So we made a sword, but how can we use it?
Less obvious answer is trading it ;) Limited evidence on the monetary value of swords shows they were valuable or even priceless commodities. That's why they were often named (for example Leggbitr “Leg-Cleaver”) and perceived.to possess supernatural abilities. Most famous among them are ULFBERHT swords - inscripted blades, mostly excavated in Norway and around Baltic area. Those are high quality weapons, shrouded in mystery. Different variations and inscriptions suggest some were trying to counterfeit them.
VLFBERHT inscription on a blade, Credit: Martin Kraft CC BY-SA 3.0
Obviously a sword, with its costs and significance, isn't the only weapon available, so we intend to provide you with many other tools of war. Seax, spear, skeggox or mighty dane axe - each with different characteristics allowing players to adapt their forces to match specific enemies. Our arsenal also includes ranged weapons like bows, throwing axes and spears. Although we realize that the latter could be disputed by some, there are enough mentions in sagas that we decided to include those to enrich gameplay.
Watch on YouTubeShowcase of ingame models
But why would we need all those weapons? Well, those were dark and perilous times. Vikings, due to their superior ships and naval traditions, were the supreme raiders, but they could also fall prey if unprepared. Arming your warriors and posting guards will be sufficient in the early stages, but with increased prosperity one needs to secure it from jealous neighbors. To this end we aim to provide many options to safeguard your hoard and subjects. Among them: walls, lookouts, palisades (including underwater!), ditches, signal fires, alarm horns - anything one needs to repel potential threats.
Not everything can be safe inside the settlement
That's all for today. We hope that you enjoyed this devlog as much as we intend to enjoy this spring weekend ;) Stay tuned for more!
And don’t forget to join our Viking Discord!