Suggestion for Mount and Blade (and yes I'm loving it!)

[Eagle114th]

Today is the day when i bought it after realizing the true potiental of this game, while I am very impressed that two of persons made this game. I always dreamed of playing this style of game, after playing very old game, known as The Conquesor (misspelling?) for window 95. However, there are countless number of very informative and useful suggestions I'd give to you while hoping they'd enchance your game even into next levels. However, you guys will have a long way to go, to turn it into huge game, but even thought it's small game, it is the most addicting and best RPG of medivela game I ever played, period.

However, here are my suggestions to you:

When you choose to be male or female at beginning of game, then you should also add an options of choosing different races. Since different races have their own unqiue abilities, for example:

For bloodine of barbarian (Viking) they are the strongest warrior on whole world, with extremely brutal and powerful abilities to infect largest damage to enemy. So I'd give a bouns of power and strength to barbarian, but have lowest bouns on speed.

Viking: They would have incredible power, with medium agile but low speed.

Celitic: They would have slighty low power, but slight more agile, thus having low speed.

Asian:

Chinese: You would have high bouns on speed, with light body. For exampe, you'll be able to do combo at very speed with high agile, but low strength, compared to viking, celtic and other barbarian.

Japan: Similar to chinese, they have slight more power, with slight lower speed but similar agile.


And so many more of different races to list, but you see what my point is. Each of different race would have different mass of body, their own unique abiliity (adding bouns to strength, agile, and speed).

And oh yeah, if you are Samurai, using katana, you would have an addition bonus when using katana, but have negative bonus when using heavy barbaric sword unless you use it often to get 'used' to their style and weight of it.


SO what you guys think about this?

cheers!


Eagle out...

 

[alesch]

I am partial to the race selection idea, I'm pretty sure it's been suggested before though, actually I think I suggested it at one point. I don't think we should have race selections from actual peoples and countries. The game is set in a fictitious world, even if it is heavily influenced by real-world midieval history. If race selection is ever implemented it should be peoples found in the game, such as the Khergits (I still want to join them) the Swadians or the Vaegirs. They all have their counter-parts in the real world in my opinion, so choosing to be a Khergit in the game would be like choosing to be a mongolian.

I'm really put off by the katana thing though. Firstly, there are no katanas in the game, and I hope there never are. There are way too many games which put in katanas, mostly as an effort to cash in on people's anime/japanese culture fetish. I find japan's history fascinating, but other places have jsut as much, if not more history as well, and they don't get nearly as much attention. So in my mind, if you want to play with a katana, you can in almost any other game, but this one's special and I'd rather it stay that way.

The bonuses have already been implemented I think, with the whole weapon proficency skills. If you have a high value for one handed weapons, but a low value for heavy two handed weapons, you're much less effective with the two handed weapons.

 

[okiN]

I agree with you on all points, alesch. I think you misunderstood him on that last one, though. You see, katanas are two-handed swords as well. I think what he meant was that there'd be additional bonuses for the same weapon type between different cultures.

 

[alesch]

Oh I see, specific proficiencies for specific weapons. I wouldn't like that if it was another series of stats to manage, but if they were invisible, and only increased when you actually used the weapon, it could be cool.

 

[dorni]

But a person is not racially adept at culture-specific pursuits. If you were born and raised in Japan, and were in the game world, you'd have the advantage with Japanese weapons, but you'd probably need a companion interpreter.

 

[bewing77]

Bringing in other cultures like the japaneese would be troublesome since there are no historical data (since it probably never happened) describing the effectiveness of say a samurai vs a european knight. There could also be problems with thing like weapon and armor culture since japaneese weapons, especially swords, are at best when fighting light or no armor whereas many european armor types where very heavy. Late medieval european armor would be impenetrable to a katana since it's point is to wide to be useful against armor.

 

[alesch]

The point of this was more to bring in a race selection aspect of the game I think, than it was to petition for katanas top be brought into the game. I like the idea of having a race selection, but you couldn't be Japanese or anything, they don't exist in the game world. You could however, pick to be of Swadian or Vaegir descent, or maybe a Zendarian, or a Khergit, or Sea Raider. It would allow you to select a cultural background as well as your social background.

 

[bewing77]

What I'd like to see in that case is a system where race doesn't affect the basic stats like strength etc but instead gives a set of starting careers instead of the basic four. Physical differences between people from different parts of the world shouldn't make that much difference but culture and background should have a big impact.

