So You've Decided to Be Evil: A Beginner's Guide to Not Fucking Up in Lords of Ravage
Look, being an evil overlord is a tough gig. There’s paperwork, rebellions, and your minions are always complaining. Lords of Ravage puts you right in the hot seat, playing as one of three delightfully wicked protagonists on a quest to get their hands on a universe-breaking artifact, the Staff of Arkedon.
But before you start cackling maniacally and sacrificing peasants, you need a plan. This isn't some mindless hack-and-slash; it's a turn-based tactical RPG that will punish you for being a sloppy villain. I’m here to give you the rundown so you can go from a minor nuisance to a world-ending threat.
The Basics of Being a Bastard
First, let's get the core mechanics drilled into your evil little head. Your main goal is to stomp across the map, conquer nodes, and get stronger. But there are a few things to keep in mind.
Your Menace level is a big one. The more you travel and cause chaos, the higher it gets. A higher Menace means stronger enemies. You’ll find nodes that can reduce it, forcing you to choose between powering yourself up or nerfing the goody-two-shoes trying to stop you.
In combat, you have Edicts and Relics. Edicts are your trump cards, special moves that can turn the tide of a battle. You gain points to use them each turn. Relics are passive buffs you pick at the start of each of the three rounds in a fight, and they stack. Choose wisely.
Your Minions Are Expendable
This is the most important lesson you will learn: your troops are cannon fodder. You can hire them for cheap, and you should treat them as such. Throw them into the meat grinder to soften up the enemy, and don’t shed a tear when they die. You can always buy more.
In each battle, you can bring a handful of regular troops and maybe one elite. When one dies, you just slot another one in from your reserves. Your goal is to wear the enemy down with your disposable army before bringing out the big guns.
Know Your Brand of Evil
You’ll start as Lord Berold, the kingslaying knight, but you'll unlock two other playable villains as you complete their stories. Each one plays differently, so you'll need to adjust your strategy.
Lord Berold: He's your classic brute. Strong, durable, and perfectly capable of smashing through enemies on his own. With Berold, you can be a bit more reckless, bringing him into the fight earlier to clean house.
Zavris: This cult leader is a glass cannon. She's weak as hell, so you need to hide her behind a wall of fanatical followers. Her strength lies in her powerful Edicts and Relics. Focus on building a massive army and sacrificing them for powerful effects. The Apocalypse Locket Relic is your best friend here; get it and upgrade it fast.
Azneya: The demon commander is a nice middle ground. She's the only leader who can fight on the field with her troops. You can summon her to bolster your forces, and she can even resummon followers to refresh their attacks. She offers a more tactical, combined-arms approach to evil.
A Note on the Steam Deck
Thinking of taking your reign of terror on the go? Pump the brakes. The game doesn't have official Steam Deck verification or full controller support yet. Players have reported getting it to work by setting the compatibility to "PROTON HOTFIX," but expect some jank.
When to Be the Final Boss
Your Leader is your most powerful unit, but if they die, it's game over. The golden rule is to never, ever summon your Leader at the start of a fight. Let your disposable chumps soak up the initial damage.
The best time to bring in your main villain is when the enemy forces are weakened and you can minimize the risk. Use your Leader to finish the job, not start the fight. The only exception might be in a final, desperate boss battle where you have no other choice but to go all in.
Now you have the basics. Go forth, be evil, and try not to get yourself killed before you can enjoy the fruits of your tyranny.