Town criers inform the peasantry that developer CodeHatch is bringing a medieval sandbox survival experience called Reign of Kings to Steam Early Access. It’s primarily inspired by ”Rust and Chivalry” says the studio.
We’ll be hunting wildlife, mining ores, building fortifications, smithing weapons and armour, and maybe uniting under a common banner to crush all who oppose us. One player can even be crowned King.
Chivalry had a great impact on the combat system which is in first-person for fast-paced sword swinging and axe-to-face resolutions to conflict. We can chop, slice and stab our way through disagreements, and Reign of Kings will ”fully support delimbing and decapitation” for authenticity.
Players will even be able to capture other players, locking them up, subjecting them to public humiliation or executing them. Apparently players can hide a lock pick and such in their hidden ‘orifice slot’ - eww - for escape or suicide later.
Reign of Kings will use a ”roguelike death model” meaning dead players can be looted for their stuff, and those recently killed will get a ”random re-spawn option that can be improved through bed placement.” Player characters can also be extensively customised.
Buildings in the medieval sandbox can be made of ”sticks, thatch, clay, wood, re-enforced wood, and stone,” and players can use a ”standard block, ramp and stairs” to build their fortifications.
”Thatch, sticks, wood and clay will be widely available and often the first choice in material for beginning level housing. While these materials will offer shelter from poorly equipped enemies, they are easily breached by other players,” explained the studio.
The ultimate goal for some maybe to secure the Ancient Throne for themselves, which gives a crowned player ”dominion over the entire map (change name of realm) and taxation rights over every other player.” The sword and crown cannot be looted should his majesty get brutally murdered, but you could try and lockpick the royal treasury.
Check out the official Reign of Kings website to learn more, with an Early Access build coming soon.
