Ye Old Entertainment checked out SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

Skald Review: How does it compare to Moonring? Is this RPG worth getting?

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Game Developer interviewed Anders Lauridsen about SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is an old school CRPG with modern sensibilities

Developer Anders Lauridsen talks about balancing contemporary expectations with the look and feel of a retro genre.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a retro CRPG filled with unsettling stories and monstrosities, capturing the dark, eerie feel of the genre while making many of its elements more accessible to modern players.

Game Developer caught up with Anders Lauridsen, the game's developer, to talk about capturing the look and feel of retro CRPGs without some of the issues that came with the classics of the genre, the design challenges that come from creating a world filled with quests and things to do as a single developer, and how they worked to weave a sense of horror into a genre that is normally focused on power fantasies.

Game Developer: SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a celebration of retro party-based RPGs from years ago. What appealed to you about returning to this style of game and creating something of your own in this genre?

Lauridsen: First of all, the games that inspired SKALD (RPGs from the early '90s) have a lot going for them that appeal to me: Turn-based combat, lots of exploration, wonderful pixel art, etc. I genuinely think they had qualities that hold appeal to this day and that have become a bit less prevalent in modern RPGs. As RPGs developed as a genre, there were some features that were "thrown out with the bathwater."

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The Turn Based Lovers checked out SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

A CREDIBLE PIXEL-STYLED RPG THAT SCRATCHES THAT RETRO-INSPIRED ITCH – SKALD: AGAINST THE BLACK PRIORY REVIEW

SKALD Against The Black Priory Review

SKALD: Against the Black Priory (SKLAD) has materialised from the depths of nowhere without pomp or fanfare. The first Steam release by developer High North Studios AS. Does this passion project live up to its promise? Is it every inch the retro-inspired RPG it describes itself to be, or is it just another pretender? Is the Lovecraftian-themed story and setting a horror show, or does it deliver a compelling experience? Will its turn-based tactical combat add enough strategy, or do potential flaws outweigh its fun factor? Read below to find out more…

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VERDICT
SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a credible pixel-styled RPG that scratches that retro-inspired itch. Its grim fantasy world is different, but familiar in other ways to the epic classics of yester-year. Overly scripted quest branches result in a lack of alternative pathways, but the adventure is rich due to its horror-soaked story, interesting characters and well-written story. Layered party-based TBT combat is enjoyable but would be served better if the shackles were taken off weapon stats and damage-dealing abilities. The magic system is disappointing and needs a considerable tweak to make it satisfying to use.

There are flaws such as slowdowns, a font that affects readability and some quest options that fail to materialise or are curtailed though dialogue choices. Due to the successful reception the game has received some of these are being worked upon and after a week there has already been a sizeable update.

SKALD is already a WORTHWHILE play, yet it would have rated higher bar its flaws, a stronger populated game world and more optional quest branches. Even at the risk of unbalancing the game a little.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Matt checked out the retro RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

MC530: Skald, Against the Black Priory

Mortismal Gaming reviewed the retro RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

SKALD: Against The Black Priory - Review After 100%

Rock Paper Shotgun reviewed the retro RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

Skald: Against The Black Priory review: the best of 80s RPG design without the baggage

I regret not covering Skald Colon Against The Black Priory when its developer told us about it 2019. I'd get to be so smug now.

Skald is terrific. I've tried to come up with a clever angle on its journey, but they all wind up saying the same thing: For all its retro stylings (right down to party portraits taking up an unnecessary quarter of the screen at all times), it's an accessible, charming treat, and the best modernisation of 80s RPGs that I've ever played.

While Ultima seems its clearest influence, Skald mostly eschews its philosophical high camp, and gives us a shipwrecking on an archipelago beset by madness-inducing horror. It's an excellent vibe; obvious enough that you know what you're getting into, but slow-burn enough to make the reveals rewarding, and lends the setting and tone a little more depth than the usual "Dark Lord is evil shock".

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That they might be bigger in my imagination speaks to Skald's greatest success: I'm super into it. It's crunchy but friendly, playfully secretive, and familiar in many ways but nonetheless refreshing. I lost half a day to "fact checking and screenshots" for sheer desire to keep playing, and a few minor issues aside, my only real problem is that there's only one of it.

