Waiting for Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlords? Stop twiddling your thumbs and give some of these Warband mods a whirl.
Mount & Blade: Warband is the standalone expansion for Mount & Blade that released on Steam back in 2010 and made its console debut at the end of last year, and a huge modding community has built up around it.
The sequel, Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlords, still doesn’t have a confirmed release date but we do know that developer TaleWorlds will share its tools to keep the modding community alive. You do not have outlook installed mamut.
There’s a tonne of mods for Mount & Blade: Warband, from total conversion to simpler fare that makes the game prettier, and that’s what we’re here for today.
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Mount & Blade: Warband’s best mods and where to get them
In anticipation of the sequel hopefully hitting its potential 2017 release date, we’ve rounded up some of the best mods for you to try in Warband as the game is super cheap right now, and it’s a good a time as any to dip your toes into the water.
Let us know if your favourites made the list, and if you have any suggestions of your own.
A Song of Ice and Fire is music to our ears
If you’re yearning for some Game of Thrones action while waiting for the next book or the new series, A World of Ice and Fire is going to be right up your street.
We reviewed AWoIaF a few years ago, comparing it to another popular Game of Thrones mod, A Clash of Kings.
It was officially released in April this year and is still being updated – you can check out June’s patch notes here – and it lets you pick character names based on either the books or the TV series, which is a nice touch.
If you’re ready to slaughter and pillage your way to the Iron Throne, this is the mod for you.
Mount & Blade: 40K
Warsword Conquest has been around for a while, and while it’s still in beta, this Warhammer fantasy total conversion mod features factions like the Scaven, dwarves, orcs, elves, Lizardmen and more.
The latest update was in June, and while there’s still no release date in sight, it’s a solid fantasy mod for fans of Warhammer.
Any mod that enables drunken heroes to stagger across the world and ride into battle completely sozzled is okay in my book.
A galaxy far, far away
Star Wars – Bear Force 2 is a world away from Mount & Blade: Warband.
Set during the Clone Wars, this multiplayer mod has overhauled everything to recreate the Star Wars universe for Mount & Blade players who fancy changing things up and trading in their swords for lightsabers.
In June’s blog update the team behind the mod said that they were working towards “a grand release in July”. Hopefully they’ll get it out there before Bannerlord comes out.
Watch your enemies lose their heads
There’s nothing more satisfying in this world than lopping off someone’s arm or leg, so let’s throw a little love towards the Decapitate and Dismember mod.
It’s an oldie but a goodie, and all of the enemies can be beheaded in the majority of scenarios. Just like in real life, it might take you a few tries to hack off a limb or a head, but a little perseverance and elbow grease goes a long way.
It’s not Elder Scrolls 6, but it’ll do
It would be remiss not to include an Elder Scrolls mod on the list.
Tamriel: Bloodlines End is an ambitious mod that is currently in development for Warband. It’s set in the fourth era, just after the assassination of Emperor Titus Mede II and Vittoria Vicci.
Factions include Khajiit, Argonians, Aldmeri, and lots more. It’s certainly one to keep an eye on if it can deliver on its promise to let you “Travel to any corner of Tamriel.”
There’s no release date for a beta version, so let’s hope the project doesn’t become too overwhelming. We really want to see Tamriel come to Mount & Blade: Warband.
A Smorgasbord of mods
If you can’t be bothered to trawl through all of the Mount & Blade: Warband mods, the Floris Mod Pack is for you.
This is definitely an experience for players who have seen and done all there is to do in the vanilla version of the game, and it brings together a range of existing mods in the community.
You can choose between Basic, Gameplay, and Expanded versions depending on both the power of your PC and how much of a change you want.
Need a helping hand?
Wandering the land trying to amass an army can get lonely at times. If you want some company, the Full Invasion 2 mod is a popular choice for co-op.
Players are tasked with surviving waves of invaders and bosses for as long as possible, so it’s no walk in the park.
