Shrio Games' Wartales is a medieval RPG with turn-based combat and a variety of other interesting gameplay mechanics in its vast, vibrant open world. Commanding a party of mercenaries, players will scour the lands for bounties and treasures, all while unearthing ever-deepening mysteries and lore.
With similarities to the exploration and adventure elements of the Mount And Blade series, combined with turn-based combat akin to XCOM, some players may already feel at home with these mechanics. For newer players, however, it can be a lot to get used to. However, there are a few tips and tricks that will help make life easier for players as they journey across the plague-stricken world of Wartales' five provinces.
10 Use Roads
One simple way of being efficient with the party's Fatigue is to stick to roads rather than traversing through dense jungles or deep snow. While there are often resources or quests to complete off the beaten trail, moving through these sorts of environments will be slower and tire the party more quickly.
By sticking to roads where possible, the party will move quickly and not tire so easily. In turn, this will meanthat more time can actually be spent exploring rather than having to rest and recuperate.
9 Inspect Locations
At various locations throughout the map, there will be a dissected view of the building's interior along with any NPCs that players might need to interact with. Additionally, there are also often hidden treasure chests and other items throughout these mini-sections.
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While some more complex chests and trunks will require a companion with the Thief profession to use lockpicks, other items will be available to use and can be taken without a suspicion penalty. One good example is the ore veins that can be found within mines and extracted with the requisite profession.
8 Don't Over-Recruit
Throughout the game's world, players will find many NPCs who are keen to sign up and become a fighting companion along with the starting party. While there is no upper limit on the number of companions players can have in their party, recruiting too many at an early stage will lead to huge expenditures in Krowns and Food, which can be difficult to manage in the early phases of the game.
It is also worth noting that in Region-Locked mode, there will be set numbers of pre-determined enemies. Meanwhile, in Free Exploration mode, the number of enemies will scale along with the player. New enemies will appear for each companion in the party, so a larger party will mean more foes to fight.
7 Use Pitons
Players can ensure that their party is traversing the five provinces efficiently by using Pitons. These small tools can be crafted at the Workshop by a Tinkerer, and will also require Rope in order to operate.
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Placed on cliff edges and steep hillsides, Pitons will enable the party to descend. This can often cut vast distances and allow access to otherwise inaccessible terrain.
6 Assign Professions
In addition to their fighting classes, companions will have secondary Professions they can master as well. Alchemists are responsible for the crafting of potions, oils, and bombs; Blacksmiths can forge weapons and armor for the rest of the party.
The other professions include: Angler, Cook, Miner, Scholar, Woodcutter, Thief, Tinkerer, Doctor, and Bard. Each of these will provide a new skill tree and a range of abilities for this companion.
5 Use Camp Equipment
As the party fatigues, they will need to set up camp and enter a period of Rest. During this time, they will also need to be fed and paid their salary, and any inner-party conflicts or conversations will need to be dealt with.
If a companion is assigned the Tinkerer profession, they will be able to use the Workshop to craft new items for the party, including camping equipment. This equipment will provide passive bonuses and income. For example, when the Tinkerer is dragged and dropped to the Workstation, they will begin to accumulate Raw Materials with each rest. Similarly, when a Cook is assigned to the Cooking Pot, the Party's overall Food consumption will be reduced.
4 Learn Recipes
Another way in which companions' Food needs can be met is through learning new recipes. These can be acquired by reading the recipes, often bought at markets or taverns, and will cost Knowledge Points for each recipe.
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These special meals will provide significantly more food than the mere ingredients gathered or bought throughout the world, and often have bonuses in reducing fatigue or increasing time between rests. Particularly for larger parties, learning these recipes will be essential in ensuring that Food consumption is met as effectively as possible. Plus, some of the recipes sound delicious.
3 Capture Animals
In addition to hunting and killing animals for experience or food, animals can also be tamed and recruited to join the party. During combat, when an animal is low on health and if ropes are available in the player's inventory, certain classes of companions will be able to use the 'Knock Out' ability to pacify rather than kill their opponents.
These animals can then join the party and fight alongside them. With the use of the Hunter or Beastmaster specialization, certain classes will also enable the control of these animals, and bears in particular make for excellent allies with high hit-points and damage output. However, they do add a lot to the party's food consumption.
2 Capture Prisoners
One of the easiest and most effective ways of making vast sums of Krowns in Wartales is the trade of human prisoners. Much like animals, human opponents can be pacified using Chains. They will then become prisoners for the party, which can be sold in Jails for extra money.
Particularly in the early game, this can be a much more effective means of generating an income than traveling to some further out quests. On average, these prisoners will be worth at least 60 Krowns, often adding extra value to bounties that already pay 200+ Krowns.
1 Strategize Carefully
As a turn-based combat game, battles in Wartales are more like a chess match than in a traditional RPG. This means that every move is more significant, and has to be taken into account before it is executed. Companions who die will not return at the end of the battle (except in arena combat), so ensure that any Dying companions are removed from the fight as early as possible in a turn.
Equally, think of creative ways to chain together attacks and abilities. An area-of-effect ability might take place next turn, but another companion may have an ability to knock opponents into the path of it. There is no time limit between turns, and on lower difficulties there is always the option to restart the battle or return to the last village. Make use of these options if need be.
Wartales is available now on PC.
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