Skald: Against the Black Priory

Skald: Against the Black Priory is an RPG game inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, as well as old-school productions from the 8-bit era. The game was developed by the independent company High North Studios from Norway.

Plot

Skald: Against the Black Priory takes us to a fantasy universe. We play as a character who is in charge of a team planning to unravel the mystery of the titular Black Priory. This leads to facing threats out of this world lurking there.

Mechanics

In Skald: Against the Black Priory we view the action from a bird's eye view. We start the game by creating a character and deciding on their class, statistics, and biography, among other things. It is worth remembering from the start that we are not doomed to travel alone, because we can be joined by other heroes, varying in terms of abilities, preferred weapons, personalities and goals. As we progress, we develop our team, as well as acquire better equipment and produce useful items, including food and potions.

Traveling through the wilderness of Freymark and the Outer Islands, as well as descending into the dungeons spreading beneath them, we get to know the inhabitants of this land, carry out quests assigned by them, and face opponents. The battles are turn-based, and during them the key to success is the proper use of skills and strengths of our heroes. Depending on their profession they can attack enemies in close combat or at a distance, or use a variety of spells.

We must also keep an eye on the physical condition of our characters, reflected by two indicators. While health points can be easily replenished with a potion or spell, the loss of wound points results in permanent injuries, which require rest to heal. The rest can be organized either by buying accommodation at an inn, or setting up a camp in a safe place.

In many situations our success is determined by dice rolls. This applies to both dialogues (during which we often have to make decisions that affect the further course of the story and its ending) and battles. If one of the so-called skill checks fails, we may face unpleasant consequences. For example, since the horrors that the heroes face do not leave their psyche unaffected, a failed morale test can result in a panic attack for them and a refusal to carry out our orders.

Technical aspects

The graphic design of Skald: Against the Black Priory is maintained in a pixel art retro style and color scheme reminiscent of games available on the Commodore 64 platform. An optional CRT filter has been implemented, enhancing the feeling of interacting with a title straight from the 1980s.