How Classic RPGs Inspired Band of Crusaders’ Real Time Combat System and More

How Classic RPGs Inspired Band of Crusaders' Real Time Combat System and More

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that “Band of Crusaders” has piqued my interest like nothing else in recent memory. With its roots firmly planted in medieval strategy RPGs that I adored as a young lad, it’s hard not to feel nostalgic about the good old days.


Knights of the Old Republic”. While the game’s European folklore atmosphere might remind you of games like “The Witcher”, it was not a direct influence on its development.

Although it’s probably a positive aspect, The Band of Crusaders aims to establish its unique character and delve into underutilized mechanics from the past. For instance, The Band of Crusaders employs real-time tactical combat, a mechanic seldom seen in games nowadays. Recently, Game Rant had a conversation with Dominik Sypnicki, CEO of The Band of Crusaders, and Kamil Mickiewicz, the art director, to gain insights about the game.

Band Of Crusaders’ Classic RPG Inspirations

How Classic RPGs Inspired Band of Crusaders' Real Time Combat System and More

In a conversation about what influenced the creation of “Band of Crusaders”, Mickiewicz shared that they drew inspiration from games they adored during their childhood. Notably, they mentioned “Heroes of Might and Magic 3” which bears some resemblance to the campaign map in “Band of Crusaders”. The latter boasts a comprehensive overworld map where players can maneuver crusaders, with events transpiring in real-time. As for the RTS aspect, Mickiewicz noted that it plays out somewhat like “Mount & Blade: Bannerlord” or “Wartales”, but he hopes it may also evoke nostalgia from playing “Heroes of Might and Magic”. Additionally, the music in “Band of Crusaders” was similarly inspired by “Heroes of Might and Magic”, with Mickiewicz stressing the importance of creating authentic medieval tunes using real instruments and Latin vocalists.

In our campaign, we share a strong affinity for music as we heavily feature male vocals and predominantly record our tracks live. This choice was made to achieve an authentic, medieval sound, which we felt was essential to our vision.

Band of Crusaders’ Real-Time Combat And KOTOR Inspirations

In a somewhat unexpected twist, it’s worth mentioning that BioWare’s classic RPG, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, has played a significant role in inspiring Band of Crusaders. Although they aren’t identical games, Mickiewicz describes Band of Crusaders as being “very much” reminiscent of Knights of the Old Republic, particularly in their Real Time with Pause (RTP) combat system. This system allows for time-slowing mechanics without a complete pause, offering insights into its origins as Mickiewicz further explains.

Initially, our plan was to create a game similar to either ‘Knights of the Old Republic’ or ‘Pillars of Eternity’, where you could pause the action using your space bar. These titles served as our inspirations. However, instead of conventional gameplay mechanics, we opted for time dilation in our early prototype.

Enthusiasts of BioWare’s early RPGs such as “Knights of the Republic” might remember it employed Real Time with Pause (RTP) gameplay, allowing players to halt combat to plan out their strategic moves. This blend of turn-based and real-time combat was unique, offering a pause feature that provided a break in the action. Games like “Dragon Age: Origins” from BioWare also use RTP, which has been noted as another title similar to “Band of Crusaders”, as well as “Diablo” and “Baldur’s Gate 2”. Additionally, many fans find it “super cool” and are making individual comparisons.

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2024-10-18 14:24