The game uses a first-person perspective for travel and location views. Each turn, the player switches between important characters, moves across a large connected landscape, explores settlements, recruits followers, and makes political or military decisions.

The main objective is to defeat Doomdark by completing the liberation campaign and attacking his forces. Progress depends on choosing effective routes, building alliances, managing several characters at once, and preserving armies through the changing day-and-night cycle. Characters can travel, recruit, attack, besiege locations, and perform other context-sensitive actions.

Plan routes before moving, because distant characters may need several turns to reach one another. Recruit early in friendly settlements and keep your forces concentrated rather than scattering small groups across the map.

Use different characters for different objectives, maintain communication between armies, and watch the day-night cycle. Avoid unnecessary battles while gathering strength; the final campaign is much easier when key leaders and recruited troops have survived.