Yes, a city would be a strange thing for a mercenary to own. A good thing is that you aren't forced by game mechanics to own a property at all. My current character owns property in Swadia, but I hardly visit it apart from exchanging troops. One day I'll start a game as a mercenary instead, probably a Nordic one.
Yup, though I would, at some point, like to try my hand at making a mod that allows you to buy a small house in town, that makes staying in that town free (at least for your character). Pretty much for RP purposes.
And sorry about the wait, everybody. Chapter 8 is here. Haven't been able to do much with Warband lately.
In Tadsamesh and Ayyike I was able to recruit 8 men, though I have little time to train them now. I met up with Harish and a rather small Vaegir force outside o' Ayyike, and he quickly gave me the thankless task of scouting out Curaw, Khudan and Tismir, which I accepted. With such a small party it will be easy to evade those bloody Khergits and any other nasties. We passed by another Vaegir village (the name escapes me), where damn near the whole village wanted to join us to get revenge on the Khergits. Then I told them that many of them would likely not be returning, and the number dwindled to three. At least I got the best men they had to offer...I hope.
I scouted Khudan and Curaw without incident, though we were spotted by Tismir. Me men evidently don't know the meaning of "stay low and keep quiet" because as I was sneaking up on the place to the best o' me ability, from behind me I hear,
"HEY VLAD!"
"HEY STEFAN!"
"DUDE, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT DAT TOURNAMENT AT REYVADIN?"
"NO DUDE, WHAT ABOUT DE TOURNAMENT AT REYVADIN?"
"WELL DUDE, DIS ONE DUDE GOT ONE OF DOSE WOODEN SWORD THINGIES...RIGHT UP HIS POOPER!"
"DUDE! THAT'S AWESOME DUDE!"
"YEAH DUDE!"
Stefan and Vlad apparently didn't know the meaning of "quiet", but they did, I found, know the meaning o' the words "please stop striking me about the head".
Two nights later, the Vaegir went over the walls of Curaw. I decided that I was going to be the first one up the ladder, and I say, THE ladder (well, more like a narrow ramp) because they only brought one! Why can't anyone in this bloody land realize that a siege is much more likely to succeed with more than one ladder!
But that's a moot point anyway. Halfway up, I was shot full of Khergit arrows and tumbled all the way back down...missed all me vitals, so I'm lucky there, or maybe the Khergits really do suck. I mean, how can you put that many arrows in a person, and not hit his heart or his brain or something?
Well, we won, anyways. The Vaegir re-took Curaw, though with near catastrophic casualties. Lost most of me men, too, and not a one escaped unscathed. After takin' a few days off to drink away our wounds, and me embarrassment, we heard that Khudan was besieged, this time by me old buddy Count Delinard of Swadia. I hadn't fully learned that it was best not to get involved in these confounded sieges and, me men being mostly Swadian, I decided to lend whatever aid I could.
I was surprised that the twit actually managed to get a ramp (again, ONLY ONE!) up to the city before ordering his followers to disperse, as he did at Uxkhal.
Now, I may be an idiot, but I'm not so big an idiot as to attempt to be the first one up the ladder (or ramp) after narrowly avoiding being killed by Khergit arrows. This time, I hung out under the ramp, waiting for the congestion up top to clear a bit and for ye old horse-faces to spend most of their arrows before I charged up to save the day.
And...it happened again. I saw smoke risin' from behind the walls. Sure enough, someone torched the city before we even reached the top o' the wall. What the bloody hell is wrong with these Calradians? I swear, me three year old brother could do a better job o' managing a kingdom sometimes.
I hopped up the ramp when I THOUGHT traffick had eased off a bit, only to be crushed between the Swadians who were so anxious to die they nearly shoved me off the ramp. AGAIN. Then I remembered just why I'd previously sworn to never help these bleedin' twits in a siege ever again.
I made it to the wall and slew a Khergit, only to be faced by another storm of arrows from below. Behind the rest of the host, I hunkered down behind me trusty shield, which did me little good in the end. They filled it so full of arrows that I had to drop it, and after that, I was turned into a pincushion. AGAIN. Seems to be a pattern here: I join a siege, I almost die. Never fails. I took an arrow to me skull, 'cept it didn't puncture me brain enough to be lethal. Every now and again, though, a man by the name o' Gary Busey appears to me and tells me to kill anyone who doesn't like Buddy Holly, whoever that is.
Through sheer force o' numbers, the Swadians conquered Khudan, sending the Khergits back to the steppes. The only two survivin' marauders are those two dingbats Vlad and Stefan. Sitting in a makeshift infirmary in the city's biggest church, this is what I hear in the middle o' the night:
HEY STEFAN!
HEY VLAD!
