In a major update to the highly anticipated medieval strategy game Manor Lords, developer Slavic Magic has released an experimental patch that brings a wealth of changes, new mechanics, and fixes to the game. Available now on the experimental beta branch, this comprehensive update addresses some of the most commonly reported issues while introducing significant overhauls to key game systems, particularly trade.
One of the most notable additions is the implementation of the “Annual Royal Tax” or “King’s Tax” mechanic. This new feature will see a tax collected from players’ treasuries once per year, calculated based on the number of residents in their domains. The tax aims to slightly penalize inefficient workplace optimization and discourage the hoarding of excessive wealth, adding an engaging layer of economic strategy to the game.
The update also introduces substantial changes to the trade system, which has been a focal point of community discussion since the game’s launch. Trading posts can now be configured to exchange specific types of goods locally between a player’s regions, rather than globally. Additionally, traders will prioritize traveling to destinations offering the best prices, even if those regions are controlled by other lords. Opening new trade routes has become more expensive, with costs scaling up exponentially for each additional route established.
Addressing numerous community-reported issues, the patch fixes problems such as the excessive spawning of “None” people who refused to work, clogged trading posts, weak archer damage, ineffective sawpits, and inefficient marketplace supply. It also resolves issues related to the game getting stuck on the summary screen after a victory or game over, optimization problems in large cities, crop erasure during winter, and overly harsh oversupply and undersupply systems.
Several new game mechanics have also been introduced. Whenever a person dies, a 30-day mourning period will now block growth, which can be previewed in the Building Panel or by pressing the TAB key. Additionally, carried corpses now have a visual representation, adding a touch of realism to the game.
Other notable changes include the addition of new upgraded retinue armor variations, a reworked Large Granary building with animated doors, and the introduction of the St. Maurice unit patron.
