Mount&Blade II: Bannerlord Developer Blog 7 - Imperial Declines

<p>Hi, all! For our seventh installment of the Bannerlord developer blogpost, we'd like to talk a little about our plans for factions, and how this fits into our evolving thinking about Mount&Blade as a sandbox game.</p></br> Read more at: http://www.taleworlds.com/en/Games/Bannerlord/Blog/8

 

[Orion]

Maybe you should write a letter to Armagan about how they're not tailoring the game's setting to your impeccable tastes, then. I'm sure they'll stop making the game they want to make so they can focus on your vision of it instead.

 

[Metaldwarf]

Looking fanbloodytastic, and discovering more about the lore was a great bonus, thanks!

 

[e27]

Battainian looks like vaegirs only replacing peasant spam w/ guerrilla warfare
archers and light calvary

 

[Kazzan]

The empire could well be a Vaegir counterpart.
It's nice to see another dev blog, at least the TW people are still alive.

 

[Mors]

Tale Worlds:

  I know what I'm about to say might be a little blunt and could be taken in the wrong way but I mean it with the best intentions and for your own good.

  Just release the game already.

  I'll be honest with you- Mount&Blade Warband Native sucks. Alright, maybe it doesn't suck but it has very little of an entertainment factor in and of itself. You (Tale Worlds) did not take Mount&Blade to the level that it is at now. The Community did. The Coders and Sceners, the Texturers and the Players, they took something that had the foundation of a great game and transformed it into what it is now. Instead of focusing on all the little bitty things that in the end could have been missed without much ado, focus on making the game "mod-able". If you have been following any of the great games that have been around recently (strictly on the PC platform) what separates them from the rest is the community: GTA V, Minecraft, Skyrim, M&B.
  Instead of worrying too much about what lord likes who and which lady is adventurous, focus on the mechanic of the lord/lady relations. Instead of worrying too much about creating the most beautiful landscape, smooth out the "scener" tool and facilitate the creation of these scenes by the community. You will never be able to satisfy each and every want of the consumer- that's where the modders come in. Give the power and responsibility to the players, they will create content that will rival and even surpass what a company like you can put out. Not only will it save you money and time but it will increase the life of your game. One of the great things about M&B is being able to play in the world of a Game of Thrones and then quickly switch over to the fantasy land of Perisno- facilitate that.

  The gaming industry is an ever-moving playground. You have to create content that can easily keep up with the times thanks to the community's input and efforts.

  To close off: Obviously if the game is not done do not release it, but seriously, seven blogs have gone through and the only progress we've seen is improved graphics and, maybe,improved AI. Please, please, please do not waste 4 to 6 months creating a "deep story" that people will only play for a few weeks/months before they turn over to playing the much better mods. Other than that, I want to applaud your efforts and wish you the best of luck. Just remember that the community is what made you into such a great game- do not leave us out and try to communicate more with us.

Usually I don't bother posting on the forums, but I had to log in and say that you should consider suicide. Idiot.

 

[Pilum]

Tale Worlds:

  I know what I'm about to say might be a little blunt and could be taken in the wrong way but I mean it with the best intentions and for your own good.

  Just release the game already.

  I'll be honest with you- Mount&Blade Warband Native sucks. Alright, maybe it doesn't suck but it has very little of an entertainment factor in and of itself. You (Tale Worlds) did not take Mount&Blade to the level that it is at now. The Community did. The Coders and Sceners, the Texturers and the Players, they took something that had the foundation of a great game and transformed it into what it is now. Instead of focusing on all the little bitty things that in the end could have been missed without much ado, focus on making the game "mod-able". If you have been following any of the great games that have been around recently (strictly on the PC platform) what separates them from the rest is the community: GTA V, Minecraft, Skyrim, M&B.
  Instead of worrying too much about what lord likes who and which lady is adventurous, focus on the mechanic of the lord/lady relations. Instead of worrying too much about creating the most beautiful landscape, smooth out the "scener" tool and facilitate the creation of these scenes by the community. You will never be able to satisfy each and every want of the consumer- that's where the modders come in. Give the power and responsibility to the players, they will create content that will rival and even surpass what a company like you can put out. Not only will it save you money and time but it will increase the life of your game. One of the great things about M&B is being able to play in the world of a Game of Thrones and then quickly switch over to the fantasy land of Perisno- facilitate that.

