Rng has always been in RPGs it's a staple. If you always succeed with a certain amount of charisma/charm on speech checks then what's the use of putting it in in the first place because it just becomes a game of get this level of speech craft and win. That becomes very boring very fast. I admit Bannerlord needs work when it comes to conversations for sure but there is a system in place.
What exactly do you considered watered down? I think people are looking back at Warband with rose tinted glassess and forget how basic the game was and the only thing that saved it for more than 1 play through was mods and conversions. I feel that Bannerlord's systems are either incomplete or buggy but there's a framework in place it's just going to take time.
From what you're saying you act like you're rushed in Bannerlord. Why can't you take your time? I've never felt the need to rush to do anything in this game.
Nooo I usually take it super easy, in Warband (4000h and still playing it ATM) I go the trader route and have my own kingdom around day 1000....so yeah, i hardly rush....in Warband....
The most engaging playthrough is obviously with mods, Perisno for me mostly, that is the benchmark when talking of Warband for me.
The know how has been out there for years, it was clear what people wanted and preferred, TW could have gotten on par with that, but they did not.
Obviously native is pretty basic, but still you need to work for many actions and use your real life brain, you gotta study Lords' personalities, charm one or the other, intrigue against somebody, you could ask Lords about other lords, court ladies, maybe she likes you but the tutor does not, so you need to go and befriend him...or elope...
It means you had to plan your campaign from day 1 actively working on it,not much to plan in BL, at least at the moment.
I liked to use the night time's malus to range troops tactically,I wish I could do the same with forest bandits and horse archers, things like this, that have been extremely simplified or removed altogether (like my beloved night malus).
Mainly it's the diplomacy and the interaction with NPCs, I really don't like the % RNG type of conversation for example, with high enough trade you can even buy settlements, just not my cup of tea.
I find it very immersion breaking when at spawn I run to a princess, save scum a bit and merry her like that. yes, it might change in the future, it might, but now it is what it is....
I totally agree with you that RNG is in every RPG, but my problem with BL is that it seems to me they are relaying on RNG more then in WB, while more complex and more immersive mechanics could have been implemented as those Warband modders did.
I am afraid the framework you mention, won't be expanded upon, I hope I am wrong, but I already was right when I was critic with EA before they even published it, it seemed premature and it was.
I really like BL, I think the combat is way better, not to mention scenes and art (the real HUGE deal), but it's about it, even taking in consideration EA, I doubt they will go the extra mile and implement complex and brainy mechanics, after all the new players don't know better as most did not play WB, so it's good enough for them.
I played a few hundred hours, but i find it really hard to immerse and RP, I don't feel attached to any NPC,nor I feel hating any NPC.
On a side note I am amazed, this is the first time in BL forums I had a mature and respectful conversation with somebody, happiness!
