The Banner Saga: Factions

Lore & Background

The Banner Saga: Factions was developed by Stoic, a studio founded by three former BioWare designers—Alex Thomas, John Watson, and Arnie Jorgensen—who left BioWare Austin after working on Star Wars: The Old Republic. They began work on The Banner Saga in July 2011, and the multiplayer version emerged as they developed the single-player campaign's combat system. They decided to release it as a free standalone game to get player feedback, promote the single-player game, and earn extra income before the first chapter's launch. The combat system was influenced by chess, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Shining Force, and was refined after player testing at Fantastic Arcade 2012 found the initial version unwieldy.

Reader's Guide

The Banner Saga: Factions holds significance as a tactical multiplayer game that introduced players to the combat system of The Banner Saga. It allowed players to pit teams of six combatants from 16 classes on a grid, with mechanics like Strength, Armor, Willpower, Exertion, and Break. The game featured two races—humans and Varl—with distinct classes and abilities. Its free-to-play model included microtransactions for Renown, cosmetic items, and tournament entry. The game received mixed reviews, with critics praising its strategic gameplay and art but criticizing slow combat pace, limited class variety, and microtransaction progression. Its servers were shut down in February 2021 due to Stoic's inability to afford continued support after a critical backend service was retired. The game's legacy lies in its role as a precursor to The Banner Saga and as an example of a free-to-play multiplayer spinoff used to build audience and feedback for a larger title.

Did You Know?

• The game was originally intended for release in Spring 2012 but was delayed.
• The open beta in late-November 2012 was initially exclusive to Kickstarter backers, but later a 'Founder's Pack' was offered for $15 that granted access.
• The city of Strand served as the main user interface, with buildings for upgrading characters and buying new units.
• The game's name was publicly revealed on September 20, 2012.