So I’ve been playing Expedition Vikings here recently, and I seriously love so much about it. The basic premise is that your character is the new thegn of a minor viking clan in 790 AD Denmark. Apparently the character’s father was a great warrior, but a very poor thegn, letting his clan and holdings deteriorate while he ran around playing raider. It’s up to the new thegn to return their clan to it’s former glory. Discussion to follow. @we-are-viking, @weareadventurers
Firstly, I love that shieldmaidens are exactly as common and exactly as valid as men-at-arms throughout the game. They can equip all the same gear and have all the same stats, regardless of gender. In fact the developers even gave men and women the exact same body types:
Thin
Medium
Large
Put armor on them, and you can’t really even tell the men from the women, which I think is how more games should be developed, frankly. And story-wise, about the only difference gender makes is which characters the main protag can romance. (Supposedly there are a couple of bi characters that anyone can romance. Still scoping that out.)
Next, I appreciate that the thegn gets to upgrade their homestead, improving the clan’s power and prosperity. The ‘stead’s defenses start as a mound with a sad little fence on top of it, but through upgrades can become a decent palisade with gates and protective watch towers. Other upgrades can be done to farms, roads, the smithy, the training yard, etc to bring the clan greater wealth and power.
Also, I deeply appreciate the importance placed upon shields in the game’s combat system. Most games include shields merely as a few extra points to armor, while a rare few allow characters to knock their opponents around with their shield. Expeditions makes round shields actually quite crucial to the party’s front line. Shields have a chance to block ranged and melee attacks, preventing characters from taking any of that damage whatsoever. Though melee attacks can damage shields, wearing them out eventually, ranged attacks get blocked altogether with a satisfying thud.
All-in-all, Expeditions: Viking is a terrific turn-based RPG, with competent graphics, strong story, terrific game-play, effective characterization, and believable world-building. It’s one I strongly recommend to anyone interested in viking history or video roleplaying games.
