Confirmed Features In Manor Lords

Highlights

Explore towns in third person, watching buildings come to life, amazing cloth & animations included.
Manage taxation realistically - up to 6 taxes, including trade & tithe. Popularity impacts lords' control.
War, deforestation, and more have real consequences on economy. Customizable lord's retinue for battles.

With over 2 million players adding the game to their Steam wishlist, excitement for Manor Lords is at an all-time high. With the medieval city builder ready for an Early Access release on the 26th of April, there are several gameplay features that have been confirmed from the various trailers and statements made by the devs about the game.

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Seeing as some players got to test out the organic building process in the 2022 demo, many broader aspects of the game are already known, and thus this list will delve deeper into more niche features confirmed for Manor Lords. Thanks to a heavy emphasis on historical accuracy, these exciting features will not only add to the game's strategic nuance, but will teach players about the realities of the Middle Ages, and more specifically, late 14th-century Franconia.

6 Walk Around Town In Third Person

Visit The People As The Lord Or Lady

One of the coolest features of Manor Lords, which was even available in the demo, is the ability to visit towns as the lord or lady using a third-person camera mode. On top of the game looking beautiful from a distance, this means players will be able to walk down the very paths they create, and can see churches or manors built in real time by their subjects.

This kind of feature is rare in strategy games and city-building games alike, and is perfect for players who love to immerse themselves in historical titles. Players will be impressed with some of the cloth mechanics and other animations that have been improved on over the many years of development.

5 An In-Depth Tax System

There Are At Least 6 Different Taxes

There are many games where players have to pay or manage their taxes, but in medieval games, this is usually simplified to one generic tax. Manor Lords, however, recognizes how medieval people had to pay a wide variety of taxes, and that in times of need, their overlords could levy new taxes from them.

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From the most recent gameplay trailer, it is possible to see six unique taxes, with a basic tax collected per head, and two additional ones for times of war. There is also a trade tax, meaning players will benefit even more from the productivity and commerce of their towns, as well as a tax for using the lord's mills, an exquisite historical detail. Even more interesting is the Tithe, which is paid to the Chuch in return for influence. It also appears that players will be able to appoint up to three individuals to improve the effectiveness of raising taxes, all of which must be balanced with the loyalty of their subjects.

4 Feel The Effects Of War, Deforestation, & Much More

Actions Have Consequences For The Economy & Well-Being Of Settlements

In many war games, individual soldiers are treated as dispensable with no regard for their lives outside of the current battle. However, in Manor Lords, unless players have hired mercenaries, most of their soldiers will be recruited from the population. Thus, every unnecessary death means one less pair of hands to bring in the harvest. This will make players think twice before invading their neighbor's lands.

It's not just warfare that has consequences, as players will feel changes in the environment from simply expanding their towns. Deforestation, for example, is a real worry, and ineffective crop management can result in a loss of soil fertility.

3 Customize The Lord's Retinue

The Lord's Retinue's Equipment & Appearance Can Be Changed

Manor Lords isn't just about developing villages into towns and farming, there is also warfare. On top of the Peasant Militia and Mercenaries, players will also have their own Lord's Retinue, which consists of full-time, heavily armored soldiers.

As highlighted in the most recent trailer, players can customize their retinue in numerous ways. Most importantly, each aspect of their armor and weapons can be chosen, with this likely having an effect on gameplay in terms of effectiveness and cost. Creative players will be even more pleased to learn that the cosmetics of these soldiers can also be altered, including patterns and colors.

2 Construct Letters Of Diplomacy With Real Consequences

Each Line Has Its Own Effects

While the main focus in Manor Lords will usually be the growth of settlements and the management of subjects, players must also manage their relations with fellow lords and ladies, some who are friendlier than others.

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One of the ways to do this is by sending letters. Astonishingly, players can craft each line of these letters, each with its own effects. Players will use lines of rhetoric to cultivate peace or diminish a lord's reputation, and they can also make proposals or even demands. While Grand Strategy games often have great diplomacy features, this level of nuance is unexpected but highly welcome for a game best known for its city-building elements.

1 Dynamic Weather & Seasons

The Time Of Year & Weather Actually Have An Impact

As players grow their small settlements into bustling cities, time will be simulated naturally, including the changing of seasons. On top of the gorgeous variations in aesthetics, the seasons actually matter. This is not only true for agriculture, but for many other reasons too. For example, in winter, the entire population will need more firewood to keep them warm.

Just like the seasons, the weather can also have adverse effects, but it can also come as a welcome relief, such as rain in the spring for the growing crops. Weather conditions can even influence battles in the game, with certain units performing better or worse in different conditions.