ANSWERS:
http://steamcommunity.com/games/261550/announcements/detail/1652131807604836420
Here's more information on the multiplayer side and would like some opinions.
Main points:
WILL WE STILL BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHAT SERVER WE JOIN, OR WILL IT BE PICKED FOR US?
WHAT KIND OF GAME MODES CAN WE EXPECT?
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PREVENT CAMPING?
I personally believe that the game will be more about commanding your troops than groups of players fighting each other. People would probably have to create custom games to play what we'd call a scrim.
IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS ADDED TO OP:
Fietta said:After talking to Callum I've been provided will a solid response which answers basically all our questions (I hope I can share this).
On my phone so can't place it as an image right now.
http://steamcommunity.com/games/261550/announcements/detail/1652131807604836420
Here's more information on the multiplayer side and would like some opinions.
Main points:
WILL WE STILL BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHAT SERVER WE JOIN, OR WILL IT BE PICKED FOR US?
“We will still have the server list, just like we have in Warband. It will contain both official and unofficial (community-run) servers. On top of that, there is also a matchmaking system which ties in nicely with our more competitive game modes (see question below).”
WHAT KIND OF GAME MODES CAN WE EXPECT?
“Siege has received a full overhaul. It is still all about attacking and defending an entire castle, but now with a full range of different kinds of siege weapons (ballistae, catapults, siege towers and battering rams).
Then, there are some game modes that are entirely new, such as Captain Battle: a team-based mode where each player gets command over a regiment of AI troops (just like in singleplayer). You win by either eliminating the other team, or by controlling the battlefield.
There is also Skirmish Battle, a more competitive game mode that is designed to be played 6 vs 6. You have multiple lives per round, but each troop has a different cost, which means you have to make a choice between fielding a greater number of poorly equipped troops or fewer more specialised ones. Good communication and managing your lives are key in this mode.
We also have a Duel Mode for those who want to test their skills in a more controlled environment.”
Then, there are some game modes that are entirely new, such as Captain Battle: a team-based mode where each player gets command over a regiment of AI troops (just like in singleplayer). You win by either eliminating the other team, or by controlling the battlefield.
There is also Skirmish Battle, a more competitive game mode that is designed to be played 6 vs 6. You have multiple lives per round, but each troop has a different cost, which means you have to make a choice between fielding a greater number of poorly equipped troops or fewer more specialised ones. Good communication and managing your lives are key in this mode.
We also have a Duel Mode for those who want to test their skills in a more controlled environment.”
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PREVENT CAMPING?
“The solutions to prevent camping are different for many games. For us, we realized it's a serious issue and we have designed our new game modes so that they make camping a bad choice: for Skirmish and Captain Battles, you have to be active and either fight the enemy, or move to different locations on the battlefield to control them. It's also not enough to just move to one location and hold it: you will constantly be encouraged to move and adapt until the very end of each round. We have noticed in our internal playtests that this is working out very well.”
I personally believe that the game will be more about commanding your troops than groups of players fighting each other. People would probably have to create custom games to play what we'd call a scrim.
IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS ADDED TO OP:
Fietta said:Apfel said:they didnt mention battle, main designer is a NW player and the attack animations of the greataxe and the spear are looking extremely slow. amazing.
They mentioned Skirmish which is what we're probably looking for at this point. Battle would just be an upscaled version of the Skirmish, which would be like 30 v 30. Callum did say on The Round Table that they're not trying to make Bannerlord competitive, thus I believe means that It's not looking good for what we want and with Captain Lust's resignation, I doubt we'd see an 8v8 mode. The lack of involvement Taleworlds has given, seems like they're not interested and you can hope that they're keeping it a secret but I'm sure they'd have mentioned it by now (considering they've mentioned everything else). I believe it's time for Taleworlds to start talking, I don't want to continue to play Warband and getting excited for Bannerlord being competitive knowing that it wont exist.
Deacon Barry said:He's already said it'll have a server list as per Warband. Worst comes to the worst we can just have normal battles anyway. Rest is just window dressing.
Gibby Jr said:From the gameplay we've seen, and from what this blog appears to confirm, it seems you can no longer pick what gear you want to use in each slot like in warband.
This especially makes sense given that the designer is from NW, where this is the norm; in the battle mode we've seen gameplay of there was no gear selection but rather a selection of "troops" with preset gear that you could play as - again the same as NW - and given the wording in this blog about equipment it seems it will be the same in this 6v6 mode.
"There is also Skirmish Battle, a more competitive game mode that is designed to be played 6 vs 6. You have multiple lives per round, but each troop has a different cost, which means you have to make a choice between fielding a greater number of poorly equipped troops or fewer more specialised ones. Good communication and managing your lives are key in this mode."
So it seems each troop type you can select will have a number of lives attached to it, for instance a heavily armoured one having 3 lives and a light one having 5 lives.
Want to point out that this is garbage and I will probably give up pretty fast on Bannerlord MP if this is how they do it. The gear-selection dynamic helps not only with the competitive but makes all modes much more enjoyable. Can't imagine playing a version of warband where I can only use preset troop templates for my gear