  The gaming industry is an ever-moving playground. You have to create content that can easily keep up with the times thanks to the community's input and efforts.

  To close off: Obviously if the game is not done do not release it, but seriously, seven blogs have gone through and the only progress we've seen is improved graphics and, maybe,improved AI. Please, please, please do not waste 4 to 6 months creating a "deep story" that people will only play for a few weeks/months before they turn over to playing the much better mods. Other than that, I want to applaud your efforts and wish you the best of luck. Just remember that the community is what made you into such a great game- do not leave us out and try to communicate more with us.

Usually I don't bother posting on the forums, but I had to log in and say that you should consider suicide. Idiot.

What a noble thing to say...  (obvious sarcasm is obvious)

 

[Dabbarexe]

I don't typically get involved in forum arguments, just because they normally lead to a constant slug fest where at least one (if not both) parties are totally ignorant of the topic they're debating; but I'll make an exception.

Whilst the Dev Blogs haven't exactly given away the kind of depth that obviously everyone would like to know about, that doesn't excuse the sort of blind accusations that are being thrown around here. It clearly shows a total lack of understanding of game development, and not just in the practical sense but in the broader sense of the gaming industry. Actual game development (I'm not talking about a 2D Scroller here), involving the creation or updating of an individual and unique engine is not even remotely comparable to modding. Modding takes time, sure, but when the tools are handed to you, anyone can do it eventually, and this is without formal training. The same is not true for making a game. It takes expertise, it takes time, manpower and tools smaller studios typically don't have access to. That one of the imbeciles here actually compared the TW to Rockstar's entire studio is mind numbing. Granted it's hard to appreciate the reality of the job looking in from the outside, but don't mistake this for an easy task. Still, let's say the idea was worth entertaining, remember that GTA V started production immediately after, if not slightly before, the completion of GTA IV, and with a budget to make Hollywood Blockbusters jealous, and STILL it took 6 years to release. By comparison, a small studio will be lucky to get it's core foundations of the game finished in half the time, and TW have already demonstrated that they have surpassed that. To make it clear and simple, in 90% of games most of the features that gamers see as significant "improvements" or "progress" are added in the last year or stretch of gaming development, and we're 3 years away from projected completion.

Then the second moron had the nerve to discredit TW in the creation of their own game - especially when every point he made was totally subjective. When a small studio makes a game, they dedicate everything they have to it and take pride in creating it. This isn't a CoD game where the onus is on the profits, they're here to make the best game they can. That you would even be so inconsiderate as to suggest that a studio should just give away their game instead of doing themselves justice is shocking. The developers have already said that the game will be as moddible, if not more so, than their previous titles and it is this same moddibility that even allows the community to create the 'mods' that you so love. Tweaking code, editing text or adding assets to a foundation that is already there (and indeed helps you to do so) is easy. It's not difficult for a game's mods to seem to be superior to a stock product when they are simply adding niche additions that might fit your idea of a better game; but don't mistake that for a failure on the game's side, if anything it's a success.

In any case, it's these same people that would be up in arms if the game played all it's cards/released early and didn't have the functions they expected. Good games take long to make, especially when they're being developed by small groups. Don't look at massive titles and assume that because they can pump out two AC games a year (in a totally new setting) that the process is trivial.

End rant.

 

[DanAngleland]

Oh sounds and looks very Good!, But please tell me that the Empire's foot units aren't going to be spear based? Why not late roman legions? The spear units in WB where very very SAD, and pathetic and weak, why not use the new formation system for the Roman legions?  Yes they used spears but also throwing darts and short throwing spears not the same as the earlier legions though, anyways, Plus siege artillery etc, Uh, I would have rather had the Eastern Empire with its riches and high walled cities then the boring broken western empire, but maybe in an expansion? Also, I hope that units use secondary weapons a lot more such as the short sword, or the late roman swords  Also invading people from out side the map would be really cool, more factions would be nice, and I'm Really happy to hear that there will be more in game control, and ALOT less sandbox upfront, that was a major issue for me in WB, to much sandbox with no objectives = massively boring, NO matter what faction you choose its the same thing over and OVER and over again, I hope castle and fortress layouts are improved and better trade items as well. over all great to see a new blog, now lets not have it be almost another 6 months before we hear anything guys.

