In the crowded landscape of modern RPGs, SKALD: Against the Black Priory https://store.steampowered.com/app/1069160/SKALD_Against_the_Black_Priory/ stands as a deliberate throwback to the golden age of CRPGs. With its 8-bit pixel art, Lovecraftian cosmic horror, and unapologetically tactical turn-based combat, it asks players to trade flashy graphics for narrative depth and strategic thinking. But does this retro homage justify a spot in your gaming library? This review and guide unpacks the game’s class system, hidden secrets, and practical cheats to help you decide—while celebrating the old-school charm that makes it memorable.
The Class System: Depth in Simplicity
SKALD: Against the Black Priory https://store.steampowered.com/app/1069160/SKALD_Against_the_Black_Priory/ offers nine distinct classes, each with clear roles and unique mechanics that reward specialization over jack-of-all-trades builds. Unlike bloated modern RPG systems, these classes are straightforward yet nuanced, designed to complement one another in party-based combat. Here’s a breakdown of the most impactful options:
Battle Magos: The Melee-Magic Hybrid
A fan favorite for its versatility, the Battle Magos blends swordplay and spellcasting without excelling at neither—but that’s its strength. With a d8 hit die and proficiency in medium armor, they survive longer than pure mages while retaining access to elemental spells. Key abilities include Flame Strike (a 3-AP fire attack that deals 4-12 damage to a single target) and Arcane Shield (grants +2 AC for 3 turns at the cost of 2 mana). To optimize this class, invest 60% of attribute points in Intelligence (for spell power) and 40% in Strength (for melee damage). Note that their mana pool is limited—expect to run dry halfway through extended fights unless you equip the Amulet of Arcane Reservoir (found in the shipwreck dungeon), which restores 2 mana per turn .
Skald: The Support Warrior
True to its name, the Skald acts as both battlefield leader and frontline fighter, drawing inspiration from Pathfinder’s hybrid classes. Their core ability, Raging Song, grants allies +2 Strength/Constitution for 5 turns while costing 1 mana per round to maintain. At level 3, they unlock Song of Marching, which increases party movement speed by 1 hex in combat—a game-changer for flanking enemies. With proficiency in all simple and martial weapons, they excel with axes (dealing 5-8 base damage) and light armor. Outside combat, their Bardic Knowledge passive unlocks unique dialogue options when interacting with lore-heavy objects, making them essential for story completion .
Thief: The Precision Striker
The Thief relies on stealth and critical hits to turn the tide, but requires careful positioning to avoid irrelevance. Their Backstab ability deals 3x damage when attacking from behind (marked by a red >|< icon) but only works if the target is unaware or flanked. To maximize effectiveness, pair them with a Tank class (like the Templar) to draw enemy attention. At level 5, Uncanny Dodge lets them avoid 50% of ranged attacks, while Lockpick (a passive skill) grants access to 90% of the game’s hidden chests. However, their low base damage (daggers deal 2-5 damage) makes them useless in direct confrontations—this is a class for patient players .
Game Secrets: Uncovering Hidden Rewards
SKALD: Against the Black Priory https://store.steampowered.com/app/1069160/SKALD_Against_the_Black_Priory/ hides its best content in plain sight, rewarding exploration and curiosity over grind. These secrets not only boost your party’s power but also deepen the Lovecraftian narrative:
The Rat Queen’s Armor
One of the strongest early-game items, this armor grants 15% poison resistance and +2 Constitution. To find it, travel to the Coastal Lighthouse and solve the statue puzzle: rotate the three stone figures to face east (sunrise), north (full moon), and west (storm clouds). This reveals a hidden cave where the armor lies. It’s indispensable for the Marshlands region, where toxic mists deal 3 damage per turn to unprotected characters .
The Witch of the Woods Questline
Most players execute the Witch of the Woods on first encounter, but sparing her unlocks a critical story branch. She’ll reveal the Black Priory’s connection to an ancient elder god, giving you a Holy Relic that negates the final boss’s instant-kill spell. To trigger this, use the Diplomacy skill (requires 12 Charisma) during dialogue instead of attacking. This choice transforms the ending from a generic “defeat the priest” climax to a cosmic horror showdown .
Mod Support & Custom Campaigns
A hidden gem for replayability, the game includes a scenario editor that lets players create custom campaigns. The developer actively engages with the modding community, sharing tutorials and troubleshooting tips on forums. Popular mods include Expanded Classes (adding a Necromancer and Ranger) and Lost Isles (a new map with 10+ side quests). You can find these mods on the official Discord server, linked in the game’s Steam community tab .
Cheats & Console Commands: Navigating Unforgiving Difficulty
Let’s be clear: SKALD is tough. Even on Normal difficulty, early-game wolf packs can wipe out a party in two turns. For players who want to experience the story without frustration, the game includes built-in console commands (no third-party tools required):
How to Activate the Console
Press the
Tab key to open the console, then wrap commands in curly brackets (e.g., { add money 1000 }). Note that using cheats disables Steam achievements, but there’s no in-game penalty .Essential Commands
- Heal & Restore:
{ heal full all }restores full health and mana to your entire party—perfect for post-boss fight recovery. - Level Up:
{ add level 5 }grants 5 levels to your current character, boosting attributes and unlocking skills. Use{ add level all 3 }to level up the entire party. - Item Spawn:
{ additem "masterwork_dagger" 1 }spawns the game’s best early dagger (5-6 damage, 3.7 crit multiplier). Replace the item ID with others like “holy_relic” or “amulet_arcane” for rare gear. - Skip Combat:
{ win combat }instantly defeats all enemies in the current fight—a lifesaver for repetitive random encounters .
“Soft Cheats” (No Console Required)
For purists who want to avoid cheating outright, use these in-game exploits:
- Rest & Reset: Camp repeatedly (press
R) to reset enemy patrols without consuming supplies. This lets you grind XP in safe zones. - Blacksmith Favor: Gift the town blacksmith 3 iron ingots to unlock 40% off repairs, cutting resource costs dramatically.
- Recover After Combat: Enable this option in the Settings menu to restore 50% health/mana after every fight—officialy supported and balanced for casual players .
Is It Worth Playing? The Verdict
SKALD: Against the Black Priory isn’t for everyone. Its Unity engine jank (occasional frame drops, no map) and text-heavy gameplay will turn off players used to fast-paced action RPGs. The class balance is imperfect—archers run out of arrows quickly, and pure mages struggle with mana management. But for fans of old-school CRPGs like Baldur’s Gate or Planescape: Torment, it’s a love letter worth reading.
The game’s strengths shine through its compact, well-written story (15-20 hours to beat, no filler) and tactical combat that rewards positioning over button-mashing. The Lovecraftian theme is handled with restraint—no cheap jump scares, just creeping dread that builds to a satisfying climax. The mod support adds longevity, and the CRT filter (toggleable in settings) nails the retro aesthetic without being distracting .
If you value depth over polish, and strategy over spectacle, SKALD: Against the Black Priory is absolutely worth playing. It’s a reminder of why CRPGs became beloved in the first place: memorable characters, meaningful choices, and gameplay that respects your intelligence. Just keep the console commands handy for those inevitable “party wipe” moments.
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