Songs of Conquest News

[p]The wait is over. Our new faction DLC is here, and with it, a fresh update for Songs of Conquest as a whole. Creating Roots has been one of our most rewarding challenges yet. It was unlike anything we’ve done over the past seven years. We didn’t just want them to look different; we wanted them to feel different. And we believe we’ve grown something truly special. Twisted, beautiful, and entirely its own beast.. or fungi.
[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]As we mentioned last week, we are also releasing our game for Nintendo Switch today. Its a small console, but it's a big step for us as developers. From the moment we started dreaming about porting our game, we have fantasized about seeing Songs of Conquest on the Switch, and that day is finally here! It's just a wonderful experience, taking the beautiful pixel world of Aerbor and defeating your enemies from the comfort of, well, anywhere.
[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]But today is not only about bark-covered horrors and resource-converting insects and hand-held consoles. This is also a significant update for everyone, not just those picking up the DLC. We remain committed to improving and expanding Songs of Conquest for the entire community. Your continued support, whether in the form of ideas, feedback, or thoughtful balance suggestions, fuels everything we do. We cannot implement them all, but we read them, we discuss them, and we appreciate them.[/p][p]So, thank you. From our pixel-pushing, strategy-loving hearts to yours. You are the spellbook to our caster, the gem to our artifact. And speaking of artifacts, let’s look at the new magical items we’ve added with this update. A trove of new treasures now awaits to be unearthed in Aerbor, or perhaps torn from the hands of your defeated enemies, we don’t judge.[/p][p]
A cloak made of mushrooms really just screams fashion.

To help you put these new trinkets to good use, we’re also releasing a free new map. It’s a compact, high-pressure battlefield called Invasive, perfect for testing your mettle against the ever-encroaching Roots. Whether you win or wither, we think you’ll enjoy the ride.[/p][p]And just because you didn’t pick up the Roots DLC doesn’t mean you won’t encounter the new troops on the battlefield. We’ve added them as enemies on several of our previously released Conquest maps, and if you’re diving into a random map, don’t be surprised if you face the horns and blade of a Terror or the deadly fumes of spawns sooner rather than later. Or just start up that map I mentioned, you’ll be sure to face them in all their glory there.[/p][p]Lashers and Lobbers are waiting for you; they are friendly like that.

Our design work never really stops. The balance changes, the tweaks, the experiments that keep theorycrafters awake at night, those are still coming. Many of the updates in this patch come from community suggestions, while others are born from hours of play and internal debate. As an example, Nornors and crones now trigger spearwalls, barracks just cost wood and stone to upgrade, and we’ve changed the cost of shaman tents. This is just a few examples, and for the full list, make sure to check the changelog. We could talk about bug fixes, but let’s face it, you're here for the fungi.

[dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]The Tree Mothers want you to buy it

If you have followed our devlogs, you know that Roots was one of the earliest ideas we planted. Now fully grown, they offer a unique style of play. No other faction commands all forms of Essence the way Roots do. The options for spellcasting and tactical variation are nearly endless, though mastery will require more than just a green thumb.[/p][p]We’ve created seven new maps just for this DLC. Some are tightly designed tests of your skill, others are steeped in lore and story, my personal favorite is Growth, where you, as a new Vessel, discover both your history and the purpose that drives the Tree Mothers that guide you. Other maps offer more room to roam, explore, and perhaps you will, like our initial testers, discover strategies that surprised us. There’s a lot to uncover, and we can’t wait to see what you find.[/p][p]
A whole bouquet of maps, yours to enjoy!

Gameplay-wise, Roots introduces moments unlike anything else in the game. Maybe it’s the sense of power as the bodies of your fallen foes rise as broken vessels, ready to march in your name. Maybe it’s snaring your enemies in the grasp of the Tree Mothers. Maybe it’s finding an Essence combination you never tried before. Roots asks more from you, but it also rewards those who think a step ahead.


Friends who die from a laser blast together, stay together.

And then there’s the new biome. Our artists and level designers have created something that feels alive, dangerous, and almost sacred in its decay. The glowing mushrooms, the vine-choked ruins, the lumbering horrors. It’s a rich, revolting canvas that we cannot wait to build on. We expect it to become a favorite for custom map creators and campaign builders alike. Why not cut a giant bug open as you look for treasures or fight the guardians of Tangled Burrow?

We're pretty sure they just ate something they shouldn't have. Never trust a strange mushroom.

