In December, we asked you to fire up your oven and cook your hearts out for our Yule Bread Contest, and we received more than a baker’s dozen in entries! Some tasty treats looked too good to eat, so we’re giving them prizes instead!
WINNER
DawidK submitted this delicious Highlanders-themed cake with exquisite decoration. While we can’t cut a slice and tuck in, we can imagine digging into this delectable delicacy after a long day on the battlefield!
SECOND PLACE
Our runner-up J0KER presented us with this Christmas Bûche de Noël; an amazing Yule log! The level of detail is truly astounding, and we would like to visit this chocolate church…
THIRD PLACE
Third-place goes to Pixie Lixi, who baked several festive and fun treats to feast our eyes on.
Thank you to everyone who slaved over a hot stove and offered up their Yule Bread entries. Stay tuned for more contests!
Conqueror’s Tales: Robert the Bruce
In the Scots’ fight for freedom from the English, the groundwork laid by William Wallace set the stage for Robert the Bruce to take arms and continue the cause. Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland after his loss at the Battle of Falkirk, and Robert took on the mantle; reinvigorating the efforts to place a Scot on the throne once more.
Born in 1274 AD, Robert the Bruce grew up in an affluent household as the son of an Earl and a Countess, a life of glory laid out before him. It wouldn’t be long before he took up the cause for Scotland’s true independence from England. Despite John Balliol sitting as the King of Scots, King Edward I of England continued to subjugate Scotland and undermine their king.
Statue of Robert the Bruce in Aberdeen
When Edward raised his immense army and invaded Scotland in 1296, Balliol abdicated after a crushing defeat at both Berwick and Dunbar and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Edward then inducted his English lords to rule Scotland.
One peculiar thing to note about Robert the Bruce is that he actually swore an oath of fealty to King Edward I of England, but this would last for less than a year before Robert joined the revolt against him.
“We fight not for glory, nor for wealth, nor honour but only and alone for freedom which no good man surrenders but with his life”.
Robert the Bruce
Robert the Bruce, while remembered as a great hero, wasn’t without his flaws, and harbours a complicated and dark past. His intentions and actions may be seen as honourable, noble, and even legendary, but Robert had to do a great many things that would be considered villainous to ascend to the throne. One of these was murdering his rival, John “the Red” Comyn in 1306. The Comyns and the Bruces were rivals for the ages, and both had set their sights on the crown. John and Robert were already sharing the title of Guardian of Scotland, and neither wanted to continue this trend when it came to becoming royalty (a claim they both believed they had a right to).
Robert the Bruce arranged for a meeting with John the Red Comyn, where a “business” discussion quickly turned into violence, and Comyn was struck down. Robert himself did not deal the final blow (his men tended to that), but he was directly responsible for his death. Some historians view this as usurpation, while others claim that he was left with no choice in the matter if he wished to propel Scotland to glory.
A mere six weeks following Comyn’s death, Robert was crowned King of Scots, and the true fight against the English could begin. Defeating the English forces at every turn and reclaiming castles all over Scotland, King Robert I set his sights on a battle of epic proportions, one that would become synonymous with his fight for freedom—the Battle of Bannockburn.
On June 23, 1314, Robert the Bruce led his band of Scots towards an advancing English cavalry, where the king subjected an English Knight named Henry de Bohun to a brutal slaying by axe, whereupon his men rushed the English troops, forcing them to retreat.
On the second day of battle, defeated from their previous day of shameful combat, English morale was low as they crossed into Bannockburn. Outnumber four to one, the Scots surrounded and slew them in great numbers, causing Edward to flee, and the battle to be lost for the English. This David and Goliath battle resulted in the immediate retaking of Stirling Castle by Bruce, and this unlikely victory for Scotland eventually led to the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton in 1328 where Scotland’s independence was recognised, and Bruce’s right as ruler acknowledged.