There is a newer version being worked on that will introduce new maps, systems, and features. If you’re having fun with Full Invasion 2, it’s worth keeping up with Wave 53 Studios’ progress on Full Invasion 3.
For honour and glory
Another mod that’s still in development, War of the Samurai overhauls Mount & Blade: Warband’s setting entirely.
YouNean is putting in a lot of effort to get its mod as historically accurate as possible, reading up on the era to get the names and artwork spot on.
The mod starts in 1560 after the Battle of Okehazama and one of the features will be the option of promoting members of your army to companions. There will be at least 50 clans and over 300 lords when the mod is finished.
It’s one to add to your watch list.
Swords and sorcery
Perisno is a fantasy mod for Warband and within it you’ll find elves, giants, dwarves, and even magic – although it’s worth noting that players can’t actually use magic.
The most recent update rolled out five new factions including two factions of giants, which are now a playable race.
Perisno has powerful weapons like the Flamebringer and Skyfall relics, and as well as invaders, players need to be on the lookout for the “Dreaded One,” adding another dimension to the gameplay with the potential for some interesting random events.
Chivalry is alive and well
Schwinn custom bikes serial number lookup. Prophecy of Pendor is for those of you who don’t want to go too far off the reservation.
The setting is low-fantasy, and Knighthood Orders, voice acting encounters, and “Well thought out cultures, armies, and conflict” lend themselves to a greater sense of immersion.
The AI battle system is new and there are even more quests and events than the original expansion.
Definitely a must-have for lovers of the original.
Looks aren’t everything, but they help
It’s no surprise to anyone to say that Mount & Blade: Warband isn’t the best looking game out there, but the Mount & Blade: Retexture mod sets out to rectify that.
The texture pack is for the vanilla version of the game and makes it a hell of a lot more easy on the eye.
Expect an update for hair textures soon as well.
Bigger is better
If you think your PC can handle the challenge, you should look into Warband Battle Size Changer for some epic fights.
The mod increases the base limit of 150 soldiers to 1000.
But fair warning, “Don’t even expect to be able to have battles of size 1000 even if you have the latest and greatest hardware; that upper limit is that high to give plenty of leeway. If you experience crashes, you should lower the battle size.”
If your game starts to slow down or crashes, obviously you need to lower your expectations somewhat, along with the number of troops.
But this should serve nicely to spice up your battles.
I would like to know if there are any advantages or more disadvantages of being a woman in Mount and Blade: Warband. I know for example you need more points to become vassal (I believe it's called) and you need more points to get a fiev. Now I also know its harder to become an actual king. Are there any advantages of being a woman?
Thunderforge
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Marco GeertsmaMarco Geertsma
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6 Answers
Disclaimer: I have never played Mount and Blade. The following information was gained entirely through secondary sources.
When you play as a female character, your starting stats will change - you will, relative to a male character, have +1 AGI and +1 INT, but -1 STR and -1 CHA [1]. In addition, a woman of noble background will have different starting skills to a man of noble background: women will get Riding, Wound Treatment, and First Aid instead of Power Strike and Tactics [2]. A similiar change in starting skills applies to a woman of nomad background compared to the male counterpart.
As a female character, you will need more Renown to do things. The base requirement to join a faction is 150 for men, but 200 for women[3]. In addition, it is more difficult to get a fief as a woman, unless you have a large amount of Renown (700). If you play as a woman, the lord who owns the castle associated with your village granted to you will deny you entry into his castle [4].
The marriage system for men and women is also different. The system for marriage for women may be considered simpler, but possibly more difficult [5]. It is very direct - find the lord you want to marry, increase your relationship with him, and then ask to 'cement the alliance to their house'. The wiki page suggests that a female character 'may gain more from a marriage than her male counterpart', but it doesn't elaborate on this. One last thing: female characters also can marry a Hero, which male characters cannot do [6].
Altogether, it seems like playing as a woman is overall a disadvantage [7], as it seems the cons outweigh the pros.
