Northgard's latest faction deploys armoured bears
Yes please!
Shield maidens and armoured bears have arrived in strategic Viking 'em up Northgard [official site] with the addition of a new faction. The Clan of the Bear have come from the north to cause trouble and conquer the land with their hardiness and, y'know, flipping great big armoured bears. Northgard is still in early access but our warboy Brendy already declared it one of the best games of 2017 so far. Bring on the bears!
These Bearpals are a hardy bunch, with the starting bonuses of gaining extra resistance during winter and also suffering less food production loss during those cold months. Their Armoured Bears can't enter enemy territory but they can maul faces and so are good for protecting your own. The Shield Maiden, meanwhile, is a replacement for the Warchief. Her attacks aren't strong but she's sturdy.
Check today's patch notes for full details on the new clan, as well as other changes.
Northgard is good stuff. As Brendan said when he Prematurely Evaluated it:
"It's an impressively well-made thing, a finely-embroidered cloak of an RTS with all the elements sewn together in a pleasing and sensible way. Most importantly, the immediate environment around your home feels like it really influences your strategy for the whole match."
A sale marking this update's launch brings Northgard to £11.24/14,99€/$14.99 on Steam Early Access. Developers Shiro Games expect to launch the full version in a few months.