The Old War

Coming soon

Warchest Studios

Planned release: Coming soon
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Last updated: 15 Sep 2026, 13:00 GMT

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12 posts

12 Aug 2026Developer post
RECOVERED DOCUMENT: THE ABBEY'S LEDGER
Entry 734: Subject accepted the Rite. The binding held for three hours before the Unbound claimed her. The Iron Ward was insufficient. The Great Bell was not rung. Entry 735: The Lodge has sent another delegation. They demand we cease the Rites. They do not understand that the Ri
Entry 734: Subject accepted the Rite. The binding held for three hours before the Unbound claimed her. The Iron Ward was insufficient. The Great Bell was not rung.
Entry 735: The Lodge has sent another delegation. They demand we cease the Rites. They do not understand that the Rites are the only thing keeping the Pale from swallowing Andar whole. They do not understand that the Bell is a weapon and a door, and the Abbey must hold both.
Entry 736: We have found another. Young. Willing. The Abbey requires more subjects. The Unbound requires more subjects.
[Ledger ends. Pages torn.] Join the Lore Discord now: https://discord.gg/YbSQz57j
Original post
06 Aug 2025Developer post
🔥 Dynamic Fire System – Dev Showcase | The Old War 🔥
View game page Dev Update: Fire System in The Old War Hey everyone! Just wanted to share a behind-the-scenes look at one of the new features we’ve been working on - a fully dynamic fire simulation system that brings more chaos, strategy, and atmosphere to The Old War . So what do
View game pageDev Update: Fire System in The Old War
Hey everyone! Just wanted to share a behind-the-scenes look at one of the new features we’ve been working on - a fully dynamic fire simulation system that brings more chaos, strategy, and atmosphere to The Old War.
So what does it do?
Our fire system isn't just for show. Here's what makes it unique:
Fires grow, spread, and consume fuel realistically over time. A small spark can turn into a devastating inferno, or fizzle out if it runs out of fuel.
Fire size, heat, and spread radius dynamically increase and shrink based on available fuel and surrounding conditions.
Visual effects scale with the fire's intensity, so you’ll see small flickers turn into raging blazes.
Weather, wind, and snow can influence the spread rate and visual behavior.
Thousands of fire instances can exist on-screen simultaneously, thanks to an efficient ECS-based architecture (DOTS) + GPU-driven VFX Graph integration.
Buildings char and darken over time as they burn, with a visual charring system that reflects how much fuel remains.
Why it matters:
Fires in The Old War aren’t just eye candy - they’re tactical. You might burn down an enemy’s key structure… but what if the fire spreads to a neutral city? Or worse, your own base? Fire is now a strategic weapon, but it comes with risks.
🛠️ Tech side for the curious:
We're using Unity's Entity Component System (ECS) and VFX Graph to manage massive numbers of fires without tanking performance.
Fires are data-driven, so they can interact with other systems like weather, capture mechanics, and faction AI.
We're also experimenting with a visual effect pooling system and tight AABB bounds to ensure only visible VFX are simulated.
Here's a sneak peek of what it looks like in action:
Wishlist The Old War on Steam:
View game page
Join the Community on Discord: https://discord.gg/Dw2u7gQ8UV
Learn more: http://warcheststudios.com/
💬 Let us know what you think!
Would you ever risk setting a blaze near your own walls? Want us to add fire-based traps or firefighting units? We’d love your feedback as we refine the system.
Stay warm out there,
—Dan
Warchest Studios
Original post
17 Jul 2025Developer post
MASSIVE BATTLES UNLOCKED!
MASSIVE BATTLES UNLOCKED! View game page This is a really exciting post for me. The Old War can now support thousands of units at one time! As much as I love other games with massive swarms, there are many reasons I am excited for a high unit limit. We aren't looking to be a towe
