History VideoGame / BattleRealms

* CatchPhrase: '''Nightvol''': ''I am the dark'' and ''I am always here.''

** While the Wolf Clan's story has much in common with various enslaved peoples rebelling against TheEmpire, it most clearly borrows elements of [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire Roman-era]] [[UsefulNotes/CelticKingdoms Celtic peoples]], as most units are redheads (a stereotype associated with Celtic peoples like the Irish), one of the units carries a ballista (a Roman invention), and another unit is the druidess (a female member of the Celtic clergy).

** The Lotus Clan, meanwhile, seems to have no clear real world analogy. Many of its thematic elements call to mind a dark mirror of both Buddhist monasticism (with the Lotus achieving "enlightenment" through successive corruption and spiritually perverse philosophies) and Japanese ''Kirishitan'' (given their use of Christian terms like "acolyte", "disciple" and "brother)..

** Averted with the Lotus Clan, who don't have a clear real world analogy.

* BladeOnAStick: Spearmen's naginata and Kabuki Warriors' magical polearms being the best examples.

* NotInThisForYourRevolution: In the original game's campaign, neither Otomo nor Shinja in the Kenji's Serpent and Dragon paths respectively are really interested in helping the protagonist achieve his goals, being more concerned instead with what they ''think'' is best for their people.

%%* WhipItGood: Serpent Enforcers have chain whips, while Lotus Overseers have the regular whip.

%%* RiskStyleMap: In ''Kenji's Journey''.

%% * FiveManBand: The clans under Yin.
%% ** The Serpent: [[BigBad Kenji/Shinja]], [[TheDragon Taro/Otomo]], [[EvilGenius Vetkin]], [[TheBrute Budo]], and [[DarkChick Utara]]. Also, the [[SixthRanger Necromancer]].
%% ** The Lotus: [[BigBad Zymeth]], [[TheDragon Koril]], [[EvilGenius Soban]], [[TheBrute Issyl]], and [[DarkChick Yvaine]]. Also, the [[{{Mentors}} Three Brothers]].
%% * FiveManBand: The clans under Yang.
%% ** The Dragon: [[TheHero Kenji]][=/=][[TheLeader Otomo]], [[TheLancer Garrin/Shinja]], [[TheSmartGuy Tao/Teppo]], [[TheBigGuy Kazan]], and [[TheChick Arah]].
%% ** The Wolf: [[TheLeader Grayback]], [[TheLancer Wildeye]], [[TheSmartGuy Longtooth]], [[TheBigGuy Shale Lord]], and [[TheChick Gaihla]].

* BowAndSwordInAccord: The Dragon Clan Samurai (sword and composite bow) and the Serpent Clan Bandit (sword and hand crossbow).

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: When moving the cursor over an enemy to attack, the sword or arrow changes color: bronze means the target is resistant, silver means the target takes normal damage, while gold indicates the target is weak against the unit's attack type. See TacticalRockPaperScissors below.

On 2019, both the game and its expansion have been packaged into the ''Zen Edition'' on UsefulNotes/Steam, which involves balancing unit weaknesses/resistances, AntiFrustrationFeatures, and a more helpful "Siege" system to identify units more effective against buildings given the right upgrades or Battle Gears.

* DarkerAndEdgier/{{Foil}}:

** The benevolent Dragon and [[spoiler:the malevolent Nightvol]], both having the catchphrase ''I am always here.''

* MutuallyExclusivePowerups: Every unit can only have one Battle Gear at any time. While Zen Masters, Monks and Ninja only have one anyway, most units usually have a choice between two or more, depending on the player's choice. For example, the Dragon Clan's Samurai can either get Yang Blade from the Shrine (which boosts Yang generation and damage the more Yang the player has) or Dragon Skin from the Fireworks Factory (which boosts the Samurai's resistance to projectiles).

As of September 20, 2012, the game can be bought together with its expansion from Website/GOGDotCom.

* ArmorIsUseless: Averted with the Wolf Clan's Shale armor, which increases their resistance to magic attacks.

** Monks' Zen Trance. It gradually heals the monk to 100% health at a rapid rate. The catch? Defense is reduced to zero, and the Monk must stay in place and can't attack as well, thus it is not recommended in the heat of combat.

