Should I play Bannerlord or Warband?

[K9ofChaos]

For context, I'm a newb when it comes to Mount & Blade. So I'm having trouble deciding which game to play first.

I'm sort of leaning towards Bannerlord because I like the fantasy counterpart culture factions of Bannerlord a bit more than the ones in Warband. (I like Battania because of they're Insular Celts/Irish/Welsh, Sturgia because they're Kievan Rus' and.) I also do like the graphics of Bannerlord a bit more. I've heard that it's the more newb friendly title of the duology.

But on the other hand I've heard that Warband is more well regarded among the fandom. It also helps that Warband requires way less storage space than Bannerlord. But I'm still leaning more towards Bannerlord for reasons stated above. Does TaleWorlds still update Bannerlord from time to time?

Either way, feel free to share your recommendations.

[Action Man]

If playing a game for the first time, I always recommend starting vanilla - no mods. In this regard, from a gameplay perspective, Bannerlord > Warband.

Warband has been out for much longer, so there are many mods fully fleshed out to enjoy, whereas many major mods for Bannerlord are in various stages of development. Overall, there are more mods for Bannerlord, but this will mostly come down to what mods tickle your fancy.

Strap on a helmet and swing a pointy stick!

[アゼム]

Bannerlord is shallower but nicer looking and easier to get into
Warband is deeper but jankier. It also has more and way, WAY better mods

[AfLIcTeD]

Originally posted by アゼム:

Bannerlord is shallower but nicer looking and easier to get into
Warband is deeper but jankier. It also has more and way, WAY better mods

Warband isn't that much deeper really, maybe not at all. There things that one has that the other doesn't.

[TheHogfather]

I started out with warband, then when I discovered that this type of game is absolutely incredible I craved more and got bannerlord. I have way more hours in bannerlord

[アゼム]

Originally posted by AfLIcTeD:

Originally posted by アゼム:

Bannerlord is shallower but nicer looking and easier to get into
Warband is deeper but jankier. It also has more and way, WAY better mods

Warband isn't that much deeper really, maybe not at all. There things that one has that the other doesn't.

it really is, the only people who say this are bannerlord fans

[Action Man]

Originally posted by アゼム:

Originally posted by AfLIcTeD:

Warband isn't that much deeper really, maybe not at all. There things that one has that the other doesn't.

it really is, the only people who say this are bannerlord fans

What's deeper about Warband?

From what I've heard, Warband's RP and NPCs are just as shallow as Bannerlord. From what I understand about Warband, companions had more of a story, but were static every game. I suppose if you like those specific companions, I can see liking Warband's take on it more.

[kristianjakob]

Originally posted by Action Man:

Originally posted by アゼム:

it really is, the only people who say this are bannerlord fans

What's deeper about Warband?

From what I've heard, Warband's RP and NPCs are just as shallow as Bannerlord. From what I understand about Warband, companions had more of a story, but were static every game. I suppose if you like those specific companions, I can see liking Warband's take on it more.

They probably have roughly the same amount of story that Bannerlord companions do; only with much larger fonts.

Skip.

[アゼム]

Originally posted by Action Man:

Originally posted by アゼム:

it really is, the only people who say this are bannerlord fans

What's deeper about Warband?

From what I've heard, Warband's RP and NPCs are just as shallow as Bannerlord. From what I understand about Warband, companions had more of a story, but were static every game. I suppose if you like those specific companions, I can see liking Warband's take on it more.

Significantly better diplomacy, which is literally what defines the "depth" of mount and blade
Bannerlord's diplomacy is so ♥♥♥♥ I'd go as far to say the devs forgot to add it

[kristianjakob]

Originally posted by アゼム:

Originally posted by Action Man:

What's deeper about Warband?

From what I've heard, Warband's RP and NPCs are just as shallow as Bannerlord. From what I understand about Warband, companions had more of a story, but were static every game. I suppose if you like those specific companions, I can see liking Warband's take on it more.

Significantly better diplomacy, which is literally what defines the "depth" of mount and blade
Bannerlord's diplomacy is so ♥♥♥♥ I'd go as far to say the devs forgot to add it

They did not forget about it, on the contrary.

