Barony Just Got a Massive Facelift and It’s Actually Glorious

We’ve been in the trenches with Barony for years – countless Linux builds, grueling Steam Deck runs, and co-op debacles that still haunt our sleep. So when Turning Wheel LLC announced the Deserters & Disciples DLC, our collective eyebrow raised. Another expansion? Or a true evolution? After extensive hands-on, across every supported platform from our trusted Linux rigs to the ever-present Steam Deck, we can confidently declare: this isn’t just an update. Deserters & Disciples, coupled with the critical free Instruments of Destruction: Part 1 overhaul, has fundamentally transformed Barony. It's a re-foundational moment that pushes the game into a new, exhilarating era, solidifying its place as a top-tier roguelike dungeon crawler.

For too long, certain elements of Barony felt like they were holding back its true potential. That changes now. The dungeon, once a familiar adversary, has gone gloriously feral. New sounds, unexpected tricks, and novel ways to meet your demise make every run a fresh, nail-biting experience. This isn't just "more Barony"; it’s the kind of expansion that makes you sit back, nod slowly, and acknowledge that Turning Wheel absolutely cooked with this one. Unlike some past content drops that felt iterative, this feels deeply personal, like the developers listened to the core community and decided to just go deeper.

Deserters & Disciples: Expanding the Core Loop

The heart of this DLC lies in its new character classes, each designed not as a mere reskin or gimmick, but as a genuine paradigm shift for your playstyle. We’re talking about real personality and mechanics that demand different tactical approaches:

• The Gremlin: Forget subtlety. This class is pure, unadulterated menace. We’re rewarded for vandalism, turning every dungeon encounter into a chaotic playground of destruction and surprising profit. Shopkeepers might despise us, and honestly, we get it. But the sheer power fantasy of being an organized disaster is deeply satisfying. This isn't just a new class; it's a new way to min-max chaos.
• The Sapper: If you thrive on controlled chaos, the Sapper is your new main. Cooking mid-run, flailing enemies, tossing greaseballs, and laying traps with surgical precision – it’s a messy, loud, and utterly satisfying build. This class isn't about brute force; it's about engineering the perfect, explosive encounter, significantly boosting strategic depth in combat.
• The Dryad: Flipping the script, the Dryad offers a more measured, nature-infused approach. Growing living plants, healing allies, and consuming self-made magic nuts provides a calm rhythm until, inevitably, roots and thorns remind encroaching enemies they've made a terrible mistake. It adds a crucial support and crowd control element that drastically changes co-op dynamics and opens up unique solo survivability builds.
• The Scion: This is Barony flexing its magical muscles. Featuring three brand-new magic schools – Sorcery, Thaumaturgy, and Mysticism – the Scion dances between them with effortless power. Summoned guardians, rechargeable spell weapons; it’s a genuine power fantasy that feels earned, not cheap. This dramatically expands magical build diversity and viability, a much-needed buff to a previously underutilized aspect of the game.
• Myconids & Hermits: These round out the roster with some of the most inventive design we’ve seen in a roguelike lately. From mushroom traps and toxic spores to a duck companion that casually derails enemy plans while you engage in enchanted combat, these classes push the boundaries of what’s possible, proving that true creativity still thrives in the genre and adds substantial replayability.

Instruments of Destruction: The Stealth Overhaul

While Deserters & Disciples grabs the headlines, the accompanying free Instruments of Destruction: Part 1 update is the quiet killer. This isn't just a QoL patch; it’s a systemic rework that would have been a headline update on its own. The impact here is profound:

• Magic System Overhaul: Spells now respect player stats, making character choices far more impactful. HP and MP feel earned, not randomly assigned, giving magic a much-desired texture and tactical depth. This fundamentally shifts the meta, elevating spellcasting from a niche choice to a truly powerful, build-defining path, allowing for genuine magical power fantasies that were previously difficult to achieve.
• Ranged Weapon Rework: Ranged weapons now punch with the appropriate impact, making them viable and satisfying options that can truly complement or lead a build. No longer will archers feel like second-class citizens in melee-heavy runs.
• Dungeon Layout Improvements: Caves and the formidable Citadel feel tighter, smarter, and significantly more dangerous. Treasure rooms now introduce genuine tension – do you have the right key, or are you foregoing something truly incredible? This adds another layer to risk/reward assessment, rewarding cautious exploration and tactical planning.
• Crafting & Survival: Workbenches and cauldrons appearing mid-run completely change the crafting flow. Cooking is now a critical strategic element, making food and buffs matter immensely. This adds a crucial survival layer that rewards preparation and adaptability, deepening the rogue-like loop beyond mere combat.

Performance, Platforms, & Price: No Excuses

Crucially for our audience at In Game News, this expansive update and DLC lands day one on Linux, Steam Deck, Mac, and Windows PC. No excuses, no delays. Performance feels solid across the board, which is a non-negotiable for players who prioritize how games run over marketing hype. This commitment to multi-platform excellence, particularly for the Linux and Steam Deck ecosystem, speaks volumes about Turning Wheel’s dedication to their diverse player base and sets a high bar for other developers.

At $6.79 USD / £5.68 / 6,62€ (with a 15% launch discount), Deserters & Disciples is a no-brainer for existing Barony enthusiasts. For those who perhaps bounced off the game in its earlier iterations, we believe this comprehensive update, coupled with the new content, creates an entirely different, more engaging experience that demands a second look. The dungeon is fundamentally altered now, and frankly, we’re not sure we want to go back to how it was. This is Barony, evolved.