Chronicles: Medieval -- Comprehensive Guide & Deep Dive

Your definitive guide to surviving, thriving, and conquering in Raw Power Games' medieval sandbox RPG. From peasant to warlord -- every blade, banner, and decision covered.

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1. Overview

Chronicles: Medieval is a single-player (with co-op custom battles) medieval sandbox action RPG developed and published by Raw Power Games -- a studio formed by industry veterans from Hogwarts Legacy, Hitman, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and other AAA titles. Set in 1313 AD Europe during the opening decades of the Hundred Years' War, the game places you in a historically grounded yet dynamic open world where your choices, combat skill, and strategic command determine your rise from obscurity to legend.

The title launches into Early Access on Steam in 2026, targeting roughly 12 months of community-driven development before its full 1.0 release. Built on Unreal Engine 5 with Raw Power's proprietary Asgard technology, Chronicles: Medieval blends third-person melee combat inspired by Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) with real-time army command, deep feudal politics, and a sandbox that reacts to every decision.

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2. Game Details

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3. Target Audience

Chronicles: Medieval appeals to players who enjoy:

• Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord -- for the mix of open-world sandbox, army management, and first/third-person combat
• Total War series -- for tactical large-scale battles, formations, and morale-based warfare
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance -- for historically grounded medieval realism and HEMA-inspired combat
• Medieval Dynasty / The Guild series -- for the zero-to-hero progression, trade, and politics
• Skyrim / action RPGs -- for open-world exploration, character customization, and questing

If you want a fantasy-free, historically conscious medieval sandbox where you can fight alongside your men in 1000-vs-1000 battles, lead diplomacy and espionage, build a war chest, and carve your name into the chronicles of history -- this game was made for you.

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4. Getting Started -- 8-Step Early Game Roadmap

Step 1: Create Your Character

Begin by forging your protagonist. You start as a nobody -- a lowly craftsman, peasant, or wanderer from an unnamed village. Your social standing, starting region (British Isles, France, or Holy Roman Empire), and early skills are chosen here. No rank, no coin, no reputation -- everything is earned.

Step 2: Learn the Combat Fundamentals

Head to a training ground, local tournament, or challenge a lone brigand. The combat system uses Energy and Posture -- analogous to stamina and poise. Every swing is readable; every hit must be earned. Practice:

• Timing: Parries and blocks depend on weapon speed and enemy attack patterns.
• Weapon reach: Polearms and spears keep foes at a distance; swords excel in close quarters.
• Posture breaking: Chain attacks to deplete an enemy's Posture, then execute a devastating finishing blow.
• Stamina management: Blocking and power attacks drain Energy. An exhausted fighter cannot defend.

Step 3: Get a Horse

Mobility is survival. A horse lets you outrun bandit patrols, chase down fleeing enemies, travel between villages and castles quickly, and escape unwinnable engagements. Prioritize acquiring a mount within your first few hours.

Step 4: Build Your First War Chest

Gold is essential. Earn your first 500-1000 coins through:

• Mercenary contracts from local lords
• Looting bandit camps
• Winning village tournaments
• Trading goods between regions (buy low in grain-rich areas, sell in war-torn zones)
• Optional: Banditry (attack merchant caravans -- affects reputation)

Step 5: Join a Faction

Choose a side among the three confirmed playable factions:

Aligning with a faction unlocks access to faction-specific units, lord quests, and protection. You can later switch allegiances -- at a cost.

Step 6: Recruit Your First Troops

Head to a town or castle and recruit archers first. They are the cheapest effective unit and let you soften enemy formations before committing melee troops. A basic warband of 8-12 archers plus 4-6 spearmen can handle most early skirmishes.

Step 7: Complete Your First Real Battle

Accept a banner quest from a local lord or join an existing field battle. During the Planning Phase, deploy your units in your Deployment Zone, select a formation (Shield Wall for defense, Spear Wall vs cavalry, Wedge for charges, Square for anti-cavalry all-around), and set initial orders (Aggressive, Defensive, or Neutral stance). Then enter third-person view and ride into battle alongside your men. Use Command Mode (time slows) to issue orders mid-fight without leaving your character.

Step 8: Establish Routines

After your first victory, establish a pattern: fight, loot, recruit, upgrade, fight larger battles. Visit towns between engagements to replenish supplies, pay your troops, and take on better contracts. Monitor your reputation -- being known as a reliable captain opens doors to greater opportunities.

