Hi everyone.
Most ideas in here are for conversions of the game. That's all nice and stuff, but IMO the (sp) game still lacks in real gameplay mechanics and content. Especially the fact, that the sp game becomes pretty repetitive after capturing a few fiefs.
Therefor I suggest the following gameplay enhancing mods (in theory they should be usable with any other kind of mod / conversion).
1. Add one or more npc rival(s), that basically do just the same stuff as the player.
What they do:
They travel around, gather troops (and maybe some companions), join tournaments, do quests (simulated, but not really important), join factions as mercenaries, vassals, try to become king, go rogue and so on. They don't actively contest with the player, unless they player happens to butt into their business / faction, or if the player becomes to much of a force in the world. In the last case, they might even try to flock together to free the world from they player.
Of course, it would be impossible to implement all of these - the important thing about them, is for them to build strong armies to counter the player and thus making the sp less predictable.
How strong they are:
They possess just the same strength as the player himself. (As in the same level and increasing proficiencies)
They and their armies would be of superior strength (top tier troops) and a considerable amendment to any kingdom.
2. Create a single independent trade city (faction).
The city shall be the wealthiest and largest of all cities.
The city has one lord, that acts completely non aggressive towards other factions.
The city has its own type of troops (only 2 or 3 tiers to make sure their armies consist of top tier troops).
The city is in some kind of peace / trade / non aggressions treaty with all other factions, since they are the center of the worlds economy, any faction would lose more than they would gain by attacking them.
If the city should be captured, any other faction will immediately declare war upon the aggressor. That way, if you are looking for a challenge, you could just try taking that city.
They city should be located somewhere in the center of the map.
If an npc faction grows larger, they will try attacking the city.
Again, a lot of this stuff might be difficult to implement, but the idea is just to have an independent, rich, strong city, that is protected by an agreement between all factions.
3. Add some hidden but capturable bandit / outcast / rebel castles or villages.
There could be one of them in every factions region.
They act like a spawn location for bandit / rebel / deserter troops.
They can have a lord, that tries to plunder villages or attack caravans.
They use an enhanced bandit troop tree.
The castles / villages and their lords are only of average npc lord strength.
It is hard to find them. You will have to ask around in different cities to find some clues. Otherwise its impossible to find their location. Npcs cannot see them.
If you capture the village, you can either keep the old lord as a vassal or keep it for yourself.
However, once they are captured, enemy npc factions might find them after a while. Of course they stop spawning any kind of rogues after they are captured.
The idea about this is to offer an alternative but viable way of playing the sp game as a bandit or rebel lord. If you manage to capture a few of them, you already got a small, but scattered kingdom, which would provide a good start for further advances. The way to go here isn't about honor, right to rule or renown, as these are concepts of a world that drive you to become a bandit / rebel. In fact, going that way you could create some kind of dictatorial or democratic new regime, or just take the whole world to the cleaners. Or maybe take a whole different approach and turn this into a quest from another lord to raid a castle sized lair of bandits / rebels for a nice reward.