The game is set 200 years before Warband- so about 1057 in the Calradian world. In relation to real world weaponry and troops, they said they are using the approximate period from 600 AD to 1100AD, so several centuries after the classic Roman legions. Late Roman legions were spear based, didn't use the pilum and no longer used the short gladius which distinguished them from most of their enemies, but instead used a longer sword much the same as any other sword in Europe at the time. Regarding the western vs eastern Roman empire interpretation, the western empire was finished before 600ad, and the Calradian empire architecture uses a pattern of brickwork (the terracotta horizontal stripe) that was used in Constantinople's walls. I don't think the Calradian empire is meant to represent a particular half of the Roman empire, I think it is less specific than that. Both halves of the empire had to deal with their decline, the rise of new powers on their borders and the loss of territories leading to further new powers rising in these new border lands, and that is the backstory for the Calradian empire.

By the way, there has been no mention of a 'new formation system'. It irritates me that people pick words out of a blog seemingly oblivious to the context used and interpret it up as proof of a new game feature. Irritation, why? Because the belief that they have said something they haven't spreads, cue lots of complaints and accusations of lying/failing if it turns out such a feature was never made.

They have said before that the game will be easier to mod, and considering the great enthusiasm for Roman mods in M&B/Warband there are bound to be a lot of mods for various stages of Roman history for Bannerlord, perhaps more than before for the late Roman empire given Bannerlord's rough approximation to this part of history. It will not take much modding to give the empire troops weaponry that you desire, such as short throwing spears (assuming they don't already have them), indeed I am sure someone will have modded some of the troop weaponry within a couple of weeks of the game being released.

As much as I enjoyed your little history lesson, did you bother to read what I actually said, or are you just using my post as a springboard for a rant? I made it clear that the late legions used spears, long swords etc, and I also said they no longer used the Pilum but I forget when, but they also where known to use a short dart the "Plumbata" etc, Which the late legions used and I think the game should reflect this, I shouldn't have to mod that into to the game. as well as Roman siege gear.

As far as talking about battle formations perhaps you should write a letter to TW and tell them to stop wasting our time with the empty content of there blogs which post a screen shot or two but tell us NOTHING about the game, with a sprinkle of story line here and there, So what the hell do we have to talk about? or speculate over? Yes it was refreshing to have an update, but they didn't say anything really. And maybe the game looks like the Eastern portion of the empire, but the story reads like the west, which is boring I hate the history of the late western empire, so boring blah blah, so what do we have to look forward to then? a pretty limited set of armors and weapons, since this time frame isn't really known for its exciting pole arms or halberds. so we will have a few kinds of swords spears, a mace or two, and a bunch of shields lol  some bows and maybe a crossbow for fun. IMO I think they should have redone the game and made a renaissance time frame from the 1300s, till the late or even early 1600s, with full plate, all kinds of pole arms and swords maces, and crossbows long bows, and primitive cannon and firearms, but as it is, we might find a broadsword  What a boring time frame, made much worse if there is no useable siege engines. rant over, woo.

I apologise for going off on a tangent a bit. I did read what you said, but you talk about them not being spear based yet using spears and long swords (also mentioning short swords in that bit about hoping they will use secondary weapons), so how is that not spear based? It didn't seem to me that your post was entirely consistent. Just because the blog describes them as spearmen doesn't mean they won't have javelins of some sort as well. You also, in the bit about hoping for secondary weapon use, mention short swords, immediately before mentioning long swords:

''Also, I hope that units use secondary weapons a lot more such as the short sword, or the late roman swords''

So it sounds as if you sort of want the empire infantry to use short swords in that particular bit. But in any case, the only thing you seem to have identified as making the late Roman legionary as not spear based is the use of throwing darts. I think I latched onto the spear based thing early on and got into that before considering what you were really saying was that you thought the lack of detail on what equipment the spearmen would have, would preclude them using throwing weapons. To which my answer is they might use them, and I hope they do too, but I don't think this is essential for them to be considered a recognisable Calradian version of the real life legions, and that in any case I hope that the effectiveness of spears in combat is improved, particularly for the AI (players can use spears effectively in group situations by keeping distance intelligently and helping out allies as it is).

 

[Hilarius]

Empire - spearmen and cavalry - Rhodok with cavalry and no crossbows????

