The new season of Conqueror's Blade launched recently, a free update which notably adds the Colosseum. To discover this brand new game mode, I was able to count on an exclusive game session with members of the Booming Tech studio and community moderators who came to swell the ranks.
Before getting down to business, a brief reminder of Conqueror's Blade, the medieval tactics MMO. Each player embodies a warlord, who has a class, or even a specialization of weapons, to choose from a dozen possibilities. But what makes it unique are the armies that each player recruits and commands, with more than eighty-five melee, ranged combat or cavalry units, all inspired by the greatest armies in history. Thus, in the classic mode, the battles of siege, which see two teams of fifteen confronting each other, it is not only thirty players who compete. But several hundred with the units of each, for battles that really take on a different scale than the usual PvP clashes.
As you'd expect from the name, the new season is inspired by ancient Rome and its legendary gladiators. On the program: units, a campaign and a game mode. Everything is connected by a dark story of conspiracy at the court of Emperor Hadrianus, a ruler whose power and popularity are declining. Will organizing circus games to entertain the people be enough to restore its popularity?
The Colosseum sees two teams of six compete for control of points, with a classic system of taking the flag. Each team starts at 500 points and the first team to bring the other down to zero wins. If ever the battle lasts more than ten minutes, then it will be to whoever gets the most points. To reduce the score of the adversary, it is necessary to capture the flag, with an area which is reduced little by little, thus making the defense more and more difficult.
There are also several points to be aware of:
- Colosseum mode is available for players level 30 and above.
- Groups of up to three players can participate.
- Units brought into battle are not affected by Season Seals.
- Cavalry units cannot be used.
- Each player can deploy one artillery piece.
- Each player only has two respawns.
- A single neutral supply point is located in the center of the map.
- AI-operated fighters called Gladiators and a "boss" called the Gladiator Champion fight in the arena.
From what I understand, victory is not won by direct confrontation with other players, but is planned with the help of gladiators, these neutral fighters who, once defeated, give additional units (available at the respawn or at the central supply point). Successfully defeating the boss, the champion, secures the allegiance of all remaining gladiators, thus also representing a major objective not to be missed.
It's nice to have understood that. It's more complicated to put it into practice....
I played two matches, one which my team won, a second which was lost. Despite the prior explanations, it was difficult for me to find my way around, the arena was so full of units and things to do. Artillery pieces planted by my allies. Gladiators and units everywhere. Not to mention vindictive players and a flag to defend. I almost immediately died in the first melee I joined, overwhelmed by my opponent's army. As I didn't want to lose my second life, I then stayed at a safe distance, sending my men, who in turn died because I was unable to provide cover. I then remembered that I could recruit new units at the neutral supply point which is located in the center of the arena. These poor fools agreed to follow me. Well, for a while, because I lost this army again (they should have known that I was not the leader they needed). For the second game, I didn't die, but we lost so quickly that I'm not sure what could have been done to counterbalance this fatal outcome.
Despite my questionable effectiveness, I had a good time trying to survive in this arena, crushing opponents with my massive bulk while commanding units foolish enough (or desperate) to follow me. Above all, I enjoyed the atmosphere of this arena which takes on the appearance of the famous amphitheater in Rome, with its screaming crowd and its announcer who comments. A mythical place whose mere mention promises glorious battles.
Three new unit types are also available for recruitment through challenges available throughout the season:
- the Dimachers (3 stars/added: September 1/cost: 175/165) wield two blades and attack with powerful leaping strikes.
- the Murmillons (4 stars/added: September 12/cost: 245/235) use their swords and shields to knock enemies back with ease.
- the Retiariuses (5 stars/add: Oct 3/cost: 320/310) fight with javelins to affix marks of death, sealing the fate of foes and all but ensuring victory.
A battle pass includes a multitude of rewards. The free version provides a new emote and useful consumables. But it's in its premium version that the interesting things are found: armor for heroes (including the gladiator champion armor), units and mounts. And, for those who reach level 100, it's guaranteed to look classy, thanks to the centurion armor, inspired by the elite outfit of the military commanders of the Roman Empire.
Finally, among the notable improvements added with this update, we will note changes to make the interface more readable, a new currency to more easily climb the ranks of the ranked mode, an improvement in the spectator mode, and some additions for the quality of life. The update was released on Friday, September 2. So if you want to feel the madness of circus games and fight for the glory of the Emperor, Conqueror's Blade is available for free download on PC.
https://conqblade.com/fr/
