Barony: Deserters & Disciples Review – A Joyfully Chaotic DLC
I dove into Barony's new Deserters & Disciples DLC and found ten new ways to wreck a dungeon (and occasionally myself). New races, classes, cooking, mushrooms and a loyal duck — it's loud, charming and addictive.
Barony's Deserters & Disciples arrives like a crate of mischievous toys dropped into an already charming roguelike dungeon. Turning Wheel LLC has packed the DLC with five new races and five signature classes, and each one brings its own little toolbox of chaos — from mushroom traps to holy claymores and mischievous gremlins. If you loved the base game’s messy, party-level rogue-lite fights, this expansion doubles down with personality and options. It’s the kind of update that makes me grin, rage, and then immediately start a new run.
Flaming Friends and Claymore Vows
The core loop of Deserters & Disciples still feels like classic Barony: explore cramped levels, stab or spell things to death, and hoard what you can before the dungeon eats you. What changes is the toolbox you bring into those runs. New monster races like the Salamander, Dryad and Myconid aren't just skins — they come with signature mechanics: salamanders heat up and gain power as they rampage, dryads plant healing shrubs and defensive thorns, and myconids lay mushroom traps that double as food (and occasionally your undoing). The Hermit has a duck pet that, yes, dives for fish and distracts enemies; I can’t count the times the duck watched me die in a cloud of my own spores. Each race can also use the classic classes, which keeps the experimentation pleasantly chaotic.
When Cooking, Gremlins and Holy Light Collide
Unique features are where this DLC shines. Cooking is a surprise winner — the Sapper starts with a Frypan and new consumable interactions that make greaseballs and flammable combos a real tactical choice (and a hilarious risk when you accidentally set yourself on fire). The Paladin brings holy damage and a protective Holy Symbol for allies, while the Scion introduces three schools of magic, summoning an Earth Sprite and the Archon Scepter that recharges by sacrificing spells. Gremlins get a vandalism boost but are shunned by shopkeepers, creating hilarious roleplay friction when you try to buy a rope. Unlocking a signature class by finishing the game with a monster race is a smart loop that rewards commitment without gating basic multiplayer: you can still play with friends who don't own the DLC.
A Dungeon That Sounds and Looks Like It Means Business
Visually and technically, the DLC keeps Barony's rough-hewn charm intact. Sprites get new animations for the salamander’s flames, bard instruments, and gnomish jewelry-crafting flourishes. Sound design amplifies the personality—flinging a greaseball, the squawk of the Hermit's duck, the satisfying clang of a paladin riposte — these small touches make encounters memorable. Performance remained stable on Windows, Mac and Linux during my runs; the UI keeps the classic, slightly cramped inventory vibe that rewards learning rather than hand-holding. Accessibility options aren't flashy, but basic key remapping and clear textual descriptions keep the barrier low for new players.
Deserters & Disciples is a love letter to players who enjoy variety, mayhem and careful little systems. It won’t rewrite the rulebook of Barony, but it fills the book with sticky notes: more races to obsess over, more classes to master, and a ridiculous amount of personality. Recommended for fans of the base game and anyone who likes their dungeon crawls with a side of chaos.
Pros
- Massive amount of character variety — fun to experiment with
- Clever new mechanics (cooking, mushroom traps, Archon Scepter)
- Humorous touches (duck pet, gremlin mischief) that add charm
- Crossplay with base owners preserved; unlocks reward dedicated players
Cons
- Inventory and UI still a bit clunky for newcomers
- Some mechanics can feel fiddly or punitive (flame/grease combos)
- Accessibility options could be more robust
Player Opinion
Players are ecstatic. Many reviews praise the sheer value and the love the small team still pours into Barony — comments like “Most devoted small team” and “I’m going to support these developers until the day I die” pop up repeatedly. Fans rave about mushroom characters, the duck, and new classes being balanced and fun. Some posts are pure joy (“12/10 - The duck is the real main character”) while others laugh about getting hit by greaseballs and set on fire. Recurrent themes are nostalgia for familiar characters, surprise at the depth of new mechanics, and delight at the variety. If you enjoy experimental party builds and silly failures, this DLC is community candy.