The three-year-old game’s latest major update is setting sail for the high seas, bringing with it a whole new level of naval mechanics, ship ownership, and worldbuilding in the War Sails expansion.

This year marks the release of the first truly major expansion for the game. Delayed from summer to fall, the War Sails add-on will bring medieval fantasy adventures and campaigns to the open ocean, adding ship ownership and naval battles to the game’s already intricate land warfare. The expansion also introduces the Nord civilization and expands the Calradia map with icy northern and eastern homelands. In the Mount & Blade world, the Nords are famed as sea raiders and traders, much like the Vikings of our own history.

The features shown off in previews are much deeper than most players expected, especially when it comes to the details of life at sea. There will be ocean currents, wind directions, and storms, all of which can make your voyage more challenging—or faster if you’re skilled. This isn’t limited to bays; some rivers have been widened to support full-on navigation, which will change the map, bridge placements, and strategic overland routes as well.

“Certain rivers have been widened to support inland navigation, allowing ships to reach far beyond the open sea. Bridges have also been redesigned to maintain vital overland routes. Several towns have been relocated closer to the water to integrate them into the expanding maritime trade network. For settlements now hugging rivers and coasts, danger sails closer—rival ports are now just a voyage away,” wrote Taleworlds.

Acquiring ships will be as simple as purchasing them in a port, but true to the medieval spirit, warships will be expensive. A screenshot shows a double-masted, double-oared dromon for just over 60,000 denars—literally years of pay for an elite soldier. You’ll need these ships, though, because blockades are being introduced, making it nearly impossible to besiege coastal towns without a navy to keep enemy reinforcements and supplies at bay.

Very few games bother to model ocean currents or how sailing along the edge of a storm system can help you reach your destination faster…

Source: PCGamer, Steam