At your command stand nine new Wielders—or Vessels, as the Roots would call them. They are agents of the Tree Mothers, shaped from reanimated corpses, at least one Faey nobility, and nightmare-spun visions. Each one is distinct. Each one offers a new style of play. And each one is waiting to be discovered by players willing to dig deep. [/p][p]Roots have taken hold. Now it’s your turn to grow with it.
[/p][p]Pretty soon, the Lavapotion team will head off for our government-mandated vacations, catching small, elusive days of sunshine as we rest and roll up our sleeves for the times ahead. There is more planned for Songs of Conquest and more planned for Lavapotion as a whole, and we hope that you will be there with us, along for the ride, every step of the way. 
[/p][p]See you on the battlefield!
[/p][p]/Anders and the rest of the Lavapotion team

Read the changelog here!
https://www.songsofconquest.com/changelogs#changelog16[/p][p]

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[p]Greetings Wielders,[/p][p]This is Magnus, CEO of Lavapotion, making a guest appearance. We’ve seen your comments and reviews. You’ve told us clearly how you feel about recent pricing changes: What felt fair, what didn’t, and how different regions are affected in different ways. We’ve listened, and we have big news to share.[/p][p]Together with our publisher, Coffee Stain, we’ve been discussing this at length. They've been incredibly supportive, and we’re grateful to be working with a partner that shares our vision for fairness and long-term trust with the community. These following changes wouldn’t have been possible without their backing![/p][p]As of today, we’re adjusting our prices in response to your feedback:[/p]

• [p]The base game price is now lowered to $29.99 / €29.99, with regional pricing applied, which brings it back to where it started during Early Access.[/p]
• [p]All Faction DLCs (Vanir and soon Roots) are now set to $9.99 / €9.99, down from $11.99. Regional pricing also applies to the DLC’s.[/p]
• [p]We’re also making specific changes to the regional pricing in areas that where unreasonably affected by recent price increases.[/p]

[p]These decisions were not taken lightly. We’ve carefully weighed how to balance long term financial sustainability with accessibility to users in all regions. Your feedback helped us find that balance. We thank you for that![/p][p]We’re also cleaning up our store page and updating bundles:[/p]

• [p]A new Factions Bundle will go live tomorrow, including the base game + all faction DLCs, with a 10% “Complete the Set” discount.[/p]
• [p]We’ll also launch a new Complete Bundle, combining the base game and all DLCs with a 15% discount.[/p]

[p]These bundles are here to stay and will be updated as new content is released.[/p][p]We hope these changes show that we truly listen and take your feedback to heart. If you feel we’ve made things right, we would deeply appreciate it if you update your review of the game or leave one if you haven’t yet. It helps more than you might think, especially as we head into our next big launch.[/p][p]Above all, we’re excited to keep building Songs of Conquest together with you. There’s more to come, more updates, more improvements, and yes, more factions![/p][p]Thank you for helping us build something we’re proud of and being part of an amazing community that helps us grow as a team and company! We hope to see you all tomorrow for the launch of our new faction![/p][p]/Magnus, Team Lavapotion and Coffee Stain Publishing[/p][p]
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[p]Greetings Wielders,[/p][p]You’ve asked for it. We’ve hinted at it. And now it’s official. Songs of Conquest is coming to Nintendo Switch next week! The game will launch on Tuesday, June 17 in Europe, the Americas, and Australia. Players in Japan, Hong Kong, and Korea can join the adventure starting Thursday, June 19.[/p][p]That means the full game, along with its first major DLC, Vanir will soon be playable wherever you are. On the train or in your favorite armchair while sipping on a beverage of your choice. Wherever you go, the factions of Aerbor are ready to move with you.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]The Switch version includes the full singleplayer experience along with local multiplayer, allowing up to eight players to pass the device and take turns leading their armies. Whether you’re playing cooperatively or battling for bragging rights, it’s classic hot-seat action with modern flair.[/p][p]Everything you love: Tactical combat, kingdom management, vibrant pixel art, and deep faction-based campaigns now fits in the palm of your hand.
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Now, with Nintendo Switch added to the lineup of platforms we support, it’s the perfect time to begin your journey, or return to Aerbor for another campaign. Whether you’re building your empire at home or leading troops on the move, we’re incredibly excited to bring the adventure to more players than ever (We’ve now sold over 600 000 copies of the game btw!).[/p][p]We hope to release Roots for all console platforms during early to mid autumn.[/p][p]Here´s to conquest anytime, anywhere!
/Anders and the Lavapotion Team[/p][p]
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[p][/p][p]Flesh will rot. Steel will rust. Roots will rise - very soon! The wait is nearly over. The vines have twisted and the spores have settled. We are thrilled to announce that Roots will be released on June 17th at 19:00 CET![/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Mark your calendars, ready your Wielders, and perhaps polish your armor—though it may not help much where the Roots are growing. This is one of our most ambitious additions yet, and we can’t wait for you to dig into it. But that’s not all we have coming! But we'll start by showing our date reveal trailer!
[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]To honor those brave enough to embrace all the strange and powerful factions of Aerbor, we’re introducing the Faction Bundle! This bundle will give you a 15% discount (on top of any existing promotions) if you get both of our faction DLCs. It’s our way of saying thanks for continuing to grow with us, one expansion at a time. We’ll add each new faction release to this bundle going forward. [/p][p][/p][p]You could say we’ve had laser focus on getting Roots ready for release during these last months. I think it shows! [/p][p]Alongside the Roots DLC, the base game will be updated with a range of new features and content—completely free. While we won’t spoil every surprise just yet, we can say it includes some long-awaited tweaks and a few unexpected treats that we think will root themselves nicely into your gameplay experience. [/p][p][/p][p]Some people say that Roots and Vanir are arch-enemies. Some people might be right! [/p][p]Behind the scenes, a new faction is already being discussed in hushed tones. Though nothing is final, we’re very excited for what’s to come. But we will talk more about that after the summer.[/p][p]
It’s like a weird and slimy garden, but deadlier. Lovely.
[/p][p]And oh, one last thing, or maybe two.[/p][p][/p][p]There’s a certain handheld console we haven’t spoken much about… but that’s about to change. Expect an update on the Nintendo Switch version very soon. We think it’ll be worth the wait.[/p][p]
But what about Roots DLC for the other Consoles? No, we didn’t forget about them, but they will have to wait until after our summer holiday.

