Sweet Realistic Medieval Combat (Mount and Blade)

[rajpoot]

Actually I didnt just lose my stuff. My level was set back to 1.

Then use Ctrl+X in the character menu.

Anything that has happened can be remedied by using Ctrl+X.

[Husar]

Keep it nice guys, some people play games for fun and not as a contest to be better than others and if you can't respect that, you may get warned.

[johnhughthom]

Sorry Hooahguy if you took my comment as criticism or mocking you, I genuinely found it odd you were so far into the game and losing money, I wasn't trying to show what a great player I am, I simply wanted a bit more information to give you advice.

Anyway, as you're starting again I would repeat my mantra, Sea Raiders, Sea Raiders, Sea Raiders. Early on they are the building blocks for your entire game, they equip you and your followers, they are high priced hostages and will give you loads of loot. Every time you get 10000, go to a city in the faction you intend to join and buy the most expensive industry, it's income stays pretty constant. Once you have a few of these and some fiefs you should have no worries about income.
Also, never decline a fief. Even if you think it'll be lost it means you are less likely to be offered another one, perhaps that nice castle you fought for yourself...

[johnhughthom]

I've sort of cheated. There was a tournament so I scaled down the difficulty and bet on myself to make me some money and get started; I do feel a bit bad about it.
At normal I could win, but it wouldn't be a save bet. One time unlucky with the equipment and you lose.

One thing to remember in tournament is that group orders actually work, you can order the group you are with to hold together and wait, rather than split up in different directions. Makes the early rounds less of a lottery.

A new version of my favourite M&B mod, Brytenwalda has been released.

[Hooahguy]

Then use Ctrl+X in the character menu.

Anything that has happened can be remedied by using Ctrl+X.

Turns out not just me this happened to. Everyone In my party lost everything, and everyone's inventory is gone. I cant find a sword anywhere, nor armor, nor a steed.

Also, if I intend not to join a faction but be a merc, does that jeopardize industries I have in other cities? After many hours of playing I got a winery in Veluca and an alehouse in Praven. So if I fight on the side of Swadia against the Rhodoks, will I lose my business in Veluca?

[johnhughthom]

So if I fight on the side of Swadia against the Rhodoks, will I lose my business in Veluca?

You won't lose it, but you won't get the income so long as you are at war.

[Hooahguy]

Well thats a downer. I suppose the income I get from being a merc on campaign will make up for it.
Would it be wise to have a business in every nation?

[johnhughthom]

If I'm intending to play as a Nord I usually get a business in every Nord city first, then look at the cities least likely to be at war with the Nords so Sarranid cities then Khergits. It's not so easy with the Swadians as everybody seem to like going to war with them! The Sarranids are probably your best bet.

[Hooahguy]

Well to be honest, I cant say that I want to swear fealty. Maybe I will want to later on after Im making like a good 3k a week from business alone. But my idea was to have a business in every nation so if I go to war with one I will still have at least five other enterprises to live off of, not to mention the plunder I get from war.

[rajpoot]

Well to be honest, I cant say that I want to swear fealty. Maybe I will want to later on after Im making like a good 3k a week from business alone. But my idea was to have a business in every nation so if I go to war with one I will still have at least five other enterprises to live off of, not to mention the plunder I get from war.

The best way to make money quick, IMO, is to remain a freelancer and trade. trade, and trade, and trade some more. It seems you already have a good party. If you invest in pathfinding you can move around relatively quickly. Keep a cavalry party and buy stuff and sell it. Setting up businesses is a good idea, but only if you can be sure that your income won't be interrupted. For instance having all your investments in your own faction.

If I remember correctly Brocha has the best pathfinding skill amongst all the companions early on, and he gets along with...Rolf I think (I might be wrong though).

Living as a merc might sound fun, but it is not really. You still have to do everything a lord does, but for less pay, and no fief.
Also, try and get your king to give you a city, ASAP. Cities generate very good revenue.

[Hooahguy]

Yeah. I already have Borcha, Rolf, Lezalit, and Nizar in my party. Im just looking for Jeremus so my men wont die as much, but hes so hard to find!

[johnhughthom]

A nine person party without complaining is possible: Matheld, Deshavi, Ymira, Katrin, Marnid, Bunduk, Alayen, Artimenner and Nizar. It lacks a medic, but Ymira is level one and easily trained up. Sometimes Marnid whinges, but he's no loss if he goes which seems to happen about half the time, the other games he's happy.

[Hooahguy]

I find that Marnid is worthless. I mean, he gave me no trade benefits when I had him in my party.

[johnhughthom]

Actually I find if you stick a crossbow in his hands he does alright. But yes, he sucks as a trader. Which is why he was scum in my M&B speed mafia.

[Hooahguy]

Ive gotten so desperate to find Jeremus that I enabled cheats and been skipping around the map to each tavern to find him. Ive been to each one like three times, no luck so far.

[rajpoot]

Matheld and Ymira have conflicts...
I've not tried going as far as keeping them in the party while they're unhappy, but AFAIK, the maximum number of companions one can keep without conflict is six.

