Of all the games I play, this is one of the most enjoyable. I love being able to control an army, give strategic orders, and seige castles. The base game is great in it's own right, though as of this review (Sept 2015), the game is beginning to feel a bit dated. The mod community has kept this game alive and running strong as well. I recommend it for the vanilla experience, and when you want to try something more, take a look at the available mods. There are plenty out there that change the game either with just a few minor tweaks and additions, ranging all the way to complete overhauls that feel like a different game, or even an expansion.

PROS
1. Create and advance your commander either as a mercenary, bandit, or noble lord of a faction.
2. Raise an army, and level up troops into an unstoppable force.
3. Become King/Queen of a faction, then command other lords to assist you in battle.
4. Smooth gameplay, well polished. Good soundtrack.
5. Balanced troops, for the most part. You can make any army work with the proper tactics.
6. LARGE mod community ensures there are tons of new and exciting ways to experience the game.
7. ALL the below listed CONS have been addressed and resolved with various mods. No reason not to try it.

CONS
1. Base game can feel repetative at times.
2. Difficulty sliders top off at normal, and can sometimes make the game feel a bit too easy.
3. Limited to 150 troops shared between armies, if you do not modify settings.
4. AI can be a bit derpy at times. By default, enemy troops charge straight into your forces with no tactics.

TL;DR
Do I recommend this game? Yes. Absolutely yes. I also recommend mods to bring the game a little more life if you feel something is lacking.

Of all the games I play, this is one of the most enjoyable. I love being able to control an army, give strategic orders, and seige castles. The base game is great in it's own right, though as of this review (Sept 2015), the game is beginning to feel a bit dated. The mod community has kept this game alive and running strong as well. I recommend it for the vanilla experience, and when you want to try something more, take a look at the available mods. There are plenty out there that change the game either with just a few minor tweaks and additions, ranging all the way to complete overhauls that feel like a different game, or even an expansion. PROS 1. Create and advance your commander either as a mercenary, bandit, or noble lord of a faction. 2. Raise an army, and level up troops into an unstoppable force. 3. Become King/Queen of a faction, then command other lords to assist you in battle. 4. Smooth gameplay, well polished. Good soundtrack. 5. Balanced troops, for the most part. You can make any army work with the proper tactics. 6. LARGE mod community ensures there are tons of new and exciting ways to experience the game. 7. ALL the below listed CONS have been addressed and resolved with various mods. No reason not to try it. CONS 1. Base game can feel repetative at times. 2. Difficulty sliders top off at normal, and can sometimes make the game feel a bit too easy. 3. Limited to 150 troops shared between armies, if you do not modify settings. 4. AI can be a bit derpy at times. By default, enemy troops charge straight into your forces with no tactics. TL;DR Do I recommend this game? Yes. Absolutely yes. I also recommend mods to bring the game a little more life if you feel something is lacking.