Over the years, strategy and RTS games have evolved from basic point-and-click combat to managing an entire economy. Even older strategy games likeAge of Empireshave been reworked to include more sophisticated gameplay elements. But, not all gamers enjoy the new generation of strategy and RTS games and instead miss the OG strategy games likeAge of Mythology,Empire Earth, andRise of Nations.
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Fortunately, Shiro Games has heard the outcries of these gamers and designedNorthgard, an old-school strategy game with some RTS elements sprinkled over it.Northgardgameplay is simple yet fun, meaning it’s theperfect RTS for newcomersto the genre. But, even then, newNorthgardplayers may want to learn the ins and outs of this game since it features several unique gameplay elements.
Build Up Defenses
Fans thatloved theAge of Empiresfranchisewill surely remember that there was no limit on how many buildings could be placed, except if players lacked the resources to build them. InNorthgard, there’s a limit on how many buildings players can place within a tile, usually a maximum of three. But most players don’t realize that limit doesn’t apply to Defense Towers.
And since players will be sending their Viking warriors to raid and pillage other towns, it may be a good idea to have several Defense Towers guarding the town. Players should remember that Defense Towers are expensive, meaning players should only start placing Defense Towers after constructing the essential structures. A good strategy is placing two Defense Towers next to each other and one directly behind them, providing an extra layer of cover.
Feast Often
Keeping high population and troop morale is a common feature inmost Grand Strategy games, likeCrusader Kings 3andStellaris. Likewise,Northgardhas aFeastfeature that boosts the following population stats:
As players can notice, these bonuses provide essential boosts to production, which are critical in the early stages of a match. Of course, these bonuses don’t last forever, so players should take full advantage of them while active.
But, organizing feasts can get expensive over time, so players should carefully plan their feasts. Additionally, the best time to organize a feast is when a player is constructing/training an expensive building/unit. That way, players can quickly recover all the resources spent, meaning they can start building/creating the next one relatively fast.
Never Stop Scouting
The mostimportant tip for anyAge of Empiresand strategy game is to always scout. By scouting, players can discover their enemy movements, new resources sources, and even ancient relics, like those found inAge of Mythology. And whileNorthgardscouting system differs from that of other RTS', it’s still critical action to perform.
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Players can’t simply send out their raiders to conquer a tile inNorthgard. Gamers must first scout the tile and then can send their troops into the tile to overthrow its inhabitants. Additionally, scouts can uncover ancient sites, gaining Lore and other bonuses. As a bonus tip, manually sending scouts proves more effective than the auto scout feature since they move faster manually.
Focus On Food Production
InAge of Empires, one of thefirst actions players should take at the start of a matchis constructing a farm. And that’s because food is the most important resource inAge of Empires(and most RTS games) since it allows the production of troops. Food inNorthgardplays a vital role in troop management, but it also affects the morale of the general population.
Farms and Harbors allow players to gather food relatively quickly in the game. But, players that want to follow the true tradition of the Vikings can pillage nearby towns for food. Additionally, players should build Silos to store food since Farms and Harbors become less reliant during winter.
Learn To Change Roles
One feature ofNorthgardthatsomeAge of Empires 4players may not knowis that players can change the role of units. For example, players can transform a Villager into a Farmer or vice versa. That feature allows players to adapt to the various events (monster attacks, weather, invasions) that occur throughout aNorthgardplaythrough.
Another valuable tipNorthgardplayers should consider is leaving one or two villagers without a specific role. Players should do this because villagers are the only ones that can build and repair structures. Gamers can transform a unit back into a villager by sending them to a house. But, of course, players shouldn’t use this mechanic too frequently since it takes a toll on a unit morale.
Play Story Mode
Most gamers may skip the story mode of strategy games since they may think it’s boring. But,as mostStarcraftfans know, story mode provides interesting backstories and valuable tips. That being said, players should playNorthgard’sstory mode to learn core game mechanics before hopping into a skirmish or multiplayer game.
And whileNorthgardpremise starts slow (since it’s teaching players the basics), it quickly evolves into a captivating story about vengeance and pride. Furthermore, the story mode provides additional tips about each Clan, which can help players make up their minds while picking one in the pre-game lobby.
Northgardis available now for Nintendo Switch, Android, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux.
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