Books, will they be in the game

[ShadowFox]

Anyone know if books will be featured in Bannerlord? I thought that was kind of a neat way to help your character growth in Warband but I know Bannerlord plays a little different especially with the kids and stuff

[Haddon]

I was just thinking about this as I lay in bed after I woke up. There should be 3 different kinds, scroll, book, tome. Only tiny bits of exp IMO, basically help you get those first ~100 points in something faster, or to make a companion not useless with a bow or something.

[NightSkies]

Agreed, books would be great addition again like warband.

[nephilimnexus]

Considering that this game is set centuries before M&B 2, and how rare books were even then, I doubt it.

Even the books in M&B 2 reflected the era when books were all written entirely by hand, long before the invention of the printing press, and their prices reflected this.

Rewind the clock another few centuries and we're still looking a papyrus scrolls and clay tablets.

[Haddon]

Originally posted by nephilimnexus:

Considering that this game is set centuries before M&B 2, and how rare books were even then, I doubt it.

Even the books in M&B 2 reflected the era when books were all written entirely by hand, long before the invention of the printing press, and their prices reflected this.

Rewind the clock another few centuries and we're still looking a papyrus scrolls and clay tablets.

...we are not looking at papyrus scrolls and clay tablets. We are still looking at illuminated manuscripts on vellum. St. Cuthbert's Gospel was made sometime in the mid-7th century, possibly even earlier. That is about 400 years earlier than the earliest period Bannerlord is based on. The...Scottish Psalter I think it is called? is Scotlands oldest book, and it is from something around the period Bannerlord is set, can't remember when exactly but I know it chronicles some of the 11th or 12th century (also can't remember which exactly, learned about it years ago). Dublin has a book from the Early Middle Ages in one of its museums, the Book of Kells. Vellum has been in use for a long, long time. Papyrus fell completely out of use in Western Europe (maybe except Spain, not sure) after the fall of Western Rome, and vellum took its place.

In fact, it was in this period that we once again start to see printing become a profession that more than monks did (though still MOSTLY monks, many people in the early Scholastic movement had their students, even lay ones, copy manuscript).

[djo1313]

Originally posted by Haddon:

Originally posted by nephilimnexus:

Considering that this game is set centuries before M&B 2, and how rare books were even then, I doubt it.

Even the books in M&B 2 reflected the era when books were all written entirely by hand, long before the invention of the printing press, and their prices reflected this.

Rewind the clock another few centuries and we're still looking a papyrus scrolls and clay tablets.

...we are not looking at papyrus scrolls and clay tablets. We are still looking at illuminated manuscripts on vellum. St. Cuthbert's Gospel was made sometime in the mid-7th century, possibly even earlier. That is about 400 years earlier than the earliest period Bannerlord is based on. The...Scottish Psalter I think it is called? is Scotlands oldest book, and it is from something around the period Bannerlord is set, can't remember when exactly but I know it chronicles some of the 11th or 12th century (also can't remember which exactly, learned about it years ago). Dublin has a book from the Early Middle Ages in one of its museums, the Book of Kells. Vellum has been in use for a long, long time. Papyrus fell completely out of use in Western Europe (maybe except Spain, not sure) after the fall of Western Rome, and vellum took its place.

In fact, it was in this period that we once again start to see printing become a profession that more than monks did (though still MOSTLY monks, many people in the early Scholastic movement had their students, even lay ones, copy manuscript).

What makes you think that books and writing evolved the same way on Calradia as it did on Earth?

[Sabaithal]

Would be a nice addition. I imagine its not present yet because, like other mechanics that were remade, the devs are probably trying to integrate books in a way that is a bit more...effective, maybe?

[Haddon]

Originally posted by djo1313:

Originally posted by Haddon:

...we are not looking at papyrus scrolls and clay tablets. We are still looking at illuminated manuscripts on vellum. St. Cuthbert's Gospel was made sometime in the mid-7th century, possibly even earlier. That is about 400 years earlier than the earliest period Bannerlord is based on. The...Scottish Psalter I think it is called? is Scotlands oldest book, and it is from something around the period Bannerlord is set, can't remember when exactly but I know it chronicles some of the 11th or 12th century (also can't remember which exactly, learned about it years ago). Dublin has a book from the Early Middle Ages in one of its museums, the Book of Kells. Vellum has been in use for a long, long time. Papyrus fell completely out of use in Western Europe (maybe except Spain, not sure) after the fall of Western Rome, and vellum took its place.

In fact, it was in this period that we once again start to see printing become a profession that more than monks did (though still MOSTLY monks, many people in the early Scholastic movement had their students, even lay ones, copy manuscript).

What makes you think that books and writing evolved the same way on Calradia as it did on Earth?

Well, given that in Warband we have giant tomes of illuminated manuscript, we can at least bet they had vellum and writing a couple centuries earlier. Even if it wasn't by the same methods, like...all other technology increased at about the same rate as here on Earth, the same would hold true for books. Books aren't hard to make. Just really, really time consuming and tedious.

Originally posted by Sabaithal:

Would be a nice addition. I imagine its not present yet because, like other mechanics that were remade, the devs are probably trying to integrate books in a way that is a bit more...effective, maybe?

Yeah they didn't mean much in Warband. Having libraries where we could go read about Calradian history in like 2 cities would be super world-building. Having a couple travelling booksellers you will rarely happen upon. Maybe give us another use for tanneries, making vellum and glue, and woodworkers, making the spines and covers.

