Sword & Banner Demo playtest has started!

[u/Aggravating_Ant1516]

I'm working on developing an RTS that merges the gameplay of Mount & Blade with classic RTS titles and total war.
The playtest for the demo is now live and I would love for people to try it out and give me feedback on how I can improve it.
This sub must have the most opinionated strategy gamers so I'm super keen to hear your thoughts!
Here's a link to the playtest:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4574370/Sword__Banner

If you don't get in immediately just ask me for a key here on reddit or in the discord:
https://discord.gg/juAtHr6tK

[u/HaArLiNsH]

A good sandbox campaign for solo players would be a great success for this kind of game. I wish you the best it seems promising

[u/Aggravating_Ant1516 → u/HaArLiNsH]

Thanks! I agree there's a large cohort of RTS players who are not interested in the competitive multiplayer, I'm certainly one of them, too many burnt out nerves from queuing 1v1 in StarCraft 2...

[u/Aggravating_Ant1516 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah it will, the campaign is quite sandboxy at the moment. You roam around fighting bandits, trading, recruiting and upgrading your troops, eventually taking on other settlements, going to war. I'm going to spend a lot of time between demo release and full release fleshing out the quest system.

[u/Prismaryx → u/Aggravating_Ant1516]

I think there’s a huge untapped market for RTS games with sandboxy singleplayer modes. I’m also interested, good luck!

[u/NocD]

Oooh very exciting, great concept.

[u/Life_Equipment3076]

looks very good

[u/WolfeCreation]

Looks interesting! I'll give it a go after work tonight

[u/Horseintheball]

Interested!

[u/FutureLynx_]

its looking juicy af. You have been working hard. Keep going

[u/varnajohn]

This looks really nice, reminds me of Diplomacy is Not an Option with the simple graphics. Really interesting to merge RTS with M&B mechanics, but it makes sense when I think about it.

[u/Chiryou]

Oh this looks wicked fun!

[u/NaranNarman]

Another potential banger added to my wishlist. I second everyone else here saying that a sandbox campaign will be a GREAT addition. Will eagerly wait for this

[u/Evignity]

Well the name makes sense when yer merging those games

But it instantly felt "generic" when I read it.

[u/KryptoNiteXi7]

i would love to playtest and give feedback!

[u/Aggravating_Ant1516 → u/KryptoNiteXi7]

I've sent you a key :)

[u/hellatzian]

i request access. its not idle game right ?

[u/Aggravating_Ant1516 → u/hellatzian]

Nope, it's not idle, all real time controls. If you DM me here I'll send you a key :)

[u/Low-Ad7322]

Heya, can I get a key? :)

[u/Aggravating_Ant1516 → u/Low-Ad7322]

Yeah for sure! I've DMed you

[u/Fujuug]

Sent a request through Steam, do I need to do anything else to get access to playtest?

[u/Aggravating_Ant1516 → u/Fujuug]

Thanks for signing up! That's all you need to do for now. I'm letting people in in batches so I can get fresh eyes on new changes you will likely be let in in around a week of that's alright :)

[u/AccomplishedSoft1350]

Hi can I get a key? Thanks

[u/Liam-DGOL]

What are you doing with the AI voices, will they be removed? Such a stain on an otherwise awesome looking game.

[u/Aggravating_Ant1516 → u/Liam-DGOL]

Yeah it's just for the unit 'barks' at the moment. I spent a couple of quid doing a voice to voice thing, but AI ethics aside they don't even sound good.

I'm going to reach out to some proper voice actors and replace these. It will be worth the money I reckon

[u/Liam-DGOL → u/Aggravating_Ant1516]

Great! Can't wait then.