Noble simulator Norland gets a map overhaul with Patch 26 – Destructoid
Hooded Horse has announced that Long Jaunt’s noble family management game, Norland, has reached Patch 26. This one might be the largest yet, as it adds family trees, new NPCs, and – perhaps most notably – an overhaul to the world map.
Norland launched into early access in kind of rough shape. The framework was there, but I found it to be unbalanced and required too much juggling to really enjoy. As I described it in my early access review, none of its facets have any time to breathe, leading to things breaking down.
Since the time I played it, the devs have been hitting it hard and fast with updates to address player concerns. The gusto is admirable. I haven’t jumped back into the game since my initial encounter, but I have seen certain tweaks that seem like they would make things more palatable. Things like cutting down on the amount of babysitting the peasants need.
Here’s what information I have on the update: “The latest update for Norland completely overhauls the world map with new sprites, more topology, and more regional diversity. Players will start each game battling for control over a single region before transitioning to the “world” stage and fighting over nation-states of different cultures. The overall map size is also bigger now, and a previous patch allows players to compel nearby vassals to tackle distant issues, freeing their own nobles to focus on matters closer to home.”
On top of that, an added family tree means you can keep track of your lineage so that, I don’t know, you can keep second cousins from marrying each other. If you can stop them. There are also new “guest” NPC characters such as cultists and pilgrims. I’m not sure why “guest” is in quotes, but that’s how it is in the press release.
Norland is currently in Early Access and available on PC. Also, it’s on sale for 35% until December 4, 2024.
