Anyone who calls themselves a true barbarian certainly travels through the world of Hyboria in Conan Exiles. The game has been in Early Access since January 31, 2017, and is set to release on May 8. However, a lot has changed since the first steps.
The survival MMO Conan Exiles has been in Early Access for over a year. Although Funcom could not stick to the strict schedule of a maximum of one year in this phase, the game will finally be released on May 8 with only a slight delay.
If you want to survive in the wild world of Conan Exiles, you need a thick skin. Oversized wild animals, grumpy gods, and other players will make your life difficult. You can find protection in self-built bases with slaves and friends who will help you.
The world at the beginning of Early Access consisted only of desert, giant spiders, and scorpions. However, in the past year, the barren environment has been heavily refined, and just before release, the game gives an almost finished impression. What has changed since the beginning?
A Much Larger World …
The most important change in Conan Exiles during the development was the “Frozen North” expansion. The free content expanded the game with a biome, the icy north, and increased the map by 100% – there’s double the amount to discover!
With the new area came additional materials for crafting – and of course, new recipes. Over 900 items can now be crafted in Conan Exiles, and the list is not yet complete. Later, farming is even supposed to be possible.
The north is more suited for experienced, higher-level players. Instead of playful sand cats and tame giant scorpions, there await monstrous mammoths, unfriendly ice giants, and creepy undead.
… That Grows Even Further
By the release of Conan Exiles, two more biomes are expected to be added: A jungle and a volcanic landscape. Both biomes will further expand the map and bring additional content.
In the swamp-like jungle, you can expect masses of reptiles, insects, and monkeys guarding the way to new dungeons. In the middle of the swamp awaits an ancient ruined city to be explored. This area targets players in the mid-level range.
The volcano, on the other hand, is set to cause a lot of conflict. Hostile serpent men call this place home, where the “Serpent Forge” is also located. This unique forge in the middle of the volcano is the only one in the entire game where obsidian weapons can be forged – reason enough to want to master it.
And It Will Get Even Less Friendly
With the new areas, you have the opportunity to settle in completely new locations and seize important resource deposits. A well-chosen spot with a fort as a base ultimately brings significant advantages, especially in PvP.
However, in the final version of Conan Exiles, the storage location should be chosen carefully. The game will feature an “Invasions” feature, where the NPC enemies of the area will want to overrun you sooner or later.
Waves of enemies will storm against your base and try to tear it down. Who attacks you will depend on your location. In the north, giants with their axes will want to demolish your fortress, while in the south, you may have just intruded into the territory of some wild animals.
How Does the “Purge” Work?
Whether and when you are attacked depends on several factors. You have a meter that fills slowly. When it is full, an attack is imminent. If you store near rare resources or at important positions, it fills up faster.
Your actions also influence the invasion. If you show hostility towards the local inhabitants or build powerful fortresses everywhere, you’ll have them on your tail sooner. Once the population sees you as a significant threat, they will attack.
Guilds and clans share a meter so they can prepare together when they are attacked. Once the time is right, you have a short preparation period during which you can plan and set up before the enemies arrive.
The feature can be scheduled by server admins to certain times or even completely turned off to fit the game flow.
Improved Combat
To properly enjoy the new content, the combat system in Conan Exiles has also been worked on. What initially was a wild flailing about during Early Access has developed into a smoother implementation.
By alternating light and heavy attacks, you can now execute combos that flow seamlessly into one another. Battles are generally smoother and feel more like real fights. Additionally, the weapons themselves have also been further developed.
Each type of weapon now has characteristics that can influence combat. Bludgeons can smash opponents, while daggers can cause them to bleed. Moreover, they each offer unique special abilities that can help you, such as backward rolls.
Have You Acknowledged Ymir as Your Lord and Savior Yet?
Along with the new content in the game world, characters were not neglected either. Religion can be an important theme in Conan Exiles, as sufficient strong faith can summon avatars of the gods to assist you in battle.
Alongside the original four from the early days – Crom, Set, Yog, and Mitra – Ymir, the god of snow, storm, and war, has joined during development. His avatar is a frost giant, and his followers can later prepare lavish feasts.
Also, Derketo, the goddess of lust, is set to join at release. She is half a beautiful woman and half a decayed corpse, cursing enemies with plague and disease and healing allies.
Take Care of Your Body and Your Adventure
Finally, there are small changes that focus on details affecting game feel. With the overheating system, it’s now important what you wear in what location. Thick furs in the desert lead to overheating, while light cloth in the icy north causes frostbite.
Carrying less is also very helpful with the new climbing feature. Walls, mountains, and trees are no longer obstacles; everything can be climbed. The only limits are your stamina, which you have more of with lighter clothing.
To make everything a bit clearer, the “Exiles Journey” has been introduced. Small tasks that build on each other lead you through the world and give you hints about what to do next. Completing them and exploring the world rewards you with experience to level up faster – a welcome feature for newcomers.
Is Conan Exiles Worth It?
Since the first hours of Early Access of Conan Exiles, a lot has happened, and the game now feels almost complete and finished. Initially, it recorded tens of thousands of users on Steam, which quickly dwindled to just a few thousand after the hype.
A fate that befalls many “Early Access” titles, as they are not yet finished – while some players expect a complete game.
Generally, every new feature that has been implemented brings only improvements. Those who found the game interesting from the start will certainly enjoy it even more now. Those who wanted more now have the opportunity to gain more.
