furbzeyyy
Recruit
Hi Taleworlds and fanbase users,
This letter, with time for reflection and contemplation, is weeks overdue, bannerlord is uninstalled and will not be installed anytime soon, if ever, unless big changes are made, and yes im going to flatout constructively insult taleworlds on some points, they deserve it, i havent downvoted the game on steam yet out of naive, good faith, but first things first;
Non Gameplay;
Taleworlds Funding;
- This 'Early Access' release should have been a closed beta, that is free, it is not good to be chargeable, has as much content as a demo lol
- Taleworlds should have instead started crowdfunding and donation pages to help in financial streams to help develop the game, and only release a full game
Marketing Misinformation/misleading
- Taleworlds purposely misled the customer base with its videos, examples include 'smart AI' (thats a joke), Chambering (what even is this, we cant control it)
And yet still would charge us full price (insulting to its customers)
Gameplay - Media:
- This text based conversation is outdated, obsolete, invalid, and not modern, this should be replaced with video cutscenes
- Text based conversations, should be replaced with voiceover conversations, something like RDR2 interaction dialogue.
Gameplay - AI - General/Combat/Misc
- AI, need to be more smarter in all situations, especially combat, and more especially AI commanders
Gameplay - Combat:
I don't know whether you hired melee weapon masters Animation/Mechanics, but your finished animations and mechanics are POOR
(EDITED - forward to @dukester thread reply)
Gameplay - Animatiotns/Mechanics
Animations can be done in two ways - 1) via a MOCAP studio, with the stunt artist carrying out each move (with digital tweaking), or manually, sitting at the editing program (e.g blender) and manually recreating a move to look as natural as possible, either way, both are then saved into a binarised RTM file, which is then useable in game.
Possible/Impossible? - Its definitely possible, and financially possible, and feasibly possible, (BCR would be high), it may take a few weeks maximum (dependant on amount of animations they want to cover), but its very possible, and not hard to do at all.
Animation/Mechanics (General, Combat Misc), body movement is very stiff
- Combat animation upper body movement, including hips, is very stiff, or no movement at all, i believe this is what makes bannerlord become 'meh'.
Principle points
- Defence; Lack of 'stumble' after effect on animations
- Attack; Lack of Consequence, 'stumble', when your strike fails to land
- Lack of body movement with strikes, (e.g especially hip movement, or no movement of upper body, e.g chest/back rotation, shoulder movement)
- No 'Stamina Bar' Available
Examples;
a) If you get stabbed by a spear, this should be emphasized a little bit more
b) If you block a power 2h strike,you should stumble out, of range, to emphasise the strike, and increase intensity of fight
c) If you get hit by an arrow, lets say, in the shoulder, you and especially your shoulder should be jolted back
d) If your shield is blocking strikes, if its weaker strikes (e.g 1h strikes, or spear stabs that land on shield), there needs to be some kind of pushback on player
e) If your in fast 1h sword duel;
i) If you land your attack, there should be some animation of 'acknowledgement of being hit' by opponent (considering adrenaline is in play)
- Thrusts
- Vertical, Horizontal Strikes
ii) If you defend an attack, there should be a deflection bounce off animation where you and your sword are jolted back slightly (unless chambered maybe)
f) Shields should be animated so the player/AI is covering their body with shield at all possible times, including, strikes, thrusts (Think romans gladius and scutum)
g) The Kick animation needs to be less accurate and alot easier to land, with a visible stumble effect, if it lands, or if you miss
h) The Punch animation should be able to land more damaging blows
Animation/Mechanics (General, Combat, Shield)
a) The player and AI completely disregard their shield and throw it off to one side, and they dont keep it covering their body as they throw strikes, looks stupid, no regard for their defence, or life for that matter
b) You should be able to crouch and still a) have shield in defence mode
i) Be able to throw shield over your head to block downward strikes and/or arrows (think achilles in troy), throw horizontal and thrust strikes (at less damage)
c) Shield bash needs to be less accurate and slightly easier to land, with a very slight stumble effect on opponent, or if you miss
d) different types of shield bash
i) Thrust shield bash
ii) Thrown/Slap Shield bash (current)
Animation/Mechanics - Weapon Bash
- Weapon bash animation needs to be more exaggerated, to make it feel more immersive and intense
Animation/Mechanics - 2h swords vs 1h - unfair
2h swords need to have the same damage, but be slower
the most infuriating thing of this game, is that a 2h sword is as fast as a 1h sword, if i pick a 1h sword to fight a 2h sword opponent, im looking for a speed and agile advantage, but, when you block a 2h strike, the 2h opponent doesnt stumble or have any consequence, and can just keep throwing strikes (also, stamina bar?)
meaning, if i pick a 1h sword, and block a standard horizontal strike, i should be able to counter quicker than the 2h opponent
Animation/Mechanics - More variation, freedom in the spear and shield combination (e.g spartans/hoplites with small spears)
- Short Spear and shield combat needs to be less placid and grounded, and more emphasis on light footwork, angles, and maybe more horizontal strikes, adapted
Animations/Mechanics - Medical - HP regeneration
- SP, and MP, have no health regeneration, which, after a while, regardless of game mode, the player with 1HP, begins to think 'well whats the point of fighting, my hp doesnt regen, and even a punch and kill me, so ill just run in with my teammate in a 2 vs 2, die straight away from a poke, and try again on respawn'.
