Ubisoft and Blue Byte have updated The Settlers Online: Castle Empire, the popular free-to-play browser-based strategy game, with a new feature aimed at high-level players called Epic Raids. This content update introduces many new and ambitious adventures, powerful enemies, magical resources and exclusive rewards accessible only for the most experienced players.
In Epic Raids, five new adventures hit the game, each of them referring to famous fairy-tales. The brave little tailor, a new NPC, assigns players quests which will guide them through the first epic adventure challenge. The first adventure can be found by an explorer or directly available in the shop. When the adventure is successfully completed, player will be rewarded randomly with one of two new adventures. Thus, there will be two ways to end the story depending on which adventure players will get. These special adventures also deliver new and dangerous enemies like Unicorns, Greedy Inn-Keepers and Lying Goats.
The Epic Raids will introduce batches of in-game content. New resources, such as the Magic Beans and the Magic Beanstalks, will be introduced. Both of these resources are collectible during adventures, tradable, and can be exchanged for new items in a special shop category. A new specialist will also appear – the Quartermaster General (max two generals per player), an expert in logistics. He is unable to lead an attack, but he can transport very large armies (1000 units) in a shorter amount of time than the other generals.
Players are also able to acquire an additional five building licenses (max three per player) in exchange of Magic Beanstalks. Those licenses will allow players to get more buildings on their island. New buildings that are now available include a Fairy-tale castle (max one per player): It’s a special decoration building than can be upgraded up to Level 5; after Level 5, the decorative building becomes a production site and will require both new resources.
Magnificent Residence (no number restriction): This construction will offer enough space for a huge number of Settlers, it provides enough and convenience for a King and his court.
Gold Tower (max three per player): This magical tower can spin wheat into coins.
In addition, Level 50 players can now earn a new resource called Star Coins. When a player reaches Level 50, they will no longer earn experience points but instead the Star Coins and all existing experience points already earned by Level 50 players will be converted to Star Coins. A new section in the in-game shop will allow trading in this special resource against very valuable items.
Besides the release of the Epic Raids, Ubisoft and Blue Byte also announced that the beta tag will be removed for the European English, Poland, Netherland and Czech version in August.