If you like to classify things into neat categories, you probably wouldn’t want to become an expert in medieval weaponry, least of all one that specializes in polearms, of which the poleaxe and the glaive are just two of a dozen or so confusing variants.



We can probably agree that all polearms are fearsome weapons, by virtue of being dangerous enough without the need to be attached to a lengthy haft, but in being so mounted it conflates to highlight their similarities rather than reveal what makes them different.

Essentially - which is to say simplistically - a poleaxe is polearm weapon closely related to the halberd, in that the profile of both is close to that of an axe rather than a hook (bill), sword (glaive) or scythe (fauchard).



Where the halberd and poleaxe differ is that the cutting blade of the of the latter tended to be a little smaller and the point longer.

The smaller head and piercing spear-like tip meant that less force was required by the user to penetrate plate armour, while the typically heavier, broader - and sometimes longer - halberd was better used to cleave into a more lightly-armoured foe.

In terms of effectiveness, the two weapons couldn’t be more different, even if when it’s difficult to tell them apart physically.



In terms of in-game effectiveness, the Poleaxe is practically impossible to distinguish from a halberd. Essentially they are one and the same and consequently it’s a weapon that seems equally as effective against light and heavily-armoured troops.

Partly, this is down to the fact that the Poleaxe character is paired with plate armour, which can lend the weidler an air of invulnerability that causes them engage the enemy rather impulsively and recklessly.



While the Poleaxe-wielding General is among the foremost vanguard classes in the game and can hold their own against among any other, it’s easy to ignore their weaknesses and get carried away in the moment.

• Bec du Corbin: Having a smaller, lighter head meant that poleaxes could be used in a similar way to quarterstaffs, which means they were great at hooking the legs out from under people.
   
• Lochaber Strike: Brace your weapon in the ground and you’ll be ready to repel almost any attack.
   
• Halberdier’s Thrust: There won’t be many generals on the battlefield who’ll be able to parry this powerful thrust forward.

If you’re not able to join us on the battlefield for this weekend’s Extended Siege Test, we hope that you’ll be able to follow the adventures of those that can.

Gaiscioch is pleased to announce that Conqueror's Blade is scheduled to stream on Sunday, November 4th, 2018 at 1:00pm PST (22:00 CET), as part of the Extra Life Charity Event Livestream series. It will air on http://gsch.info/twitch, and be available for later viewing on YouTube. Viewers will be able to catch up on prior Conqueror's Blade episodes by visiting http://gsch.info/l/539. You can learn more about Extra Life Charity Event at http://gsch.info/el.



There will be a number of streams and videos going live as hundreds of battles get underway, many of which we’ll be linking to in Discord and our other social media channels as the weekend progresses, but we just wanted to highlight a few channels you might like to tune into first.

You can also join us on Facebook Live with CM KillShift Saturday and Sunday at 8am PDT (22:00 CET)!

If after watching others join the fray you feel stirred to join them, it’s not too late to pick up an early access pre-order pack. Don’t forget that all pre-order packs come with access to all Conqueror’s Blade test phases, as well as a bunch of other fine stuff that will serve you long after testing has concluded.

We’ll keep this one short as you probably want to get stuck in as soon as possible, but as hinted at in the headline, the Extended Siege Test is now up and running.
 

Those who are eligible to take part should see the option to download and play the Conqueror's Blade test client in the My.com Game Center launcher. For those who acquired their access through Steam, just fire up Steam and hit Play. If you haven’t done so already, Steam customers will need to sign-up at My.com to unlock Siege Test access.
 

As well as two news maps and units, all new characters created during the Extended Siege Test will receive 300,000 Silver (bound) and 1,500 Honor to invest in themselves and new units as they make the journey towards level 15. Seeing as characters will be deleted afterwards, don’t be afraid to spend unwisely.
 