The Scarlet Seeker checked out SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

SKALD: Against the Black Priory | Worth Your Time and Money (Overview)

The retro RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory will be released today:

SKALD: Against The Black Priory

PC GamesN checked out Skald Against the Black Priory:

Skald Against the Black Priory review - a modern take on retro RPGs

Strong worldbuilding and unique visuals prop up an imbalanced combat system in Raw Fury and High North Studios' retro-infused RPG.

Attempting to play the forefathers of the RPG genre in 2024 requires patience steeped in a hefty amount of nostalgia. From the days of Ultima and the first Baldur’s Gate, the genre has developed quality-of-life features that have made it difficult to turn back the clock by two or more decades. So when a game like Skald: Against the Black Priory promises that retro RPG feel with enough modern concessions to make it fun to play, I jump at the chance to get my hands on it.

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Our Verdict

Skald: Against the Black Priory captures the spirit of your favorite old-school RPGs while serving up deep sidequests and memorable lore, but its combat and progression systems eventually run into trouble and its overarching narrative never quite takes off.

Score: 7/10

Mortismal Gaming checked out the upcoming retro RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

SKALD: Against The Black Priory - First Impressions

Daveyd spotted a versions overview for the retro RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

Project Update: Versions and Pricing Overview

Greetings one and all!

Below is a short summary of pricing and versions for Skald once it launches on May 30th. Note that changes may occur before launch.

Also, see the end of the devlog for some info about the incredible people who made our live-action trailer for us!

PRICING AND PLATFORMS
Skald: Against the Black Priory will launch on Steam and GOG (be sure to wishlist today on your store of choice).

The game will be available for PC and Mac upon launch.

The Standard version of the game will be priced around 15 USD and the Deluxe version will be priced at around 25 USD.

DELUXE EDITION CONTENT
We intend to offer a Deluxe edition of the game that will provide you with a bundle of extra content giving you the option of having a slightly different game experience mechanically speaking. It also comes with the OST and a good handful of cosmetic items.

The Deluxe edition will contain the following items (amongst others):

• The Base Game
• A pack of extra character portraits
• Unique Dice animations
• 3 extra character backgrounds to choose from during character creation.
  Malachai, the Magical items merchant: A vendor that is available from the mid game and onward that sells a handful of unique magical items.
• Two wallpapers from the game
• The OST with 38 (!) tracks

We’re constantly looking into more cool stuff to add into the Deluxe edition whilst still making sure it does not detract from the main game. The idea is that it should be a value-packed way of supporting the developer (which buying the deluxe edition greatly does).

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Eurogamer examines the retro factor of SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

Skald: Against the Black Priory stirs the emotional memories of retro RPGs

See sixty-phwoar.

A retro-styled screenshot showing - in a lot of detail - a person sinking under a large boat, with tentacle like reeds around them. We look up as if from the bottom of the sea.

When is the magical turning point in time that something considered old becomes cool again? I ask because I just enabled a CRT filter in Skald: Against the Black Priory and I squealed with joy to see it. Distortedly curved edges: phwoar - who knew? What's strange is that I can distinctly remember when I binned CRTs off in favour of flat screens, wondering in wide-eyed awe at the visible corners of my screen. I didn't think then that I'd ever go back. And yet now: squeal! So old it's cool again.

It's not the only element of old that Skald: Against the Black Priory plays on. Really, the whole thing is dressed to evoke exactly that feeling, specifically for the C64 crowd. If you played an RPG there, or thereabouts, you'll know this. You'll know the turn-based combat, you'll know the text-driven adventuring, you'll know the interface with the empty spaces, which yearn for companions to fill them. You'll also know the look, and as with the CRT filter, the game doesn't hold back - there's even the option to enable a faithful C64 colour palette if you wish.

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Thanks Couchpotato!

The retro RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory has been announced for Spring 2024:

SKALD: Against the Black Priory will launch in Spring 2024!

Greetings, and happy Rawcember everyone!

Let’s dive straight into our big announcement for the end of 2023:
The launch of SKALD: Against the Black Priory is now officially set for Spring 2024!

Over the past year, Anders and the team have been hard at work on the game in order to craft a memorable adventure that we know you’ll enjoy, and we truly can’t wait for you to see and experience it by yourself.

To give you a glimpse of what to expect in the final game, we have put together a new trailer that you can see below:

Every system in the game has undergone meticulous polishing and significant enhancements since we last showcased it back in January 2023. But that's not all - additional features and improvements are still in the works to ensure that you’ll have a blast playing through the final game, whilst exploring its world and uncovering its mysteries.

