[Extreme_One]

I have ran several servers for several different games that make use of Steam.

The Steam server browser can see the server and report on it's current connected clients and will allow for you to connect to the server using the Steam system but none of this has ever precluded the ability to see the server and connect to it using a 3rd party application; Xfire for example.

I can find no previous examples where Steam integration has meant that there isn't another way to connect and have no reason to believe ClOD will be any different.

If there are any potential ClOD customers out there that are scared of using Steam and somehow feel it will stop them enjoying the game there are literally hundreds of thousands of Steam users that can testify that the system works.
I'd be willing to bet there are more than a few of us here that would be willing to help out if anybody has any difficulty.
The beauty of PC gaming is that there is always a solution to every problem.