Warbands diplomacy is 100% a cookie cutter system as per basically every single other related title.

Bannerlords is something entirely different. So they undoubtedly spend a good deal of time coming up with it. That you dont like it that is a different issue.

[アゼム]

Originally posted by kristianjakob:

Originally posted by アゼム:

Significantly better diplomacy, which is literally what defines the "depth" of mount and blade
Bannerlord's diplomacy is so ♥♥♥♥ I'd go as far to say the devs forgot to add it

They did not forget about it, on the contrary.

Warbands diplomacy is 100% a cookie cutter system as per basically every single other related title.

Bannerlords is something entirely different. So they undoubtedly spend a good deal of time coming up with it. That you dont like it that is a different issue.

well then they should have made bannerlord's "cookie cutter" then, because whatever they did sucks
also, that's just blatant copium. they're just lazy

[toxicprime]

If you go without mods, I think Warband is the more accessible experience. your play through will allow you to access much of the game, start to finish.

Bannerlord requires a lot of modding to provide bandaids for these experiences. Bannerlords sieges can be pretty cool, but Warbands sieges felt much more winnable as a player; and in general more likely to have an impact on battles.

If you play Bannerlord first, its harder to go back and enjoy Warband. Bannerlord definitely made movement and some combat feel smoother and certainly look better.

Warband has 1 more thing going for it: Prophesy of Pendor, a complete overhaul mod. Its own map, campaign, factions, gear, game mechanics, sound track. It by itself is honestly better than Warband or Bannerlord.

At the moment ive honestly spent more time in Bannerlord, but its less memorable. Mostly new starts that typically require me spending a good looong portion of the game trying to build up the skills, wealth, and units that i want before i get to a bottleneck in the game that makes you lose interest and want to start over, that is founding your own kingdom. once you do its such a chore and nearly impossible to maintain. It requires a lot of time and modding to find the sweet spot where its enjoyable for your play style.

[Azunai]

If you plan on playing multiple parts of a series, you should always start with the oldest. Realistically, you'll not go back to the ugly older games that lack features you got used to when playing the newer games first.

[kristianjakob]

Originally posted by アゼム:

Originally posted by kristianjakob:

They did not forget about it, on the contrary.

Warbands diplomacy is 100% a cookie cutter system as per basically every single other related title.

Bannerlords is something entirely different. So they undoubtedly spend a good deal of time coming up with it. That you dont like it that is a different issue.

well then they should have made bannerlord's "cookie cutter" then, because whatever they did sucks
also, that's just blatant copium. they're just lazy

Lazy blah blah blah.

You guys cant come up with something new; a conspiracy perhaps?

Thats just lazy!

[BimboGooch]

if you want to play with out mods, 100% bannerlord. If with mods then thats a tougher choice. The vanilla plus mods between the two are about equal. But overhaul mods right now that goes to warband.

Combat is more fluid in this game objectively, most things are less clunky. Obviously there will be things better in warband as well. I cant put my finger on it right now though.

Honestly if youre struggling, you could just try both games. Both games suck at teaching you the basics lmao, so that wouldnt really be much different. Bannerlord I think is set 100ish years prior to warband, as well.
I was planning on playing warband again with floris mod pack after I am done with bannerlord. Since there are things I do like better in warband, such as being a slaver being way more rewarding and fun. And also armors are cooler imo since theres actually plate armor, or at least a decent amount more of it.

[Ruffio]

Originally posted by BimboGooch:

Honestly if youre struggling, you could just try both games. Both games suck at teaching you the basics lmao, so that wouldnt really be much different. Bannerlord I think is set 100ish years prior to warband, as well.
I was planning on playing warband again with floris mod pack after I am done with bannerlord. Since there are things I do like better in warband, such as being a slaver being way more rewarding and fun. And also armors are cooler imo since theres actually plate armor, or at least a decent amount more of it.

Plate armor is not a thing in Bannerlord due to the time its set in though. Lamellar is the best for its period.