Source
r/mountandblade•
Builds_

Brytenwalda vs 1257 vs ? in 2019

Hey all. Returning player here looking for an overhaul. I am looking for a new experience that retains some of the feeling of Warband--especially the high-risk tactical combat. Since most of the discussions I am finding are 5-7 years old, I was wondering if anyone could suggest pro's and cons for Brytenwalda or 1257 in their current iteration (or even which of the many versions of each I should try). Or if there is something else out there I should be looking at.

Was disappointed by Prophecy of Pendor after reading all the hype. (Partly because the battles were stat-check-y rather than difficult, partly the insane grind, partly because I never caught a hint of any of the story or lore in 6-8 hours of gameplay.)

Thanks in advance for any help.

(edit: organization)

Posted Sep 8, 2019, 10:51 PM UTC · edited

2114
AffanDedeMercenary•

I don't get the PoP craze either. Welcome to the band.

28
rp_hometown1999•

i don't really get it either. why does everyone like it so much? the map is nice and it adds some cool new mechanics but personally i find floris evolved a much more fun singleplayer experience. but I've never been a fan of fantasy and maybe I'm just used to the world and gameplay of native. also i had to delete all the sound files that contained voice acting in pop before i could really play because it's so distracting and terrible. no offense to the voice actors.

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MessireSMKingdom of Rhodoks•

It looks good and it has unique features.

3
Builds_OP•

This wasn't supposed to be a POP bashing thread. I just wanted to take care of the swarm of people that tend to ignore the main question on this type of thread and repeat "play POP its awesome".

I don't hate fantasy. I just did not care for the battle balancing, with a handful of super tanky god units smashing through seas of chaff. It doesn't feel like M&B at all to me. It wasn't really a difficulty issue. A lot of the time tactics and skill just didn't matter, because even mid-level units are massively, even impossibly, over-statted. It was more like a generic leveled fantasy RPG rather than a medieval battle game featuring real humans.

And that's okay, if that's what you are looking for. Its just not for me.

1
whatdoesthedatasayKingdom of Swadia•

Brytenwalda seemed to be the consensus fave when I started playing 2 years ago, but it's totally dropped off the map. I haven't seen it mentioned in ages. 1257 has two versions out, the final build and an Enhanced submod that is still being worked on, and seems to have lots of fans, but there always seems to be discussion of bugs - I believe one of the builds is stable but idk which. Hope some other players can chime in on these.

For myself I started off playing ACOK, then moved to TLD, and most recently finally played vanilla. ACOK is a phenomenal, sprawling GoT experience with unique quests, awesome aesthetics and troop trees, Valyrian weapons, amazing scenery, fully developed Westeros and Essos, unique bandits, legendary items BUT it has some fundamental flaws - primarily the fact that you can randomly lose STR, AGI, or INT points based on your answers to questions on pop-up text screens (run from the bear, call for a maester, NEVER eat the mushrooms, always clean the planks, don't stop to rest), also the fact that shit changes way too much from build to build. Worth your time if you like GoT, but is not for everyone.

TLD is the Tolkien mod of choice and my dude it is AMAZE - complete overhaul with no politics, just flat out war between evil and good factions in the War of the Ring. When you take an enemy city it is destroyed. You can play as Gondor, Rohan, Rivendell, Lorien, or Mirkwood elves, Beornings, Dale; or Mordor, Isengard, Gundabad Orcs (woot), Corsairs, Dunlanders, and other evil men factions - and every faction has 10 unique items. They made positive changes to every aspect of the game (orcs are physically smaller than human troops and have worse gear but only take up 1/3rd of a party slot so at 40 party size you can field over 100 - and you can slaughter your prisoners for meat to feed them) and the gear, scenery, music, and overall aesthetic is FANTASTIC. Also, since it's a straight up head to head battle, a complete playthrough only takes 15-25 hours. Install it.

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Poopy_McTurdFaceMercenary•

Well, Brytenwalda is basically now Viking Conquest which is paid dlc. Sure, you can still download the free mod but I don't think it gets support anymore. VC is still updated by the MaB devs. I personally love it and if you aren't afraid to buy it then I highly recommend it. There are many locations with encounters from the old Viking sagas that I think are an awesome touch. You can adopt a dog to fight (and more often than not, die) by your side. There is a story mode you can complete if that's your jam. Religion plays an interesting role since there is a struggle during this time period between Christianity and Paganism.

I just started playing 1257ad Enhanced Edition which you can find on the Nexus. It's probably my favorite mod ever and I've been playing the ever loving shit out of it. The enhanced edition adds more stuff and changes the bizarre Latin troop names to English names that make sense. The map is huge with many small kingdoms. There are peasant rebellions, crusades, leader assassinations, and other events to get wrapped up in.

Both are more challenging than Warband and offer new troop archetypes to play around with (and both offer naval combat although only VC allows you to control the ship. 1257 is more like a battlefield on a boat). Because of the historical nature of both, you definitely get a different experience that still operates like Warband. If you're comfortable with Warband, you'll have 0 trouble with either of these.

13
Kaarl_Mills•

Personally I find Brytenwalda to be more interesting because I think Vikings are overdone: most people with even a modest interest in history know who Ragnar Lodbrok and his sons are. It has a much larger share of the media pie.

Versus the predecessor states of England, which have much less documentation, but more fascinating as a result.

Both BW and VC though are dominated by Heavy infantry and shieldwall tactics. Cavalry is in the minority, true heavy cavalry is a rarity. In fact, getting a horse in the first place is a minor milestone.

Throwing weapons have the overall edge against bows due to the proliferation of shields, crossbows basically don't exist.

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r1chb0yKingdom of Swadia•

dominated by Heavy infantry and shieldwall tactics. Cavalry is in the minority, true heavy cavalry is a rarity. In fact, getting a horse in the first place is a minor milestone.

Probably because historically at that time, this would have been the precedent for standard military/warband skirmishes.

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Poopy_McTurdFaceMercenary•

Oh shit, I thought they were both literally the same mod, just VC was the Brytenwalda creators working with Taleworlds to make it official.

I just downloaded Brytenwalda, lol.

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Kaarl_Mills•

No, BW is set during the Anglo-Saxon invasions of the British isles, VC is roughly 200ish years later during the Viking age

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Builds_OP•

I appreciate the response. I have downloaded 1257 Enhanced Edition and will be giving it a try. I may eventually get around to VC, but I am trying to limit my spending for the moment. Too many steam/fanatical sales lol.

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Poopy_McTurdFaceMercenary•

If spending is a worry (it is for me too) go for Brytenwalda. You won't regret it and it's quite similar to VC.

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MessireSMKingdom of Rhodoks•

You can beat Pendor without grinding.

2
Grieferbastard•

Brytenwalda is better realised and move "reactive". Viking Conquest is even better, I recommend it highly.

1257 has the factions and names and units but not much else. Brytenwqlda is more to used on you as a budding hero and Warlord, 1257 far more about leading armies.

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