Mount & Blade: Warband

[Nordmann]

Originally Posted by stabiz

This sounds like a fast paced stress game.

Depends what you're trying to do. Personally, I find M&B rather relaxing, as I tend to take my time in levelling my character. I also avoid siding with a particular faction until such time as I'm strong enough to handle their parties.

You can of course completely ignore the faction versus faction aspect of the game if you so desire, but there is much fun to be had, you just have to take your time, and not expect instant rewards. Castle/City ownership, while enjoyable, can be a pain in the backside early on, as they must be defended. This means recruiting and paying a considerable garrison, not something lower level characters can really do successfully.

[Rhodes]

Damn thoso nords!!! Got my first defeat! And another thing that I dislike, if I am captured, why mine companions don't? If they escape, so should I. And then to find them again, arghhhhhh!

[Raptor1]

Originally Posted by Rhodes

And another thing that I dislike, if I am captured, why mine companions don't? If they escape, so should I. And then to find them again, arghhhhhh!

Actually, this was the case in the original M&B. If they are captured now, you will have to rescue them from imprisonment in an enemy castle/city.

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Raptor1

Actually, this was the case in the original M&B. If they are captured now, you will have to rescue them from imprisonment in an enemy castle/city.

I know! Hmmmm, strange. I found two of them in the taverns! This new feature is welcome, let's rescue!

[Raptor1]

I think if they get captured by bandits, they end up in taverns like they used to, and if they get captured by a faction they will end up in prison.

[Takeda Shingen]

I have just started playing. My god, this is one magnificent game. I am at level 10, just picking off the bandits. I don't really think I'm good enough to involve myself in large battles with well-equipped armies, after all, I'm still mashing buttons, so I am just biding my time training my troops and keeping them paid and fed.

Got myself a nice light lance, so I am finding the battles easier, but that horse is a life-saver.

[Dowly]

Jsut get to the big battles when you see there's lots of your own faction's guys fighting there. You get positive relations to the guy you go to help even if it's just you.

[Nordmann]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I have just started playing. My god, this is one magnificent game. I am at level 10, just picking off the bandits. I don't really think I'm good enough to involve myself in large battles with well-equipped armies, after all, I'm still mashing buttons, so I am just biding my time training my troops and keeping them paid and fed.

Got myself a nice light lance, so I am finding the battles easier, but that horse is a life-saver.

Indeed, graphically it's nothing to shout about, but the gameplay is really something else. There are so many different ways to build a character, that you can play the game over and over, and still not tire of it.

[Raptor1]

They just released 2 patches, hopefuly they fix the few annoying bugs left.

Going to use this as an oppurtunity to start a new game, perhaps with the Rhodoks this time.

[Rhodes]

Still using the old version. I wanted to try more the game before update. Enable the cheats and let's have fun. In the wedding department, renown helps, I meet another lady, said the magic words and the relation went from 0 to 17. with my first one, I had to more time to reach this level. Then after one poem, she was ready to escape with me.
The first one, after many visits, she was ready to marry but only if I had a castle and bla bla. Conquered a castle, and so lets run way. After this the relation level drop from 23 to 7, so she wants to marry me and then the relation drops to 0???, Marriage....
The father defect to the rodoks so I manage to be friends of her brother, did a party, manage a conflit of two boyards and after that, not more to do.
The second lady, I chose the option of depart but the relation leve is stil hight!
I think I'm goin update and start with the islamic faction, ALA is great!!!

[Nordmann]

Just in case you guys haven't been to the site lately, the latest patch has been released, bringing Warband to version 1.113.

Check it out here.

[Galanti]

This game is phenomenal, a welcome sign of what can be accomplished by a small development studio in this age of sacrificing gameplay for graphics.

I recommend trying out the 1257 mod, which seeks to recreate the world at that time. It is currently list as pre-beta status, but don't let that fool you, I have 40 hours or so into it, and not one crash, very minor bugs, and all the vanilla gameplay mechanics (and more) work completely. Graphics are vastly improved, and best of all, you can play as a Byzzie!

Couple of screenshots snagged from the Taleworlds forums:

[Dowly]

Oh cool! Gonna give that a try!

[Lionclaw]

Ah 1257, used to play that one a lot in the original Mount & Blade.

[Oberon]

Kataphraktoi!!