You gain xp from shooting, swinging weapons, even blocking damage with a shield.

You can also minimize grind by surviving zones with minimal armor to get higher grade equipment faster.

I outright skipped bronze tier and most of iron (aside from picks and axes) and went straight for silver.

@Jo Pereira Wow Jo actually noticed me :O
Well, some think horned helmets might have existed for ceremonial or ritualistic use, but I don't know if there's any truth to that :p

(Cont) The sword's status came from the fact that it told people only someone skilled and veteran enough to survive multiple raids could be rich enough to afford a quality sword from a respected smith. The Norsemen where pioneers of pragmatism, to them words meant nothing if you couldn't back it up.

@Beastwolf Are you thinking about swords? That was the wealth/status symbol.
Chainmail and leather armor over thick woolen gambesons were the norm not just for the Norse but for other Germanic groups as well, such as the Anglo-Saxon.
(TBC)

@Jim North - now that made me laugh out loud. That being said, am I the only one that finds the trolls' green pubes a little unnerving?

@albert Johfur like how only people with quite a bit of wealth had armor?

I'll say that a combat game that doesn't reward you for fighting has... a little design flaw.

Oh wow, vikings actually didn't wear horned helmets. How could you do this to me, Jo? My viking fantasy is ruined now.

ARISE, MIGHTY WARRIOR

ALLFATHER ODIN HAS CHOSEN YOU

FOR A ROUSING GAME OF HARVEST MOON

Now, now... next you are going to tell me they didn't wear horned helmets.

Jo, as a Scandinavian I feel I should explain that only an elite minority of the Norse population went viking or exploring, with the majority being farmers, traders, craftsmen and the like. Viking isn't an ethnicity, it's a job description. :p

haha, made me laugh, nice one.