About this project
Banner Saga 3
$416,986
8,086
Before you read on! You're invited to press play on this beautiful, immersive track from the Banner Saga soundtrack, and let it bring you into the world while you browse the page.
WHAT’S THIS THEY SAY?
“From epic backgrounds to hand-drawn animation, it’s one of the most beautiful game series on the planet.” - Kotaku
“The Banner Saga franchise feels like a nerd’s dream. Essentially the marriage between Game of Thrones, XCOM and Oregon Trail.” - Hardcore Gamer
“...a stunningly beautiful and uber entertaining RPG/adventure experience. Artistic values are through the roof, likewise the game mechanics that are perfectly crafted to offer interesting choices and great tactical entertainment.” - Eurogamer
“The combination of gameplay, character building, strategy, and narrative highlights the power games have in telling stories, and that experience is uniquely Banner Saga.” - Polygon
WHAT’S ALL THIS ABOUT MORE BANNERS AND SAGAS?
Banner Saga 3 is the highly anticipated final game of an award winning trilogy. It's a role-playing game merged with turn-based strategy, wrapped into an adventure mini-series about Vikings.
Many modern games play it safe – you are the chosen one who always saves the day. Our game is different, you can’t take anything for granted in Banner Saga.
Picture the classic tactical strategy games of your childhood but refined for the modern age. It's not about grinding to get past the next fight. Every encounter, every decision you make has heavy and sometimes far-reaching consequences. It throws you into the end of the world and asks,"how do you deal with this"?
Banner Saga 3 is aimed at people who appreciate art, story and strategy.
Battles in Banner Saga are turn-based, harkening back to the classic "Tactics" days of gaming. The combat is straight-forward and easy to learn, but after a few battles you'll realize the game's simplicity hides a vast tactical depth. Each turn is an engrossing challenge for even the most seasoned tactician.
Build your party from a roster of over 40 unique characters, each with different abilities that interact in varying ways. Each unit has a combat style all their own, but it’s how they work together that counts and a well-chosen roster will equal more than the sum of its parts.
Banner Saga combat has a classic turn-based gameplay, with a strong emphasis on tactics over brute force and endless grinding.
Banner Saga draws heavily from Norse culture and mythology while creating its own identity. There is a low-fantasy approach to Viking themes. Giants - yes. Horned helmets - no.
The choices you make as events unfold have a huge effect on how the story plays out - who survives, who dies, and what's worth saving. Add people to your caravan as you travel, or lose them when tough decisions arise. You're not just fighting to save nameless strangers, you're fighting for your neighbors, your family and your way of life. You’ll care what happens to them.
Banner Saga 3 is a mature story for adults, which means forming relationships and making tough decisions; not sex, violence and swearing.
Travel through stunning landscapes that evoke films from the golden age of animation. Sweeping vistas straight out of a Norse saga will accompany an emerging storyline and pin the imagination squarely in the realm of a Wagnerian Opera.
The Darkness plays a major role in Banner Saga 3 and your exploration of it will be unlike anything you have experienced in the previous sagas. Interact with the vast city of Arberrang and travel its streets. The gods may be dead, but their godstones and their world, remain full of wonder.
Every scene in the game is painstakingly hand painted with the intent of transporting you into a bleak yet beautiful world.
As the heroes gain experience in battle you can modify their stats, gain extra abilities, equip mystical items, choose Heroic Titles and more!
Individually, heroes can be strong, but as the game evolves you’ll devise new strategies on how they work as a warband. Playing off each other's strengths will turn what seems like a rout into a great victory. In camp, rebalance each hero to fit your evolving team dynamic.
Most combat animations are done using rotoscoped, frame-by-frame video shot in Arnie’s front yard. Each ‘hit animation’ may take 20 to 30 shots to get right and each ‘death animation’... well, pummeling the heck out of each other to make every action in the game look authentic. Our friends at Powerhouse Animation then take all the raw footage and add even more drama to the action. The cinemas are all done in 2D and drawn by hand using good old-fashioned traditional animation techniques. It all comes together to give the effect of playing a film from the golden age of animation.
We started this game old-school and, by Dundr’s beard, we’ll end it old-school.
OKAY, TELL ME SOMETHING I DON’T KNOW
Banner Saga 1 threw you into a deep, strange world where the gods were dead. The sun had stopped. A colossal serpent leveled mountains, searching for answers hidden in an ancient language as darkness roiled on the horizon. You guided your flock against overwhelming odds, to protect the ones you loved. How did you fare as the world began its end?