- HP regen must be included (at different rates for different classes)
(Animation aspect, Combat, Medical)
- Your stance begins to droop the lower your hp (teammates can see this and try to aid you, while you regen)
- The ability to pull arrows out
- An animation to maybe 'stitch up where youve been hit' (when static and not in combat)
Appearance/Character - Customisation
- (Especially in multiplayer) - more customisation features for each faction classes
Animation/Mechanics - Appearance/Character - Taunt/Shouts
- The ability to not taunt, is beyond ridiculous
- The ability to decide how much your character groals, yells, etc, via a slide
Animations/Mechanics - Expanded unarmed melee combat)
(NOT MANDATORY for game to be a success, but would be wholesomely welcomed)
- More variation in melee combat, e.g;
i) ability to disarm opponents (has to have perfect, impeccable timing)
ii) Takedowns/Defend takedowns (well timed can close gap against armed opponents)
iii) Kicks, aswell as punches
iiii) Choke
iiiii) Silent attacks from behind (Armed and unarmed)
Animation/Mechanics - Run/Sprint, Climbing
- Running (default), with a temporary option to sprint
- Ability to climb (especially in MP)
Animation/Mechanics/Game mode
- A New elimination, objective type game mode, where players can die, or be downed from bad damage, and be revived by teammates (e.g cod warzone variation)
CONCLUSION
Bannerlord is basically a module of mount and blade warband at the moment (ongoing joke), and is not worth its pricetag, at all, period.
Bannerlord needs the above, articulated improvements, as above if it wants to get better recognition, more positive reviews, and more respect.
Right now all taleworlds has done has robbed £40.00 off me.
Bannerlord is uninstalled, but not removed, lol.
(EDIT) I know @Callum said something along the lines of bannerlord more just a combat rpg, not so much strategy involved, me personally, like many others, believe strategy should be a much bigger aspect of the game, like its needed in single player, now this new 'commander battle', proves strategy is an integral part of the game, which cannot just be discarded. (cannot find thread link, please tell me if you know)
So, my point being is, the video game is just not complete, and is frustrating.
Taleworlds, contact me if you want further feedback.
Yours,
furbzeyyy
Edit:
@AnandaShanti
first point - meant more like RDR2 (Red dead redemption 2) type dialogue interaction
second point - HP regen is easier to implement
third point - my points are feasible and realistic, just requires work
This letter, with time for reflection and contemplation, is weeks overdue, bannerlord is uninstalled and will not be installed anytime soon, if ever, unless big changes are made, and yes im going to flatout constructively insult taleworlds on some points, they deserve it, i havent downvoted the game on steam yet out of naive, good faith, but first things first;
Non Gameplay;
Taleworlds Funding;
- This 'Early Access' release should have been a closed beta, that is free, it is not good to be chargeable, has as much content as a demo lol
- Taleworlds should have instead started crowdfunding and donation pages to help in financial streams to help develop the game, and only release a full game
Marketing Misinformation/misleading
- Taleworlds purposely misled the customer base with its videos, examples include 'smart AI' (thats a joke), Chambering (what even is this, we cant control it)
And yet still would charge us full price (insulting to its customers)
Gameplay - Media:
- This text based conversation is outdated, obsolete, invalid, and not modern, this should be replaced with video cutscenes
- Text based conversations, should be replaced with voiceover conversations, something like RDR2 interaction dialogue.
Gameplay - AI - General/Combat/Misc
- AI, need to be more smarter in all situations, especially combat, and more especially AI commanders
Gameplay - Combat:
I don't know whether you hired melee weapon masters Animation/Mechanics, but your finished animations and mechanics are POOR
(EDITED - forward to @dukester thread reply)
Gameplay - Animatiotns/Mechanics
Animations can be done in two ways - 1) via a MOCAP studio, with the stunt artist carrying out each move (with digital tweaking), or manually, sitting at the editing program (e.g blender) and manually recreating a move to look as natural as possible, either way, both are then saved into a binarised RTM file, which is then useable in game.
Possible/Impossible? - Its definitely possible, and financially possible, and feasibly possible, (BCR would be high), it may take a few weeks maximum (dependant on amount of animations they want to cover), but its very possible, and not hard to do at all.
Animation/Mechanics (General, Combat Misc), body movement is very stiff
- Combat animation upper body movement, including hips, is very stiff, or no movement at all, i believe this is what makes bannerlord become 'meh'.