A drawing depicting King Edward being refused entry to Stirling Castle following the Battle of Bannockburn. From the “British Battles on Land and Sea” (1873)
While Bannockburn wasn’t the be-all and end-all of Scotland’s fight for sovereignty, it marked the start of a historic change for the country, and cemented Robert the Bruce as the legendary hero he has since become.
The fight for freedom is still ongoing for the clans in Season X: Highlanders, and you can join the campaign with brand-new units including the fearless Claymores, who we think Robert himself would have been proud to take into battle.
Epic Equine Event: Earn an Epic Mount!
Gallop into battle on a brand-new Epic Thundercloud Horse Mount by completing limited-time quests! From January 13 (after maintenance) until January 20 (23:59 server time), speak to the Sheriff to accept new quests, and upon their completion, your new horse will be ready to ride!
Complete the following quests from the Sheriff to earn the Epic Mount:
May your loyal steed lead you to victory!
Server downtime - January 13
Please be aware that from 7:00 CET on January 13 (22:00 PST 1/12), the Conqueror’s Blade servers will be inaccessible. The downtime is expected to last for 5 hours.
Please refer to the Patch Notes for documented changes. Meanwhile, stay tuned to our Discord channel in case of any immediate server updates.
Season X: New Balancing Changes
Last week, we shared our thoughts on balance changes and laid out some of the challenges we want to overcome. Now, we are now rolling out a series of alterations to some units, weapons, and runes in need of modifications, with this first batch of changes going live on January 13, 2022.
Balance Changes
On January 13, we will be implementing several changes to units, weapons, and runes, in order to provide a more balanced game experience. For further details, please read the latest patch notes.
Unit Changes
Axe Raiders
The stats for the Axe Raiders reveal that their average damage taken is 531,100 (23.4% higher than the second-ranked unit) and damage dealt of 273,200 ranked first amongst all units (15.7% higher than the second-ranked unit), and their pick rate was 6.8% (ranked third amongst all units). This exceeded all expectations and intentions, and due to this, we have decided to make changes to their recovery rate from control effects, and their Spite ability to negate their overpowered passive defensive capabilities.
Modao Battalion
The Modao Battalion’s pick rate places them first amongst all units at 9.1%, with averages of 395,200 damage taken (ranked fourth amongst all units) and 157,800 damage dealt (ranking ninth amongst all units). While in Modao Defence, their damage reduction is overpowered, therefore we are making adjustments to improve their strength against cavalry. 20% overall damage reduction will be replaced by 33% against cavalry and 8% against infantry.
Liao's Rangers
We are not satisfied with where the Liao's Rangers sits in terms of their low pick rate of 0.2% (ranked 62nd amongst all units), average damage dealt of 163,100 (ranked seventh amongst all units), and low accuracy while charging (around 15% at 20m), despite being a highly unique cavalry unit. To increase their usefulness and viability, their accuracy rate will be improved and the number of bullets increased. The buff the unit gains from movement speed will also be increased to inflict an extra 15% damage.
Firearm Infantry
Using Tercio Arquebusiers as an example, which ranked 29th with a pick rate of 0.7% in Season IX: Tyranny, we realise that Firearm Infantry has a difficult time dealing burst damage in battles, and their accuracy declines at longer distances. Their damage decay will be reduced and overall accuracy will be increased, while an issue with incorrect sound effects being played when firing will also be fixed.
Cataphract Lancers
According to player feedback, the Cataphract Lancers are still not up to par following recent changes to their kit, and are sitting at a 1.1% pick rate (ranked 24th amongst all units) with an average of 222,500 damage dealt (ranked fifth amongst all units). Rally To Me will be improved again, and when the unit is near the commanding hero, they will slightly speed up while moving closer to the target.
Fortebraccio Pikemen
As the unit with the longest melee weapon, the Fortebraccio Pikemen should be able to counter cavalry well, but that is currently not the case. They are also sitting at a lower than average pick rate of 0.2% (ranked 62nd). Therefore, their damage to cavalry while using Brace will increase by 15%, as will the damage inflicted based on enemy movement speed.