WE IS HEROES! WE CONQUER KHUDAN!
YEAYAH! WE'S DE HEROES!
They then started chanting "WE'S DE HEROES! WE'S DE HEROES!" Until the priest who was tending the wounded walked over and beat them into unconsciousness with a rather heavy Bible...and to think I used to say "Bible-Thumper" like it was a bad thing.
You should take Stefan and Vlad out into the fields and gut the pair... Or atleast let us know how many times you can be hit in the head with a heavy object before brain damage begins (or get worse for those two).
Yeah...about the "Brain Damage" Experiment; With those two, it'd be impossible to tell.
Stefan and Vlad actually come from a video two of my friends made called "The Foreigners", which (I'm guessing) was an improv comedy skit done in Borat voices.
Yup, though I would, at some point, like to try my hand at making a mod that allows you to buy a small house in town, that makes staying in that town free (at least for your character). Pretty much for RP purposes.
Hey, thats a pretty good idea. You wouldn't even need to change or add anything to the map; simply have the townhouse selectable from the town menu, like an industrial property. All you would need to model then is an interior, and that would be easy. Maybe you could even use the Traders houses from the beginning of the game (they have all left town, so they must be for sale), then you wouldn't even need to model anything. Just add a chest in a corner for keeping your stuff in, and you're done. You could have one house buyable from each Guild Master, from the industrial property list. Just a few ideas. I hope your mod comes about, I'd definately like to download that.
Great chapter by the way, I'm looking forward to the next one.
After I'd recovered sufficiently from me wounds, which somehow took me only two days, I sent Stefan and Vlad home before their constant blathering caused me to give in to Mr. Busey's constant commands to kill them and their families for blasphemy against the Illustrious Buddy Holly.
While I lay, nearly dying in that church, I contemplated my past successes (of which there are few) and failures (of which there are many, of great magnitude). Perhaps it was all me recent tussles with the steppe-men that led me to my current thinking, that there is value in a warrior who travels light, moves fast, and hits hard. I discarded my coat of mail and helm for a sturdy leather jerkin, as the mail did little to stop the wounds the nearly slew me in the past (as you have surely seen, the arrows of me enemies passed through it like air) and did much to slow me down. Also, I've come to see the value of archery much more clearly, and have dedicated some of me time to studying the art. Though swordsmanship is my main area of study, I'll soon be adding a bow to me arsenal.
I left Khudan and headed north, were I encountered a small group of nordic raiders, no doubt takin' advantage of the war to plunder the Vaegir. I soon put a stop to that. I tested out me new (or, rather, rediscovered, for 'tis how I used to fight before I could afford armor) strategy, and, though I need to work on my horsemanship (I steered Fred too close to their spears for comfort) I was the victor. They first, like all these nords, tried hurling their pointy objects at me, to no avail. I moved much to fast and erraticaly for them to hit me, though one came close. When they ran out of small pointy things, they charged me with their other pointy things, by which I mean spears. I rode around them like a wasp battling a spider, riding in, striking with my sword, and riding back out. I was mindful of the terrain, trying to force them to charge at me uphill while I rode at them downhill, and upon whittling their force down to two, I dismounted, keeping distance such that only one could face me at once. Their shields did them no good, as I soon struck over and around, me trusty blade splittin' their heathen skulls.
Another victory for me.
I freed four bounty hunters who'd bitten off more than they could chew, clearly, who told me that the raiders had captured them in the night whilst they slept. I doubted that story, as I know the raiders, and though they be savage, they always give their victims a chance, however small, to fight.
From them I heard that Curaw had once again come under siege by the Khergits, maybe a week after being recaptured. I rode to the city, to see for myself. A vast horde, led by the Khan himself surrounded the walls, and heard that only 47 men-at-arms stood between him and conquest. This is either the greatest example of bravery or stupidity I've seen in all my time here. It would do no good for me to throw me life away trying to aid the defenders, so I resumed my travelling, this time to scout out the steppes and see what hell I can raise in the Khergit heartland. This whole situation makes me disgusted with the Vaegir almost as much as I was with the Swadians. Still, I'll serve out me contract and see what time will bring.
I headed for the steppes, and not long after sneaking me way through Sungetche Pass (protected by Sungetche Castle) I heard that Curaw had indeed fallen, thanks to the ineptitude of Yaroglek and his Boyars. Bloody fools...I hope the Khergits conquer all the tundra, at least they know how to run a kingdom.
I managed to make me merry way to Halmar, were I learned that Boyar Druli and Rolf were still being held. Being that, at the time, Rolf was under me command, I felt compelled to spring him from the Khergit dungeons, but I had no way of pulling off what I did on me last rescue mission, convincing the villagers to set a fire in order to reduce the number of guards inside. This time, I'd be up against the full compliment o' Khergit warriors. There was no way in hell I'd be able to pull it off. I cursed loudly, and headed to Reyvadin to drink until this damned war is over, or my contract is up. I picked the wrong bloody side.