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5. Beginner Mistakes -- What NOT to Do

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6. Core Mechanics

6.1 Third-Person Combat -- The HEMA System

Chronicles: Medieval's combat draws directly from Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), using authentic techniques from medieval fighting manuals. This is not Hollywood swordplay.

Key Attributes per Weapon:

• Speed: Determines attack wind-up and recovery frames
• Range: Reach advantage matters -- polearms keep enemies at distance
• Damage Type: Blunt (armor-crushing), Slash (unarmored foes), Pierce (chinks in armor)
• Customization: Polearms can be fitted with blades, hooks, spikes, & hammer heads -- each changing moveset & damage profile

Weapon Reference Table:

Combat Systems:

• Energy: Your stamina pool. Blocking, heavy attacks, & sprinting drain it. Exhausted fighters cannot block or execute.
• Posture: An enemy's defensive stability. Chain attacks & feints to break Posture, then trigger a gruesome execution -- which boosts nearby friendly morale.
• Combo System: Linked attacks that flow from one to another. Successful combos increase Posture damage.
• Facing matters: Attacks from behind deal bonus damage & cannot be blocked or parried.

6.2 Army Command & Battle System

One of the game's defining features is that you are both commander & warrior -- you never leave third-person view to give orders.

Battle Structure:

1. Pre-Battle Planning Phase: Deploy units in your Deployment Zone from a top-down view. Set formations, assign initial orders, choose approach paths. Units have preferences (e.g., French Heavy Cavalry wants a frontal charge; English Longbowmen favor flanking high ground) -- you can override these.
2. Battle Phase: Ride into the fight. Issue orders via radial menu or hotkeys. Use Command Mode (slows time) to assess the field & give detailed commands. Units follow their last order with AI autonomy.
3. Post-Battle: Routed remnants flee the field. You can cut them down (risk of overextension) or let them escape. Battle ends when a threshold of enemy units is broken.

Formations (with Trade-offs):

Morale States (best to worst):

• Inspired -> increased combat effectiveness
• Confident (default starting state)
• Concerning -> minor penalties
• Wavering -> units may hesitate, refuse orders
• Broken -> unrecoverable rout; unit flees battlefield

Player actions directly affect morale: killing enemy officers, performing executions, flanking maneuvers, & winning engagements all boost it. Getting surrounded, losing your banner, or watching allies rout rapidly drops it.

6.3 Feudal Power Struggle & Open World

Chronicles: Medieval runs on a decentralized feudal system. Kings do not command empires through modern bureaucracy -- a ruler's effective power only stretches as far as their closest vassals are willing to ride for them. Power shifts through layered mechanics:

• Vertical Obligations: Lords owe allegiance to higher lords, who owe allegiance to the king.
• Personal Loyalty: NPC lords remember your actions -- saved in battle? They remember. Betrayed? They seek revenge.
• Rebellion & Succession: Dynamic AI can trigger succession crises, rebellions, & civil wars.

The Exploration Map serves as the RPG layer between battles. Here you:

• Travel between regions (British Isles, France, Holy Roman Empire)
• Encounter random events (famine, plague, merchant caravans, bandit camps)
• Engage in diplomacy, trade, & espionage
• Recruit mercenaries of varying quality
• Manage your warband's supplies, pay, & morale

Dynamic World Systems:

• Economic Health: Thriving trade regions produce better equipment. War-torn regions are cheap but dangerous.
• Natural Disasters: Famine & plague sweep across Europe, creating opportunity or disaster.
• AI Autonomy: NPC factions make independent military, diplomatic, & economic decisions. The world moves without you.

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7. Advanced Strategies

7.1 "The Longbow's Privilege" -- English Ranged Dominance

Deploy English Longbowmen on elevated flanking positions before battle. Set stance to Aggressive with priority target: enemy officers & cavalry. Use spearmen as stationary anvil in Shield Wall. When enemy charges your spear line, longbows decimate their flanks from an angle they cannot return fire. Once morale breaks, commit reserve infantry to sweep.

Key: Longbowmen are vulnerable in melee. Station infantry nearby to intercept flankers.

7.2 "The Anvil & the Hammer" -- French Cavalry Shock

Hide heavy cavalry in Wedge formation behind terrain (tree line, hill). Infantry (spearmen + swordsmen) form the anvil -- Shield Wall that absorbs the enemy charge. Once enemy is committed, trigger cavalry wedge into their flank or rear. Charge bonus + morale shock of flank attack breaks most units on impact.

