Battle Brothers = The Black Company

[DuhMadDawg]

I wanted to see if any Battle Bros fans have read the series ab The Black Company by Glen Cook. Chronicles of the Black Company is the name of the series. Anyways, my main point being that I picked this series up last week and once I finished the first book I had an urge to get back into Battle Brothers. I also had been wanting to play the new Beasts DLC so this was the perfect excuse to jump back in. So, wanting more out of my current experience with this series I decided playing BB in conjunction with my reading would be the perfect compliment (well, listening not reading, as I listen to the audible versions while working).

The book, like this game, is centered on the viewpoint of a B.A. mercenary company. And, again, like the game, you get plopped down into the group after/while sh*t has hit the fan on the current contract. Unlike most fantasy books though, these ain't the good guys. They aren't really the bad guys either though. They are just...MERCENARIES.

I'm sure it has been mentioned before (the books and games being similar) but I thought I would bring it up just in case anybody is missing out. If anybody likes this game I highly recommend trying out this series also. The series has breathed new life into my Battle Brothers career!

[turtle225]

Fantastic series. I've read all 9 books. I wish I could forget what happens and read them again.

[Wildan]

I've read them too and it absolutely changed my perception of usual corny hero/evil concepts of mercenaries, when applied to video games.
I always look forward to make my band multi-dimensional, or even the sole hero in single player games. Only few games so far actually give you the opportunity to act so. Battle Brothers gives you almost absolute freedom in this regard, another similar (but still limiting) ones that pop up in my mind are both Pillars of Eternity games and Tyranny.

I hope the new DLC will further strengthten this aspect of the game. Beeing able to play as nordic barbarians or bandits AND your alter ego will open up whole new paths of game depth.

Didn't know there were audible versions of the Black Company out there. I'll might check it out.
I actually name my band "The Black Company" - every single time. :))

[anaphylactic god]

i actually didnt liked the books.
damn, first one was amazing and i enjoyed it a lot but second one was much weaker.
and third one felt forced, as if author had a contract to write more but no idea or will to write them.
if you look for something Battle Brothers-ish try reading Traitor son cycle, by Miles Cameron.

[DuhMadDawg]

Originally posted by turtle225:

Fantastic series. I've read all 9 books. I wish I could forget what happens and read them again.

I just started book 3 yesterday. I love them so far.

[DuhMadDawg]

Originally posted by Wildan:

I've read them too and it absolutely changed my perception of usual corny hero/evil concepts of mercenaries, when applied to video games.
I always look forward to make my band multi-dimensional, or even the sole hero in single player games. Only few games so far actually give you the opportunity to act so. Battle Brothers gives you almost absolute freedom in this regard, another similar (but still limiting) ones that pop up in my mind are both Pillars of Eternity games and Tyranny.

I hope the new DLC will further strengthten this aspect of the game. Beeing able to play as nordic barbarians or bandits AND your alter ego will open up whole new paths of game depth.

Didn't know there were audible versions of the Black Company out there. I'll might check it out.
I actually name my band "The Black Company" - every single time. :))

Raven absolutely changed my outlook on a lot of these bad guy types. He is the ultimate example of good men capable of terrible things, all as a means to what they believe is a good end. I just started book 3. Actually, forget Raven, Shed is an excellent EXCELLENT character. He ran the gamut of coward to bad guy to evil genius to good guy on a path to redemption to martyr! What a fascinating character. Definitely will shape the way I play RPGs now.

If you enjoyed the Black Company check out Throne of Bones (by Brian McNaughton). I wanted more of that book type and thats how I found Black Company but Bones is a much dark book but imo much stronger writing. No "main" character either. The city/region is the focal point really. It is such a fun book where you get to see every side of the good guys and "the bad."

[DuhMadDawg]

Originally posted by anaphylactic god:

i actually didnt liked the books.
damn, first one was amazing and i enjoyed it a lot but second one was much weaker.
and third one felt forced, as if author had a contract to write more but no idea or will to write them.
if you look for something Battle Brothers-ish try reading Traitor son cycle, by Miles Cameron.

I definitely felt book 1 was stronger than 2 as a whole. 1 was much more focused. I actually began to dislike 2 until the company made it to Juniper FINALLY. The arc for Shed made the book excellent imo. I just started 3. I hope its stronger than what you say or I will be so disappointed. Im already worried ab book 4 bc they changed narrators after 3. 4 is a girl who is awful sounding for the subject/characters from the sample I listened to. Looks like the publisher thought the same bc they changed narrators again after book 4.

[Benny]

The Black Company, or the Black Band (Schwarze Haufen) did actually exist in the 15th century. They are very famous and well known to this day here in Europe and Germany.

I also name my company after the Black Company, but i was not aware of the fantasy books of the same name. They seem interesting, i´ll look into them.

[turtle225]

Originally posted by DuhMadDawg:

I definitely felt book 1 was stronger than 2 as a whole. 1 was much more focused. I actually began to dislike 2 until the company made it to Juniper FINALLY.

Lol I felt the same way. Like "Where my boys at??" Shed is fantastic though. I was so sad when he died after he was just redeemed. I was ready for him to be a side character for books to come.

I didn't listen to the books so I can't comment on narrators but it would have been interesting if they changed narrators based on who is the current Annalist.

