It presents as a locus of power, where your character avatar resides.
Also, its right there in the title.
The more I play, the more it feels a fitting place.
Not sidelined, exactly, just not especially loud.
Parchment and seals arent as important as tilled earth; as winter snow, spring thaws and autumn harvests.
Not half as much, anyway, as it is about manure.
Or at least things manure-adjacent, anyway.
There are stockpiles and survival elements, too.
This is all engaging enough to optimise, sure.
On the map level, sure.
There are opposing forces and regions to lay claim to.
But on the ground level, you’re encouraged to exist alongside your surroundings rather than overcome them.
Hunt greedily, and there will soon be nothing left to hunt at all.
Cut down trees without planting more, and youll soon find woods dwindling.
Ever owned a breadmaker?
A life-changing tip: put it on before you go pub.
Water from a well, a church, a few different foodstuffs.
Clothing is trickier, but hunted game provide hides, so plonk down a tannery and youre sorted.
Once autumn arrives, you’ll harvest and transport the barley to another building which turns it into malt.
Joy here is where the aesthetic and ascetic meet: rows of well-fed, warm homes.
Sensible road networks buzzing with foot and hoof traffic from tiny industries.
They all make the humble feel like a worthwhile achievement.
Sometimes it feels like an achievement because Manor Lords seems deliberately obtuse, mind, although never nonsensical.
Youll have the luxury of an RPS stuffed to the gills withlife-changing guides, of course.
There is a military industry, but I dont see myself ever really engaging with it unless forced to.
We really do grow some nice carrots round these parts, and Id like more people to try them.
When Manor Lords does require violence, itsTotal Warcombat without that series context.
Put your bows behind your spears.
Dont rush your lads around too much or theyll get tired and fight worse.
Its very impressive to behold, but I feel its almost similar to Total War by accident.
Elsewhere, the nuances of life do give way to that abstraction otherwise avoided.
No fistfights in the street over goat theft.
No accusations of witchcraft.
Public order isnt really a concern.
Disease feels minimal and underdeveloped.
But thats part of the deal at this stage.
It definitely doesnt feel even close to complete, but it does feel alive.
Thats much more important.
This review was based on a review build of the game provided by the developers.
