The Realm Divided update is just around the corner, ready to unleash a new era of Faction Warfare. Following our previous Dev Talks on the update (see here and here), it’s time to take a look at the mighty Faction Fortresses at the heart of the new system, and the battles that surround them. Join Game Director Moritz Bokelmann, Senior Producer Luis Dellinger, and Game Designer Marco Nogielsky to learn more.
Supply War
When an attack is declared on a Province, it becomes an active conflict zone. Faction Warfare activities in these conflict zones can contribute to your Faction’s cause in the form of Supplies:
- Supplies represent your Faction’s logistical state in a Province
- Both attacking and defending Factions strive to generate supplies
- These are generated from clearing Faction Camps, opening Faction Chests, and controlling Outposts
- At set times during the day, the state of play is assessed:
- If the defending Faction holds the lead in Supplies, the attack is repelled and that particular conflict is over
- If the attacking Faction holds the lead in Supplies, the conflict moves onto the next stage: a Faction Fortress Siege
Fortress Sieges
Sieges are the decisive moments in a conflict, and determine who controls a Province. Attackers attempt to break down the walls and gates of a Faction Fortress using Siege Hammers, while the defenders try to drive them back.
Weapons Caches
During a Siege, Weapons Caches can appear outside the Fortress walls.
- Both attackers and defenders can try to claim these
- When defenders capture a Weapons Cache, their defensive progress is boosted
- When attackers capture a Weapons Cache, some of the defenders’ progress is drained
- They also grant stacking buffs to the side that captures them
These Weapons Caches provide focal points that draw players into the open battlefield, and can determine the outcome of a Siege.
Last Stand
If the attackers breach the innermost walls of a Fortress, the defenders enter a Last Stand.
- Strong Faction Guards appear at the heart of the Fortress
- This halts the attackers’ progress, giving the defenders a final chance to rally and repel the attack
If the attackers capture the Fortress, they gain control of the Province. Otherwise, it remains in the hands of the defenders. Once a Siege is over, Factions automatically declare new attacks on neighboring Provinces, ensuring that the overall conflict on the Royal Continent is ever-evolving.
Rewards
Faction-flagged players receive Fame, Silver, and loot bonuses in Provinces their Faction controls or is contesting. And in addition, there are some brand-new rewards to be earned through Faction Warfare:
- Faction Soldier vanity set
- Faction Soldier Avatar
- Faction Soldier Avatar Ring
These rewards display the colors of whichever Faction you are currently flagged for. Meanwhile, Faction Capes and Faction Mounts have had their spells, costs, and balancing reviewed, to help them feel more competitive.
With Realm Divided, Faction Warfare is evolving into a massive, continent-spanning conflict in which every battle can make a difference. We can’t wait for you to get involved, and we'll see you when it launches on November 24!