 

[Thucydides]

I'm going to wave the racism flag, here. Sumo wrestlers? Celtic druids? Nordic commoners (as opposed to warrior elites)? Come on. This isn't fantasy, and in real life, while there may be physical characteristics common to more people than not in certain parts of the world, applying the concept through point distribution in a game is more unrealistic than dual-wielding would be, not to mention a bit degrading to the "races" involved. Biologically, there is no race--that's the consensus in modern scholarship, and it would be a bad idea to include it here. Besides, while I'm all for having a bit of context for your backstory (see the other threads on that subject for details), modifying your own appearance and creating an "ethnicity" from scratch for yourself is definitely part of the fun when left completely to the imagination.

 

[bewing77]

I'm going to wave the racism flag, here. Sumo wrestlers? Celtic druids? Nordic commoners (as opposed to warrior elites)? Come on. This isn't fantasy, and in real life, while there may be physical characteristics common to more people than not in certain parts of the world, applying the concept through point distribution in a game is more unrealistic than dual-wielding would be, not to mention a bit degrading to the "races" involved. Biologically, there is no race--that's the consensus in modern scholarship, and it would be a bad idea to include it here. Besides, while I'm all for having a bit of context for your backstory (see the other threads on that subject for details), modifying your own appearance and creating an "ethnicity" from scratch for yourself is definitely part of the fun when left completely to the imagination.

That's why I suggested just above your post that there shouldn't be a difference in character stats but in what available backgrounds you could choose. This would have nothing to to with biology, racism or fantasy.

 

[Mechstra]

It's more like the culture you grew up in, as people have said. To take a real-world example, a peasant Englishman in the 14th century would have had massively overdeveloped upper body strength (mainly in his right arm) and a proficiency with bows, but this would be because of his upbringing, nothing genetic.

All that's suggested is that certain cultural backgrounds would affect your stats, as well as the occupational backgrounds we have now.

 

[Worbah]

Every difference between races is due to culture, if you don't count pigmentation and such. Even in the 20th century a lot of people thought that people of different color differ mentally and physically, and said stuff like black people can never be intelligent or civilized and asian people can't be physically strong. Bull****. It's all a matter of upbringing and culture. There should be no racial benefits or restrictions in this game. Just because you are black doesn't give you a higher strength and athletics. Just because you are asian doesn't mean you can ride horses better and have a higher hand weapon proficiency.

What this game does need is traits and perks. Ever played Fallout? Then you know what I'm saying. Inventing a few dozen of them is extremely easy, and when Armagan breaks out new content sow that your current characters are worthless, these could be implemented as well.

 

[Ilex]

I say it's bull**** to say that people from different races don't have any differences. They have been separated for ages and the out look of those races has changed why would they not have other differing abilities? They have different resistances to the sunlight don't they (or should I say we)? It is all about genes. Have you ever noticed, that the nearly all of the best long-distance (except marathon for some reason) runners are from the region near Kenya (or so I have heard)? There has even been genetic research on this subject. The differences might not be big enough to fit in the numberics of the game (so no +1 agility to necroidig (african) (spelling?) people, nor +1 int to those of the mongoloidic (asian) (and spelling again?) race ), but there are certainly differences. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Worbah]

I say it's bull**** to say that people from different races don't have any differences. They have been separated for ages and the out look of those races has changed why would they not have other differing abilities? They have different resistances to the sunlight don't they (or should I say we)? It is all about genes. Have you ever noticed, that the nearly all of the best long-distance (except marathon for some reason) runners are from the region near Kenya (or so I have heard)? There has even been genetic research on this subject. The differences might not be big enough to fit in the numberics of the game (so no +1 agility to necroidig (african) (spelling?) people, nor +1 int to those of the mongoloidic (asian) (and spelling again?) race ), but there are certainly differences. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Like I said, it's cultural. deep rooted, rigid, but cultural. The kenyans run well because running has been useful to them either in ages past or only a few decades ago. Not every Norwegian is a born fisherman, and not every Finn can build a goddamn mobile phone. Let's say a Kenyan gets adopted by, say, a Russian. It's not the enviroment hese people is native to, but he will adapt to it or die. I'm not making much sense now, but hey, neither is the subject.

 

[Ancientwanker]

Pretty sensitive subject. We live in egalitarian societies now and discussing differences between population groups is considered rude. We all know why as studies of the subject have been abused by racists for hundreds of years.