[1]: http://mountandblade.wikia.com/wiki/Player LessPop_MoreFizz
[2]: http://mountandblade.wikia.com/wiki/Character_creation [3]: http://mountandblade.wikia.com/wiki/Renown [4]: http://mountandblade.wikia.com/wiki/Fiefs [5]: http://mountandblade.wikia.com/wiki/Marriage [6]: http://mountandblade.wikia.com/wiki/Heroes [7]: http://www.gog.com/forum/general/mount_and_blade_warband_female_character_confusion
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absintheabsinthe
From my experience playing the game, playing as a female character could be considered the 'Hard Mode' within Mount and Blade: Warband. It's less of a disadvantage and more of a way to give a challenge.
They have a unique way of getting Renown as well, but it could be a gamble:
If you counter a lord's remarks about you being a maiden, it is possible that you may get Renown for this due to them admiring a quick tongue and an equivalent wit. However, they may also lose relations with you, try to duel you, or even send their army at you. [[1]]
Overall, it's more of a way to make the game much more difficult than it is as a male character.
Source (Last bullet in 'You can gain renown in a number of ways:')
Vemonus
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Rose ArrendaleRose Arrendale
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The best thing i find about being a female is mount and blade is that when you marry them and leave their faction, the husband will support you most of the time.
FangFang
If you're using the mods that allow you to control the garrsion of the spouse, then being a woman is an insane advantage. It means you can have an indefinite amount of troops without paying their wages (even their half wages).
This is also possible for men if one is playing a mod where female lords do exist (e.g. Clash of Kings with Asha Greyjoy, Maege Mormont et al). However, it is significantly more difficult to marry those (you'll probably have to be in the same faction first).
Though to be honest, this is quite gamey and could probably ruin the immersion and make the game a bit too easy.
LessPop_MoreFizz
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Avihoo IlanAvihoo Ilan
How the game mechanics work may vary by version/update for female toons.I played version 1.1.72 as woman and and man both and noticed little to no difference in renown gain. I did notice that in the 1.172 as soon as renown was 150 or more vassal and a fief was offered by the king of the territory I was in via messenger (neutral or positive in that faction ). I too noticed a difference in the response options for female toons when talking to lords . I suspect, but have not tested, getting a positive result will ( like capturing lords in battle) depend in the fellows personality. Wiki fandom has a personality chart that allows you to figure which lord has what personality by their first comments at meeting you (prior to merc or vassal in that lords faction) .Character builds 6: 2 female , 4 male. 1 noble 1 non on the gals.
SMCSMC
Well, the disadvantage I have encountered, is simply that during sparring (a good way to give your troops XP BTW) on training fields, the female character wears a bikini and having people in the room you are in is awkward.
Crally69Crally69
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged mount-and-blade-warband or ask your own question.
Recently, I've managed to make a bit of a name for myself in Mount & Blade: Warband.
The only problem is, I don't fully understand the responsibilities that come with this new title. Does this mean people will listen to me if I say 'Go here.' or 'Take this castle.'?
What happens when I become a Marshal?
NiroNiro
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1 Answer
As per the Mount and Blade Wikia, it means that you can boss people within your faction around with regard to military actions (bolding is mine):
Being the marshall gives you the power to give orders and organize military campaigns. You will also have full authority over your allies in battle, so you may instruct their troops just as you would your own.
To give orders to your fellow lords (including the monarch), just speak with them and select 'I have a new task for you.' A list of orders will then be shown.
If you wish to head a military campaign, talk to any vassal and tell them 'I want to start a new campaign. Let us assemble the army here.' This will send out a message to all the vassals with instruction to meet you at that location.
To cancel orders, tell the lord 'I won't need you for some time. You are free to do as you like.'
..
It is important to note that vassals will not always obey you. When given a direct order, if they are preoccupied with something else already (like heading to their castle), they may tell you they are too busy.