MASSIVE BATTLES UNLOCKED!View game page
This is a really exciting post for me. The Old War can now support thousands of units at one time!
As much as I love other games with massive swarms, there are many reasons I am excited for a high unit limit. We aren't looking to be a tower defense, or a swarm-centric game, but we don't want to limit you to a unit cap that has been outdated for 20 years. For The Old War, a high unit count is more about the additional gameplay mechanics and new strategies that this unlocks.
Some of this new, emergent gameplay is as follows and will be explained further:
Neutral Towns and Cities
Swarm-type Troops
Shared Unit Control at Scale
A Living, Breathing World
NEUTRAL CITIES AND TOWNS
Adds territorial strategy - towns can be occupied, allied with, razed, or fortified.
Forces players to consider diplomacy or resource denial, not just combat. People can be a resource for a number of nefarious purposes - recruits, labour, or just bodies for the undead.
Offers a strategic midpoint between battles, capture a town to resupply or reinforce before a major siege. Each battle will be a series of skirmishes and escalating conflicts.
You may need to protect allied cities, or wipe them out to prevent their exploitation by others.
SWARM TROOPS
Enables quantity-over-quality factions or tactics, throw waves of weak units to overwhelm, scout, or soak damage.
Introduces attrition mechanics - can you outlast the swarm? Can you keep producing faster than they die?
Opens up asymmetrical strategies: fighting a swarm requires choke points, AoE attacks, or elite squads.
Adds chaos and urgency - when 300 units are charging your gate, every second matters.
SHARED UNIT CONTROL AT SCALE
Enables true co-op strategy, where one player can manage the frontlines, another handles ranged units, another controls cavalry or siege weapons. It will be a struggle for one commander to control it all.
Reduces micromanagement stress, allowing teams to act like a real military command structure.
Lets players specialize based on preference - some love building bases, others love commanding troops.
Keeps large-scale battles manageable and exciting, not overwhelming.
A LIVING, BREATHING, WORLD
The world reacts: citizens flee if you are a conqueror, towns change hands, citizens remember past battles.
Roaming Beasts: Neutral creatures roam the map: wolves, bears, magical entities. Can be hunted, avoided, or even tamed.
Trade routes move between towns. Can be intercepted or protected, affecting economies.
Thousands of units don’t just make the battles bigger - they make the choices deeper. Every formation, every frontline, every village caught in the crossfire becomes part of The Old War. This is war at a scale where your strategy is shaped by the world itself.
Wishlist The Old War on Steam:View game page
Original post
23 Jun 2025Developer post
First Gameplay Trailer is Here!
First Gameplay Trailer is Here! We're excited (and a little terrified) to share the very first gameplay trailer for The Old War - our dark fantasy RTS where every unit matters, armies persist between battles, and faction control can be shared with your friends. 🛡️ Persistent arm
First Gameplay Trailer is Here!
We're excited (and a little terrified) to share the very first gameplay trailer for The Old War - our dark fantasy RTS where every unit matters, armies persist between battles, and faction control can be shared with your friends.
🛡️ Persistent armies
⚔️ Brutal tactical battles
🏰 Co-op faction control
🧭 A campaign where your choices and losses carry forward
Watch the gameplay trailer here:
YouTube
Wishlist The Old War on Steam:
View game pageIt helps a ton and ensures you’ll be the first to know when we launch playtests.
We’d love to hear your thoughts:
What stood out to you in the trailer?
Were there moments that felt too fast/slow or unclear?
What kind of features or modes would you love to see in a dark fantasy RTS like this?
Drop a comment and let us know what you think! We're actively building The Old War with the community in mind, and this is just the start.
