Dev Blog 30/11/17

[parsehtml]<p><img class="frame" src="http://www.taleworlds.com/Images/News/blog_post_18_taleworldswebsite_575.jpg" alt="" width="575" height="290" /></p> <p>They came from overseas, mercenaries and adventurers, speaking the tongues of many lands, taking the empire's silver to guard the frontiers against the unsubdued tribes of the interior. They took their name from one of their first warlords, Wilund the Bold - Valandion, in Calradic - and became known as the Vlandians. Their heavy cavalry, second to none, ran down the Emperor's foes from the Aserai wastes to the distant steppes. But the empire never had as much silver as it needed, and treasury officials soon learned that it could pay its mercenaries with land grants and titles. This was perhaps not the most far-sighted of policies. The Vlandians settled, married, planted farms, and built fortresses. It was not difficult, during the recent interregnum, for Osrac Iron-arm to declare himself king, independent in all but name. He seized the imperial capital of Baravenos and the lands along the coast, and that was how the west was lost to the empire.</p></br> [/parsehtml]Read more at: http://www.taleworlds.com/en/Games/Bannerlord/Blog/37

 

[Odin boarhelm]

Just please don't make it some game-y 'Vlandians like to quarrel, +10% influence cost'. I'm still afraid this whole influence affair is just a dumbed down replacement for building relations with individual lords and properly winning their favour.

+1

+2

 

[Dest45]

For next weeks blog, how has server communication been improved? Have some issues been fixed? For example, in Warband, if you had very low ping (>20) you could double swing on most opponents or even more swings if their ping was ~60+, without need to block.

Great blog, Vlandia isn’t really anything new to me and thats why I like them, they are familiar. Can’t wait to see how all the minor factions play out, really looking forward to these.

 

[lolbash]

I hoped that the Vlandians, set in a earlier time than the Swadians, would play and look a little differently. From the screenshots and the fact that couched lances, crossbows and two-handed swords (as a historical justification, I think the single textual reference from the battle by Civitate is not very convincing) are included, they look and sound like an exact copy of the Swadians - a generic, stereotypical representation of Medieval Europe mixing early and late equipment.

Taleworlds, I beg you, at least remove the two-handed swords! Or add some other weapons so the Sw... Vlandians have some variation. Maces, axes, slings, bullet crossbows (a bit wacky, but at least something new). Or make some cosmetic changes that go well with their Norman inspiration, like giving them facemask helmets, coloured helmets, or the distinctive Norman haircut on the Bayeux tapestry. Anything that makes the Vlandians less bland and bleh.

Spoiler

No

 

[AmateurHetman]

I hoped that the Vlandians, set in a earlier time than the Swadians, would play and look a little differently. From the screenshots and the fact that couched lances, crossbows and two-handed swords (as a historical justification, I think the single textual reference from the battle by Civitate is not very convincing) are included, they look and sound like an exact copy of the Swadians - a generic, stereotypical representation of Medieval Europe mixing early and late equipment.

Taleworlds, I beg you, at least remove the two-handed swords! Or add some other weapons so the Sw... Vlandians have some variation. Maces, axes, slings, bullet crossbows (a bit wacky, but at least something new). Or make some cosmetic changes that go well with their Norman inspiration, like giving them facemask helmets, coloured helmets, or the distinctive Norman haircut on the Bayeux tapestry. Anything that makes the Vlandians less bland and bleh.

Some photos to illustrate:

Spoiler

I do not know the source, but I see this type of helmet on several modern depictions of Normans.

Nice haircut)

Nice haircut)

Coloured helmet on the right.

Coloured helmet on the guy second from right.

And even the best heavy cavalry should think twice about crashing into a wall of spears - even the Normans could not break the shield wall at Hastings, instead wearing it down with combined arms and feints.

I think Hastings is not a good example for this. I have not studied it in detail, but was not Harold's force on top of a hill, and are not the vast majority of Norman riders depicted using their spear overhanded? Though I do agree that even heavy cavalry should have to be careful against organized infantry. More than in Warband, I hope!

Bullet crossbow? those were used more for hunting than military purposes and didn't see use in Europe until the 16th century.

 

[inox_ionizer]

No

If you disagree, try explaining why. Dickhead.

Bullet crossbow? those were used more for hunting than military purposes and didn't see use in Europe until the 16th century.

The least serious of my suggestions. A bit wacky, but at least something new.

 

[Looter]

I for one hope the Sturgians are based on the fabled River Pirates of old.

Sorry that Looters were too disappointing for you

 

[Gurkhal]

Yes, yes, yes...YES! Vladia is finally here!