Halmar at night
Upon reaching Reyvadin, I learned that King Yaroglek and Harlaus must be related. While his kingdom's on the losing end of a war, the moron's holdin' a bloody tournament and feastin'. Ah well, I'll win the tournament and eat his food and drink his ale, I get paid either way.
I bet a hundred denars on me humble self, and found out Xerina was in this tournament, as well. That put a fire in me belly, to be sure. Also I hoped I'd be matched with Yaro-face at some point so I could beat him over the head for bein' an idiot.
In the second round I got me wish! Knocked King Yaroface the Ugly over the noggin with an axe! Even if I lost, I won; I eliminated the king, from a tournament he sponsored, in his own bloody city!
King Yaroface attacks!
Won the third round without even takin' a scratch. Then, outta nowhere, this deep, evil voice goes "FLAWLESS...VICTORY." Apparently nobody else heard it, which is weird...must be me bloody head wound again.
The fourth round consisted of three teams o' two each. Strangely enough, Busey was me partner, this time, though he kept swearing his name was William. [Editor's note: Actually a champion fighter] Anyhow, I told ol' Busey to hang back with me, and let the others wear each other down. We went to hold a small hill in the arena, giving us a slight terrain advantage when a man from the red time tried to backstab us, cleverly leaving his partner to deal with the blue team (which had Xerina). Well, we took him down, watched his buddy fall (undeniably cursing him) and waited for Xerina and her partner to charge. We were able to take both of them down almost instantly.
The next round was a close one...Xerina was still in and almost knocked me senseless, which would've, admittedly, been a major turn on. I was able to defeat her while Busey took on the other guy, who was on a horse.
Xerina's next defeat
The final round came, just me and Busey, one on one. My life sure has become rather strange, lately. We were jousting, which was stupid because the arena's too damned small and cluttered for horsemen. Of course we don't have any backup weapons, so I had to charge and pray I hit him before he hit me. After quite a few close calls, I managed to unhorse Gary, but this place is so cluttered it was still difficult to finish him.
Also, while charging around, I notice that there were...graves in the arena. WHAT KINDA BLEEDIN' IDIOT BURIES PEOPLE IN AN ARENA?!
What the hell?
[Editor's note: To the maker of the Arena Overhaul mod, if you're reading, I'm just kidding. Your mod is cool, but if you're going to make a new version, please consider making the arenas bigger.]
Finally, I managed to defeat Gary Busey and claim the prize. Afterwards, I was invited to the feast, where I felt wholly out of place, what we with me shabby clothes and all among these distinguished morons I mean Boyars. Still, the king offered me food and ale for free, I might as well accept.
Busey Falls
And...I was the only male there, aside from Yaroface. There were a bunch of ladies there...with Yaroglek. The git had this stupid "I'm going to score majorly" look on his face. The women all seemed more eager to talk with me, however, having just won the tournament and all. And, I'm not, you know, old, like Yaroface. The most beautiful woman there was Boyar Mleza's sister, Lady Sihavan, who had long, fiery hair and seemed to be a rather kind woman. I dedicated my success in the tournament to her, which made her blush a little. She asked me all about me adventures, and I went on about some o' me better moments, like killin' the bandits that stole me shirt. Gyah, that seems like years ago...
Is it hot in here, or is it just me?
The lovely Lady Sihavan
I bid the fair lady fairwell, and headed back to me room in the inn for the real grand prize of the tourney, another night with Xerina. Don't need to tell ye how that went. After that, I barely managed to walk down the stairs to get more ale. Interestingly enough, I got to talk to a traveling bard by the name o' Timmy about love among the nobility and all that..."Nobles are an odd lot" He tells me. What an understatement. I heard later at the feast, Yaroface was so frustrated at losin' the tourney in his own city in the second round and not bein' able to get any from ANY of the ladies that came to his feast he got drunk and showed everyone present his "Shortsword".
Well, Timmy and I got to drinking, and talking more of love, and he's telling me all these ways to attract women, like reciting poetry. He seemed to know much about the ladies around this part of Calradia, so I asked him about Sihavan. He told me that she likes to ride, and hunt, and maybe "Wants to be a man!" Which is something I really don't want to think about. I paid him 300 denars to teach me the poem of Kais and Layali, which I doubt will get me far with Lady Sihavan, but still, it was an interesting poem, if not depressing.
