The tale of the Hive has been told in blood,
So many souls lost, drifted apart.
Now let the Ironlord guide our hearts
And bring our world to a new start.

Rise, O Ironlords!

Last time we went through the rungs of society in need of your guiding hand. However, even as mighty as you are, you cannot bear the brunt of the insurmountable tasks ahead of you — and the needs of the people under your command — all alone. So this time we’re diving into the Ironlord’s inner circle, and seeing firsthand how this society is run, from the inside.

The Great Barons

Finally we come to the crown that rests atop the city’s head: the ruling Barons and you, the Ironlord. As an Ironhive grows, its top echelon becomes composed of great barons, each representing a certain facet of the city’s life, such as taxes or agriculture. They are your most trusted and greatest advisors, your sword and shield.

In the game, you will appoint Barons to aid you in enacting decrees, each bearing their own effects. Each Baron has been hand-picked by the Ironlord from the top of each caste, and their political standing is thus at the Ironlord’s mercy. However, this does not make them your mere pawns. Each baron commands great power in the Ironhive, keeping crucial supplies and people under their control. A court is but a chessboard: are you a strong enough diplomat and leader to remain Lord, or will you crumble and place your fate at someone else’s mercy?

Barons in the game are unlocked once a certain number of citizens of a specific caste is reached, as each Baron also represents one of the castes. Every member of the Ironlord’s Council bears a unique name, ability, a caste they belong to and a loyalty level. Each unlocked Baron starts with no loyalty to the Ironlord, which can then be increased. Once a Baron’s loyalty level reaches its peak, that Baron’s card is added to your deck, granting you an extraordinarily powerful citizen. Each Baron boasts a powerful ability that can turn the tide in terms of your survival, so make sure to gain their trust and power if you wish to keep your throne…

The Ironlord Decrees!

Before turning into full-fledged cards, each fledgling Baron starts out in a special place called the Council. The Council can hold four Barons at a time (each representing a different caste); even if a Baron gains full loyalty and is added to the deck, their spot in the Council will still be occupied.

The Council is used to enact special modifiers called Decrees. Decrees offer passive bonuses to your Ironhive by allowing you to customize specific rules and dynamics within a game, allowing for wider strategic freedom in how you tackle your population’s needs. Once you are satisfied with your choices, the Decree is then issued and remains active until manually removed or another effect supersedes it. Moreover, each Decree is tied to a specific Baron in the Council, so creating Decrees is what actually increases a Baron’s loyalty, eventually adding them to your deck.

However, a ruler is nothing without those who support him, so it isn’t as easy as issuing a decree that grants everyone the most amount of freedom and resources. Being at the center of the powers-that-be is akin to a game of chess, and a truly great leader must learn how to benefit his people while appeasing those who support him if he wishes to stay in power.

To that end, each Decree consists of two parts: Norms and Rights. The Rights represent the will and desires of your citizens, which must be satisfied if you wish to survive. The Norms, however, benefit the Ironlord and the powers-that-be, granting more power and strategic opportunities. The balance of these scales must not veer too hard into either direction, as finding the right balance is the only way for the Decree to get approved and create a change in society.
Will you play your cards right or get swept away by the tide of power?

This was but a fragment of life in IRONHIVE. As we turn the pages of its history, we will discover more truths about this world as well as delve deeper into its rituals and maybe even learn a bit about why the world became as it is. But don’t dwell on the past too much: as the Ironlord, this growing city and all lives in it are under your command, waiting for your orders. Will you ensure harmony between all of its castes despite all their ambitions? Will you collapse under pressure from the great Barons? Will you lead your Ironhive to a better future or bring it to ruin? That’s for you to decide.

If you wish to test your mettle, try our updated Demo and see how well you do for yourself. And if you want to stay updated on all the future developments, make sure to wishlist the game as well as subscribe to the IRONHIVE Twitter page and join the CRITICAL REFLEX Discord server.

Let us live to see another day, together.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2679070/IRONHIVE