I love what I see for it is good. This is the faction I've been waiting for the most and I can't wait to see the glorious feudal madness that will come about as the Vladians tear their enemies and each other to pieces! It will be glorious! And I really like the Norman thing you've got going. To me this will probably be the most or at least second most interesting factions to play.

 

[Dest45]

I for one hope the Sturgians are based on the fabled River Pirates of old.

Sorry that Looters were too disappointing for you

oh no, he went and made our very own resident looter upset... Don’t worry buddy, we’ll still have a blast farming you and your friends for easy levels early game.

 

[Yaga]

As I have mentioned a couple of months ago, the supposed Sturgian architecture strongly points towards the Russians:

Spoiler

I do not want to upset you, but trust me - this architecture is not like Russian architecture.
I do not want now to give detailed proofs, just to not distract people from today's blog.

Why not? Please do share, everyone enjoys your feedback including developers.

In the 10th century, Rus was more often built from wood, but there were also stone buildings. Some of them have survived to our time.

In the north of Russia there is a city of Veliky Novgorod. This is a very ancient city. The date of its foundation is unknown, but for the first time it is mentioned in the 9th century chronicles (as, for example, and about Kiev - the 9th century). He was part of Ancient Russia.
In the 12th-15th century Veliky Novgorod was the capital of the Novgorod Republic.

Spoiler

Now it looks like this is a modern photo:

But the St. Sophia Cathedral, it was built in the 11th century - it is now almost 1000 years old.

Spoiler

So depicts the ancient Novgorod in the picture. It's the Middle Ages, but I do not know the exact age.

Spoiler

The city of Vladimir, founded in the 10th century. In the 12th century, the capital of Ancient Rus gradually moved from Kiev to Vladimir.
In the 11th century, the Golden Gate was built in Vladimir (now it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Here is a photo of this gate:

Spoiler

The city of Pskov, founded in the 10th century.
The medieval fortress was reconstructed at different times. So it looks now:

Spoiler

The wooden house of the Prince, Rus 13th century:

Spoiler

Wooden monastery of the 13th century:

Spoiler

And this is how wooden churches built in the 18th and 19th century look like. It is a museum-preserve of Kizhi in Russia:

Spoiler

Now you have a little idea of what the ancient Russian architecture looks like 
===

If you liked Russian architecture, then here's your bonus - look at the link of Russian wooden buildings of the 19th century - they are very beautiful!
Here are such beautiful:

Spoiler

http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/5237678/post310373379/

 

[NPC99]

While cantled saddles and stirrups are not prerequisites for couched lances they do enhance their effectiveness. Given the earlier setting of Bannerlord, I hope the damage inflicted by Warband’s couched lances has been significantly reduced. Contemporary armour is mail and scale, not plate - this needs to be balanced by the lower offensive power of older lances.

 

[lolbash]

While cantled saddles and stirrups are not prerequisites for couched lances they do enhance their effectiveness. Given the earlier setting of Bannerlord, I hope the damage inflicted by Warband’s couched lances has been significantly reduced. Contemporary armour is mail and scale, not plate - this needs to be balanced by the lower offensive power of older lances.

Hell no.

You think that because the clocked turned back 200 years suddenly wood is weaker and easier to break, and does less damage?

 

[kalarhan]

You think that because the clocked turned back 200 years suddenly wood is weaker and easier to break, and does less damage?

right! Crazy idea, next he will tell us that if you turn the clock back 200 years that guns will be weaker than the ones we use today. Insane!

 

[lolbash]

You think that because the clocked turned back 200 years suddenly wood is weaker and easier to break, and does less damage?

right! Crazy idea, next he will tell us that if you turn the clock back 200 years that guns will be weaker than the ones we use today. Insane!

In that case, can you provide a reliable historical source where lances in the 11th century were shown to be shorter, and do less damage, and are weaker than a lance hailing from the 13th century?

 

[Looter]

Well if you turn back the clock 200 years, you'll find that your ancestors were weaker, easier to break and did less damage.

/s


I don't know why you guys are arguing over how effective the lances will/should be in game, pretty sure a sharp wooden stick thrust into you by a rider at full gallop will kill you whether or not it was the 11th or 13th century.

 

[NPC99]

While cantled saddles and stirrups are not prerequisites for couched lances they do enhance their effectiveness. Given the earlier setting of Bannerlord, I hope the damage inflicted by Warband’s couched lances has been significantly reduced. Contemporary armour is mail and scale, not plate - this needs to be balanced by the lower offensive power of older lances.

Hell no.

You think that because the clocked turned back 200 years suddenly wood is weaker and easier to break, and does less damage?

