The developers emphasize that Olden Era does not choose between a single-player and online audience: all modes should rely on the same core mechanics. Early access is announced to include campaigns, random maps, user-made maps, online multiplayer, and hot seat. Source: Devlog #1.
Single-player
- Campaigns: one full single-player campaign in which the stories of the Factions are merged into a general structure. It will be non-linear and feature player choice. Early access is expected to include the first act, with further parts planned during development.
- Random maps: according to the developers, the random map generator and AI are already fully functional and should be available in early access and closed beta.
- User-made maps: early access should include several maps from the team, as well as a map editor and a way to find and distribute community maps.
Multiplayer and hot seat
Three fully functional modes are announced for online multiplayer in early access: Classic, Single-Hero, and Arena. For the first time in the series' history, online play should include matchmaking, player profiles, and a ladder. Classic hot seat has also been confirmed. Source: Devlog #1.
Classic Mode
Classic mode preserves the basic formula: hire heroes, explore the map, develop your kingdom, capture towns, and defeat the opponent by destroying all their towns and heroes. At the same time, the developers are taking modern competitive practice into account: the fast pace of popular templates like Jebus Cross, the roles of main heroes and couriers, hero chains, and the use of single-unit stacks. Source: Devlog #2.
- Alternative victory conditions, different hero limits, and more ways of moving and delivering armies are being considered for different match paces.
- The AI distinguishes between main heroes and couriers, and some skills and specializations are designed not only for main heroes but also for support.
- Hero chains are preserved as a skill for experienced players: as in Heroes III, movement points depend on the speed of the creatures in the army.
- For those who find chains tedious, alternatives are provided: Remote Foothold for transferring armies and artifacts between such objects, and the travel spell Assemble!, which allows remote interaction with another hero as if they had met.
- Single-unit stacks remain an important part of combat. The game features QoL for splitting them, as well as systems that interact with them: for example, an improved Impending Fate can destroy all single-unit stacks on the battlefield.
Single-Hero Mode
In Single-Hero mode, the player has only one hero, and their death means defeat. The mode is faster and easier to manage than classic with chains, but it raises the stakes. Templates differ from classic ones: zones are explored more slowly, a match takes more game days, some templates have more creature dwellings, and ways of obtaining travel spells for fast map exploration are simplified and may be available from the start. Separate ladders and ratings are planned for this mode. Source: Devlog #2.
Arena
Arena is created as a separate mode for fast battles without map exploration, town building, or resource gathering. The player chooses a hero, artifacts, spells, and troops, and immediately proceeds to the single battle that decides the outcome of the match. Source: Devlog #5.
- The draft is built around choosing one of three heroes, then skills, artifacts, spells, and an army. The entire draft should take about five minutes.
- You can fight against another player or the AI.
- Specialist heroes have an increased chance to receive corresponding skills, and mages always start with a basic spell.
- The leveling process is simplified: the player immediately receives skill level 2, allowing them to choose a sub-skill.
- Artifacts and skills influence the spells offered.
- Draft fairness is maintained by power parity: if one player is offered a rare artifact, the opponent is offered an artifact of the same rarity; a similar principle applies to creature tiers and upgrades.
- Arena receives its own rating and matchmaking, like Classic and Single-Hero.
