History VideoGame / IroncladTactics

''Ironclad Tactics'' is a tactical card game from Creator/{{Zachtronics}}, makers of {{VideoGame/SpaceChem}} and {{VideoGame/Infiniminer}}. The game takes place in an alternate, Steampunk version of the American Civil War, with the two sides using bipedal mechs called Ironclads. It was first released on [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer PC]] in 2013, and then released on UsefulNotes/Playstation4 in 2015.

* AlternateHistory: Of course.

* ArtisticLicenseEngineering: Steam-powered bipedal warmechs. Need we say more?
* ArtisticLicenseHistory: [[RuleOfCool Not like anyone minds, though.]]

* TheEngineer: Maxwell and Joseph, the protagonists.

* HumongousMecha: The Ironclads.
* MechanicalMonster: The warehouse guardian.
* {{Steampunk}}: Yes.

The game has two {{DLC}}s:

* Steampunk: Yes.
%%* {{Steampunk}}

%%* ACommanderIsYou

''Ironclad Tactics'' is a tactical card game from Creator/{{Zachtronics}}, makers of {{VideoGame/SpaceChem}} and {{VideoGame/Infiniminer}}. The game takes place in an alternate, Steampunk version of the American Civil War, with the two sides using bipedal mechs called Ironclads.

----

* AlternateHistory: Of coruse.
* ACommanderIsYou

* {{Steampunk}}

''Ironclad Tactics'' is a tactical card game from Zachtronics, makers of {{VideoGame/SpaceChem}} and {{VideoGame/Infiniminer}}. The game takes place in an alternate, Steampunk version of the American Civil War, with the two sides using bipedal mechs called Ironclads.

The game has two DLCs:

