SenorZorros said:
speaking of realism, I think it might be interesting to be able to actually attack people when walking around towns. I don't think there should be real benefits and I think that (if witnessed) you should get both attacked by guards and a bounty but it looks quite stupid to loose a full quiver into the guild master and have nothing happen.
also, this could give interesting assasination/intimidation missions.
This would be neat, but honestly I would be really excited just to have more interaction in Cities, period. Perhaps a player-owned estate within an owned city/village/etc.?
Having the various vendors easy to access, as well as making it so using the city menu to visit different people didn't just force you to start at the entrance of the town when you walk around it again (HUGE pet peeve of mine in Warband - If I just visited the horse merchant last, and then went to "Walk around the town center", just drop me at the horse merchant. Don't make me walk all the way back into the city) would also be nice touches.
I'm not asking for full-on city RP here. But little things like being able to drink in the tavern, sleep/lay down to perhaps regen health to maybe halfway quickly (or it just advances time in a realistic way), being able to sit down...Stuff like this would all be pretty awesome, and they would (I believe) be pretty easy to implement. I just think the cities need a little more love. After all, you spend all that time working to keep them, might as well feel some sense of attachment to them.
Anyone else agree?
P.S. Peenerz, completely agree with you there. There is almost nothing I hated more in Warband than being forced to play courier for
MYSELF when I rose to the ranks of lord (Or even
King, for chrissake!). Being able to send a messenger and have him respond to "quest completed" things would be absolutely spectacular, and would cut down on a lot of unecessary travel time.
To add onto your idea, here's what I think would make it really refined and cool - You can send couriers even as a low-level freelancer/mercenary/merchant/whatever, but you are more limited in what you can do with them. For instance, obviously you can't send a messenger to go declare war on people or call vassals to you, ask for assistance, etc. To get into it a little more, I'll break it down below.
As a low-ranking merchant/freelancer/etc.:
-Complete most "Return to X, Y, Z," quests just using the messenger. These quests can come from Lords, Kings, Guild Masters, etc. HOWEVER, returning to these people
in person gives you either a higher reward or a higher relationship bonus. Not too much, but enough to make you strongly consider whether you actually do want to make the trip. To put this into a realistic perspective, this is essentially showing the person you care enough about them or the mission that you personally wanted to inform them of your failure/success to reap the benefits/consequences. It shows respect and honor.
-Send gifts to improve relation (Likely would have a limit of how often/how many times you can do it)
-Various other minor diplomatic things, like sending messages to ladies you are courting (Perhaps, but not necessary, it has a chance of being intercepted by her father?), requesting supplies be delivered to you by a courier (At a higher price) if you are on campaign as a merc, etc.
As a Lord:
-Can request assistance from other vassals, though they are not obligated to accept. This could be used if your village (or you) is being attacked and you need some help from a long-time friend.
-Can raise the levies of your properties, essentially forcing the peasants to join your war party. Depending on your focus on training them, and their morale (How well you treat them in the village, taxes, etc.), they may be weaker or stronger.
-Elevated diplomatic options compared to a low-ranking player. Official request to court a lord's daughter/sister (no negative repercussions). Can't think of any other lordly things off the top of my head, but you get the idea.
As a King:
-Pretty much absolute power as far as messages go. You need to be more careful that you choose a courier you trust here, as a king's messages getting intercepted would be pretty terrible. You can hire assassins (If this whole heir system allows for murder) or utilize other subterfuge techniques via secret messages. Very dangerous to do so.
-Order vassals/vassal to attack a certain place, or to go to a certain area and camp.
-Demand tribute, levies, and supplies from villages, towns or castles. This negatively impacts their relationship with you (You can also politely request it, perhaps? Maybe not necessary, as there should be some sort of risk/responsibility to accompany this power), and perhaps your honor or renown.
-Same abilities as the other ranks, of course.
-Declare war on factions, as well as request peace (once again, doing this in person has a positive impact on negotiations, once more demonstrating respect and honor instead of potentially being seen as cowardly or dismissive) treaties, defensive pacts, alliances, or trade agreements. Lots of possibilities here!
