Here we go – the new and final major update is now live on the beta branch of Battle Brothers!
What’s new?
As this is the final major update, our focus was on general polish, balance and quality of life improvements as much as on the remaining major features. Here’s the shortlist.
- Three different ‘Greater Evil’ late game crises for you to get involved in – a war between noble houses, a greenskin invasion and an undead invasion. Each comes with their own set of contracts, events and changes to the world.
- The Ancient Dead – an entire faction with new enemies to fight, new lootable weapons and armor, and unique tactics on the battlefield.
- A new system for mood and desertion – your men will react to how things are progressing, and it’s your job to keep them content.
- Ambitions – set goals for your company to pursue on their way to become legendary.
- Obituary – honor the brave men that have fallen under your command.
- Retirement – retire from your mercenary company when you’re ready to start a new life, and see how the company and its members fare without you.
- A complete overhaul of Ghouls into the new and more challenging Nachzehrer.
- New mechanics for morale to make resolve and initiative more important.
- 11 new contracts.
- 54 new illustrated events.
- 2 new music tracks.
- 70 Steam Achievements.
- Lots and lots of smaller improvements, changes and additions.
Steam Trading Cards will be unlocked at a later time.
Note that this update is not compatible with older savegames. You will have to start a new campaign!
What’s still to come?
While this beta version is very close to the final release, there’s still things yet to come over the next few weeks.
- Bugfixes
- Balancing
- More events
- A few legendary items hidden across the world
- One more music track
Any saves created with the beta version will be compatible with the release version, but some additions or late changes may require a new campaign in order to take effect. If that’s a problem for you, don’t opt into the beta.
Why put this in a beta branch first?
This update makes changes to many of the game’s core mechanics. Extensive changes like these will inevitably upset the game’s balance and introduce new issues. Participating in the beta is optional for everyone that wants to experience the new content now and doesn’t mind a few hiccups – we’re thankful for your feedback and bug reports! Everyone else may want to wait a few weeks until the game is more balanced and any issues that popped up have been ironed out.
Please report any issues you encounter in the forums following the instructions there. Do not leave random complaints as comments to this news post, they’d only get buried and lost.
How do I access the beta branch?
In order to access the beta branch of Battle Brothers you need to do as follows:
- Go to your Steam library.
- Right-click on ‘Battle Brothers’ and select ‘Properties’.
- Go to the tab labeled ‘BETAS’.
- Select ‘beta’ from the drop down menu.
Steam should now download the beta branch and once it is finished you can normally run it via your Steam library.
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AWESOME!!
Already downloading the update!!
I didn’t see it mentioned in the change list, so I want to know if we will we be able to attack other parties using Ctrl + click in this beta?
Short: Yes ;)
HAHA nice! I was so hyped for this, finally I can properly roleplay my merc band!
Thx Overhype!
These news are great! Because, I was expecting to get beta on friday. So much hype…. :)
YES!!! I thought we would have to wait until Friday, what a great surprise! You guys are awesome! For great justice!
Fantastic, I’m looking forward to smashing some skulls and maybe even playing a game or two of this.
Great job, however guys, you might want to consider rewarding players with achievements after battle was resolved, beacuse currently I got them during the battle, which spolied for me what happened with my brothers fallen in it. Outside of it, brilliant work there.
Hey, what about mod support? Is it ever gonna exist?
Just curious, I read somewhere it was possible but not a priority.
Ive been eagerly awaiting this update for many months and the team did not disappoint. It has been an absolute pleasure to follow along with the development of Battle Brothers, honestly Ive been more excited about this game than most of the AAA titles. Fantastic work. Ive always been a fan of Fire emblem games, and this takes its place as another solid TBS game. Cheers.
Question: What comes next, after Battle Brothers?
Probably Battle Sisters :D
Thanks, devs, i always knew that you hate 2 hand axes…
Sweet! It’s not even Friday!!
Thanks for the beta!
Now, just a few things I hope will make it into the ‘quality of life’ patch before the launch:
1. PLEASE give mouse-over description to injuries. Maybe do it in the action log? It’s frustrating trying to remember that X injury I inflicted on the raider boss will cripple his attack so I can close in or just lower his initiative.
2. Allow alt-click repair to work on items currently being worn. Having to un-equip half of my company and then re-equip again is a pain.