Its about the amount of weight/momentum that can be channelled into the impact, causing damage. Medieval saddles became more sophisticated to improve this. Lances can be couched without technological improvements, but those improvements allowed less skilled riders to achieve higher damage, making mass shock formations more practical.
You will not see jousting lances or braced saddles being used by Norman cavalry in 1066. Most lances in the Bayeux tapestry are held in thrusting or overhand poses, only a few are couched.

 

[Ask]

So, how does Vlandia relate with butter?

 

[kalarhan]

I don't know why you guys are arguing over how effective the lances will/should be in game, pretty sure a sharp wooden stick thrust into you by a rider at full gallop will kill you whether or not it was the 11th or 13th century.

the point, in case you missed it, is that over time the art of wars evolves. Weapons, armor, tactics, training, materials used, technology, and so on, they all come together in a perpetual race between attack and defense.

for lances, as a example, is the case of why someone started using them, for what situations they were useful, what characteristics involved a soldier using one, what kind of defense he was trying to break, and if it worked.

light cavalry with a spear is deadly on some situations. Heavy cavalry with heavy armor and a lance on others. Pick your weapons and tactics to defeat your current enemy, not because they look cool 

 

[Sebidee]

Lol I love how a blog post about Vlandians resulted in a 4 page discusison on Sturgians. Does anyone have anything to say about the blog post?

I think they sound good, but might be a little OP. They are basically the Rhodoks and Swadians rolled into one faction.

 

[lolbash]

I don't know why you guys are arguing over how effective the lances will/should be in game, pretty sure a sharp wooden stick thrust into you by a rider at full gallop will kill you whether or not it was the 11th or 13th century.

the point, in case you missed it, is that over time the art of wars evolves. Weapons, armor, tactics, training, materials used, technology, and so on, they all come together in a perpetual race between attack and defense.

for lances, as a example, is the case of why someone started using them, for what situations they were useful, what characteristics involved a soldier using one, what kind of defense he was trying to break, and if it worked.

light cavalry with a spear is deadly on some situations. Heavy cavalry with heavy armor and a lance on others. Pick your weapons and tactics to defeat your current enemy, not because they look cool 

I simply cannot see how you can improve a long stick with a bladed end in the span of only 200 hundred years.

Im literally opening a hole in my argument for you to shoot down.

Can I have a source where lances were shown to be significantly weaker in the 11th century compared to a lance in the 13th century?

Stop dodging around the damn bush. If you can do this, I'll step down and stop arguing with you on how we should be nerfing lances.

Lol I love how a blog post about Vlandians resulted in a 4 page discusison on Sturgians. Does anyone have anything to say about the blog post?

I think they sound good, but might be a little OP. They are basically the Rhodoks and Swadians rolled into one faction.

We still have not heard from the other factions yet. I think we should give it a little time.

Not to mention the gameplay is significantly changed.

The map is bigger, and now we have a sergeant system, and the AI can use formations and tatics now. This will definately spice up the cluster**** that is warband right now.

 

[NPC99]

I don't know why you guys are arguing over how effective the lances will/should be in game, pretty sure a sharp wooden stick thrust into you by a rider at full gallop will kill you whether or not it was the 11th or 13th century.

the point, in case you missed it, is that over time the art of wars evolves. Weapons, armor, tactics, training, materials used, technology, and so on, they all come together in a perpetual race between attack and defense.

for lances, as a example, is the case of why someone started using them, for what situations they were useful, what characteristics involved a soldier using one, what kind of defense he was trying to break, and if it worked.

light cavalry with a spear is deadly on some situations. Heavy cavalry with heavy armor and a lance on others. Pick your weapons and tactics to defeat your current enemy, not because they look cool 

I simply cannot see how you can improve a long stick with a bladed end in the span of only 200 hundred years.

Im literally opening a hole in my argument for you to shoot down.

Can I have a source where lances were shown to be significantly weaker in the 11th century compared to a lance in the 13th century?

Stop dodging around the damn bush. If you can do this, I'll step down and stop arguing with you on how we should be nerfing lances.

Lol I love how a blog post about Vlandians resulted in a 4 page discusison on Sturgians. Does anyone have anything to say about the blog post?

I think they sound good, but might be a little OP. They are basically the Rhodoks and Swadians rolled into one faction.

We still have not heard from the other factions yet. I think we should give it a little time.

Not to mention the gameplay is significantly changed.

The map is bigger, and now we have a sergeant system, and the AI can use formations and tatics now. This will definately spice up the cluster**** that is warband right now.

Tactics and equipment change over time.

Cataphracts in secure horned saddles  were effective heavy/shock cavalry despite the absence of stirrups. However they mainly used their lances  double-handed and most of those lances were supported by chains attached to their horses. A level of sophistication unmatched in the west at that time.

The tips of these lances were bronze or iron, not steel.