If they are not busy, they must listen to you, but may only do so for a limited length of time. This means that if you instruct a fellow lord to follow you and then besiege a castle, he may wander off before you even finish constructing the siege equipment. All lords, even ones that like you, will also be tempted to chase passing caravans or enemy farmers as well.
If you are not playing with realistic saving, you should save before starting the siege so that if all your allies run off, you can restore and try again. It is advisable to tell all your comrades to follow you again just before starting the siege, this will decrease the likelihood of them losing interest before the actual battle begins.
Calling together a military campaign can be even more frustrating, as it can take a long time for everyone to come together and the lords may ignore your summons completely too. It may be faster to just manually give three or four lords direct orders to follow you rather than attempt starting a campaign.
There's also a greater risk of controversy (a new feature to warband) when you mess up:
As Marshall: Any loss, such as having a village raided, caravan destroyed, peasants attacked, a lord losing a battle, a castle captured, or town captured will add to controversy in often large measures. If you face war on multiple fronts or have a large kingdom to defend, you can expect to reach near 100 controversy very quickly. The only solution is to give up being marshall in that case.
skovacs1skovacs1
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Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged mount-and-blade-warband or ask your own question.I'm a Mount & Blade classic fan and I made these guide for people who want to play the game on the hardest difficulty setting since character creation, and want to experience everything the game has to offer on that difficulty, without having major annoyances. This level can be quite hard if you build your character in some ways, and if you don't pay attention to some details. This guide is for anyone who wants to play the game on this level, and it will also help those in easier settings. Character CreationSome may disagree, but my opinion is that YOUR main character should only focus on TWO stats. One should be either strength or agility, and the other should be charisma. Don't build intelligence, I think intelligence is useless for Mount & Blade (classic) main characters. I'm not talking about Warband. You should build strength if you plan on being either a Swadian lord, a Rhodok lord, a Vaegir lord or a Nord lord. You should build agility if you plan on being either a Khergit Khanate lord or a Vaegir lord. Yes, Vaegir lords could build either one. Actually, for Vaegir I recommend building three stats and this is the only case. Vaegir lord main characters should build strength and agility and charisma. Why? Mount & Blade is mainly a game about fighting, winning battles and wars and taking more lands for your kingdom and for yourself. So, you need to be a good fighter to be good in this game. Strength gives you one more hitpoint, so you can take more damage without dying, and the skills you learn by having strength are VERY useful to warriors, and you want to be a warrior on Mount & Blade. You may trade later if you want, but you'll win a lot of denars winning battles. Vaegir and Khergit lords should build agility because agility is useful for ranged combat and also some other skills, and these two factions rely on agility tactics, while all the others rely on strength tactics. About the Skills Now, it depends if you are either main strengt or main agility (or both, if Vaegir) character. Don't bother building charisma early on: you don't need it right now. Only build Prisoner Management level one. All other charisma skills are pretty much useless in the beginning.
