steam version of Conqueror’s Blade that you launch trough your Steam application. If you already purchased any Conqueror’s Blade Founder Pack from the my.com Conqueror’s Blade website, you will not be able to use them with, or transfer them to your Steam account.

Though the Glaive isn’t the most heavily-armored character class, nor the most agile, the weapon upon which it is named must rank among the most terrifying in the current iteration of Conqueror’s Blade.

That’s because there are fewer things that make a medieval shank more fearsome than something long and unassailable to mount it on. Knife not doing it for you? Put it on a stick and, voila, a spear! Axe not choppy enough? Here, a pole! Giant ornamental sword not intimidating the enemy ranks like it should? How about so you can swing it so that no-one can get close to you? Brilliant! 



For all its obvious potency the glaive is by no means a superweapon. It has a long reach, sure, and it will cut deep if its blade finds flesh, but it’s a top-heavy weapon that requires strength to wield properly.

It’s also something that even the most distracted enemy should be able to see coming and run away from. In one-on-one duels, between a glaive and pretty much anything else, a Yakety Sax-backed comedy chase will regularly ensue.

In amongst the confines of rank-and-file confusion, however, the glaive will likely do much to further the cause of its eager operator.



Obviously, there’ll be some changes to the Glaive class between now and the release of Conqueror’s Blade, but we can’t help but feel that it will a popular choice with new players. Let’s look at some of the skills that will convince them of its devastating merits.  

• Breaker of Shields: If you think the business end of a glaive is threatening, you probably don’t want to experience the base, which is the end of choice for the Breaker of Shields skill. The clue is in the name of course; a forceful thrust of blunt force designed to shatter any opponent’s defense, whether they’re cowering behind a shield or not.  
   
• Hall of Blades: This skill is effectively the Glaive politely announcing its intention to slowly and steadily advance via the medium of devastating blows. Step forward, thwack! Step forward, thwack! Kind of like walking confidently and purposely forward when going to work in the morning, only with a sword mounted on a six-foot pole to help convince others to move out of the way. 
   
• Warlord’s Greeting: Just one close encounter is likely to upset anyone coming face-to-blade with a glaive, but with this skill they get to experience two in quick succession. Think of it as a medieval double-tap, only not so much a tap as a sweeping tsunami of razor-sharp steel that wants to cleave a head from its shoulders.

It’s time to wage war! Sadly, not in Conqueror's Blade quite yet - there’s still a while to go until that battle can be joined. However, we are happy for you to engage in word-based warfare across the official Conqueror’s Blade forums, which are now active and open. If you have a question to ask, assistance to offer, an army to build or an opinion to share, post away!

While the course of future medieval warfare will be what divides and brings us together, please at all times keep your intentions honourable, discussions on track and the discourse civil, lest the moderation team be forced to haul away ne'er-do-wells and lock them in the forum chokey to cool off.    

Of course, if forums aren’t your poisoned chalice, you are welcome to engage with friends and enemies across any or all of our social media channels. If you haven’t done so already, you may like to claim your free cannons, just for joining us on Facebook or Twitter.

At gamesom we accosted Booming Games’ CEO and founder, Xi Wang, threatening to launch him across the hall with our catapult if he didn’t answer some of the questions you guys were keen to see answered. Thankfully, intimidation wasn't necessary, as the project lead and chief advocate of Conquerors Blade was only too happy to sit down and reveal a little of his development philosophy - as well as offer a glimpse at the game’s future. There was even mention about what one of the post-launch civilisations might be!

Stay tuned to hear from My.com Producer Petr Lagun, who is currently finalising plans for the closed beta test. Be advised also that we're working to increase the number of videos we produce over the next few months. We’ll certainly be catching up with Mr. Xi again… just as soon as he’s rescued from the gamescom rafters.

https://youtu.be/Mt3GKKREhqE

Welcome to the first of a series of guides looking at some of the character classes being developed for Conqueror’s Blade. We begin with a look at the Shortsword & Shield, which, as with all classes in the game, is subject to a great deal of change between now and the game’s launch later on this year.



The name Shortsword & Shield is intended more to differentiate the class from its heavier in-game compatriot rather than serve as a definitive historical reference, for which the term broadsword would be more accurate, since the class specialises in the many basket-hilted swords of the late medieval era, such as pallasches, sabres and daos.

Compared to the Roman gladius or the 14th Century basilard (consummate with Dark Age thugs), these were rather more refined weapons that often had curved blades that were perfect for rapid hit-and-run attacks into confused enemy lines.



The baseline Shortsword & Shield character in Conqueror’s Blade is currently represented by a Chinese swordsperson in light leather armour, armed with a one-handed dao and a light round shield.

Despite easily being mistaken for a defensive class, it is a fast-moving skirmisher with swift slashing attacks, able to withstand the attentions of archers while being able to adapt to changing battlefield conditions. Though lightly equipped, once engaged, it is a class that can stay in the fight for as long as possible, at least until the proverbial – or even literal – cavalry turns up.

Let’s look at some of the class skills and abilities for the Shortsword & Shield, the names and aftereffects of which are subject to change.

• Kick: With a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, you probably won’t lack for things to lash out with. Then again, sometimes you just want to put the boot in. Literally. The Kick skill allows you to do just that, by launching an armoured boot right at the soft dangly bits of your enemy. It won’t do a great deal of damage, but it’s going to take a while for your opponent to collect their thoughts.
   
• Shield Bash 3: This ability takes the standard Shield Bash and ratchets it up to XI, dealing additional blunt force trauma as well knocking the opponent to the ground. Taken to the max, the skill bestows a defensive bonus as well as an additional attack that delivers to your prone victim something akin to a contemporary curb stomp.
   
• Throw Shield: As you might expect this skill allows you launch your shield like a frisbee towards an inbound foe, though not quite with the same force that a superhero might conjure up. That would probably be a bit silly. Still, it’s a novel way to deliver stun damage and likely to give your enemy pause for thought before they see the tip of your blade arcing towards them.

We have a new video for you today! A word of warning though - it’s not very stabby. If you’re hoping to see lots of cleaverage and arterial spray as hundreds of swords clash under a leaden sky, you may want to lower your expectations just a tad.

What the video does do is highlight the extent of Conqueror’s Blade’s stunning open world, which isn’t something we’ve gone into much detail about. The historically-inspired realm across which hundreds of armies will clash is going to be pretty vast, with hundreds of provinces crossing plains, deserts, forests and mountains. Of course, there are all the blights of medieval human civilization to take in as well, such as rutted roads, oppressive mines and ever-expanding towns and cities - every inch of which can be fought over.

For now though, take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the sights… More in the way of blood and guts (and open world campaigning) will be along soon.

https://youtu.be/2ic-1zP_CJg