Principle points
- Defence; Lack of 'stumble' after effect on animations
- Attack; Lack of Consequence, 'stumble', when your strike fails to land
- Lack of body movement with strikes, (e.g especially hip movement, or no movement of upper body, e.g chest/back rotation, shoulder movement)
- No 'Stamina Bar' Available
Examples;
a) If you get stabbed by a spear, this should be emphasized a little bit more
b) If you block a power 2h strike,you should stumble out, of range, to emphasise the strike, and increase intensity of fight
c) If you get hit by an arrow, lets say, in the shoulder, you and especially your shoulder should be jolted back
d) If your shield is blocking strikes, if its weaker strikes (e.g 1h strikes, or spear stabs that land on shield), there needs to be some kind of pushback on player
e) If your in fast 1h sword duel;
i) If you land your attack, there should be some animation of 'acknowledgement of being hit' by opponent (considering adrenaline is in play)
- Thrusts
- Vertical, Horizontal Strikes
ii) If you defend an attack, there should be a deflection bounce off animation where you and your sword are jolted back slightly (unless chambered maybe)
f) Shields should be animated so the player/AI is covering their body with shield at all possible times, including, strikes, thrusts (Think romans gladius and scutum)
g) The Kick animation needs to be less accurate and alot easier to land, with a visible stumble effect, if it lands, or if you miss
h) The Punch animation should be able to land more damaging blows
Animation/Mechanics (General, Combat, Shield)
a) The player and AI completely disregard their shield and throw it off to one side, and they dont keep it covering their body as they throw strikes, looks stupid, no regard for their defence, or life for that matter
b) You should be able to crouch and still a) have shield in defence mode
i) Be able to throw shield over your head to block downward strikes and/or arrows (think achilles in troy), throw horizontal and thrust strikes (at less damage)
c) Shield bash needs to be less accurate and slightly easier to land, with a very slight stumble effect on opponent, or if you miss
d) different types of shield bash
i) Thrust shield bash
ii) Thrown/Slap Shield bash (current)
Animation/Mechanics - Weapon Bash
- Weapon bash animation needs to be more exaggerated, to make it feel more immersive and intense
Animation/Mechanics - 2h swords vs 1h - unfair
2h swords need to have the same damage, but be slower
the most infuriating thing of this game, is that a 2h sword is as fast as a 1h sword, if i pick a 1h sword to fight a 2h sword opponent, im looking for a speed and agile advantage, but, when you block a 2h strike, the 2h opponent doesnt stumble or have any consequence, and can just keep throwing strikes (also, stamina bar?)
meaning, if i pick a 1h sword, and block a standard horizontal strike, i should be able to counter quicker than the 2h opponent
Animation/Mechanics - More variation, freedom in the spear and shield combination (e.g spartans/hoplites with small spears)
- Short Spear and shield combat needs to be less placid and grounded, and more emphasis on light footwork, angles, and maybe more horizontal strikes, adapted
Animations/Mechanics - Medical - HP regeneration
- SP, and MP, have no health regeneration, which, after a while, regardless of game mode, the player with 1HP, begins to think 'well whats the point of fighting, my hp doesnt regen, and even a punch and kill me, so ill just run in with my teammate in a 2 vs 2, die straight away from a poke, and try again on respawn'.
- HP regen must be included (at different rates for different classes)
(Animation aspect, Combat, Medical)
- Your stance begins to droop the lower your hp (teammates can see this and try to aid you, while you regen)
- The ability to pull arrows out
- An animation to maybe 'stitch up where youve been hit' (when static and not in combat)
Appearance/Character - Customisation
- (Especially in multiplayer) - more customisation features for each faction classes
Animation/Mechanics - Appearance/Character - Taunt/Shouts
- The ability to not taunt, is beyond ridiculous
- The ability to decide how much your character groals, yells, etc, via a slide
Animations/Mechanics - Expanded unarmed melee combat)
(NOT MANDATORY for game to be a success, but would be wholesomely welcomed)
- More variation in melee combat, e.g;
i) ability to disarm opponents (has to have perfect, impeccable timing)
ii) Takedowns/Defend takedowns (well timed can close gap against armed opponents)
iii) Kicks, aswell as punches
iiii) Choke
iiiii) Silent attacks from behind (Armed and unarmed)
Animation/Mechanics - Run/Sprint, Climbing
- Running (default), with a temporary option to sprint
- Ability to climb (especially in MP)
Animation/Mechanics/Game mode
- A New elimination, objective type game mode, where players can die, or be downed from bad damage, and be revived by teammates (e.g cod warzone variation)
CONCLUSION
Bannerlord is basically a module of mount and blade warband at the moment (ongoing joke), and is not worth its pricetag, at all, period.
Bannerlord needs the above, articulated improvements, as above if it wants to get better recognition, more positive reviews, and more respect.
Right now all taleworlds has done has robbed £40.00 off me.
Bannerlord is uninstalled, but not removed, lol.
(EDIT) I know @Callum said something along the lines of bannerlord more just a combat rpg, not so much strategy involved, me personally, like many others, believe strategy should be a much bigger aspect of the game, like its needed in single player, now this new 'commander battle', proves strategy is an integral part of the game, which cannot just be discarded. (cannot find thread link, please tell me if you know)
So, my point being is, the video game is just not complete, and is frustrating.
Taleworlds, contact me if you want further feedback.
Yours,
furbzeyyy
Edit:
@AnandaShanti
first point - meant more like RDR2 (Red dead redemption 2) type dialogue interaction
second point - HP regen is easier to implement
third point - my points are feasible and realistic, just requires work
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