Dev Blog 06/09/18

[parsehtml]<p><img class="frame" src="https://www.taleworlds.com/Images/News/blog_post_56_taleworldswebsite.jpg" alt="" width="575" height="290" /></p> <p>With Gamescom behind us and everyone back in work after taking some much needed time off to recover, we have had the chance to sit down and work our way through the major talking points to come out of this year’s expo. For some of the topics, we plan to expand upon them and explain them in greater detail at a later date in their own dedicated blogs, but for now, we want to clarify some of the things that were said in the interviews that took place during the event.</p></br> [/parsehtml]Read more at: http://www.taleworlds.com/en/Games/Bannerlord/Blog/76

 

[Maelubiyet]

Spoiler

Will the game have co-op?
Adding co-op functionality to Bannerlord would increase the complexity and development time of the project considerably and therefore it will not be included in the release. We can hopefully add it as a DLC after release. We think the only viable way to support this is to make a single party co-op where additional players can join the main player’s battles but cannot venture into the campaign map on their own.

Oh. I'm glad the co-op is mentioned. It's not only about battles though, it'd be amazing if both player characters could spawn together in all kinds of scenes. That's probably how you plan it anyway.

 

[Rabies]

changing the status of villages so that they would no longer be considered independent fiefs but were always attached to a castle or town. This removed the necessity to have a management screen for villages and simplified and streamlined the system.

So, if you join a faction, you can't be awarded a village, and you can only rule a village if you also rule the associated castle or town? So, there's less complexity and depth even than Warband? Or have I got that wrong? There is no management of villages now. At all? You can't improve them or do anything to/with them?

 

[Dethikus]

wtf why even list the release date question if its the same answer its always been? waste of a question spot

 

[Ettenrocal]

Yes that's the only way you can make "co-op" ! So much people asking for co-op but just think of it and you will see you ask for something almost impossible...

 

[SatelliteJedi]

Oh dear.... removing the castles building/upgrades makes me sad. That was one of the main features that I was looking forward to. Will castle upgrades still be available (for actual castles/Towns) or is that scrapped all together?

 

[Ironic Golem]

So, if you join a faction, you can't be awarded a village, and you can only rule a village if you also rule the associated castle or town? So, there's less complexity and depth even than Warband? Or have I got that wrong? There is no management of villages now. At all? You can't improve them or do anything to/with them?

Yeah, this needs to be confirmed.
We can't upgrade them AT ALL? This better not be right. Fine, remove upgrading a village with a castle, that didn't matter much to me, but removing the other stuff too? I can't build a Mill, or a watchtower, or anything anymore?


Also re co-op: Please don't make it so it's just "join the battles" - that makes it sound like it's how that mod for warband was done, where they're disconnected from the game until a battle starts.
I'd be entirely content with making it so any multiplayer person is a Companion in the host's party, then they can join them when they load into scenes - villages, fights, etc. They should still be able to see the map and everything else. Preferably also pore through the encyclopedia and look at their own skills etc as the host moves the party in the background.

 

[Whatever makes you happy]

Oh dear.... removing the castles building/upgrades makes me sad. That was one of the main features that I was looking forward to. Will castle upgrades still be available (for actual castles/Towns) or is that scrapped all together?

Upgrading is still there. This was mentioned in the rocket beans stream.

 

[Ammsamdoij]

I wonder where the children and the spouse will be if you don't own a fief and aren't apart of a faction.

 

[HUMMAN]

I think you can manage villages from castle/town. I dont think village to castle was a big deal, as long as they have mechanics to have safer villages unlike in warband. One thing weird for me was, it states destroying castle may give village to other faction. I understand why this happens but sounds like a simple problem to me. I was expecting 3 times more scenes as a problem.

 

[Stan546]

Wow, I've always been a big supporter of blogs... But did anything positive come out of that? It was nearly all negative...

Plus side, its clearly getting closer and closer to release!

Edit: Wasn't so bad actually, last 3 points just hit hard!

 

[Odin boarhelm]

So, if you join a faction, you can't be awarded a village, and you can only rule a village if you also rule the associated castle or town? So, there's less complexity and depth even than Warband? Or have I got that wrong? There is no management of villages now. At all? You can't improve them or do anything to/with them?

Yeah, this needs to be confirmed.
We can't upgrade them AT ALL? This better not be right. Fine, remove upgrading a village with a castle, that didn't matter much to me, but removing the other stuff too? I can't build a Mill, or a watchtower, or anything anymore?