See you on the battlefield,
Dan & the Warchest Studios Team
Original post
17 Jun 2025Developer post
The Clan System
Introducing Clans in The Old War - Build Together, Fight Together The battlefield is brutal, but you don’t have to face it alone. With the new Clan System , you and your friends can forge a shared legacy. Whether you're building a warband of elite fighters or managing a growing m
Introducing Clans in The Old War - Build Together, Fight Together
The battlefield is brutal, but you don’t have to face it alone.
With the new Clan System, you and your friends can forge a shared legacy. Whether you're building a warband of elite fighters or managing a growing municipal workforce, clans let you combine your efforts and push back the darkness together.
Shared Armies & Resources
When you form a clan, all members contribute to a shared pool of units, resources, and structures. This isn’t just a stat screen, these are real assets that persist between battles. What you build or lose affects the entire clan, so strategy and coordination matter.
Assign Player Roles
Every clan can assign Council Seats, each with their own unique roles and benefits.
These roles include:
Warlord
Grand Mage
Questor
Alderman
Quartermaster
Whether you're leading attacks or handling supply chains, everyone has a part to play. Roles aren't just cosmetic, they shape how your faction functions.
Commit to Battles as a Clan
Before entering a battle, the clan can draw from its shared forces, choosing which units to risk and which to preserve. Committing to a fight is a real decision with long-term consequences. Lose a veteran unit, and it's gone for good unless your clan has the resources to rebuild.
Customize Your Regalia
Clans can also design their own banners, colors, and regalia. These symbols appear on your units, buildings, and UI, so when your army marches into battle, the enemy knows who’s coming.
This system is built to support cooperative, long-term strategy. It’s not just about winning a match, it’s about forging a legacy everyone will remember.
The Clan System is still evolving, and your feedback is hugely valuable. What kinds of roles, permissions, or visuals would you like to see added?
Original post
31 Mar 2025Developer post
Let There Be Magic!
Magic in The Old War In The Old War, magic is hated and feared. It was said that magic is what destroyed the world. Anyone who uses it plays with forces far beyond their comprehension and control. Only tyrants and madmen would dabble in these forces. How it Affects the Game This
22 Mar 2025Developer post
The Old War – Persistent Armies
Core Gameplay Mechanics at Launch Commanders, the time has come to prepare for The Old War. As the release draws near, we want to highlight the mechanics that will shape your experience in this dark and unforgiving world. In The Old War, you’ll lead a persistent army—an embattled
06 Mar 2025Developer post
Kingdom of Andar Construction System
Hello Everyone! Today, we’re diving into the construction system for the main human faction in The Old War, The Kingdom of Andar. This post will cover everything from placement mechanics to dynamic destruction, giving you a clear understanding of how to plan, build, and maintain
Hello Everyone!
Today, we’re diving into the construction system for the main human faction in The Old War, The Kingdom of Andar. This post will cover everything from placement mechanics to dynamic destruction, giving you a clear understanding of how to plan, build, and maintain your settlements.
Historically in strategy games, humans are the quintessential base builder with a familiar set of rules. This is why I've decided to start with a familiar faction. The Kingdom are not the only human faction, but they are the most familiar. They expand their territory using fortifications and roads to connect cities and trade routes, giving them places of refuge when the sun sets.
Placement Mechanics
Building placement for Andarian architects in The Old War is influenced by several key factors:

