Mount & Blade - duff game or duff gamer?

strumpusplunket

strumpusplunket

strumpusplunket

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Finally got around to installing Mount and Blade the other day, having had it sat in its case for a few months.

First impressions were that it looks dated. Really, really dated. I can probably get over that if it sucks me in enough, though.

The real turn-off came when trying out the combat mechanics. I had heard this game praised most of all for its fluid and engaging combat style, but I just can't get on with it all. My character swings his sword in a stupidly slow arc or a ponderous forward lunge while my opponents just hack me down whilst I'm still mid-swing.

Am I doing something terribly wrong? Is there a good game worth preserving with under the blocky and drab graphics? Is the combat system actually as good as I've heard? If so, any tips for a rather impatient noob?
 
Are you fighting bandits? When you first start the game, you may get jumped upon by approx. 6 bandits. My advice is to travel to nearest village and recruit some locals to assist you. Alternatively, travel to the nearest large town and recruit a company (or mercenary if you can afford them).
As for combat, you can block hits as well as attack, but these are more to do with timing. Yes, your combat is sluggish, but with more combat, your profficiencies in the current class of weapon increases. If they lung, step backwards then hit them. Wait for them to make initial move, step back then smack them.
Finally, I found horse archery is good to level-up as you can adopt Ghengis Khan's tactics of circle-strafe infantry.
All I can say is persevere for a day or so, the game DOES suck you. For better graphics, try M&B:Warband or download ENB Series utility for HDR. I found the graphics suitable to the game, as you will soon encounter battles with hundreds on screen and castle seige.
 
Ok. Cool. Thanks. I think I need to practice. I actually couldn't even do the tutorial battles! I got frustrated and dived straight in and got slaughtered :)

Will give it another go this evening, I think.

Searching for the ENB mod too, which looks interesting on first reading...
 
The combat isn't the best but it can get pretty deep. There's youtube videos of comabt training. Also, did you do the training in the game?

M&B is a very engaging game but does take a bit of comitment. Before long, you'll be riding with your knights into battle :D
 
Only played Warband but I would imagine the SP is similar.

As said above when you start the initial campaign your character has low abilities in pretty much everything. As you gain experience in athletics and combat skills for example you build these up.

Graphics are not brilliant but when you have 150 + npc's in battles you can probably understand why. I mainly play MP in Warband but I did enjoy SP for awhile.
 
CatMangler said:
Only played Warband but I would imagine the SP is similar.

As said above when you start the initial campaign your character has low abilities in pretty much everything. As you gain experience in athletics and combat skills for example you build these up.

Graphics are not brilliant but when you have 150 + npc's in battles you can probably understand why. I mainly play MP in Warband but I did enjoy SP for awhile.
Click to expand...

Download the mods. Battlesizer is a must have. 500 men battles are superb!
 
Skellig said:
Download the mods. Battlesizer is a must have. 500 men battles are superb!
Click to expand...

Yeah I have seen those about but I prefer MP as I enjoy killing other human players more.

I've found a new online mod called Vikingr which limits the number of archers to reduce (imho) the excessive spam they produce :)

I've just dl'ed it so I'll give it ago latter.
 
Combat is a bit hit and miss, so to speak... and the graphics are lousy. With more polish it could be a top drawer game.

Even in its current flaky state, once you're on a roll there is something special about watching the really big battles take place while commanding your troops from a hill and occasionally getting a 'head shot' in with your bow and arrow.
 
Mount & Blade was made by a husband and wife team.

The combat depends on the direction of your mouse swing for overhead, left or right slashes, as well as a straight thrust.
Timing and positioning are the most important parts of one-on-one combat.

Online there are lots of people who have practiced too huge amounts and spin their character while swinging which means they touch the hitbox a lot more often than they ought to.
 
Best bet would be to travel to villages and recruit some people to even the numbers a little. Travel to some of the training areas and get to grips with the combat mechanics, it might be an idea to look in the options and see what difficulty things are set to as well. I know you can change how much damage you and your allies take, and how good the combat ai is and how fast the combat is, setting the combat speed lower really helps you at the beginning as it gives you a lot more time to react to attacks.

You do have to remember you are right at the start of the game and have low stats and poor equipment, once you level up and get some decent armour things get a lot easier, plus when you get some good soldiers in your group they will be able to handle most battles by themselves and you can sit back a little.The game throws you in at the deep end but if you commit to it there is a great little game there, well worth the little frustration at the start.
 
I personally love this game. IT is a sandbox remember you have to work at your character before you can take on lots of enemies. Until you have levelled up a bit it is a struggle to fight even more than one opponent.

I have sunk over 100hours in this game since i bought it in the christmas sale.
One of those games you don't realise how long you have spent playing it.
 
Quick question that it thought i would ask here...is it best to buy the first mount and blade and the expansion, or the downloadable set on Steam?

or can i just buy the expansion without the first game?

thanks in advance!
 
mount and blade warband is a stand alone expansion, even tho the graphics are crap i still play this game daily its amazing.

edit:

might want to hold on as a new mount and blade is coming this spring called fire and sword.
 
Wow, so it seems this game divides opinion a bit!

I did turn combat speed to normal because I never like playing anything on easy, but I might have to revisit it and try again on slow at first to get used to it.

Now playing Metro2033, though, and wondering how well I'll get to used to playing in blocky-land after that :)
 
Never played the first one, but I bought Warband on a steam sale a while ago, very fun game, nothing quite like wading into an army of 200 odd with my group of ~30 Mamalukes, and walking out with no losses :D
 
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