Whether you’re taking part or watching from afar, don’t forget to check out the updated FAQ before charging into battle. Also, please be aware of the following issues (we will endeavour to update this list during the course of the weekend, if and when required):
 

• Reported crash issues related to some AMD processors. This will hopefully be addressed before the next testing phase.
  
  
• High ping / lag is being investigated, although appears partially linked to “AFK penalties”. (NOTE: While the Extended Siege Test server will remain EU-based, there will be a separate NA server for the CBT.)
  
  
• General performance issues - this is under review. We will update min. system requirements if and when necessary  
  
  
• FIXED: “AFK penalties” (these were related to server / map loading issues).
  
  
• FIXED: FR/DE unable to access client without switching Game Center to EN. (Launcher now defaults to EN for Conqueror’s Blade only.)

 

The following streamers will be joined by a special guest later on today, who will be on hand to answer questions about the game:

EU (Friday, November 2, 18:00 CET / 10:00 a.m. PDT):

• Rimmy
• The Spiffing Brit
• Andy_J_
• darrel86gaming

The session will be broadcast live on the Conqueror’s Blade Facebook page if you’d rather watch things there.


NA (Saturday, November 3 & Sunday, November 4, 8am PDT (17:00 CET)):
Join us on Facebook Live with CM KillShift!


As ever, it’s not too late to join us in battle. We’ll be handing out access to a lucky few over the course of the weekend via our Facebook encampment, but if you can’t wait, pre-ordering will guarantee you access, not only to the Siege Test but all subsequent test phases.

• Download
  
• Extended Siege Test FAQ
• Discord
  
• Pre-Order
  
• Redeem Code
  
• Feedback

No sooner has the dust settled on the first Siege Test, then a second is almost upon us. This time, rather than battling over the bloody ramparts of Augolia, there are two new maps to fight for: Wall Fort (which is another 15v15 siege mode map) and Stalemate Creek, a deceptively quaint 8v8 skirmish map across which we expect to see some impressive flanking maneuvers (and no small number of foolish head-on charges).



As well as the two new maps, for newly-created characters there’ll be some welcome reinforcements (Cossack Swordsmen, Levy Spearmen, Levy Archers, Levy Arquebusiers and Dagger-Axe Scouts) and, between the battles, you can take your warlord up to level 15 - although remember that all characters will be wiped after the weekend’s activities.

...Yes, that’s right, this very weekend! The Extended Siege Test starts Friday, November 2, and will run through until Monday, November 5 (NA: Sunday, November 4). We’ll be sticking with timed slots similar to the first test and we’ll be working to minimise delays and downtime:

• Moscow: 18:00 - 06:00
  
• EU: 16:00 - 04:00
  
• UTC*: 15:00 - 03:00
  
• NA East: 11:00 - 23:00
  
• NA West: 08:00 - 20:00

*Please keep in mind that the server is set to UTC and does not take into consideration daylight saving time changes for the US.



Please remember however that these Siege Tests are designed to stress connectivity, authentication and server load, which means that any issues we have are issues we can work towards eliminating for the next stage. Better they crop up now than later, right?

If you had access to the first the Siege Test - even if you didn’t get around to playing it, you will be welcome to return for the second. However, unless you’ve pre-ordered Conqueror’s Blade you’re not guaranteed a slot for the soon-to-follow closed beta test phase. That’s not to say Siege access won’t allow you to play some part in the CBT, but if you want to be leading the charge as we approach the full scope of the game, you might want to consider the options.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement and hopefully we’ll see you on the battlements!

Pedants will rightly point out that a longsword commonly refers to the two-handed variant, but in the context of the game, let’s focus on what it represents - the knightly sword, which, in tandem with a brightly-daubed kite or heater shield, has long since become part of the iconic twinset of the medieval era.



An evolution of the Viking spatha, the common sword wasn’t so much the dominant weapon of the high medieval age as it was a popular backup. Where most other weapons had to be carried, a sword could be a conveniently sheathed until needed - such as when a spear had become lost or broken. And because swords were almost always stowed away, it became acceptable for them to be carried in everyday life, in much the same way that some societies accept handguns to be worn today. Indeed, in the process of swords becoming known as arming swords (secondary to the increasingly-popular bastard or long-sword), the term “sidearm” had effectively been primed for future use.
 