[/p][p]See you very soon![/p][p]/Anders and the Lavapotion Team[/p][p]

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We’re back with more details on what’s quickly becoming one of our favorite factions. The Roots might stand out in a crowd, but let’s be honest, you wouldn’t want to bump into them in a dark alley. They’re taking shape right before our eyes, as we build new maps and dig into playtesting. I won’t give an exact date yet, but suffice to say it's close.

This update is all about how Roots plays. We’ll explore some of their unique mechanics and give you a glimpse of new artwork and buildings taking root in their domain.
Before we get tangled in the details, don’t forget to wishlist Roots, the Tree Mother insists.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3511790/Songs_of_Conquest__Roots/
All factions so far have a specialization when it comes to Essence. Arleon, for example, focuses on Order, Chaos, and Creation. Their Faey units lean into Chaos, while the Shield of Order units bring a strong focus on Order as their name implies. There is a clear theme, and although some troops can act as formidable essence batteries, the faction as a whole is limited to three types of Essence.

This is not the case for Roots.

Roots are connected to Essence, and despite the colour off-put, its the normal ones

Roots are connected to Essence in a more natural way than any other faction. They do not limit themselves to three types. Instead, they wield all Essence types, drawing from the full spectrum of magic. But it is not just the range that sets them apart. The way they generate Essence is unique, too.

Let’s talk about Symbiosis.

All Root units are part of a greater whole. A hive mind, using whatever is available to carry out the will of the Tree Mothers and protect their domain. That mindset is mirrored on the battlefield.

Most Root units generate just a single Essence on their own. While there are exceptions, this holds true for many of them. As experienced players know, a single point of Essence will not carry you very far. But when a Root unit stands next to another one of your units, a Symbiosis is formed. Their Essence is shared.

Sharing is caring after all.

At the start of a unit’s turn, it generates its own Essence and one additional Essence from a friendly adjacent unit. This effectively means each unit can produce two Essence if placed correctly. Battlefield positioning becomes vital if you want to stay ahead in the Essence game.

And since Roots have access to all types of Essence, the combinations are nearly endless. Our testers have already uncovered some very interesting setups, and we are excited to see what you will come up with once you get your hands on them. But there are drawbacks; placement is more important than ever, and rushing your enemy with a single unit can be fatal. And besides having your units bundled up can have drawbacks of its own.

We are confident that Roots offers something unique to the Songs of Conquest lineup, both in artwork and playstyle, and come to think of it, buildings too, like the Roots version of the marketplace:

Look at that Converter work, making something into something else.

Our talented artists have truly outdone themselves. Roots is a faction that manages to be beautiful, revolting, and alien all at once. I would love to show you everything, but since much of our focus right now is on map work, I think a new screenshot will speak for itself. It captures the dark, vine-covered realm of the Tree Mothers and gives a glimpse of the world we are building.

Roots will grow indeed!

Of course, there is much more to share. New abilities, plenty of jaw-dropping artwork, and fresh maps are all beginning to blossom. The amount of new art is truly staggering. But there will be more Steam posts before the release draws near. We also want to leave some surprises for you to discover when you take on the role of the Tree Mothers and help the Roots grow strong for the future.

Remember, Flesh will rot. Steel will rust. Roots will rise.

/Anders and the Lavapotion Team