Our free demo has been updated and now features an early look at some of the new features mentioned above, including font customization options, difficulty settings, and other accessibility or quality of life improvements.

As we gear up for the launch, you can expect more frequent updates and new content drops from us, so stay tuned by wishlisting the game on Steam and following us on social media!

Also, don't hesitate to drop a comment to share your reactions or questions about the game if you have any.

We can't wait for you to experience SKALD when it launches in Spring 2024!

The Raw Fury team

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The Turn Based Lovers checked out SKALD: Against The Black Priory:

SKALD Against The Black Priory | Party-Based Tactical RPG | New Gameplay First Look

Mortismal Gaming checked out SKALD: Against The Black Priory:

Check Out - Skald: Against The Black Priory

The Turn Based Lovers checked out the retro RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

SKALD: Against the Black Priory | PC Turn-Based RPG | Next Fest Gameplay First Look

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a retro-style party-based RPG set in a grim-dark fantasy world of tragic heroes, violent deaths and Lovecraftian horror. Choice matters as you explore an engaging branching story mixed with crunchy tactical, turn-based combat and character customization.

Wizard Worm checked out the old school RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

Skald: Against the Black Priory Preview (Retro-Style RPG)

Skald: Against the Black Priory is a classic, turn-based RPG set in a dark and gritty fantasy universe – full of tragic heroes, violent deaths and eldritch horror. The game is both challenging and immersive, with tactical combat, dynamic tree-based dialog and “choose-your-own-adventure” sequences.

A new teaser trailer for the retro RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory has been released:

SKALD: Against the Black Priory | New Teaser trailer

The dragons stirs in the void and an empire trembles. The rule of the magi Lords is failing. Where now shall we place our faith? In the low cunning of the sell swords? Or in the golden dead to whom we offer prayers? Certainly not in the foul magical praxis of witches and lay sorcerers. No, this is our punishment.

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We woke the dragon and for us, there is no salvation.

This new teaser trailer shows new gameplay, highlights the new improved visual effects in and out of combat as well as revealing more about the Skald world! 

Anders Lauridsen and Raw Fury are teaming up for ‘SKALD: Against the Black Priory’, a retro-style RPG set in a grim-dark fantasy world of tragic heroes, violent deaths and Lovecraftian horror. Explore an engaging branching story mixed with exploration and crunchy tactical, turn-based combat that will engage RPG fans, old and new.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a retro-style RPG set in a grim-dark fantasy world of tragic heroes, violent deaths and Lovecraftian horror. Explore an engaging branching story mixed with exploration and crunchy tactical, turn-based combat that will engage RPG fans, old and new.  
Skald: Against the Black Priory will be available on PC, Mac and Linux via Steam and GOG. Wishlist now on Steam for more updates.

Raw Fury announced their partnership with Anders Lauridsen to publish SKALD: Against The Black Priory. 

Raw Fury teams up with Anders Lauridsen!

Hello, Raw Fury here!

Today we are incredibly happy to announce that we have teamed up with Anders to bring SKALD: Against the Black Priory to life. When we first laid our eyes on the game earlier this year, we not only fell in love with the game and its richly illustrated grim-dark fantasy and Lovecraftian horror setting, but we also fell in love with Anders and his passion for resurrecting the genre and building a game which brings the past into the future.

We can’t wait to show you more of this gem throughout 2022, but if you need to scratch that Skald-itch already today, we have gathered a couple of goodies for you to enjoy while you wait for all the awesomeness to come:

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SplatterCatGaming checked out the recently released Prologue of SKALD: Against the Black Priory:

Skald: Against the Black Priory - Grimdark Fantasy Open World RPG

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Skald Against the Black Priory Gameplay with Splat! Let's Play Skald Against the Black Priory and check out a game where you'll head to faraway lands in search of a missing noble.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is coming to Steam Early Access and GOG In-Development August 2nd.

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You drag yourself from the black tides, across the corpses of drowned men, and onto the unwelcoming, craggy shoreline. Gulls cry overhead and the stink of seaweed fills your nose. By some miracle you have made it to Idra. It will take all your skill to survive and unravel the eldritch mysteries of the Black Priory. Pray your sanity holds.

‘Skald: Against the Black Priory’ is an old-school roleplaying game that combines modern design and a fully realised narrative with authentic 8-bit looks and charms. 