What made the sword so successful was its partnership with shields, of which, like swords, there were a huge variety to consider. They were, regardless of their size or shape, important pieces of armour used to deflect and parry incoming attacks. The bigger and thicker they were, the more protection they offered at a cost to how easily they could be maneuvered to reduce with any subsequent damage. Some shields, like the buckler or targe, were so small as to be practically useless on the battlefield, though when angled quickly and correctly they could withstand withering dueling blows better than even a strong hilted blade.



The main shield of the Longsword & Shield class is the heater shield, so named by the Victorians because its shape resembles that of a flat iron. Offering a good balance between protection and freedom of movement, the heater shield was a popular pairing with the common sword as their relative weights were comparable and allowed for an even centre of gravity. In-game this means that while the Longsword & Shield class is among the most defensive and is able to use their shield to soak up incoming damage, knowing when to press home an attack will often be the best form of defence.
 

• Sally Forth: We don’t traditionally think of the shield of an offensive weapon, but it’s actually a pretty good way to push forward - essentially using it as a battering ram to make some room and advance your lines. In a finely poised encounter, this ability can make all the difference.    
   
• Mercy of Heaven: Hunker down behind your shield and take some time to gather your thoughts. Hopefully in the process you can pick up a few health points. Think of it as divine healing.
   
• Martial Prowess: It’s all very well to sit there and take it, but sometimes you’ve just got to hit out and confront your attackers. With this skill you can burst out from behind your shield and let your enemy know just what you think of their unfriendly attitude.

Update, Saturday, October 27, 12:29 CEST: Generals, thanks to your active participation we have found and fixed several critical issues. For this reason we've decided to extend this weekends Siege Test times! The new hours for today's testing phase are the following:

• Moscow: Saturday, 18:00 - Sunday, 08:00
• EU: Saturday, 17:00 - Sunday, 06:00
• NA East: Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - Sunday, 01:00 a.m.
• NA West: Saturday, 08:00 a.m. - Saturday, 10:00 p.m.

All times are the respective local times.



If you’ve been eager to be among the first to play Conqueror's Blade with others from around the world, the wait is finally over. The Conqueror’s Blade Siege Test, a preliminary event that aims to showcase and stress the game’s focal PvP mode, will soon be underway. Depending on where you are in the western world, from today and until October 27 these are the times when the you need to be ready to join the fray:

1st Window (RU + EU)*

• Moscow: 18:00 - 22:59
• EU: 17:00 - 21:59
• NA East: 11:00 - 15:59
• NA West: 08:00 - 12:59

2nd Window (NA)*

• Moscow: 03:00 - 07:59
• EU: 02:00 - 06:59
• NA East: 20:00 - 00:59
• NA West: 17:00 - 21:59

* All times are the respective local times.

Those with pre-orders or who have activated invite codes can download the Conqueror’s Blade Siege Test (20 GB). Once the files are installed you can create a character, pick a class and join fights across the Siege of Augolia map.

Press ‘J’ once you appear in-game to search for a battle to join. You’ll start either as an attacker outside the city walls, or as a defender within them. Before you charge the enemy, however, look around for any siege weapons you can use to thin their numbers down. Ideally, too, you’ll want to use chat and voice comms to try and coordinate efforts with your allies. When you do make contact with the foe, make use of the full range of your abilities and remember that, as a General, you’ll be the focus of any enemy attack. Use your troops as protection and try not to get too far ahead of them lest you become isolated. You’re a General after all, not a fantasy superhero.

Be aware of course that the Siege Test is only a small portion of Conqueror’s Blade, which in itself is likely to change between now and when the game goes fully live at the end of the year. If during the Siege Test you do experience undue effects with regards to gameplay, accessibility or performance, please let us know and keep an eye on our various social channels - Discord especially - for any service updates over the weekend.  

