Blacksmith Features
March 31, 2013 by panel

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Blood of the Bear

By Mashek

First of all I need to apologize for the lack of Blacksmith Features in the past few months. What can I say? – I’ve been busy. Some of you might know what it was that kept me busy – suffice it to say that *it* is now in the campaigns category at the blacksmith, awaiting to be downloaded.

Now that we got this shameless promotion out of the way, let’s get back to business. This month I want to tell you about one of those very few projects in the blacksmith for which it is illegal to give a rating of less than 5 (haha – joke… but not really.) I’m not sure I need to tell you about this one, but who knows, maybe there are actually people that survive under rocks for years?

This incredible campaign (containing one playable and one cinematic scenario) was brought to us by former blacksmith admin and scenario design heavyweight Mashek. Blood of the Bear is the ultimate fixed force/defend the spot scenario in many people’s minds. What is it that sets it apart though? Could it be the care put into balancing the different difficulty levels, making sure they are perfect? Could it be the fantastic gameplay, that offers the player the chance to make his own tactics and offers the strongest replay value I’ve ever experienced in an AOK scenario? Could it be the thrilling backstory and the dark, gritty, George RR Martin-esque fantasy atmosphere? Most probably all of these contribute to the experience this game provides.

bloodofthebear.jpg

The story is rather simple, but very immersing – A nation called Erertiya is invaded by their traditional enemies, the Kretharns. Count Jaerith makes a stand once again in his fortress of Erryth – and memories creep back… from the last siege. Personal drama gets mixed in with the horrors of war, from both sides.

One of my personal all-time favorites, and I’m sure many other people’s too. The number of downloads testifies to that. If, for some weird reason, you haven’t played this already, download it here!