Rather than just exp, there are special books that can give a slight influence boost, or increased experienced gained for cavalry, or increased Tactics by 15% against X faction. Things you just hold in your inventory, worth a lot, can be sold in an emergency.

[ShadowFox]

Originally posted by djo1313:

Originally posted by Haddon:

...we are not looking at papyrus scrolls and clay tablets. We are still looking at illuminated manuscripts on vellum. St. Cuthbert's Gospel was made sometime in the mid-7th century, possibly even earlier. That is about 400 years earlier than the earliest period Bannerlord is based on. The...Scottish Psalter I think it is called? is Scotlands oldest book, and it is from something around the period Bannerlord is set, can't remember when exactly but I know it chronicles some of the 11th or 12th century (also can't remember which exactly, learned about it years ago). Dublin has a book from the Early Middle Ages in one of its museums, the Book of Kells. Vellum has been in use for a long, long time. Papyrus fell completely out of use in Western Europe (maybe except Spain, not sure) after the fall of Western Rome, and vellum took its place.

In fact, it was in this period that we once again start to see printing become a profession that more than monks did (though still MOSTLY monks, many people in the early Scholastic movement had their students, even lay ones, copy manuscript).

What makes you think that books and writing evolved the same way on Calradia as it did on Earth?

Is Calradia a continent or a planet? (not really related to anything just curious)

[ShadowFox]

Originally posted by Sabaithal:

Would be a nice addition. I imagine its not present yet because, like other mechanics that were remade, the devs are probably trying to integrate books in a way that is a bit more...effective, maybe?

That makes sense, books were nice but not a huge part of the game. If they do get included in bannerlord maybe it could be like skyrim or something where you can actually read some pages in real life and your character gains a bit of XP or something but mostly a lore thing. Whatever happens I'm okay with it :)

[Sabaithal]

Well, I think in most countries during this time period (roughly) books were a noble item, mostly because commoners were mostly illiterate, and parchment was used more frequently than paper (much harder to make, much more expensive).

Proper books would be rare and very expensive...so about par for the course from warband's prices I suppose lol.

[The Mau Corporation]

I hope so, its a fantastic idea. The history lessons are great and all but lets not forget its a game.

[ankh]

Originally posted by nephilimnexus:

Considering that this game is set centuries before M&B 2, and how rare books were even then, I doubt it.

Even the books in M&B 2 reflected the era when books were all written entirely by hand, long before the invention of the printing press, and their prices reflected this.

Rewind the clock another few centuries and we're still looking a papyrus scrolls and clay tablets.

pretty sure there would be books in this game consider that viking conquest which is set in mid to late 9th century england had books in it

[LEGION22]

Originally posted by nephilimnexus:

Considering that this game is set centuries before M&B 2, and how rare books were even then, I doubt it.

Even the books in M&B 2 reflected the era when books were all written entirely by hand, long before the invention of the printing press, and their prices reflected this.

Rewind the clock another few centuries and we're still looking a papyrus scrolls and clay tablets.

This is a nonsense justification.

[ShadowFox]

Originally posted by The Mau Corporation:

I hope so, its a fantastic idea. The history lessons are great and all but lets not forget its a game.

Would you prefer the kind of books that you keep in inventory for bonus or the ones that you read while camping for permanent effect? I liked that we had both in warband especially for some of those party skills. It did suck when you got captured and lost 30k worth of books though xD

[Haddon]

Typed this up, gonna post on the TW boards.

Books Idea

My idea for books in Bannerlord is broken down into 4 different kinds of “book” items; scrolls, books, tomes, and the Calradia Collection, in order of significance and rarity.

Scrolls would be a simple scroll of parchment, on-use item that gives a little bit of exp. Two different kind of scrolls, ones that give exp to a specific skill (probably not very much exp), and kinds that give randomized amounts of exp to each skill of an attribute (so it would give a small amount to each Endurance skill, but how much to each is randomized). When given to a companion, the exp is 50% higher.

Books give non-randomized experience to a whole attribute line, but are significantly more expensive, much rarer, and require time to read, sort of like Warband. Only, you will read anytime you are not actively moving around, including while in siege camp. While in prison is an exception. These can be right-clicked in the inventory, and you can click “begin to read” or “peruse the book”, the latter allowing you, the person behind the monitor, to actually read some Calradic history, little bits of folklore or tales, maybe read about the ancient Empire. Worldbuilding to the extreme!

Tomes are far more expensive, talking 80k+ at least. They work like books which can be read for experience in an attribute line, but they also have unique effects when chiling in your inventory. Things like “Compendium of Aretius' Eastern Campaigns” which gives 20% increased tactics against Khuzaits. “The Legendary Lost Legion” which gives you increased morale for all Imperial troops, and 0.15 map move speed if over 75% infantry.

The Calradian Collection is a quest to collect 25 books from all over Calradia, each book is pretty much just flavor text and like +1 influence a day and +50 renown upon discovering the book. Upon completion, however, the player can choose to build a library in one of their towns with a prosperity over 8k, in which to house all of their books (while still getting the inventory benefits), which can also be visited by any lord of your realm in order to gain the experience from reading the books you own.

Additionally, this would give a perfect spot to add an in-game journal that we can write notes in if we want. Just a nice little addition I've heard asked for a few times.

Tanners, in addition to their leather they make, can now make glue, used for binding books and as a general trade good, and vellum (used to make parchment). Woodworkers can now make “Book parts”, the hard covers and spines. Maybe a new workshop type, but I dunno about that.

Lastly, “the knowing” and “the scholar” type companions generally come with a low-tier book or some scrolls to make them worth actually getting in your party.