Finally had some time off and spent my 3 day weekend playing the hell out of Bannerlord, I really do love this game and wanted to post some balance feedback. I'll just get to the point-
Character Starting Choices
Redundancy - some choices are redundant for example adds a skill point to bow and crossbow or one hand and two hand. If I am building a bow character I don't want a wasted crossbow skill point. There are so many of these I feel like my choices are based on which ones are the least wasteful! This really kills character creation and limits making cool and unique builds.
Cultural Appropriate - The starting choices should be more geared to the culture to make them a bit more unique. For example the hunting choice for the Aserai should not buff crossbow for example. It should buff bow, spear, throwing, athletics, etc
Culture Traits
These could be so much better and I feel like the only good ones are the Vlandians and the Aserai. These should do at least 2 things each for example the Sturgian one could also add +15 vigor skills during snow battles and the Battiana one could add +15 vigor skills to forest battles. That would make these factions more dangerous in their element and add a fun mechanic to the game.
Unit Balance
Armor balance is my number one complaint, it feels like a sucky e-sport and single player balance needs to be different then multiplayer. Armor values should be scaled up and some weapon damage reduced. Battles are over way to soon! this balance would seriously improve the game.
Infantry - Why do elite infantry have such average stats and literally have the same melee stats as crossbowmen, this needs to be address and melee troops needs to excel at melee.
Mercenary Companies
These should be elite troops and be better than regular faction troops making them worth while to hire otherwise they are useless in their current state. The Skolderbroda (shield brothers) should be the best melee troops in the game hands down, they should be super elite and one of the most sought after mercenary companies kind of like the Jomsvikings. There should also be a way to recruit these unit types, for example they could show up in taverns in small groups to hire like other mercenaries. These Companies should be scary as hell and not just a punching bag for the player.
Character Progression
Leveling is still too slow even for a grindy player like me. There needs to be some auxiliary systems added like bring books back and add trainers that you can pay to level skills. I really miss books from warband and hope they come back, I always had the military training book in my inventory. There should be trainers/masters through the world that you can study under to improve skills like one hand etc. Also some skills level way too slow.
Companions
There should be a starting minimum of 5 companions for each culture to start and should spawn more often. I had one companion of my culture and it was one of the sucky ones I always avoid. This is such an easy thing to fix that is such a source of frustration, I have restarted campaign based on the stating companions.
Perks
Captain/Governor - These need to apply to you some how, or example if you are leading your own party and you have no captains you should be the default captain and the same goes for governor.
Perk Affect - Some of these are so small they do nothing for example +2% speed? why not at least +5%? or +2 hp. Some of these are too weak and need a buff. I am glad the perks are mostly working now, but they need to be looked at again and scale up the affect on some.
Spring of Gold - please remove the 1000 cap on this! I also find features like this fun and the cap is hit too easy.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and the game was played on version 1.5.9
Character Starting Choices
Redundancy - some choices are redundant for example adds a skill point to bow and crossbow or one hand and two hand. If I am building a bow character I don't want a wasted crossbow skill point. There are so many of these I feel like my choices are based on which ones are the least wasteful! This really kills character creation and limits making cool and unique builds.
Cultural Appropriate - The starting choices should be more geared to the culture to make them a bit more unique. For example the hunting choice for the Aserai should not buff crossbow for example. It should buff bow, spear, throwing, athletics, etc
Culture Traits
These could be so much better and I feel like the only good ones are the Vlandians and the Aserai. These should do at least 2 things each for example the Sturgian one could also add +15 vigor skills during snow battles and the Battiana one could add +15 vigor skills to forest battles. That would make these factions more dangerous in their element and add a fun mechanic to the game.
Unit Balance
Armor balance is my number one complaint, it feels like a sucky e-sport and single player balance needs to be different then multiplayer. Armor values should be scaled up and some weapon damage reduced. Battles are over way to soon! this balance would seriously improve the game.
Infantry - Why do elite infantry have such average stats and literally have the same melee stats as crossbowmen, this needs to be address and melee troops needs to excel at melee.
Mercenary Companies
These should be elite troops and be better than regular faction troops making them worth while to hire otherwise they are useless in their current state. The Skolderbroda (shield brothers) should be the best melee troops in the game hands down, they should be super elite and one of the most sought after mercenary companies kind of like the Jomsvikings. There should also be a way to recruit these unit types, for example they could show up in taverns in small groups to hire like other mercenaries. These Companies should be scary as hell and not just a punching bag for the player.
Character Progression
Leveling is still too slow even for a grindy player like me. There needs to be some auxiliary systems added like bring books back and add trainers that you can pay to level skills. I really miss books from warband and hope they come back, I always had the military training book in my inventory. There should be trainers/masters through the world that you can study under to improve skills like one hand etc. Also some skills level way too slow.
Companions
There should be a starting minimum of 5 companions for each culture to start and should spawn more often. I had one companion of my culture and it was one of the sucky ones I always avoid. This is such an easy thing to fix that is such a source of frustration, I have restarted campaign based on the stating companions.
Perks
Captain/Governor - These need to apply to you some how, or example if you are leading your own party and you have no captains you should be the default captain and the same goes for governor.
Perk Affect - Some of these are so small they do nothing for example +2% speed? why not at least +5%? or +2 hp. Some of these are too weak and need a buff. I am glad the perks are mostly working now, but they need to be looked at again and scale up the affect on some.
Spring of Gold - please remove the 1000 cap on this! I also find features like this fun and the cap is hit too easy.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and the game was played on version 1.5.9
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