Ltlurker
Recruit
There are tons of systems that need implementation/improvement through talent + hours and done at a far greater pace than you've shown this past decade. At this rate BL will still be in EA by 2025. Here are just a few ideas:
1. Add more depth to the game (eg: politics, diplomacy, intrigue). Take some notes from Crusader Kings. That's the sort of stuff this game needs to fill up its hollow shell that becomes all too noticeable after a single bug infested play through of chasing down armies and sieging castles. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there's very little content here. People have dumped thousands upon thousands of hours into CK2. Don't be cheap. Take inspiration, get new hands onboard, and get to work. That's what early access should be about.
2. Hire some writers and artists to work on the cities/lore/story/environment. There is no world building here. Visiting cities and interacting with NPCs leave the impression of playing through an engine demo. There's a ton of work to be done in this regard and I seriously doubt that the current staff can deliver considering the scarcity in content on its initial EA release and between that time and now, 6 months later. It's crucial if you label your game as an RPG/Simulation for you to take steps to develop its world, characters, locations, history, atmosphere, etc. Look at other RPG/Sandbox games, take notes, and improve your own.
3. Fix the terrible AI. 10 years later and I hardly see the improvement over Warband. Formations are not a way to sell the idea you've worked extensively on AI. A single close enemy off to the side and your men abandon all cohesion and act like roaches chasing a kill while the enemy formation slams into their rear. Why not add a system where multiple units together attract more attention from the AI and when ordered to charge those units become their primary target and not the lone infantryman or cavalry archer behind them. Add a function for the AI to reform or reposition in a group, to spread out or back off if they're being encircled. These are just a few ideas off the top of my head. It's not that hard and you've had plenty of time to work on this major selling point - maybe it's time to outsource. Far greater challenges have been overcome. Don't let pride or greed hold this game back from its full potential.
4. Release mod tools; you said you'd release something by the end of August. We're now a week into September and not a word. You were mistaken/lying and you should address the fact. There just isn't enough talent and drive at TW to reasonably complete this game and if it wasn't for the eager modders that are prepared to finish this game for you then it would be an insult to ask players to beta test this game for the next 5 years while you polish the superficial systems that are in place. Warband has been alive this long cause of its devoted modding community. That shouldn't be the case with Bannerlord - you shouldn't aim to accomplish the bare minimum with the expectation that others will finish the job.
Pet peeves:
5. Make first-person and third-person mouse sensitivity values equal. First person is a lot faster than third person. It makes aiming bows or melee in 1P uncomfortable.
6. Field of View in third person is atrocious; include an option to tweak it the same as first person FOV (Note: this is not "zoom")
It's 2020 and this isn't a console port, you need to nail the basics like sensitivity and FOV. Sort of blows my mind how no one at the office after all these years took a day or two to iron this out.
These are just a few things you ought to be working on NOW. Reorganize, hire talent, crack down on 3 hour coffee and shisha breaks, do what you have to do.
At this rate, you're gonna be stuck in early access for as long as it took to finally put the game on steam or end up releasing it completely lacking content, depth, or any of the promises you are expected to keep.
Stop drawing out the process. You have a block of ice here with endless, untapped potential and it's time to start carving a sculpture.
1. Add more depth to the game (eg: politics, diplomacy, intrigue). Take some notes from Crusader Kings. That's the sort of stuff this game needs to fill up its hollow shell that becomes all too noticeable after a single bug infested play through of chasing down armies and sieging castles. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there's very little content here. People have dumped thousands upon thousands of hours into CK2. Don't be cheap. Take inspiration, get new hands onboard, and get to work. That's what early access should be about.
2. Hire some writers and artists to work on the cities/lore/story/environment. There is no world building here. Visiting cities and interacting with NPCs leave the impression of playing through an engine demo. There's a ton of work to be done in this regard and I seriously doubt that the current staff can deliver considering the scarcity in content on its initial EA release and between that time and now, 6 months later. It's crucial if you label your game as an RPG/Simulation for you to take steps to develop its world, characters, locations, history, atmosphere, etc. Look at other RPG/Sandbox games, take notes, and improve your own.
3. Fix the terrible AI. 10 years later and I hardly see the improvement over Warband. Formations are not a way to sell the idea you've worked extensively on AI. A single close enemy off to the side and your men abandon all cohesion and act like roaches chasing a kill while the enemy formation slams into their rear. Why not add a system where multiple units together attract more attention from the AI and when ordered to charge those units become their primary target and not the lone infantryman or cavalry archer behind them. Add a function for the AI to reform or reposition in a group, to spread out or back off if they're being encircled. These are just a few ideas off the top of my head. It's not that hard and you've had plenty of time to work on this major selling point - maybe it's time to outsource. Far greater challenges have been overcome. Don't let pride or greed hold this game back from its full potential.
4. Release mod tools; you said you'd release something by the end of August. We're now a week into September and not a word. You were mistaken/lying and you should address the fact. There just isn't enough talent and drive at TW to reasonably complete this game and if it wasn't for the eager modders that are prepared to finish this game for you then it would be an insult to ask players to beta test this game for the next 5 years while you polish the superficial systems that are in place. Warband has been alive this long cause of its devoted modding community. That shouldn't be the case with Bannerlord - you shouldn't aim to accomplish the bare minimum with the expectation that others will finish the job.
Pet peeves:
5. Make first-person and third-person mouse sensitivity values equal. First person is a lot faster than third person. It makes aiming bows or melee in 1P uncomfortable.
6. Field of View in third person is atrocious; include an option to tweak it the same as first person FOV (Note: this is not "zoom")
It's 2020 and this isn't a console port, you need to nail the basics like sensitivity and FOV. Sort of blows my mind how no one at the office after all these years took a day or two to iron this out.
These are just a few things you ought to be working on NOW. Reorganize, hire talent, crack down on 3 hour coffee and shisha breaks, do what you have to do.
At this rate, you're gonna be stuck in early access for as long as it took to finally put the game on steam or end up releasing it completely lacking content, depth, or any of the promises you are expected to keep.
Stop drawing out the process. You have a block of ice here with endless, untapped potential and it's time to start carving a sculpture.
.
