Only the “best of the worst” are left to save the world in the new tactical strategy game from Harebrained Schemes: misfits and scoundrels take on each other in an alternate turn-based version of the 1930s Banished Court, whose plans for rulership nobody else can thwart.
The project is not only interesting because of the setting. The personnel also arouses curiosity: developer Harebrained Schemes has already proven turn strategy competence with Battletech. Previously, the studio was able to shine with three narratively strong Shadowrun role-playing games, also financed via Kickstarter.
These strengths should be used again in The Lamplighters League. The fact that combat is turn-based is therefore set. However, the presentation now leans more towards an XCOM, focusing on the gang of misfits and their individual abilities, which must be used in a meaningful way with an eye on the environment and possible chain reactions.
New skills, equipment and improvements can be unlocked as the campaign progresses. In addition to the fights, narratives should also play an important role in the game: the product page promises that there is a story full of “adventures and intrigues” as well as agents with dynamic personalities – which also gives the studio’s second core competence a place.
Real-time meets turn-based tactics
The XCOM concept will also be expanded to include an infiltration part at the beginning of a mission. The game runs in real time until the villain's opponents discover it. Players can deploy their squad, stealthily explore the map, and quietly take out first enemies.
The Banished Court takes on the role of the XCOM aliens in The Lamplighters League. Their special abilities are replaced by magic here, otherwise little changes in the concept: In The Lamplighters League, too, players plan their moves on a strategy map in order to prevent the tyrannical adversaries from gaining world domination.
On PC and console
Paradox and Harebraind Schemes are targeting completion in 2023 at. Playable on PC via Epic Games, Steam and Game Pass, as well as on Xbox Series S|X.