%% * BareFistedMonk: Monks. Similarly, Pack Masters.
* BattleAura: Zymeth, under the power of Tarrant's Orb. Yvaine remains invulnerable while within the vicinity of the corrupted White Wolf Totem.

* TheBeastmaster: Pack Masters. Also, Dragon hero Garrin can summon horses from across the map.
* TheBerserker: Guardians with the "Last Stand" Battle Gear. Upon losing all hit points, the Guardian continues to attack nearby enemy units for a couple extra seconds with increased damage and takes none himself before finally dropping dead.

** In-universe example is the Lotus Clan. They are a once-benevolent civilization befallen by greed for arcane power via the Tree of Corruption. The Three Brothers Lythis, Sehk, and Tausil are their ancestors who tend the tree and are revered in the clan's three training buildings. The brothers are also embodied by the 1st level warriors: Blade Acolyte, Leaf Disciple and Staff Adept respectively.
* DarkerAndEdgier:

** The Lotus Clan is a corrupt version of the Wolf Clan as well, both dealing with nature.

%%* DirtyCoward: Taro.

* HeroUnit: Each clan has around four, plus one in the expansion pack.

** Issyl's weapon is a giant hourglass with blades on them.

* PoisonedWeapons: Shinja, Utara, Gaihla, and Diseased One's melee breath. Bandits and Crossbowmen's weapons can also be upgraded to this.

** There are 6 damage types: slashing, piercing, blunt, explosive, magical, and fire. Each unit deals a specific damage type in melee (missile attackers also have a weaker melee damage type) as well as around 2 weakness types and 2 resistance types. As a rule of thumb, never build an army consisting of a single unit type.

%%* WhipItGood: Overseers.

** The Dragon Clan is modeled on an idealized version of medieval Japan mixed with elements from China, ala the Heian Period.
** The Serpent meanwhile are very reminiscent of both Sengoku Jidai and Edo Period Japan with a dash of DarkerAndEdgier, reflecting the less romanticized parts of the era.
** While the Wolf Clan's story has much in common with any group of enslaved peoples rebelling against TheEmpire, it most clearly borrows elements of [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire Roman Empire-era]] [[UsefulNotes/CelticKingdoms Celtic peoples]]. Ballistas are as Roman as battlefield artillery gets. Druids = Celtic pagan clergy. Also, every human unit is a natural redhead.
** The Lotus, on the other hand, don't really have any (obvious) real world analogy.

* HeroMustSurvive: Kenji and Greyback in their respective campaigns, until you unlock the keep.

%%* AnIcePerson: Mistress Yvaine.

* BilingualBonus: The Dragon and Serpent Zen Masters. Otomo, Kazan, Teppo, and Taro mean "companion", "volcano", "gun", and "eldest son", respectively, in Japanese. Utara is Malay/Indonesian for "north".

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Dragon and Serpent Clans are blatantly modeled on feudal era Japan combined with Chinese influence. The Lotus and Wolf, on the other hand, don't really have any (obvious) real world analogy. To elaborate, the Dragon Clan is modeled on an idealized version of medieval Japan mixed with elements from China, ala the Heian Period. The Serpent meanwhile are very reminiscent of both Sengoku Jidai and Edo Period Japan with a dash of DarkerAndEdgier, reflecting the less romanticized parts of the era. And while the Wolf have no clear parallel in the real world, they do seem to incorporate elements of the Inuit and Ainu in their emphasis on nature.

* MutuallyExclusivePowerups: Every unit can only have one Battle Gear at any time. While Heroes, Monks and Ninja only have one anyway, most units usually have a choice between two or more, depending on the player's choice. For example, the Dragon Clan's Samurai can either get Yang Blade from the Shrine (which boosts Yang generation and damage the more Yang the player has) or Dragon Skin from the Fireworks Factory (which boosts the Samurai's resistance to projectiles).

%%* SaiGuy: Vetkin.

* DarkerAndEdgier: The Serpent Clan are an in-game example, compared to the Dragon Clan.

* AwesomeYetImpractical: Lacking a "super unit", the Dragon Clan has the Dragon Spirit summon. It rains huge fireballs for non-elemental damage, but there's a huge chance that it can only whittle down high-tiered units or maybe kill a few weakened one-tiered units from an enemy army. The catch is it doesn't damage any enemy buildings ''at all''. [[StupidSacrifice Sacrificing 4 Samurais and 3 Yang points]] to initiate this flashy attack and barely killing anyone is not uncommon.