Hero & Weapon Changes
We have noticed that certain weapon classes are used less and have a lower win rate than average. With this round of changes, our focus has been to make adjustments to two weapon classes in particular. We will continue to make adjustments to other weapons where balance changes are required in the future and will detail these in the patch notes.
Longsword & Shield
The Longsword & Shield (ranked eighth with a win rate of 50.11%) is the only weapon class capable of healing, but its effectiveness is currently too low to truly make an impact. It’s possible that this contributes to its low place ranking amongst all weapons used (ranked tenth at 5.5%). It is often the case that you're killed before you can heal; to mitigate this, triggering Mercy of Heaven will now grant a 15% reduction to melee damage taken, and will heal you for 5% of your total possible health for every 3 seconds of its duration. The area of effect healing has not been altered and will act as an additional ability.
Short Bow
The Short Bow is a highly mobile weapon, but some of its skills long cooldowns, detracting from the experience of using it despite its win rate of 49.84% (ranked ninth). We want the Short Bow to be able to better combo skills and basic attacks to improve its 5.8% usage rate (ranked eighth out of all weapons), so cooldowns for four weapon skills will be reduced.
Seasonal Runes
To increase the diversity of picked runes and balance their power, we are improving lesser-picked runes (those under 10%) and mitigating the power of those with a pick rate above 60%. This applies to both common and weapon runes. For further details about which runes will be affected, please check the patch notes.
Future Changes
Right now, heavy shield infantry units are at a disjointed position in battles. They can neither take nor dish out enough damage to be truly effective, making it difficult to utilise them well. We have started to look at how to change units in this category, but it will require a bit of extra time to conduct power and stability tests. We are aiming to implement improvements to the Imperial Spear Guards by January 27 but may need additional time. Keep an eye on patch notes for more up to date information.
For detailed information on all the changes in this article, please check the latest patch notes.
Behind the Scenes of Season X Weapon Skins
Charging into combat with a weapon that truly expresses your personal battle style is key to any discerning Warlord’s kit. Therefore, we'd like to give you a behind-the-scenes peek at how the Conqueror’s Blade weapon skins for Season X: Highlanders came together, from concept to final product. Lovingly crafted by our development and art team, we hope the weapon skins immerse you in the Highlands culture, conflict, and world.
We spoke to Anton Mamihonov, Creative Director at Booming Tech about the journey to bring Scotland to life in Conqueror’s Blade through our weapon skins.
How did you begin conceptualising the Weapon Skins for Season X: Highlanders?
We usually begin with historical research of corresponding historical periods – events, museums, mythology, symbolism - gathering possible visual references. After that, we select the most vivid points and try to use those in the weapons’ designs.
How much inspiration did you take from real-world history?
One of the challenges we have is that we sometimes must mix styles. For example – how do you make a Japanese Nodachi look Scottish-inspired? We always seek inspiration in history and add a portion of fiction and mythology. For example – the round shield has a blade, then a dirk (dagger) attached to it to represent how it was used historically. It also features a native protection symbol painted in blue. For the Glaive attire we used the historical shape of the Scottish Lochaber axe.
How do you want players to feel when they wield these weapons?
We think that every season has a different mood, and it projects on the weapons and the way players would feel while carrying those. For Highlanders, we wanted to highlight key points of bravery, love for freedom, and cultural heritage. We hope that players will feel like heroes who fight for the sake of their people.
What materials do you imagine the weapons to be made of this Season?
We focused on wood and iron for this season but some minor elements had more exotic materials such as deer’s horns (Short Bow).
When you run design playtests, what are you looking out for when it comes to how the Weapon Skins look?
Each weapon must have a visual key point that may be adjusted or improved during the creation process and revisions. Ideally, a weapon would have a background story, connection to historical events, or local mythology. If we’re able to create a design that tells a story – that means that we did something right.