Even though the Siege Test is in session, it’s not too late to secure a place. Pre-order packs are still available, as part of which you’ll gain immediate access to the weekend fun and to the subsequent Close Beta Test phase - as well as receiving a headstart when the game goes live (when you can show off your exclusive armour)! For this Siege Test however, time is short. Remember that Saturday is when your final assaults and last stands will have to be made!

• Pre-Order
• Redeem Code
• Siege Test FAQ
• Feedback

Way back at the beginning of 2018 Booming Games ran a very early closed test for Conqueror’s Blade out of its native China, in which a number of people from Europe and North America took part. Despite Conqueror’s Blade being in a very prototypical state at the time, the test was incredibly successful and the feedback from it continues to be of great value as the game inches closer towards release. Indeed, so useful has the feedback been that we’d like to get as many of those early pioneers back in the game as possible.

If you were among Conqueror’s Blade’s first players, we’d like to invite you to try out this weekend’s Siege Test and the subsequent Extended Siege Test. The process of securing access is very simple:

• With your My.com account (you can create one here) log into the Conqueror’s Blade site and select the ‘Redeem Code’ option by clicking on your account user name in the top-right corner.
  
  
• In capital letters and without including any special characters or dots, enter the local-part (the bit before @) of the email address you used to access the Booming Games playtest. For example, if the email you used was b1ade.tester@my.com, you should enter B1ADETESTER.
  
  
• The code you enter will be checked against Booming Games’ database and, should you be eligible (you must have played rather than simply applied), you will be granted access and can download the Conqueror’s Blade game client via the My.com Game Center launcher.
  
  
• Enjoy!

As a true Conqueror’s Blade veteran, we’d love to know your thoughts and, if you like what you see, we hope you’ll consider continuing with us into the closed beta test by picking up one of our pre-order packs.

Don’t forget that the Siege Test is just the start of bigger tests to come as we near release. Stay in touch and hopefully we’ll see you on the battlements!

If you haven't already heard, the testing season for Conqueror's Blade is finally underway. This doesn't just mean that our cherished pre-order customers can, at last, try out the game, but almost everyone with a passing interest will be able to experience it through numerous casts, videos, posts  and articles as we progress from Siege Testing to the CBT phase and beyond.

To help us promote your content creation efforts across the wider Conqueror's Blade community, if you are among those that are hoping to broadcast the game, host a show or write a blog during the course of any of the test phases (regardless of whether or not you've pre-ordered the game yourself), we'd like you to register your interest with us. All you have to do provide a few details about your activity, audience and schedule and we’ll be in touch to discuss how best we can get you up and running with Conqueror's Blade.

Conqueror’s Blade will be playable for the first time this weekend, courtesy of the Siege Test. It’s predominantly a technical test, a large part of which has been about ensuring the same level of access to those who have pre-ordered the game through Steam as via My.com.

We’re happy to say that will be the case, but it does mean that for the duration of Siege and closed beta testing, Steam users will be first required to sign up for access.

Please be aware that the following countries are currently locked from playing Conqueror's Blade: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Angola, Antarctica, Argentina, American Samoa, Australia, Aruba, Åland Islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Saint Barthélemy, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bolivia, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Brazil, Bahamas, Bhutan, Bouvet Island, Botswana, Belize, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Congo, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cook Islands, Chile, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Christmas Island, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Algeria, Ecuador, Egypt, Western Sahara, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Micronesia, Faroe Islands, Gabon, Grenada, French Guiana, Guernsey, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Gambia, Guinea, Guadeloupe, Equatorial Guinea, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Guatemala, Guam, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hong Kong, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Haiti, Indonesia, Israel, Isle of Man, India, British Indian Ocean Territory, Iraq, Iran, Jersey, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Cambodia, Kiribati, Comoros, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Korea, Kuwait, Cayman Islands, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Saint Lucia, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Vietnam.

