For that reason alone, we can’t call this the typical medieval strategy RPG that Virtual Alchemy is working on, because it’s not your usual backstory.

Band of Crusaders is a dark medieval strategy RPG in which you become the Grand Master of a knightly order and lead them against a demonic invasion of Europe. Create your own sandbox adventure – explore a vast simulated world, recruit crusaders, expand your camp, and face demons and human enemies in real-time combat. In medieval Europe, sins give rise to demonic unions. Heresy and fear slowly consume the entire realm. As Grand Master of a knightly order, you are called to lead a crusade against this unholy threat. Gather your brothers, fortify your camp, and face the Archdemons in fierce battles to reclaim the land from darkness. Band of Crusaders immerses you in a dark medieval fantasy where your leadership determines the fate of Europe.

Experience a dynamic, tactical combat system enhanced by slow-motion mechanics. Victory hinges on character synergy, skillful use of abilities, and unit positioning. The consequences of combat are significant, as each hit can result in the permanent death of a Crusader. Engagements will draw you into deep, stat-driven, party-based combat with a variety of maps offering different tactical opportunities. Manage and develop a roster of up to 20 Crusader Knights while managing scarce resources in a devastated landscape. Expand your camp to support recruiting, healing, repairs, training, and more. Each Crusader brings something new to your camp with their own background, strengths and weaknesses, and ability to synergize with their brethren. The upgradeable buildings offer intricate interactions designed to encourage experimentation and strategic campaign progression.

Advance your Crusaders through attributes and abilities with skill trees that encourage versatile multi-role builds. Choose equipment to support your combat strategy and improve it throughout your campaign. With no fixed character classes, abilities are universal and directly linked to the Crusader’s weapons. Players can use a mix of active, passive, and semi-active abilities to create their own play style. The world changes over time, driven by a variety of emergent player and NPC interactions. Your progress will be affected by a simulated invasion of demonic forces, triggering responses from human factions. This relentless onslaught culminates in epic boss battles where the player has the power to emerge victorious as the savior of humanity. Along the way, your gameplay will be affected by world conditions such as the saturation of demonic forces, changing seasons, and a day-night cycle. You will face not only human enemies, but also demonic creatures inspired by biblical descriptions and European folklore. Each enemy race has its own strengths and weaknesses, encouraging players to strategize and adjust their combat tactics.

“Band of Crusaders is about a company of warriors you raise from peasants to heroes against the forces of Chaos. The Knights Templar are gone and the Archdemons are at the door, threatening the already fragile peace that European peasants have come to cherish,” said Virtual Alchemy CEO Dominik Sypnicki in a press release. Art Director Kamil Mickiewicz added, “Our artistic approach to Band of Crusaders blends historically authentic depictions of medieval tools, armor, and weapons with demonic creatures inspired by biblical descriptions and European folklore. We wanted to see what the world of The Witcher would look like if you took away all the Witchers.”

Band of Crusaders is coming to PC, no release date yet.

Source: Gematsu