Millions of players all over the world have enjoyed THRONE AND LIBERTY since the ambitious MMORPG launched across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on October 1. On November 17, things will heat up dramatically in the world of Solisium as NCSOFT and Amazon Games introduce Castle Siege events: massive player-versus-player (PvP) battles between guilds, with thousands of players vying for control of huge castles.
“Castle Sieges represent the pinnacle of epic, large-scale warfare in THRONE AND LIBERTY,” begins Daniel Lafuente, Globalization Design Manager at Amazon Games. “Their sheer scope and spectacle are simply unmatched. We’re talking thousands of players converging simultaneously for these jaw-dropping, visually stunning conflicts with incredibly valuable rewards on the line.”
While Castle Sieges can accommodate these spectacles of epic proportions, the teams at NCSOFT and Amazon Games designed them to scale and cater to guilds and alliances of all sizes through strategic sub-objectives like Pillage Zones, which allow a guild to rapidly accrue critical resources. “While the server’s largest alliances vie for control of the Throne itself, smaller guilds or alliances can still make their mark by capturing and holing these lucrative Pillage locations,” says Lafuente. “It’s an exhilarating demonstration of THRONE AND LIBERTY’s ability to deliver massive, seamless battles on an unprecedented scale. For PvP fanatics, there’s simply no greater adrenaline rush.”
Amazon Games and NCSOFT intentionally timed the introduction of Castle Sieges to THRONE AND LIBERTY to afford players the time to become accustomed to the game in several key ways. “First and foremost, since these massive conflicts are intended to be experienced as part of a guild, we wanted to provide ample time for new players to get situated and find the right communities to call home before the first siege kicked off,” explains Lafuente. “Secondly, the post-launch period allows players a reasonable window to work towards gearing up their characters and hitting key progression milestones before throwing them into the crucible of an all-out war. We didn’t want players feeling overly rushed to progress their characters.”
Preparation, of course, will be a critical component to help ensure victory for the most successful guilds. Before jumping into the fray, Lafuente encourages players to ensure they’ve made sufficient character progression across their gear, levels, and skill acquisition to be siege-ready from an individual perspective. But just as important, he said, is to ensure that your guild is theory crafting its larger operational plan. “Will you seek to claim the Throne itself through an overwhelming force? Or will you perhaps concentrate on capturing and defending key Pillage Zones for their lucrative resource payouts?” he asked. “You’ll also need to determine if you’ll ally with other friendly guilds to combine forces. Then there are tactical considerations: how will you approach and infiltrate the castle grounds? Will stealth and misdirection be your strategy, or all-out frontal assault?”
Castle Sieges afford players and guilds a vast array of strategies and approaches to victory, which Lafuente asserts is precisely what makes preparing for these siege events so engaging. It’s a true test of a guild’s propensity for teamwork and strategic prowess. Castle Sieges are regularly scheduled events that take place every two weeks (the first taking place at 4 p.m. PT on November 17), which gives guilds a reliable, recurring window with which to prepare and game out their strategies ahead of each skirmish.
Players who participated in the recent, pre-launch Siege the Day community event for THRONE AND LIBERTY already got the opportunity to participate in the Castle Siege experience, which Lafuente described as an “illuminating” experience. “On a pure spectacle level, it demonstrated just how visually dramatic and intense these massive sieges can be when experienced through the lens of a streamer’s POV,” he said. “But it also highlighted the remarkable variety of ways players can meaningfully contribute and find fulfillment. Ultimately, Siege the Day reinforced that while these events represent the pinnacle of large-scale warfare, there are always going to be unique moments of heroism and personal stakes to invest in, no matter your particular playstyle.”
From November 17, Castle Sieges will become a regular, staple part of the THRONE AND LIBERTY experience. The teams at Amazon Games and NCSOFT will work hard to ensure a fair, balanced experience across all servers and participant groups. “We’ve implemented a number of changes aimed at preventing oversized alliances from forming and disrupting competitive integrity,” said Lafuente. “This includes hard alliance caps, randomized nameplates, and standardized guild icons. We’ll closely monitor sentiment and systematically iterate on the Castle Siege rulesets based on real-world data and feedback. If any imbalances or exploits arise, we’re committed to rapidly addressing them.” Longer term, Castle Siege events will constantly evolve and serve as a uniquely impressive centerpiece of THRONE AND LIBERTY’s PvP ecosystem for years to come, and Lafuente looks forward to sharing more detail on what this will look like in the future.
For now, however, by way of parting words, Lafuente offers some sage advice for players eager to dive in and experience all that Castle Siege events have to offer.
“First, be sure to properly stock up on consumables and guild materials ahead of time,” he explains. “These conflicts can be resource-intensive, so you’ll need to ensure your supply is ready to support the total effort.”
“Secondly, don’t underestimate the importance of strategic preparation and information gathering. Get boots on the ground to scout the siege environments. Plan out your routes, fallback points, and coordinate roles with your guild. A solid operational plan is half the battle.”
“Third, remember to leverage every tool and ability at your disposal. Coordinate guild skills and look for creative ways to apply your individual expertise.”
“Finally, make sure to use your guild’s summon stone wisely and at a decisive moment. That concentrated surge of reinforcements can easily turn the tide of battle if deployed at just the right time and place. Proper planning, preparation, and judicious use of your resources - those will be the keys to siege victory. The rest comes down to pure tenacity and perseverance under fire.”
Thanks to all THRONE AND LIBERTY players! The teams at Amazon Games and NCSOFT can’t wait for you to experience Castle Sieges, and we hope you have fun when the first becomes available at 4 p.m. PT on Sunday, November 17! For more on Castle Sieges, see this deep dive post over at the official THRONE AND LIBERTY site.