Which is your favourite Weapon Skin of this season and why?
I don’t play Maul myself, but I like the Maul skin the most. It has good size proportions and an interesting idea using the Scottish national animal symbol of a unicorn’s head as the key visual element.
The Season X: Highlanders Battle Pass includes Blades which can be exchanged in the Seasonal Store to get your hands on your favourite Scottish-themed weapon skin!
Map Guide: Broch Eastray (Siege)
Broch Eastray is the site of the first Highlanders settlement, now threatened by a Loegrian invasion. This sacred village and its hilltop castle provide the main stage for PvP Siege Battles in Season X: Highlanders. Broch Eastray can be defended or attacked, and invites two teams of 12 players to battle for dominion over it.
[previewyoutube="91YLdbLYGDU;full"]
HISTORY
The Loegrians are at the gate, and what bigger prize to secure than that of the Highlanders’ precious Broch Eastray? Their homeland must be reclaimed by the united power of all Aelba’s clans and their new warriors, even if deadly traps may work against them. Much of the landscape has been destroyed, making cover scarce in the battered surroundings. However, new tactics can be deployed to reach the castle and regain control.
SCOUTING REPORT
Broch Eastray’s village stretches up to a cliffside castle where the Loegrians have set up camp within the ruins and used its resources to erect defences, artillery, and traps. But the invaders neglected to realise that the Highlanders would have expert knowledge of this sacred site and find other routes to attack.
Attackers can gain an unexpected advantage by using the various routes and footpaths around the map to flank defenders’ formations. The supply point to the west can be seized early by attackers to gain an early foothold, who can leverage that to take Point B as soon as it's available.
Defenders can hold out at the base flag, fortifying units and artilleries behind the castle walls. The natural and invented defences can protect units from artillery fire and ranged attacks, and the narrow paths offer brace units the chance to hold firm against cavalry advances.
An incendiary catapult is the icing on the cake of this fighting fiesta, a devastating weapon to be turned against both attackers and defenders.
PLAN OF ATTACK
DEFENSIVE MEASURES
Need some advice on which fearless warriors to take to Broch Eastray? Check out these brave kinsmen who have joined the fight for freedom—Bagpipers and Claymores.
5 Must-See Scottish Landmarks
While you may have explored Season X’s new Siege Map—the Highlanders’ ancestral home of Broch Eastray—you may not have had the opportunity to visit the inspiration behind the iconic landscapes and fortifications of Scotland itself! Never fear, as we’re here to transport you to the land of deep-fried Mars bars, tartan, and bagpipes as we discover some of Scotland's choicest castles and loveliest landmarks that inspired Season X: Highlanders.
Edinburgh Castle
Standing proud and strong on the volcanic Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle has loomed, quiet and domineering, over Scotland’s capital since the 11th century and has been the home of many monarchs, from James IV to Mary Queen of Scots. Edinburgh Castle is also the most besieged site in Europe, having been attacked no less than 23 times in its lifetime, resulting in much rebuilding.
It’s now a popular tourist attraction where visitors can marvel at its architecture and immerse themselves in its rich and dramatic past.
The castle is also home to the National War Museum. Housed within its storied battlements, it includes exhibits of over 400 years of conflicts.
As well as numerous buildings which once operated as munitions storage, chapels, and more, the sprawling forecourt provides the backdrop for the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a fantastic exhibition of drills, displays, and bands.
Edinburgh Castle
Loch Ness
Does a mythical sea creature lie within the depths of this world-famous natural landmark? That is the question many visitors to the freshwater loch have wondered, and some purport to have even captured the Loch Ness Monster (or Nessie) on camera. Containing more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined, it’s no wonder that wishful thinkers claim there is a cryptid living in its depths.