This has little to do with the established game mechanic of assigning bonuses and penalties to fantasy races. Unless you can show me on a map where I can find Vaegir or Swadia I have no problem with the assigning of race based modifiers. Anything to increase the replay value.

 

[Ilex]

Like I said, it's cultural. deep rooted, rigid, but cultural. The kenyans run well because running has been useful to them either in ages past or only a few decades ago. Not every Norwegian is a born fisherman, and not every Finn can build a goddamn mobile phone. Let's say a Kenyan gets adopted by, say, a Russian. It's not the enviroment hese people is native to, but he will adapt to it or die. I'm not making much sense now, but hey, neither is the subject.

Well if you took a fair skinned norwegian to Kenya he would gain some "sun resistance" (UV-resistance) but would never gain as dark piqment as the natives would. Nowdays he would survive, but hes chances of survival would be smaller (than normal native) if he was taken to those regions say 5k years ago. Races tend to develop abilites suitable for their conditions (dark skin vs. fair skin). I am using the skin-tone as an example, for it is the most obvious one.
And did you know that American indians don't have all the blood types the other races have? If I can remember correctly they lack the B and BA types (or A and AB). You are right about skills not going with the race. But not every one can become "a pro runner". It might be that only necroidig people have large variety of "endurance" genes (however nowdays genes can be mixed, but it was not so simply a few hundred years ago, for races seldomly met and more seldomly produced offspring) and if a lot of these genes go into one person he has a great affinity to become a good long-distance runner (of course practise makes a great deal). But this is kinda off-topic sorry and I think that the race you choose should not affect your stats and difinitely not your skills, only culture should affect.

 

[Ancientwanker]

Ive read that high melanin counts in the skin is more about bacterial resistance than UV resistance but Im sure theres no one answer.

 

[Eagle114th]

After listening to all of your debates about an unique abilities of different races. I'll tell you one thing, even if it's all about cultural, it is all about race's bloodline as well! For example, look at viking's body structure, while comparing it to Chinese. The different between them is, barbaric warrior are often very massive with heavy body, extremley FURIOUS, are very easily to be tempted, and are like wild beast when charing into enemy army. But chinese are very different, they are very light massive in body, very agile and fast fighter (most of them), are often very calm and peaceful people opposited to viking, and are like calm dog instead of wild wolf (barbarian people). The reason why they create this cultural of peace, is becuase of their own unqiue abilities in their genetic to do things. I mean, lets picture this, in ancient time of Viking, there are often a very violent place you'd grow up, having to fight for food, being forced to fight all time where you'd become brutal fighter with massive body, and are often very tempted when someone piss you off with bad names. But if you are in land of chinese, it's very different. You'd be very discplined to learn how to respect people, train hard while having a fun childhood with other children while appericating beauitful natures, being able to fight with great agile and speed...

Each of race have their own unqiue abilities, while having their own culture, period. That is WHAT make all of us a very intereesting people on this world. If we are all the same, then this world would be VERY BORING world. That is why, these races with their own unique abilities, along with cultures teach different poeple many of things, while having their own prides in their bloodlines.


Eagle out...

 

[Instag0]

With simply more character creation options, no racial choice should needed to be added.

With the current system we can already create different 'races,' the thing is that none of the races we create have names (and it isn't just flat out CHOOSE YOUR RACE). We are simply people, and I don't think it would be very wise to differentiate pre-defined 'races' between different people.

If you want to create a type of arabian or asian then create your character based on what you believe those types of people's attributes are. Most 'races' in games that base themselves off of real-life cultures tend to have highly stereotyped races anyway, so I think it is best to stay away from pre-constructed racial choices.

 

[Eagle114th]

I see what you mean, since this game is based on single race while we'd have to tweak our own abilities of STRENGTH, AGILE, INT, CHA to tweak our own character into our tastes is good idea. I like your idea, but what Id' recommend is different color style, eye color, more options on eye brows, eye shapes, and etc... I really liked the way they implanted the features of face tweaking system. However, I have other good suggestion about each time you increase strength or agile. each 5th level, person would 'grow' about 5 to 10 percent of their size of arm, chest, leg, and most of msucle while you'd work out alot on your body. But if you doesn't increase the strength, while increasing agile so vastly, your body wont change much, except for slightly bigger arm and leg, which would support you to move your sword or firing bow so quickly.

What you think of this?


Eagle out...