Early DaysThis time will cover roughly the first game month(s) of your character. Of course I'm talking about ingame time, not real time. You just started the game. You have some denars. I strongly suggest you visit the taverns in nearby cities and look for companions, because there are some companions who will join your party FOR FREE. Don't spend denars on recruiting companions early on, only recruit the free ones. Companions are much more useful than regular soldiers because companions don't die, and they will keep their equipment forever even if you become prisoner (at least on Mount & Blade classic). So, focus 100% on recruituing those free companions, recruit at least two to start with. And dodge those bandits! Now that you have at least two companions, I suggest you recruit raw soldiers on villages, and begin attacking looters (only looters, do not engage bandits, deserters or sea raiders, because any of these will wipe you out right now). Only take looter parties that are smaller than 10 people otherwise you may loose. There is no point on having a party bigger than 20 people at this moment in the game. You won't take any castle or city right now, your party is meant to hunt looters and later bandits (when you're stronger and better equipped, because bandits may have horses and better equipment than looters). Make some money by doing this, recruit more people, equip your companions with the items you get from your defeated enemies, and you may keep searching for more free companions. As you make more money, recruit one or two companions, and recruit more people, and keep fighting looters and giving better gear to your companions. When you have like four companions and like 10 soldiers, you may attack bandits, but not too large groups, only groups with 12 people for example, or less. Keep doing this. You should have a renown bigger than 100 by now, or more depending on your character background. At any time you may start receiving vassalage offers. I suggest you refuse all of them, and only accept the vassalage offer of the kingdom you want to join (that is, if you want to join any kingdom). Don't worry about upsetting those lieges, nothing will happen from that. But, accept the vassalage offer from the kingdom you want to join, do not refuse it, I don't know what could happen lol. Keep doing this process, and giving better gear to your companions, and recruiting the remaining ones. Remember, you CAN'T have all companions in the game at the same time, you have to choose, because not all of them like each other, so you can only have a finite number of companions at once. Once you have an easy time defeating looters and bandits, you may take on smaller parties of sea raiders. Their loot is very useful, because it is middle tier equipment for you and for your companions. But only take small parties, like 12, 14 people or less. At some point you should get to level 10, and should have a decent amount of money by attacking looters and bandits. I suggest you go to tournaments and earn denars and renown there. Now, there is some strategy to tournaments on hardest difficulty setting. You may not be able to win every single tournament in the game playing in this setting. Because of this, you better know which tournaments you will win and which you will have a hard time winning. If you are a strength character, go to tournaments in these kingdoms: Swadia, Rhodoks, and Nords. If you are an agility character, go to tournaments in these kingdoms: Khergit Khanate and Vaegir If you already accepted one vassalage offer, of course, don't go to any kingdom that is enemy to your own! Take your chances and don't bet too much on yourself on your first tournaments. This is only to have a taste and see how you go. If you do well, or even win, then you should bet on yourself on the next tournaments. Since you are very much poor on this early game, I suggest you ONLY bet 100 denars on yourself at max, since this will already give you something like 1000 denars if you win. When you are winning tournaments in a row, then you may bet a lot more, let your feelings and instinct guide you. Keep playing in tournaments (only play in the ones I listed for your character, otherwise you may loose much money if you bet a lot). Mount And Blade Warband Marshall PeaceIf you already joined a kingdom, fight on tournaments whenever your marshall hasn't rallied you, and whenever your kingdom is at peace. If they ask you to go to war, go to war! This is how my character was like when I accepted a vassalage offer from King Harlaus of Kingdom fo Swadia. He had more than 200 renown, and all of his companions had equipments at this tier at the time. It took me two ingame months to get to this point. And I did a lot of fool things like fighting deserters, and I became prisoner like two or three times. So, this could be done faster if you are careful enough. These were my companions just before joining Kingdom of Swadia with 200 renown. Now to the next part. How to Build Your Companions![]() Mount And Blade War Band MarshallThis is SO MUCH important. This makes a HUGE difference on your gameplay.
Once you have companions focused on building only those, the rest of your companions should be built to be warriors. You also should build one of your companions to have a lot of agility, so he or she builds up Looting to a very high level, because this will help you make more money by (duh) looting defeated enemies. The remaining companions could go pure strength, or pure agility or somethingi in between. Mount And Blade Warband Marshall ElectionAlso, give crowsbows or bows only to the three companions who are healer, tracker and trainer. Don't give ranged weapons to your fighters because they will keep firing at the enemy instead of fighting. And they are more useful fighting.The War DaysThis is my favorite part of the game. Some people call this the 'second half' of Mount & Blade. This is when you will conquer lands, this is when you will fight massive battles, with like 500 people on each side. This is when you will siege castles and defend castles, and it is going to get really bloody. So, don't forget the tips I gave you on the last section. Because they will give you a lot of money and will keep your companions strong, and you are going to need your companions now more than ever. I suggest building either strength or agility or both, and getting the strength or agility skills to level 10. After that, you should build only charisma because now you will need to have many troops, and to lower the troop wages. Now charisma is important. Comments are closed.
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