Cook actually recently released a book that squeezes itself between book 1 and 2 in the timeline.

https://www.tor.com/2018/02/26/cover-reveals-glen-cook-port-of-shadows-the-black-company/

I haven't read it yet but I have to wonder if it fits seamlessly or not considering he wrote book 1 and 2 over 30 years ago. I wish he would just write book 10 already. I have to know how the series ends!

Also love this quote on the cover of the new book.

"Do the job. Get paid. Survive." If that isn't Battle Brothers than idk what is.

[DuhMadDawg]

Originally posted by turtle225:

Originally posted by DuhMadDawg:

I definitely felt book 1 was stronger than 2 as a whole. 1 was much more focused. I actually began to dislike 2 until the company made it to Juniper FINALLY.

Lol I felt the same way. Like "Where my boys at??" Shed is fantastic though. I was so sad when he died after he was just redeemed. I was ready for him to be a side character for books to come.

I didn't listen to the books so I can't comment on narrators but it would have been interesting if they changed narrators based on who is the current Annalist.

Cook actually recently released a book that squeezes itself between book 1 and 2 in the timeline.

https://www.tor.com/2018/02/26/cover-reveals-glen-cook-port-of-shadows-the-black-company/

I haven't read it yet but I have to wonder if it fits seamlessly or not considering he wrote book 1 and 2 over 30 years ago. I wish he would just write book 10 already. I have to know how the series ends!

Also love this quote on the cover of the new book.

"Do the job. Get paid. Survive." If that isn't Battle Brothers than idk what is.

Haha that is absolutely Battle Bros.

Haven't read your spoiler yet. Dont want to until I am through with 3 to be safe lol. I am on chapter 19 of book 3. I debated reading those books between 2 and 3. That is, theres 2 of those books inbetween 2 and 3. From what I saw on the audible page it looks like its a collection of short stories from different author and the ones by Cook are based in the world of the Black Company. While I was working today I figured something out. Don't tell me but, anyways, on my way home I was listening to Corbie (I didnt know how it was spelled just was going off of what I was hearing) and all of the sudden I said to myself outloud- "Corbie is a type of bird I think! Ipso facto this is a clever way of renaming Raven incognito. I looked it up and sure enough- a Corbie is the scottish term for... A COMMON CROW OR RAVEN! The son of a b* is alive!!!! Hooray!

I didnt know he wrote them that long ago! Wow. Makes sense though when I noticed the audible year gaps with books (like 7 yrs I think btw 2 and 3). Thats also what made me hold off with the inbetween books- they are newer than book 3 so I figured I would read it in the order published. Im enjoying book 3 with the new allies. What REALLY makes this all fit now is I downloaded the legends mod for Battle Bros! Starting it now. So glad someone else enjoys both of these things.

[DuhMadDawg]

Originally posted by Benny:

The Black Company, or the Black Band (Schwarze Haufen) did actually exist in the 15th century. They are very famous and well known to this day here in Europe and Germany.

I also name my company after the Black Company, but i was not aware of the fantasy books of the same name. They seem interesting, i´ll look into them.

No way!? That is very cool. I like to think the author was paying homage lol. You should definitely check out the books. Playing this and reading the books has added to the fun of everything in Battle Bros. Im still getting back into things on the game but its kinda like riding a bike, Im starting to remember everything quickly.

[turtle225]

My spoiler isn't safe to read after 3. Not until book 5.

I haven't read any of the inbetween books either. Just the main 9. I'm probably going to pick up the new book though once I'm finished with my current series. I'll look into Throne of Bones too. Have you read Dread Empire? It's also by Cook so it is probably good.

[peterebbesen]

Cook's Dread Empire series is pretty good, but less focused than the Black Company. Especially the first trilogy (the main series) suffers from being his early work when he was still finding his voice. Definitely worth reading if you are a Glen Cook fan, but don't expect them to grip you the same way the Black Company did. You are unlikely to get emotionally invested in the survival of anybody.

For those attracted to Cook for the sheer bleakness and despair of parts of the Black Company's adventures, I recommend his Darkwar series, which has that in spades without the redeeming humour and misplaced optimism (such as it is) of the Black Company. It is mainly about survival.

(And for those suffering from chronic backstabbing disorder after reading Black Company and wanting more, I recommend his standalone novels Tower of Fear (fantasy) and The Dragon Never Sleeps (scifi) that are the pinnacle of his skill in that regard.)

[Gandalf The Queen]

Ive mentioned it on the games official forums and a dev confirmed that the one-eye character in the tutorial is a reference to the black company

[Magnus]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1677509620

[turtle225]

It would be cool if the devs add a banner design that references the Black Company design from the books. I would totally run that and then name everyone in the company after a character from the series.

Originally posted by peterebbesen:

Cook's Dread Empire series is pretty good, but less focused than the Black Company. Especially the first trilogy (the main series) suffers from being his early work when he was still finding his voice. Definitely worth reading if you are a Glen Cook fan, but don't expect them to grip you the same way the Black Company did. You are unlikely to get emotionally invested in the survival of anybody.

For those attracted to Cook for the sheer bleakness and despair of parts of the Black Company's adventures, I recommend his Darkwar series, which has that in spades without the redeeming humour and misplaced optimism (such as it is) of the Black Company. It is mainly about survival.

(And for those suffering from chronic backstabbing disorder after reading Black Company and wanting more, I recommend his standalone novels Tower of Fear (fantasy) and The Dragon Never Sleeps (scifi) that are the pinnacle of his skill in that regard.)

Sweet info. I'm in need of new books so I'll definitely look into these.