First brought to wider public attention in 1933 (but allegedly spotted as far back as 565 AD) by George Spicer, whose story of witnessing “the nearest approach to a dragon or pre-historic animal that I have ever seen in my life” in the Courier sparked a greater interest in what could be out there. Since then, several photographs and videos have been taken of ‘Nessie’, and sonar experiments have been carried out to see whether Nessie is lurking deep within the loch. With any pure-hearted seeking of the truth also come hoaxes, including that of a deceased bull elephant seal placed in the water by a zoologist from Yorkshire's Flamingo Park Zoo.
Whether Nessie is real or not, the legend of her existence continues to spark wonder and curiosity in tourists and travellers worldwide.
Loch Ness
Stirling Castle
Atop Castle Hill sits Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s most important historical sites. Dating back to the 12th century, the stronghold and its buildings have endured many sackings and attacks, most notably by Robert the Bruce. He seized the castle and destroyed its defences during his armies campaign for freedom.
While its past is fascinating, and its sweeping views of the Scottish countryside breathtaking, Stirling Castle has seen its fair share of ghoulish events. Here, James II ordered a brutal assassination of William, 8th Earl of Douglas, resulting in the Earl being stabbed 26 times, then thrown from a window into the grounds below. This was not the only violent killing to take place within the castle grounds, with five skeletons discovered within the last decade with traumatic and blunt injuries to the skulls leading scientists to suggest these poor souls fell to a war hammer.
Don’t let these less than family-friendly occurrences put you off, though, as Stirling Castle has many incredible sights to see, including the exquisite Great Hall, the sprawling and peaceful Queen Anne Gardens, and the Palace Vaults.
Stirling Castle
Calanais Standing Stones
At over 5,000 years old, the Calanais Standing Stones (also known as the Callanish Stones) pre-date even the world-renowned Stonehenge. Erected in the Neolithic era and used for ritual ceremonies, the stones stand in a cruciform formation near the village of Callanish, on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The thirteen stones have an average height of three metres and are thought to have been used for religious rituals and mapping the sky.
The highest mountain in the whole of the United Kingdom with a summit height of 1,345 metres, Ben Nevis entices over 100,000 climbers every year who wish to conquer its peak. The first to do so was James Robertson, a botanist, who conquered the mountain in 1771.
Due to its immense altitude and polar climate, snow covers the mountaintop almost all year round, and because of this, avalanches frequently happen, making the notoriously tricky climb even more dangerous.
If you don’t fancy a four-hour trip to the top of Ben Nevis, you can always simply look upon its stunning topography from the safe vantage point of the ground.
Ben Nevis taken from Banavie
Whether you want to climb a mountain, gaze out from a historic castle’s walls, or spot a cryptid, there’s something for everyone in the mystical and magnificent lands of Scotland.
Conqueror’s Tales: William Wallace
In 1270 AD, in a town named Paisley in the North of Scotland, a boy was born whose first cries would later become cries of freedom for his people. Sir William Wallace, as he would soon be known, is an icon of Scottish history and has been immortalised in history and popular culture (Braveheart, anyone?).
Just as the clans of the Highlands in Conqueror’s Blade fight for liberation from Loegrian rule, so too did the Scottish against the English, who viewed the Northern lands as a feudal state and not a sovereign country in its own right. During the early 1200s, Scotland enjoyed a time of peace and prosperity. The untimely death of King Alexander III led to turmoil, undoing the previous stability, and almost ushering in a civil war.
King Edward I of England, looking for a way to undermine potential heirs to the throne, ordered his armies to storm Berwick-Upon-Tweed (the Battle of Halidon Hill), where the Scots fell in a devastating defeat. This marked the beginning of the First War of Scottish Independence (1296 AD).
Statue of William Wallace of Scotland in Druid Hill Park, Baltimore
Although William Wallace’s military experience is largely unknown, it must have been extensive (and successful) for the role he took in leading Scotland’s armies during this war. He seemed to make the impossible possible through rousing leadership. One such instance is the Battle of Stirling Bridge (September 11, 1297), where even though his men were vastly outnumbered by English forces, they won the day, leading to Wallace’s decoration as Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland, and a knighthood for his valiant efforts and keen leadership skills.