I did hire Lezlit...but I did it solely for those noble robes he wears
Kicked him out after that. My favourite combination is Bunduk, Katrin, Devashi, Klethi, Matheld, Nizar (alternatively, substitute the last two with Ymira and Alayen).
Best thing about companions is that you can give them fiefs and make them lords.

[johnhughthom]

The very maximum is actually 8, my 9 works sometimes but take Marnid out and nobody will ever leave. They'll moan about each other, but every conflict has a friend. Ymira likes Alayen and Matheld likes someone, I think it's Nizar, so they stay.

[Drunk Clown]

I encounter Jeremus everywhere, but he's such a bitch. He dislikes Artimenner (got him), Matheld, looting villages, fighting too much and completing certain quests, in which you have to round up escaping serfs. Also got Lezlit.

[Hooahguy]

While Jeremus is a whiner about many things, his medical bonuses makes it so you rarely have a man killed.

Also if you give him a 2h axe he isnt so bad in combat.

[Drunk Clown]

So I started building a mill in Subujan (or something), was this a wise choice?

[johnhughthom]

Building improvements in villages doesn't really bring huge benefits, I think the mill slightly increases prosperity giving you a small increase in income from the village. As it'll probably be raided during war and you won't get any income the benefit is not really worth the investment in my opinion. I only really build improvements in villages when I've more money than I know what to do with.

[Hooahguy]

I would only build improvements in a village if I was sure that it wouldnt be raided if there was a war.

[Drunk Clown]

Got 2 Nord lords, but nobody wants them. Ransomed on for 4200 (first I had 3). But damn I'm really stomping them Nords.

The problem is that when there's peace, I want war. Now the Nords started one and immediately Swadia followed. I just want one, so we can pwn them bitches. Khergit will start a war probably next . And I really hate that Tulug guy. Beat him twice, but the second time my King did not approve as we weren't at war.

[johnhughthom]

I would only build improvements in a village if I was sure that it wouldnt be raided if there was a war.

I'd love to know how you can be sure of that, the AI has a tendency to attack my little insignificant village way on the coast nowhere near the border, ignoring a dozen others on the way.

[rajpoot]

The only improvement that goes waste when a village is raided in the Mill. It provides a meager benefit, which can vanish as soon as it is attained. Rest of the improvements, specially schools, watch towers and messenger posts, are quite beneficial.
In my games enemy factions have rarely gone for villages, the usually go to poorly defended castles...which works out all right since one can ride to the aid of castles quite quickly.

[Drunk Clown]

I've got a few questions:

Large bag of throwing axes or balanced javelins; which are better?
Battered Brigindine (+44 to body armor, +10 to leg armor) or Mail Shirt (+37 to body armor, +12 to leg armor); which is better?

Does the Ecumbrance mather? If so in what way?

When/how do I get a castle? I can store troops there can't I? I want this because I want to train elite groups. And what's the best way to earn money to pay my troops? Trade?

Can a Heavy Steppe Horse become a Lame Steppe Horse, because I could swear I bought a Heavy Steppe Horse

Are books worth reading? And if you finished it, sell it?

Is there a way to choose my troops when attacking a bandit lair? Because I hate it when I take 3 Veagir archers with me. It's a pointless death (same goes when I take my khergit Lancers, while I have Nord Huscarls ).

And final:
Leader skills, I gave points to Lezalit in Inventory Management... but that only works when I have points in it... doesn't it?

[johnhughthom]

I prefer javelins, I think they have better range and damage but I could be wrong.

You'll get a castle when you conquer one yourself, or your faction conquers one and the King decides you should have it. You can go around and try to convince him and other Lords you should get it. As for best way to get money it's been discussed ad nauseum recently, india will tell you to trade and I'll tell you to go kill Sea Raiders and build the most expensive business (if I want to trade I'll play X3, I play M&B to kill stuff with axes and lances )

The highest troops in the list will follow you in these instances. Usually.

Inventory management is pointless in followers, which makes Katrin's 7 all the more galling.

[Drunk Clown]

I've update my post above with moar questions (alot of questions)

[rajpoot]

Party members having points in party skills improves those skills for the party whether or not yo have point in it.
As in case of all weapons, axes have cutting damage while javelins have pierce...so they're both useful in different situations. AFAIK, javelins have a greater range.
Troops in vanilla are picked on the basis of whichever come first in your list on the party menu....mods can help you assign troops whatever way you like.
The number of fiefs you get is based on your renown and your standing with the faction leader. In my latest playthrough I manged to get two castles and a city (aside from the villages that came with them), before Harlus stopped allocating me fiefs...then I rebelled.

[johnhughthom]

Leg armour is important for cavalry, heavy encumberance slows you down (I don't worry about it with a cavalry character, on foot I like to wear light armour, Lordly light leather is my favourite), horses can be lamed if "killed" in battle (it will heal if you keep it in your inventory but don't ride it though, it will only become an ordinary steppe horse), I've never read a book (in M&B ).