Village defense has been rebuilt from the ground up — and it shows.
Defenders rally properly now. When a village comes under attack, guards and militia organize and respond in proportion to the threat. A small raiding party gets a scaled response; a large assault brings out the full defense. AI difficulty adapts to the size of the attacking force so fights feel fair, not scripted.
The world map now reflects active conflicts. During a war, fog-of-war obscures contested regions until you explore or receive word — giving large-scale conflicts real tension and uncertainty. You won’t always know what’s happening at the front until you get there.
Sleep and fatigue now have teeth in combat. An exhausted fighter hits softer and tires faster. If your village defenders have been pushed hard through multiple skirmishes without rest, they’ll feel it. Managing the readiness of your people — and yourself — becomes part of the strategy.
Finally, carry weight introduces real tradeoffs during and after a battle. You can grab everything from a cleared dungeon or enemy camp, but you’ll move slower and fight worse for it. Travel light and stay nimble, or load up and hope you don’t get caught on the way back.