Delve into a dark fantasy world, full of tragic heroes, violent deaths and Lovecraftian, cosmic horror. Explore an engaging, branching story mixed with rich exploration and crunchy, tactical, turn-based combat that will seem familiar yet innovative to RPG fans, old and new.

Do you have what it takes to lead a company of broken heroes from the tainted shores of Idra to the gates of the Black Priory - and beyond? 

Lovingly crafted retro-style art

• Experience a richly illustrated world of authentic pixel art using thousands of hand-drawn tiles and images
• A palette inspired by the legendary Commodore 64 computer.
• Optional CRT filter for that authentic old-school experience.

Deep character creation

• Build your main character and recruit a party from among a dozen diverse characters, each with their own skill-set, agenda and personality.
• Choose from a dozen classes and backgrounds as well as heaps of feats, spells and equipment as you take your party from level 1 to 20. 

Crunchy tactical combat

• Engage in challenging, fast-paced, turn- and grid-based combat.
• Play it your way, with fully customizable difficulty and feedback settings. Or hit ‘auto-resolve’,  lean back, and (hopefully) watch your party cleave a bloody path through their foes.

A richly detailed, living world

• Explore the vast expanse of Freymark and the Outer Isles and watch your actions spell doom or salvation for the region.
• Focus on the rich, branching narrative… Or live the life of a mercenary and explore varied sidequests and encounters - the plot will wait for you.
• Manage your party as you make camp, recruit hirelings, travel by land and  sea, and interact with powerful factions and their visions for the world.

The latest update for SKALD: Against the Black Priory - Beta 1.1:

Project Update: Beta 1.1.0

Hello everyone! Hope you all are enjoying your summer. July has been pretty sweet up here in Northern Norway for once, making it the perfect “stay at home” summer. But fear not: I’ve still gotten a ton done with SKALD, and it’s now time for a new (minor) demo update!

Beta 1.1.0 is up for Backers!

The demo is still pretty short and adds about 20 minutes of game-play to the first iteration. It’s still an important demo for me, since I’ve done a lot of work under the hood (as always) and now those features need play-testing.

I’ve also added some in-game features: Most notable is grid-based combat. That system is still pretty bare bones as I’m yet to add enemies, feats and spells that really take advantage of it, but you should non the less be able to get an idea and provide some feedback.
What do I need from play-testers?

Bugs first and foremost. This is by far the most important feedback you can provide for me at this point!

Typos are always welcome too. As are logical inconsistencies in dialogue and scene flows.

I also want to hear about game-play feature requests or feedback on existing features.

I’m not really super interested in stuff like “this was too easy” or “There needs to be more loot in the second area”. It goes without saying that a lot of this is unpolished at the time and pacing etc will get a second pass as the whole first chapter begins to come together 🙂

As always, my preferred way of receiving feedback is via the SKALD Discord chat. Once there, look for the feedback sub-channels.

A Word of Caution

The demos, at this point, will usually break saves and force a restart with each demo iteration. This might seem like a chore BUT for play-testing this is essential. The scripting of the game can only be truly tested if the game is played from the start each time and this is super important to the final quality of the game.

So please be patient with me (I know you will)! Also, is play-testing feels like a hassle, it’s 100% fine for you to just hang back and wait for the finished product! 

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The latest update for SKALD: Against the Black Priory announces Beta status.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is seeking additional funding on IndieGoGo.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a classic, turn-based RPG. It's set in a dark and gritty fantasy universe: full of tragic heroes, violent deaths and eldritch, Lovecraftian horror. 

With a dark, immersive plot and inspired by legendary titles such as Ultima and the "gold box series", this is my love-letter to classic roleplaying.  

The project was a huge success on Kickstarter in July 2019 where it was backed by 450 awesome RPG-fans. Now SKALD is coming to Indiegogo. 

This means that if you missed the Kickstarter, now is your chance to back the game and secure either a discounted digital copy or one of the exclusive physical editions for yourself!

The campaign will stay open until the end of 2019.

The Kickstarter campaign for the retro-RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory has been successful:

SKALD: Against the Black Priory

Finishing the Kickstarter with 450 backers and at 262% it’s safe to say that Skald: Against the Black Priory is a hit. The campaign has been a lot of fun, but also a lot of work, and I’m looking forward to spending more time working on the game again.

The scheduled release for SKALD is June 2020 with physical rewards coming in August 2020. Up to that point there is a lot of work to be done in developing the game and feelies and honestly, I can’t wait!

A video-chat with Matt:

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