Spheres of Influence – Buildings must be placed within the controlled area of your faction (more on this below).
Building Requirements – Certain structures need certain requirements to be built.
Obstruction Rules – You cannot place structures too close to enemy buildings, natural obstacles, or units.
Destruction System – While most buildings adhere to a loose grid for ease of placement, smaller structures have more flexibility.
Spheres of Influence
The Kingdom of Andar expands their territory through a methodical, risk averse approach, with each move planned carefully to preserve human lives. Town Centers, Outposts, and Fortifications. Each structure projects a Sphere of Influence, allowing new buildings to be placed within its radius. If a structure falls outside this zone, construction will be blocked until influence is extended.

Town Centers provide the largest influence radius.
Outposts serve as forward-expansion points, granting a smaller zone of control, but allowing construction outside of your zone of control.
Fortifications & Roads also extend influence.
Destroyed buildings reduce influence, meaning losing key structures can quickly cut off an important expansion.
Building Requirements
There are a variety of conditions required to construct a new Andarian building.

Resource Costs - Buildings cost resources to produce, with the most common resources being gold, stone, wood, and iron.
Terrain and blocking - You must place a building in an unobstructed place within your sphere of influence.
Technological Unlocks - Some buildings require an architect to place, some require certain buildings, like a Lumber Yard or Blacksmith to construct properly.
Step-by-Step Construction
Building constructed by the Kingdom of Andar follow a multi-phase process:
https://youtu.be/sr1yABrZN7g

Foundation Laying – Workers clear terrain and mark the construction site.
Framework Setup – Wooden scaffolding is erected, defining the structure’s shape.
Assembly & Reinforcement – The building takes shape as walls, roofs, and details are finalized.
Completion & Functionality – Once fully built, the structure is operational and can train units, produce resources, or provide defensive bonuses.
The time and resources required depend on the structure’s size and complexity. Upgraded buildings take longer but offer significant benefits.
Dynamic Destruction
War is brutal, and so is the destruction system in The Old War.

Progressive Damage – Instead of instantly vanishing, structures start to burn and crumble depending on the damage type.
Critical Damage – When a building gets critically damaged, it will be destroyed unless repaired.
Total Destruction – The building fully collapses and stops working.
These are the basics of the construction system for the Kingdom of Andar. Many of the same elements will be consistent across factions.
Let me know if there is something you think could be added or changed!
Original post
25 Feb 2025Developer post
New Game Art
Hello everyone! I just wanted to take a moment to give my appreciation to Adrian and Marina for all the incredible artwork they've been creating for The Old War! They were responsible for both the improved artwork on the steam page, as well as the new and improved logo. Adrian br
21 Feb 2025Developer post
Unit Ability Improvements
Battles are about to become more dynamic. Units now have a stamina system that adds another layer of strategy to movement and combat. With this update, positioning, timing, and stamina management will play an even greater role in securing victory. Whether it is repositioning your
08 Nov 2022Developer post
Upgraded to the High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP)
Hello everyone! It's been a while, but I have a number of very solid excuses so I hope you will forgive me. I lost my job, got a new job, went to Scotland and got married. It's been a hell of a year. All that being said, I still do have some pretty solid updates for The Old War,
30 Apr 2022Developer post
Coming Soon Page Released!
Hello everyone! My name is Dan Marshall, and I am the indie developer behind The Old War. I am pleased to announce the release of my Coming Soon page and the Community Hub! This is an exciting milestone for me, as I have been working on the development of The Old War for the past
Hello everyone!
My name is Dan Marshall, and I am the indie developer behind The Old War. I am pleased to announce the release of my Coming Soon page and the Community Hub!
This is an exciting milestone for me, as I have been working on the development of The Old War for the past three years. It has evolved from a personal project into a full-blown RTS with multiplayer support.
This game stemmed out of a love for RTS and multiplayer games, and also from frustration that there weren't that many great co-op RTS games out there. I am the VP of Engineering at an AI-based startup, and I have numerous friends and colleagues helping with the project.
My vision is for The Old War to become a deep and compelling game that you can play with your friends in many ways and have an equally deep and compelling endgame. The current slate of RTS games are rinse and repeat games with a single player campaign and multiplayer battles, and I find that they do not have the staying power I would like. I want to change all that by adding features from other games with excellent multiplayer and endgame support. I hope that by showing you can do new things and implement interesting features from other genres, you can really enhance the long term experience in RTS games.
The final game will come with the following game modes to name a few:

Co-op Campaign (With joint control as an Add-On later)
Dungeons
Sieges
Bastions
Daemon Portals
It will also have these features to enhance the depth and gameplay:

Commander (Player) Experience and Skill Trees
Ancient Relics
Persistent Armies
Custom Races
Unit Equipment
Unit Levelling and Skill Trees
Conquered Territory Bonuses
There are many more features I want to implement, but to avoid just gushing about the project I will end it there! I hope you think this sounds interesting and fun, and I can't wait to chat with you about it!
Dan
Original post