Summary
Norlandis a medievalcolony simthat takes elements fromCrusader Kings 3andRimworldand mixes them up with a cacophony of violence, intrigue, and lust reminiscent ofGame of Thrones. In this game, players will control a noble family, who attempts to control their peasants and conquer new land.
However, this isn’t always easy, especially as the nobles themselves are often reluctant to listen and will instead indulge in their base desires. To help players build thriving villages and realms where murder, rebellion, and starvation aren’t constantly afoot, the following are somebeginner tips forNorland.
1Play The Tutorial
A Game As Complex & Nuanced As Norland Requires Learning
Norlandis far froma simple game, with so many factors affecting the simulation of the world. There are tons of mechanics and terms to learn, and thus without playing the tutorial, players will be utterly lost. Thankfully, for an Early Access game, the tutorial is surprisingly good, with some great explanations.
To start the tutorial, players can either select it in the main menu or instead when they start a new game for the first time, they will be given the opportunity to begin with the tutorial, which will subsequently lead them into a proper playthrough. The only thing to bear in mind is that currently the tutorial cannot be saved, so players should only attempt it when they have plenty of time. After the tutorial is complete, players can find useful tips and explanations in the top right corner.
2Always Choose The Right Lord For The Job
Assign Nobles To Tasks Based On Their Stats
Every lord has different stats inNorland, and it is often best when they excel at one or two things in particular. What’s important for players is that they make full use of the talent at their disposal, and assign lords to tasks based on their skill. For example, when the Holy Caravan arrives, players will want to choose the lord or lady with the best Trade skill to guarantee the best deal.
If a task is upcoming, such asleading an army into war, players should avoid assigning the best noble for the job to other tasks or activities. After all, lords can only get so much done in a day. When looking for new lords, either via marriage or by hire, players should try to find those with skills that they are currently lacking.
3Remember To Equip Armies With Weapons
It’s Very Easy To Send Squads Off To War With Nought But Their Bare Fists
Forming an armyfor defensive or offensive reasons is a multiple-step process inNorland. Once players have built barracks, recruited a few men, and ideally waited enough time for them to train, they will then be ready to form a squad. To do so players will choose a commander, and then select the warriors they wish to join the squad.
However, it is very easy to forget, or in the case of beginners, be unaware of the option to add weapons to the squad. In this case, they will send an army off to an almost certain death as they will be forced to fight with their bare hands. Ideally, there will be one weapon for every soldier, and if more are needed, they can be purchased from traders or crafted once the technological requirements have been met. Armor can also be assigned here, but is less important early and harder to obtain.
4Purchase Holy Rings & Books From The Trader
These Commodities Are Crucial For Advancing
When the Holy Caravan arrives, players will want to make sure they purchase two commodities in particular, Holy Rings and Books. Holy Rings are a kind of currency used by the elite, and nobles without them will not feel great about themselves. As a currency, they are used for all sorts of purposes, such as hiring freelance lords or rewarding loyal service.
Books, on the other hand, are arguably even more important, as they grant knowledge and technology. Once players have built a library, they can click on the knowledge tab and assign a lord with ideally high learning to read a purchased book. After a certain number of days, that character and only them will unlock the secrets of a new technology, enabling the player to build a mill, for example. It’s important to buy these two products whenever possible, as it’s rare to acquire them through other means.
5Build Roads To Increase Efficiency
Characters Travel 30% Faster Along Roads
In the building menu, the very last option is roads, and it costs 4 gold for each square tile of road that players wish to place. While this may seem like a waste of money, roads actually speed up all characters traveling along them by 30%.
This is important, especially as villages grow into thriving towns and cities, for two main reasons. First of all, lords need to travel between the buildings they manage, to hand out instructions, and moving faster between their other tasks or social interactions will also help. Second of all, the inhabitants themselves will benefit from moving around faster, whether this is so that they can start work earlier or make quicker trips to the warehouse as part of their job.
Either way, roads speed up efficiency and are a great investment. Additionally, destroying roads restores the whole amount of gold, so don’t worry about misplacements orfuture building plans.
6Embrace Mistakes As They Make For Great Stories
Norland Is About Creating Stories With Both Highs & Lows
Perhaps one of the best pieces of advice for beginners in agame likeNorlandis to not worry about mistakes. This is because the game isn’t necessarily about success, but instead about watching unforeseen stories and tragedies unfold. If a lord dies in a battle that was perhaps ill-advised to take in hindsight, then look at it as the beginning of a revenge story for one of his relatives.
If players are struggling to keep their inhabitants fed and uncontrolled religious fervor is taking over, don’t worry. One of the most fun aspects of the game is just around the corner with absolute chaos and murder in the streets. Whatever happens, just remember, however bad mistakes inNorlandmay appear to be, they likely pale in comparison to the fumbles and mishaps of realmedieval rulers.
