Black Autumn: 1438

Autumn 1438. King Sigismund died last winter, Albert of Habsburg wears the crown of Hungary, and the road along the Hron below Šášov castle is no longer safe. You are nobody in particular: one man in a valley of villages, mining towns and soldiers' camps that carries on whether you are there or not.

A fight is over in seconds, and it ends when somebody can't go on. Blows go through armour by what they are made of: a sword skids off plate, a war hammer does not. Lose a leg and you crawl. Fight with more than 40 weapons, from the pitchfork to the halberd.

Put on the padding first, then the mail, then the plate, and the helmet last, the way a man-at-arms dressed in 1438. Take the gambeson off and everything that needs it comes off with it. There are more than 100 pieces of clothing and armour to wear, and a hard blow can still knock your helmet off.

People see, hear and decide for themselves. They hear a fight before they see it and run from one they can't win. They stick together during a fight and when a friend goes down in the open, they drag him out of reach and bind his wounds.

Ride various horses, choose whether you want to slowly walk, trot, canter or gallop. Equip your horse with fancy caparisons and decorations and ride into battle with it.

Every villager, guard or lord has a home, occupation, needs and a day of their own. Weather changes naturally, from sunny days and foggy evenings to harsh thunderstorms at dark nights which are illuminated solely by candlelight and lightning strikes.

Crouch in the long grass and keep to the shade, because footsteps are all heard. Pick locks, lift purses from belts and haggle over the price. At the table, play Hazard with 36 kinds of dice, some of them loaded, or Karnöffel, a card game first written down in 1426. Cheat at your own discretion, someone might be keeping an eye on you.

Black Autumn: 1438 is in development. Add it to your wishlist to hear when the demo is out.