Banner Saga 2 remembered your deeds, both wise and foolish. Calamity tested your leadership. Friends became enemies and enemies, allies. You walked in deep places, and glimpsed places deeper still. Always one more hill to crest. Did you endure to the great city of Arberrang? Were you welcomed or feared within its black wall while the world outside was breaking?
Banner Saga 3 concludes the tale. Steel your nerves, step forth into the approaching abyss. Cross the threshold from daylight without end into untold darkness. Warped lands within threaten your sanity, and a writhing wyrm tests your mettle. But here, in the darkness, is where secrets are brought to light and motives are made clear. Are your friends who they claim to be? They all look to you. What story will your banner tell?
BEHOLD, THE LOOT
A sincere “Thank You” for the support of this project, we really hope you enjoy the rewards! Scroll down to see everything we have to offer and please visit our Kickstarter FAQ below for more details.
WHO ARE YOU, TO PROMISE SUCH THINGS AGAIN?
LET'S DO THIS RIGHT
Making games is an intricate business, and we take it very seriously. Stoic formed in 2012 with the launch of the Kickstarter for Banner Saga, and a humble ask of $100,000. We were blown away by the response and support of the community who raised more than $700,000! That first Kickstarter campaign helped us launch the game, develop and launch the sequel, and accrue many awards in the process. Putting all the money we raised back into the development of the game raised the bar higher than we could have managed on our own.
Now we’re back, in a similar position as before, hoping you’ll support Banner Saga 3 to make this game just as special. We’re still solidly indie, not accepting any investor funding so Kickstarter is still a great way to rally the community to show support for the game, while letting us call the shots on the games we make. We’re paying for most of the game ourselves, but the funds we’re asking for will enable us to take the time we need and bring the band back together one more time!
Everyone that has played Banner Saga knows how important the score is to the emotion and mood of the game. This world renowned composer has been with us from the start and will be with us to the end, but he’s fighting battles to make our current budget work. Let's give him the means to make it everything he knows it should be!
This animation crew is truly the power behind the cinematic look of Banner Saga, we could not do this without them. How many new heroes, new boss enemies and new cut-scenes can we add for Banner Saga 3? A lot more with your help.
During the first Kickstarter we recieved a long letter from this award winning sound design studio explaining these crazy wonderful ideas they had for such things as the flapping of a banner during travel scenes. We knew you needed them, now they need you. New sounds mean new experiences for the player, but new sounds need funding.
Where do you go to find voices that sound like Vikings? You go to Iceland. They thought we were crazy when we approached them to do a video game, but here we are 5 years later and these vikings have become our trusted allies. Please help us bring them back...or you’ll have John’s southern drawl to contend with.
We began the saga with a clear vision of where it would go, and it has become something far better than that. We have the utmost confidence that, with your help, we can bring it all together for a conclusion both profound and rewarding.
Will you lend us your axe?
We’re going to make every effort to produce a game for you that's deep, meaningful and makes us proud. Feel free to check out the latest Saga news by signing up for our Newsletter, keep in touch with us at www.bannersaga.com, follow us on Twitter, and Like us on Facebook.
Also, a huge appreciative thanks to our families and friends for putting up with, and even supporting, this insane multi-year endeavor. We love you and will come to dinner soon.
Important note about shipping
Shipping will be charged after the campaign ends, at the time of fulfillment and is not included in the pledge amount. Please be prepared to pay shipping costs when we verify your address right before we send out the rewards. This is done so we do not over- or under-charge, as shipping costs fluctuate over time. We will make every attempt to ship all items at once to save costs, but will clearly communicate any changes well in advance.
Risks and challenges
Though every project has inherent risks, and there are plenty of unknowns associated with any large endeavor, our experience gives us certain advantages as we anticipate the exciting and complicated task ahead.
Part of the reason for Kickstarter is to use the funds to give us a little more breathing room for development to ensure the game is fully baked before launching it. There is always the real possibility that we may have to launch later than we’d like, which is maybe the largest risk of all. We promise to keep in touch regarding changes to schedule, gameplay or events that may impact you.
Stoic has proven to be honest, upfront, and easily accessible to our community. We appreciate your support and honor your trust.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterQuestions about this project? Check out the FAQ
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Funding period
- (42 days)