Key: Timing is everything. Too early and the enemy turns to face you. Too late and your infantry line may break. Watch, then strike.

7.3 "Imperial Combined Arms" -- HRE Tactical Flexibility

The Holy Roman Empire's strength is its versatile unit roster. Use balanced approach: men-at-arms in Square formation (anti-cavalry), crossbowmen for armor-piercing ranged support, & medium cavalry for opportunistic charges. Excel at reactive tactics -- wait, then counter-deploy.

Key: Empire units are more expensive but adaptable. Secure trade routes to fund this premium army.

7.4 "The Shadow Campaign" -- Subterfuge & Espionage

Invest in espionage & diplomacy skills to:

• Bribe enemy lords into switching sides mid-campaign
• Spread misinformation to draw enemy armies into unfavorable terrain
• Sow dissent between a king & his vassal, triggering civil war
• Poison enemy food supplies (siege gameplay post-launch)

Key: Espionage requires gold & a network. Recruit agents from taverns in enemy territory.

7.5 "The Patient Warlord" -- Snowballing Through Economy

The most sustainable path to power is economic:

1. Establish a trade route between resource-rich region & war-zone (grain sells for 3x in besieged towns).
2. Use profits to buy mercenary companies (no long-term upkeep).
3. Invest in workshops, land, or tax rights (expected in EA).
4. Wait for neighboring lord to be weakened, then strike.

Key: A full war chest means outlasting enemies. Lords without coin cannot pay troops -- and unpaid troops don't fight.

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8. FAQ -- 12 Essential Questions

Q1: When will Chronicles: Medieval release? A: Early Access on Steam in 2026. Approximately 12 months of EA before full 1.0 launch.

Q2: Is this game like Mount & Blade? A: Yes, in spirit -- both mix third-person combat & army command. Chronicles: Medival differs with HEMA-inspired combat, deeper feudal politics, UE5 graphics, & no fantasy elements (pure historical grounding).

Q3: What factions are playable? A: Three at launch: England, France, & Holy Roman Empire. Each has unique units, starting positions, & strategic advantages.

Q4: Can I play with friends? A: Yes! Co-op custom battles are confirmed. Full campaign multiplayer is not announced.

Q5: Is there character creation? A: Yes. Create a custom protagonist. Voice by Lars Mikkelsen.

Q6: How big are battles? A: From small skirmishes (~20 soldiers) to 1000-vs-1000 engagements (2,000 total troops on field).

Q7: Will there be sieges? A: Yes, post-launch. Planned during Early Access.

Q8: What languages are supported? A: 16 languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese. English has full audio.

Q9: Will modding be supported? A: Yes, officially. Modding is part of Raw Power Games' DNA.

Q10: What are the system requirements? A: Minimum: i7-8700 / Ryzen 5 3600, 16GB RAM, GTX 1060 6GB / RX 6600 XT, DX12, 60GB SSD. Recommended: i7-10700 / Ryzen 7 5800X, 16GB RAM, RTX 4060 8GB / RX 6700 XT, DX12, 60GB SSD. Windows 11 only.

Q11: Is there a reputation system? A: Yes. Actions affect reputation across factions. Better reputation unlocks better quests, cheaper mercenaries, & diplomatic options.

Q12: What post-launch content is planned? A: Expanded world, deeper systems (sieges, weather effects, more unit types), modding tools. Premium title, not GaaS.

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9. Final Tip & Verdict

Before you start: Your first character will not be your best. Chronicles: Medieval is a deep, systems-driven sandbox. First playthrough is a learning run -- experiment with factions, weapons, & strategies. Mastery comes from understanding how morale, feudal politics, & economics interconnect.

Verdict: Chronicles: Medieval is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious medieval sandbox games in years. With HEMA-inspired combat, battlefield command that keeps you in the action, a living political world, & modding support, it has the bones of something special. Could sit alongside Mount & Blade II & Total War as a genre pillar.

Wishlist it, join the Discord, & prepare to write your name in the chronicles.

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This guide was researched and compiled from official Steam store listing, developer blog posts, IGN previews, Simulation Daily features, TechRaptor interviews, GameSpot articles, MonsterVine coverage, & the official Chronicles: Medieval website (chronicles.net). Published July 2026. Information subject to change during Early Access development.

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