Also re co-op: Please don't make it so it's just "join the battles" - that makes it sound like it's how that mod for warband was done, where they're disconnected from the game until a battle starts.
I'd be entirely content with making it so any multiplayer person is a Companion in the host's party, then they can join them when they load into scenes - villages, fights, etc. They should still be able to see the map and everything else. Preferably also pore through the encyclopedia and look at their own skills etc as the host moves the party in the background.

I'm not gonna lie, this is a pretty damn good idea. Take note, TW.

 

[Ammsamdoij]

Oh dear.... removing the castles building/upgrades makes me sad. That was one of the main features that I was looking forward to. Will castle upgrades still be available (for actual castles/Towns) or is that scrapped all together?

Upgrading is still there. This was mentioned in the rocket beans stream.

So it's just like Warband  where they exist, there is just no visual change?

 

[Ettenrocal]

Will there be a vassality system in Bannerlord ? Like if you own a town you own villages too and have you got lords under your oders that are your vassals ?

Ok maybe its too complex for the game to change a village in a castle, but maybe we could build our own castle ? Building villages for a very expensive cost could be fun too. Build "Forts" that could be erase could be great too. I think all this is not so important and they'll probably add many features in the future.

 

[Tabitja]

Hi, enjoyed the blog very much. Thanks for the answers.

I would like to join the minor factions. I believe itd be a wonderful mid-early gameplay.

Hope you'll make them available. Thanks for another blog.

 

[Ettenrocal]

Joining minor factions could be fun, maybe in later update !

 

[Owen Wulfson]

Wow... families, children, an actual dynasty system? This sounds more and more like a third person Crusader Kings sim, and I love it! This would completely break with the past endgame of Warband were we hit our stride as a Duke or even a King (if you were crazy for that much hassle), married our chosen spouse and went on our way. 

There is so much groundwork being laid for the base game, just think of what the mods will be able to do! I mean, first we have to get to the release. But man, the game sounds more and more like it truly will be worth the wait.

 

[NPC99]

Also, you can start the game with siblings, nephews and nieces and they serve as potential heirs as well.

Yes - glad that they are plural - I'll have more chance vs looters etc. backed up by all my bastard siblings. I hope they don't mind me paying court to wealthy widows. 

Can we still build castles in villages we own?
We had to drop that feature.

Sad to hear, but thanks for the clarification. Feature creep can weigh down any game - balance is more important.

 

[Sir Mordred]

Will the game have co-op?
Adding co-op functionality to Bannerlord would increase the complexity and development time of the project considerably and therefore it will not be included in the release. We can hopefully add it as a DLC after release. We think the only viable way to support this is to make a single party co-op where additional players can join the main player’s battles but cannot venture into the campaign map on their own.

So copying a Warband mod is so complex that it needs to be a DLC?

Can we still build castles in villages we own?
We had to drop that feature. At some point in development, fief management became too complex, with towns, castles and villages each having their own specific management screens. The ability to build castles in villages also gave rise to complex rules. For example, demolishing the castle in a village could potentially revert the village to another kingdom and we had to add complex logic to handle that. Overall, we felt that the design had become too bloated and unappealing.

The solution was changing the status of villages so that they would no longer be considered independent fiefs but were always attached to a castle or town. This removed the necessity to have a management screen for villages and simplified and streamlined the system. The aesthetics of our new villages is also much more pleasing.

Are we able to join minor factions?
You can hire some minor factions as mercenaries or enlist them to your kingdom in other ways, but there is currently no way to join minor factions as a member.

To be clear, the following is now untrue?

players who wish to emulate the adventurers who founded the Vlandian (and Norman) kingdoms can seek their fortunes with the Company of the Golden Boar,

This blog sure knocked by enthusiasm down a couple pegs.

 

[Owen Wulfson]

I would like to join the minor factions. I believe itd be a wonderful mid-early gameplay.

To be clear, the following is now untrue?

players who wish to emulate the adventurers who founded the Vlandian (and Norman) kingdoms can seek their fortunes with the Company of the Golden Boar,

This blog sure knocked by enthusiasm down a couple pegs.

I guess this is part of their desire to veer away from immediate feature creep. It would certainly be a fantastic DLC premise. I'm not too disappointed, because the main purpose of these minor factions seems more to act as a check on the larger factions so they don't get too big and remain uncontested. They would also serve as excellent enemies for mid-level players who haven't joined a faction yet. So long as they aren't directly allied with a major faction, they would be a tempting target for someone seeking uncommon loot you won't find on bandits. Best of all, they don't have a kingdom behind them that they can throw at you. Fun times 

Still, it is disappointing we can't join them but I'm sure we will later. It should also be very easy for a mod to change this.