Many more military operations and raids were carried out under Wallace’s determined leadership, who managed to evade being captured by King Edward and the English until 1305, when he was betrayed by John de Menteith. The Scottish knight handed him over to English soldiers, resulting in Wallace’s brutal execution for treason.
“I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject."
While William Wallace may have left the brunt of the freedom-fighting (and eventual triumph) to his successor Robert the Bruce, he remains a symbol of Scotland’s spirit and unerring resilience, and an icon of liberty for the ages. For Freedom!
Season X: Ranked Battles
Ranked Battles return on January 7! Accessible throughout Season X: Highlanders, check out the Event Schedule to plan your rise through the ranks.
Unlike regular matchmaking battles, where you earn Bronze and XP, Ranked Battles are all about creating a continuous record of where you sit beside other heroes. Your efforts will still reward you with experience and go towards fulfilling quest objectives (although you won’t receive any Bronze), but Ranked Matchmaking is predominantly about establishing an evolving order of dominance.
As well as ranks to ascend by earning points, there are Weekly and Season rewards to unlock - including a choice of Unit Attires to show off in front of your adversaries.
You can always check out your current rank by pressing ‘J’ and selecting the Ranked Battle tab.
Matchmaking Ranks
[table][tr][td] [/td][td] [/td][td] [/td][/tr][tr][td] New Blood
1700 - 2099 Points [/td][/tr][tr][td] [/td][/tr][tr][td] Grand Champion*
2100 + Points [/td][/tr][/table] The Maps [table][tr][td] Siege (15v15) [/td][td] Field [/td][/tr][tr][td] Kurak Castle [/td][td] Westwood [/td][/tr][tr][td] Augolia [/td][td] Marauder Settlement [/td][/tr][tr][td] Wall Fort [/td][td] Grassland Assault [/td][/tr][tr][td] Hidden City [/td][td] Augolia Outskirts [/td][/tr][tr][td] Valley Fortress [/td][td] Combat Arena [/td][/tr][tr][td] Sun City [/td][td] Desert Fortress [/td][/tr][tr][td]Heilung Fjord[/td][/tr][tr][td]Border Fort[/td][/tr][/table]
Ranked Rewards
[table][tr][td]Achieve a new rank![/td][td]Check the Ranked Battles UI[/td][/tr][tr][td] Win 2x Ranked Battles in a week to receive: [/td][td] 2x Chest of Bronze
Uncommon Honour Medal [/td][/tr][tr][td] Win 5x Ranked Battles in a week to receive: [/td][td] 3x Chest of Bronze
Uncommon Honour Medal
Simple Honour Medal
2x Random Doctrine Ability [/td][/tr][tr][td] Rank Fighter (800 points) or above during a season to receive: [/td][td] 60x Unit Medals
20x Powdered Silver
10,000 Honour
3x Treatise [/td][/tr][tr][td] Rank Gladiator (1200 points) or above during a season to receive: [/td][td] 60x Unit Medals
30x Gold Dust
1x Epic Barding Schematic Crate
7x Treatise [/td][/tr][tr][td] Rank above 1500 points during a season to receive: [/td][td] 1x Permanent Title
1x Ranked Battle Unit Attire Selection (choose from Barbiano Unit Attire, Elite Tercio Arquebusier’s Attire, Pavise Crossbowmen’s Ducal Garrison Attire, Falconetti Gunner’s Bombardier Attire, Gryf Lancer's Attire, Valorous Unit Attire, or a Mountain Lions' Armour Attire) [/td][/tr][tr][td] Rank above 2100 points and be among the top 25 players on the server to receive: [/td][td] 1x Mount Banner. [/td][/tr][/table]