Timmy the Bard
Whilst I sat, drinking, a frightened looking peasant approached me, and begged me to help free the village of Ulburban from bandits who had taken it over. Their lord refused to do anything, something that's not surprising, somehow. I agreed to help, against me better judgement. There were around 30 of them...it would be an interesting night, to be sure. The peasants, gaining courage now that a man with a sword came to their aid, charged with me. To my surprise, they fought very well, taking advantage of their numbers to overwhelm and bring down most of their horsemen. They were, however, shredded by the archers and swordsmen. I managed to take care o' the archers by ridin' around the village to get behind them, getting in up close, forcing them to fight me with maces and falchions. They were no match for me in swordplay. I took a few arrows, to be sure, but nothin' that could stop me. It came down to me an' about six of the bastards, and the looks on their faces told me they thought victory was sure. Needless to say, they were wrong.
Leading the Villagers
Fighting in the Village
That didn't help me head-wound...
They think they've won...
Ulburban's Revenge
The surviving villagers of the raid offered me what little in the way of wealth they had, but I refused. Their lives are hard enough already without me takin' everything they've got. I headed back to Reyvadin to resume me drinkin'.
I don't really know any good mods that are adaptable with savegames, sorry. The only ones I use are tweaks like 'cattle follow you' and 'view troop equipment' etc. I'll post here if I find anything.
About the 'house' mod; there are people to talk to in all other properties (castle and prison guards, industrial workers, etc) so I was thinking that a character for your house wouldn't be out of place either, even if he/she doesn't say anything useful (like castle guards). After all, it is logical to have a servant to live in and look after your house while you are away for months at a time, though I can see why someone like connor wouldn't bother with someone like that.
Anyway, it doesn't really matter either way. I hope your 'house' mod is savegame compatable though, so I can use it with my character too!
I was very disappointed by With Fire and Sword. There are still numerous gamebreaking bugs in the game, the number of troop-types you have to get used to is kind of overwhelming, and it's tough to avoid getting caught up in the faction storyline quests (which prevents you from just playing as a vassal). It's been interesting to try and adjust my playing style to work with (and around) firearms, but the many negatives of the game are very frustrating. If you can find it on sale, it might be a decent buy, but I wouldn't pay full price for it.
I was very disappointed by With Fire and Sword. There are still numerous gamebreaking bugs in the game, the number of troop-types you have to get used to is kind of overwhelming, and it's tough to avoid getting caught up in the faction storyline quests (which prevents you from just playing as a vassal). It's been interesting to try and adjust my playing style to work with (and around) firearms, but the many negatives of the game are very frustrating. If you can find it on sale, it might be a decent buy, but I wouldn't pay full price for it.
I'm waiting a while on it so hopefully there will be some patches for it. How railroad-y is the storyline? I'm getting to the point where if a game has a plot I can't play it.
bonez899 说:
Connor could have a wench in his house so that he doesn't have to spend as much when he stops at towns.
Thats good news. Its a bit strange how at present you can buy bakeries, tanneries, and industrial buildings, and can be awarded with castles, villages, and cities, yet you can't buy a town house.
100 chapters? Good! I hate those really good fictions/AAR's that just end after two or three chapters because the author got 'bored'.
Just how many troop types are there in Fire and Sword?
Not really sure how many troop types there were in Fire and Sword. I only got to play for a little bit but it looked to me like there were your basic infantry, cavalry, and archers. Then of course missile cavalry. The only real difference is I believe each set can be equipped with guns.
I was very disappointed by With Fire and Sword. There are still numerous gamebreaking bugs in the game, the number of troop-types you have to get used to is kind of overwhelming, and it's tough to avoid getting caught up in the faction storyline quests (which prevents you from just playing as a vassal). It's been interesting to try and adjust my playing style to work with (and around) firearms, but the many negatives of the game are very frustrating. If you can find it on sale, it might be a decent buy, but I wouldn't pay full price for it.
I'm waiting a while on it so hopefully there will be some patches for it. How railroad-y is the storyline? I'm getting to the point where if a game has a plot I can't play it.
Well, considering it came out in May and some errors that have been there since the beginning still haven't been addressed, I suspect waiting isn't an optimal strategy.
As for the "railroady-ness" of the storylines, most of them are easy to avoid. Some of them are actually tricky to start. However, the Cossack storyline is actually easy to get trapped in without ever intending to: you speak to a Cossack vassal in the field, he gives you an innocent-seeming task (which is not unusual, especially if you were trying to build relation with faction vassals), you accept (because refusing puts you at war with the faction)--congratulations: you're now trapped in the Cossack storyline, and if you were building up relation and renown to try and become a Cossack vassal, you're SOL because you can never become a vassal if you start the storyline beforehand. And since there's nothing indicating any of this (unless you scour the forums beforehand), this has occasioned many a restart on the part of many a player (including myself).
LOL 