Maybe a reliable enough version of the crossbow was yet to be developed/adopted back then, especially with all that reputed Calradian ignorance and provincialism?

PS. That would also mean either there are *a few* mercenary units using it, or it's just an easter egg stashed somewhere for the player to find. I doubt they'll completely do away with it.

The rhodoks wouldn't have a counterpart during this time period because they broke of from the early swadian empire, which is why they use pikes and crossbows and live in the mountains, to counter the mighty swadian cavalry.

But I am said that there is no real greek or Carthaginian faction present
Meh, somebody will make a mod for it eventually

 

[Dusk Voyager]

He had made the comparison based on their equipment in the first place, not their history or origins unlike you, so I just responded the lack of crossbows was likely normal back then.

 

[rapier17]

After the introductory quest series, the game will then revert to the full sandbox mode

Rather glad to hear it. One of the things I loved about M&B is that I could just go and do what I wanted off of the bat. I can appreciate fleshing out the factions more but so long as I can leap off into the wild unknown and be left to my own devices, I'm happy.

What a boring time frame.

Each to their own but I find our history from the Migration Period to the Norman Conquest rather interesting and there are few video game options out there that allow us to explore that era. So I'm personally very happy about the choice of period. c13 onwards gets rather dull for me, rather quickly. I just don't find that part of history particularly exciting - it can be interesting yes, but it's not exciting. Probably because it's been 'done to death', whereas c6-c11 feels fresh and exciting.

I wouldn't worry about

a pretty limited set of armors and weapons, since this time frame isn't really known for its exciting pole arms or halberds. so we will have a few kinds of swords spears, a mace or two, and a bunch of shields lol  some bows and maybe a crossbow for fun.

That's where you'd be wrong. Take a look at the Vikingr MP mod for Warband and look at the vast array of weaponry in that, all of it based on historical finds from the period. Check all of the weapons available to each of the factions in that mod. There's a lot of kit in there and that's just what they felt like modelling & putting in.

 

[Hilarius]

He had made the comparison based on their equipment in the first place, not their history or origins unlike you, so I just responded the lack of crossbows was likely normal back then.

Apologies then, sorry about the miscommunication

 

[argon45]

The empire could well be a Vaegir counterpart.
It's nice to see another dev blog, at least the TW people are still alive.

+1

No Vaegir Counterpart? Bleh

But otherwise, a great blog for the one intrested in lore, such as me

Vlandians - heavy cavalry - Swadian or Vaegir (?)
Sturgians - infantry with swords or axes - Nord
Aserai - infantry and cavalry (desert) - Sarranid
Khuzaits - mounted archers - Khergits
Battanians - ambush with arrows - Vaegir or Rhodok(?)
Empire - spearmen and cavalry -Swadians (?)

Fixed.

"The Rhodoks were originally part of the Kingdom of Swadia, but rebelled and founded their own kingdom." "Vaegirs are the second oldest faction after Swadia."

 

[Lord Arius]

Four months without news...

I thought Bannerlord was dead

 

[Trueten]

Why would there be greeks or carthaginians..? That makes no sense.

I prefer Byzantine-like faction. And since the text mentions cataphracts, I presume dis Byzantine faction will be thee Empire.

What a boring time frame.

Agree. I don't like early Medieval era, because it's poor with gear and armor variety. Yet, this is a fantasy world, so there might (and should!) be a lot of fantasy armor sets... I don't mean anime-style armors.

 

[Al_Mansur]

The era of Vikings, Franks, Normans, Caliphates, Byzantines, etc. it is not boring at all!

 

[Henri_V]

When will the trailer gameplay? Seventh blog, and nothing more except screenshots.

 

[Dalakh]

Vlandians - heavy cavalry - Swadian and Rhodok
Sturgians - infantry with swords or axes - Nord
Aserai - infantry and cavalry (desert) - Sarranid
Khuzaits - mounted archers - Khergits
Battanians - ambush with arrows - Vaegir
Empire - spearmen and cavalry - Merged with Swadia

 

[vota dc]

The problem is that the first game had some aspect that weren't implemented very well like the sieges, the developers will do a better job here but being a prequel limit the weapons avaiable, if there won't be crossbow for example then ranged would be just throwing and bow.

 

[Harly Davidson]

Some people say "Bannerlord comes out 2 months later." but ı dont trust all of them