* HeadbuttingHeroes: Otomo and Shinja for the Dragon/Serpent clans during Kenji's Journey.

* ImprobableWeaponUser: Issyl's weapon is a giant hourglass with blades on them.

* KatanasAreJustBetter: A lot of Dragon and Serpent units and heroes use [[EveryJapaneseSwordIsAKatana variants of Oriental swords]] as melee weapons.

* ShoutOut: The Sledgers (face, physique, accent) are reminiscent of a certain [[Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger Austrian governor]].

* TacticalRockPaperScissors: There are 6 damage types: slashing, piercing, blunt, explosive, magical, and fire. Each unit deals a specific damage type in melee (missile attackers also have a weaker melee damage type) as well as around 2 weakness types and 2 resistance types. As a rule of thumb, never build an army consisting of a single unit type.

%%* SimpleStaff: Staff Adepts.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: The Lotus Clan all have white hair, which were used as a means to scare the Wolf Clan who fear something called the white wolf.

* MultipleEndings: An odd variant, as you choose which path to take in the ''very first mission''.

* DirtyCoward: Taro.

* DropTheHammer: Sledgers.

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Dragon and Serpent Clans are blatantly modeled on feudal era Japan combined with Chinese influence. The Lotus and Wolf, on the other hand, don't really have any (obvious) real world analogy.
** To elaborate, the Dragon Clan is modeled on an idealized version of medieval Japan mixed with elements from China, ala the Heian Period. The Serpent meanwhile are very reminiscent of both Sengoku Jidai and Edo Period Japan with a dash of DarkerAndEdgier, reflecting the less romanticized parts of the era. And while the Wolf have no clear parallel in the real world, they do seem to incorporate elements of the Inuit and Ainu in their emphasis on nature.

* HostileWeather: Rainfall plays an important factor in the game, giving circumstantial (dis)advantages during combat. Rice grows faster, burning buildings are doused, and Lord Zymeth becomes even more powerful when it is raining. Therefore, assaulting your opponent's camp with burning weapons won't work too well during rainfall.

* AnIcePerson: Mistress Yvaine.

* KillItWithFire: Subverted; since almost all units are resistant to fire, except the Necromancer, Werewolf, Zombies and Shamblers, who are extremely weak against it.

* KillSat: The aforementioned Dragon Spirit summon.

* LightningBruiser: The Shale Lord, despite his size and the fact that he's made of shale, can run really fast, easily hurt men and buildings and is highly damage-resistant.

* NatureHero: Most of the wolf clan, with a mix of BarbarianHero thrown in.

* OurZombiesAreDifferent: While the Necromancer's Zombies are Voodoo type, the Reaper's Shamblers are the Construct type.
* PaperFanOfDoom: Fan Geisha.

* RiskStyleMap: In ''Kenji's Journey''.
* {{Ronin}}: With [[DualWielding double swords]].
* SaiGuy: Vetkin.
* ShockAndAwe: Lord Zymeth.

* SimpleStaff: Staff Adepts.
* SinisterScythe: Reapers.

* TakingYouWithMe: Samurais commit seppuku upon loss of his last hit point, damaging any opponent within his vicinity. Ronins stab the ground with their katanas upon death, cursing nearby opponents with an attack power decrease for a short duration.

* TeleportSpam: Koril's Battle Gear, being the Archmage of Space.
* TheUnintelligible: Diggers.
* TheVamp: Utara and Yvaine.

** TookALevelInJerkass: [[spoiler:Serpent-Kenji becomes driven by bloodlust to eradicate the Dragon clan rebels and the Wolf clan.]]
* TrainingThePeacefulVillagers: The entire point of the game.
* TunnelKing: Diggers

* {{Whatevermancy}}: The Serpent Clan's Necromancer. The Lotus Reapers also have this ability.
* WhipItGood: Overseers.

* YouRequireMoreVespeneGas: Both rice and water are Gold-type, as water is required to build all but the simplest structures.

* BaldOfAwesome: Otomo, Kazan, Tao, and Teppo from the Dragon; Soban from the Lotus.
* BareFistedMonk: Monks. Similarly, Pack Masters.