What is the Minimum Viable Product?

[imgran]

This is a dev term for the most feature bare thing that could be called a released game, sold to the public, and deemed more or less acceptable by the majority of fans.

So let's talk about some things we want to see in a Minimum Viable Bannerlord?

Specifically, what's in the game that could be gotten rid of without destroying the gameplay for you?

For me there's two rather obvious ones. Smithing, which seems to exist almost entirely for its own sake, and Hideouts, which no matter how they're handled need a serious rethink.

Any others? any other missing features that would be showstoppers if they're not included?

 

[Tuco]

This question is largely irrelevant because we're so far from early access. We're not going to get an MVP

If MVP becomes relevant for bannerlord, the game has failed and Taleworlds is out of $$$ and probably getting sold very cheaply to some garbage producer like Daybreak Games or EA.

 

[souro9]

Minimum Viable Product or MVP is the most optimum solution for your product. If your solution or product succeeds in the market then you deliver a better solution with more benefits and features. The minimum viable product (MVP) basically is the most simple product edition that the business intends to bring into the market, only to know the reactions and feedback of customers. They then study it, to bring the final product in the market. Here is blog to help you out with minimum viable product (MVP).

 

[KyDeezy]

For me there's two rather obvious ones. Smithing, which seems to exist almost entirely for its own sake, and Hideouts, which no matter how they're handled need a serious rethink.

GASP! Smithing allows you to create weapons around 20% stronger (at level 300ish with good attribute bonus rolls), as well as the best income source in the game.

Hideouts spawn bandits, which reduce economic activity and taxes as well as capture your vassals and companion-led parties (and yourself) sometimes. They're a good spawn source for capturing bandits to build a noble armies. < identifying bandit spawn points and planning your travels around them are one of the best ways to build a strong army.

 

[Androme1]

- Blacksmithing/crafting should indeed just be removed or revamped, it's not fun or engaging in any way.
- Different Workshop options should also be scrapped, they serve no in-game purpose. Whatever boosts the income of one Workshop type boosts the income of another, so the choices are meaningless except for in a few months time looking at a spreadsheet showing which Workshop is the best in which city. This needs removing/revamping
Honestly these two are the most egregious examples, there's alot of other content in the game that needs revamping though. Including but not limited to: Tournaments, Lord interaction, Dialogue, Companions, Skill/Attribute system, Diplomacy, Kingdom Management, etc. .

Edit: Someone else reminded me, another thing that should be removed (not reworked), but just straight up removed: The "main quest line":

 

[Solomani]

Minimum Viable Product = Rosie O'Donnell
Gets the job done, but....

 

[Apocal]

Specifically, what's in the game that could be gotten rid of without destroying the gameplay for you?

The main quest line.
Smithing.
The board games.

 

[wendoll]

100% smithing but tbh the profit to cost ratio must be amazing for taleworlds. No reason to cut anything. They should be adding not subtracting with their profit ratio.

 

[WhiteEyedSh4rk]

100% smithing but tbh the profit to cost ratio must be amazing for taleworlds. No reason to cut anything. They should be adding not subtracting with their profit ratio.

Yea, 80 people and that amount of profit should be more than enough to include everything promised and more!

 

[Ananda_The_Destroyer]

Specifically, what's in the game that could be gotten rid of without destroying the gameplay for you?

The ****ing trees and bushes
all dialogues.
insides of towns and villages

 

[Ananda_The_Destroyer]

Smithing allows you to create weapons around 20% stronger (at level 300ish with good attribute bonus rolls)

I don't wanna make a topic just to ask stuff like this, but can you make a really really log 2 handed axe? like close to glaive size?

 

[wendoll]

Yea, 80 people and that amount of profit should be more than enough to include everything promised and more!

80 people in Turkey not taking away from their hard work or where they come from but i can only assume their total expenses are minimal compared to being setup in the united states.

 

[WhiteEyedSh4rk]

80 people in Turkey not taking away from their hard work or where they come from but i can only assume their total expenses are minimal compared to being setup in the united states.

I remember a dev saying, that the gaming industry is barely supported by the Turkey government and they actually have it harder than gaming companies in other countries like usa etc.

 

[wendoll]

I remember a dev saying, that the gaming industry is barely supported by the Turkey government and they actually have it harder than gaming companies in other countries like usa etc.

Their expenses such as salary, rent and equipment are much lower. They have fewer regulations and taxes. The united states doesnt "support" game developers at all. Most countries dont give money to random private companies.

 

[WhiteEyedSh4rk]

Their expenses such as salary, rent and equipment are much lower. They have fewer regulations and taxes. The united states doesnt "support" game developers at all. Most countries dont give money to random private companies.

However, they have enough people and money to do better than they are doing now for sure.

 

[shades_o_grey]

I really don't get the point of this thread. Why would they have to cut anything? Why would an established game developer, especially one that built passion-projects like m&b into a reality, even toy with an MVP? What kind of answers was OP hoping for in a thread like this?

 

[wendoll]

I really don't get the point of this thread. Why would they have to cut anything? Why would an established game developer, especially one that built passion-projects like m&b into a reality, even toy with an MVP? What kind of answers was OP hoping for in a thread like this?

Op is taleworlds cfo. Trying to min max profits like a champ.

 

[Apocal]

Why would an established game developer, especially one that built passion-projects like m&b into a reality, even toy with an MVP?

lol

OG Mount and Blade was MVP. It was Swadians and Vaegirs at first, with other factions trickling in -- and never being balanced. Thankfully, people saw potential in it and we got Warband a few years later, which in turn spawned a whole lot of mods and spin-offs.

 

[Wulfsdottir]

Do I understand this thread incorrectly or... How did we come from suggesting so many new features and improvements to existing features to suggesting what little things there are to be removed now?

 

[MostBlunted]

Because of no progression I guess?

Also because of some statements like this:

https://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php?threads/bannerlord-is-missing-many-good-features-from-warband-and-vc.427070/

Thanks for gathering all important missing features in a well designed list, this is one of best lists I read here. Yes, the ones you selected are all very important features which is currently missing in Bannerlord. Even some can seen less important like follow option but its not. Addition of these will add Bannerlord a lot of positive gameplay but I am not sure how many of them will be added. Even adding only these listed easily make game’s steam rating 90+ and increase number of players by 30-35%.