Also, a few questions:
3. What are the consequences of force attacking peaceful NPCs? Just reputation hit? Is it faction specific and scaled to the crime (killing a few peasants vs taking out a town militia)?
4. What’s the economics of using tools to repair your stuff vs going to a blacksmith?
2. You don’t have to unequip anything, worn items are always repaired automatically. =\
Yeah, I’ve really been missing the mouse-over option for injures too. It can be kinda hard to remember them all, especially when starting out new to the game and you haven’t got a chance to know what a “Broken Finger” exactly does :)
yeepeeeee !!!!
Not in the changelog: They highly decreased the time enemy rounds take in combat. Its fuckin awesome!
Perhaps I am remembering incorrectly, but wasn’t there supposed to be a button to toggle attack stance? This would be so that I could raid passing caravans without having to upset their home villages first.
CTRL+mouseclick. :)
Thank you! If I might suggest to the developers, the game would likely benefit from this information being put into the controls menu. Excellent beta content, I’ve found the beta to be much more enjoyable so far than the previous versions.
Hi! I got here thanks to recommendations from some of the guys at Obsidian, and was pleasantly surprised to find out how close to release you guys are. I’ve been watching a couple of the Let’s Play videos and the game is looking awesome!
Are you planning to release on GOG.com? BB is on the community wish list with just under 100 votes ;)
Please make key commands configurable. My right hand does not work well because of accident, I´d like to put so many commands to my mouse as possible. And default, middle mouse button klick: end turn. :)
Great job, clearly one of the best Early Access games I’ve ever experienced. There are just two questions in my mind:
1) Will you think about changing the relation decrease when attacking a caravan/faction troops/peasants? At its current state, I highly doubt attacking them would be beneficial. Maybe you should make the relation damage very low in case nobody survives so it can’t be known it was the player attacked.
2) Are there any future projects in your mind once you release Battle Brother?
Thank you very much for this great game :)
Love the update! Just lost half my men holding the lime in a battle between houses. I don’t know if it is the way my world map generated but I think neutral cities as the buffers between noble houses would be cool. Border that could be taken by either side or powerhouse city state that can hold its own Gainst the nobles, supplying contracts to mercenaries who don’t want to be involved in the war.
I’m thoroughly impressed by the work underneath the hood here. This isn’t a new feature heavy update(although still pretty rich in that department) but man, there’s a lot of stuff going on. I don’t know if it’s just me, but balance has been improved dramatically. It’s no longer possible to breeze through earlier parts and accumulate cash and equipment.ever choice feels critical, ever item valuable.The new enemy types I have no doubt will need fine tuning, but all in all excellent work. Amazing job guys.
Very cool! Eagerly downloading the beta, now I’m wondering if we’re going to get the nifty lore booklet soon?
So, is there still any chance for a perk system for the captains of our mercenary bands? I mean a perk system which includes the supplementary skills like scout, persuasiveness or bargaining.
Hey a little bit of usability and immeesiveness and information for battle sites, it would be nice if they said what kind of bodies are there so gain more intel than, “oh someone fought here”. Let it say bodies of peasants ripped to shreds/cut to pieces/half eaten/eerie there is blood and gore everywhere but no bodies… (wiedenger).
Hey, Great work on game!
I have one small sugestion maybe You read this here ;)
With the ambition and Banner thing (which is awesome btw great job :D )
I had hoped that maybe you would get “tunics” With Your flag color on it, that Brother could wear over armors. Just like these house warriors got theirs
Hey, does this mean that BB will no longer recieve free updates that include new content? What about paid DLC?
I dont know if we will get more content update but i think it could be added some content like:
-create your own noble house(towns generate income, hire mercenaries to joir your war, maybe you have a commander that the player cant let die)
-possible orc gameplay with new mechanics(no money, you need to fight to get food, high level troops, can install camps arround wold that need to get managed,other orc rivalies)
-larger party in wars (more than 12 man in batle, 3 line for archer/2 tiles range weapos then frontline in front)
-create a second division of our mercenary company
I was waiting this update too. I love this game! Good job!
Have you guys thought about adding extra lore flavour for the Greater Evils?An example would be the Ancient Dead.Be it a far off ruin or contract to find out more about the Empire.I just finished their Greater Evil threat and was dying to know more :D
Will be in game unique mansplitter and other unique monster weapons exept orc cleaver and orc axe?