* Steampunk

* TheEngineer: The player characters, all of whom can place [[SentryGun turrets]] almost anywhere. Different trench chassis play the trope slightly differently, being able to deploy different turrets.
** Engineering Trenches trade firepower for the ability to place a wider variety of turrets. They are also {{Fragile Speedster}}s, as they lack armor but move quickly.
* FightingYourFriend
* FlauntingYourFleets: Subtle, but while on the deck of the [=McKinnley=], players can see vast number of bombers flying air cover above the ship in perfect formation.
* GenreBusting
* GiantSquid: A mechanical one serves as the Pacific campaign's boss battle.
* HandicappedBadass: Both Colonel Woodruff and Vlad Farnsworth. Bonus points go to Woodruff, who commands the Mobile Trench Brigade from the comfort of an Iron Lung with robot arms for both typing and holding his cigar. [[spoiler:Vlad's handicap? Prolonged exposure to the raw, unfiltered Broadcast has turned him into an infant with an adult's head (somehow without damaging his superhuman intellect).]]
* HeavilyArmoredMook: Breakers. [[DidntNeedThoseAnyway Changes]] once they're hit with an explosive weapon, though they can be killed without using them.
* HoldTheLine: Every level, except the ones against bosses.
* HumongousMecha: The Mobile Trenches.
* IndecisiveParody: It's not completely clear whether the game falls under RatedMForManly or TestosteronePoisoning, at times obviously parodical in its extreme "manliness", but other times seeming to play it straight.
* MadScientist: Vlad.
* MechanicalMonster: The Monovisions are as much machine as creature, and more disturbing to look at than either would be alone.
* MissionControl: Woodruff serves as this from his iron lung on-board the USS [=McKinley=].
* MookMaker: Big Bertha.
* MoreDakka: A single Assault Trench can be outfitted with up to ''six'' machine guns, some of which have multiple barrels.
** On top of that, it can be assisted by even more machine gun turrets.
* NiceHat: Not to VideoGame/TeamFortress2 levels, but your character can wear many nice hats, including a sombrero, a fez, a welding mask, and [[VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}} Razputin's famous PSI-helmet and goggles]].
* NoExportForYou: The European version of the game was taken down within hours of its release due to copyright issues regarding the game's title in Portugal, which prompted an unusually radical solution (see OrwellianRetcon)
* OldMediaAreEvil: Taken to extremes, and played for laughs. Vlad invented television decades before it was invented in real life. Because of this early development, the horrors of the world coming to him, combined with the resulting programming being so primitive and crappy, drove him insane.
* OrwellianRetcon: Due to EU copyright issues with the name ''Trenched'', the game's name was changed in ''all'' territories to ''Iron Brigade''.
** There is a technical reason for the change affecting all regions: If the EU was the only region going by ''Iron Brigade'' and everywhere else was ''Trenched'', EU players would be limited to multiplayer with only other EU players (an issue with games with two different names connecting over Xbox Live).
* PinballProjectile Sniper Cannons with the RICOCHET and RICOCHET+ can act like this.
** The "Rise of the Martian Bear" DLC adds all sorts of oddball weapons, including RICOCHET Machine Guns (the "80-UNC3 Indirect MG"), of which the flavor text says, "One would think that years of technological advances were involved in the creation of this weapon. In actuality, we just filled it with spring-loaded bullets, and somehow it worked."
* RatedMForManly: Double Fine was inspired by silly [[http://bitmob.com/articles/the-manly-mans-mens-magazines-of-double-fines-trenched-for-men "manly man" magazines]] from TheForties and TheFifties. They use the magazine shown in this trope's page as source material!
* RedOniBlueOni: Woodruff and Farnsworth's inventions are spiritual opposites of each other. Woodruff's HumongousMecha are intended to let disabled veterans walk again. Farnsworth's Monovision was intended to being the world to you instead.
* RealIsBrown: DefiedTrope.
* SandWorm: The Africa and Europe bosses.
* SchizoTech: Monsters made out of TV sets, trenches slapped on mech legs, and a gigantic aircraft carrier with legs that gets turned into a spaceship.
* SentryGun: The player-deployed turrets.
* SequelHook: Even after defeating Vlad, Woodruff states that the source and purpose of the "Broadcast" is unknown and that it may return.
--> '''Woodruff''': ''"I do know one thing, that we'll be ready for it."''
* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: In addition to shotguns for your Trench, your most basic turrets have shotguns.
* ShoutOut:
** ''"Sucks to be [[YouTube you, Tube!]]"''
** Players can dress up their avatar like [[VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}} Razputin.]] You even get an achievement for doing so! Later costumes include [[VideoGame/BrutalLegend Eddie Riggs]], [[VideoGame/CostumeQuest a cardboard robot]], and [[VideoGame/{{Stacking}} a matroyshka doll bandolero]].
* {{Showrunner}}: Brad Muir.
* SimpleYetAwesome: Purple quality weapons usually have incredibly useful effects as well as high damage, such as a [[MoreDakka fully automatic]] shotgun or a machine gun with [[StuffBlowingUp exploding rounds]]. [[RandomlyDrops Good luck finding one, though.]]
* SmokingIsCool: Woodruff, hilariously, has an attachment on his iron lung meant specifically to hold his cigar.
** The Marine also dons a cigar before repairing his trench, should it be downed.
** Heck, the Mobile Trenches themselves have a built-in cigar humidor, just to make sure the pilot always has a supply in good condition.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Double Fine likes to call the game "[[{{ChromeHounds}} Trench Hounds.]]"
* StealthPun: "This one's for [[YouTube you, tube!]]"
* SuicideAttack: The Blitzers' and Knobs' only form of attack, consisting of running/rolling to your location and blowing up in your face.
* TauntButton: While on the ship, the fire buttons (LT/RT for Xbox, L2/R2 for PS3) instead let your marine "salute". Depending on what kind of hat you're wearing, it can range from an actual military salute to various silly gestures.
* TestosteronePoisoning: They were shooting for this at least ''some'' of the time, but how often as opposed to straight RatedMForManly can be hard to tell -- see IndecisiveParody above.
* XMeetsY: ''VideoGame/MondayNightCombat'' meets ''[[{{TabletopGame/BattleTech}} Mech Assault]]''.
* VoiceOfTheLegion: Vlad.
* WarHasNeverBeenSoMuchFun
* WellDoneSonGuy: Woodruff Jr.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Vlad.
* ZergRush: The Blitzers and Knobs, who suicide rush players and turret emplacements respectively.