Here are the steps you need to follow to get playing the Conqueror’s Blade Siege Test through Steam:

• You must have one of three pre-order packs (Explorer, Adventurer, Conqueror) registered to your Steam account. You cannot take part in the Siege Test via Steam without pre-purchasing the game first.
  
  
• Install the game launcher by clicking ‘Play Game’ on the Conqueror’s Blade Steam page.
  
  
• Once the game launcher is installed and open, press the ‘SIGN UP’ button. This will direct you to the player account section of the My.com website.
  
  
• Complete the sign-up process by entering the required information.
  
  
• Please wait 5 minutes while our systems check your eligibility for Siege Test access. You will be provided with a temporary My.com account.
  
  
• Once the check is complete, the ‘SIGN UP’ button on the game launcher will change to ‘PLAY’. Select this to download and install the Siege Test game files (20GB approx). If you do not see the ‘PLAY’ icon, please restart the game launcher.
  
  
• Testing times found here: https://cb.my.com/en/news/28-siege-test-faq-eu-na-1

Yes, the moment many have been waiting for - the opportunity to play Conqueror’s Blade for the very first time - will soon be upon us! This Friday we’ll be locking the doors early to ensure every member of the community, support and tech teams are on hand for what is going to be a relentless couple of days of intense combat. As you rush into the game to fight one another, we’ll be battling to ensure the weekend is as smooth and as enjoyable for everyone as possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOZM3Ljlyo
 
So, what’s going to be in this so-called “Siege Test”? Good question! The long answer is that it will be the first in a series of separate test phases (to be followed by closed beta testing) that will run during October and November. The idea is that we stress elements of the game in isolation before bringing everything together in time for the Open Beta Test, and the eventual Launch. For this initial phase, primarily designed to test technical aspects such as authentication and client / server stability, the clue is in the name - siege gameplay - with the soon-to-be-iconic Siege of Augolia map to try out. All the current classes, weapons, abilities units and siege weapons will be available, so you can get used to the combat mechanics and tactical features before we begin a second Siege Test (dates TBD), which will feature new maps.



If you played Conqueror’s Blade at gamescom and received an access code, or acquired one via social media activity, you’ll be eligible to log into the first Siege Test this weekend. For newcomers who’ve pre-ordered the game, you will have access to ALL testing stages. We’re especially keen to hear what everyone thinks, as being fans of medieval combat and warfare, we’re appealing directly to you and your friends in other like-minded games to help support us in what we’re trying to achieve. We hope you won’t be shy in letting us know your thoughts throughout these testing phases.

To prepare for the Siege Test, you need to have the My.com Game Center launcher installed and updated. If you’re eligible to take part, Conqueror’s Blade will be among the games you can download from your Game Directory tab. Simply put, you just download and install the files as you would any other Game Center game. 

Be aware that all characters will be wiped after the second Siege Test ends, so don’t get too attached to your in-game alter egos.

If you’re keen to experience Conqueror’s Blade with the first wave of combatants, picking up one of the pre-order packs will guarantee you access to the planned Siege Tests and all subsequent test phases (including CBT), and will even grant you an early start prior to the game’s launch. As well as early access, each pack has a range of in-game perks and there are some stunning limited edition armour sets that will ensure you and your troops look great once testing is over. If you don’t fancy pre-ordering just yet, you may want to keep an eye on our social channels, as there are sure to be a couple of codes up for grabs over the next few days and the following weeks. We will also be raffling a few access passes to all those who have signed up on the website, stay tuned to your inbox and subscribe to our newsletter to get further information.

If you haven’t already joined the ranks of our Discord channel, now is probably a good time to get involved, as it will be where the community team will be hanging out during the weekend; answering questions, linking to streams and organising structured in-game events to ensure we have as many players as possible experiencing Conqueror’s Blade to its incomplete fullest.

For in depth details on this first test phase, please check out our Siege Test FAQ here.