A couple questions

[Ansonr]

I am a M&B veteran and I just got Warband on Steam. Anyway I have a couple questions about the expansion.

First off, I like the new factions style, but I still am not sure exactly what they specialize in. I have leveled up a few of their troops and they seem to only have infantry.

Secondly whats with the new animations? I remember reading they used MoCap to make them, but they still seem really awkward. I have gotten used to them, but they still look really weird especially when your on a horse. Almost feels like auto aim or something.

[AeneasXI]

I am a M&B veteran and I just got Warband on Steam. Anyway I have a couple questions about the expansion.

First off, I like the new factions style, but I still am not sure exactly what they specialize in. I have leveled up a few of their troops and they seem to only have infantry.

Secondly whats with the new animations? I remember reading they used MoCap to make them, but they still seem really awkward. I have gotten used to them, but they still look really weird especially when your on a horse. Almost feels like auto aim or something.

Yes agreed, the animations on the horse are patrly quite bad... I never know when to really hit. It seems very random ^^

[se05239]

When it comes to faction specialization, I guess its like the first Mount and Blade. I know that Nords still only got melee expertize and no horses.

[protyx]

i think he was asking about the sarranids specialization. I myself havent played quite enough, cant tell.

[Aetius]

Well i haven't played M&B since late 08 but from what i remember: the Rhodocks specialise in spear and crossbow infantry; the Swadians in heavy cavalry, the Nords in heavy infantry; the Kergits in horse archery and light cavalry and the Vaegirs in archer infantry and medium cavalry (Vaegirs I'm unsure about although i do know they have good archers and decent cavalry - they are a pretty balance faction).

[TimeNinja]

im assuming the saranids are like ottomans. What were they historically known for, weaponwise? Ive had absolutely no in-game contact with saranids though.

[rial2209]

i think he was asking about the sarranids specialization. I myself havent played quite enough, cant tell.

Rhorod spears, Swadian Knights, Sarranid mamelukes, Vaegir Archers, Nord Infantry, Khergit Mounted Archers.

I'd say those are the list of the special units, but can't be sure of course. When I played with Rhodok soldiers I had more sharpshooters than spears, but only cos I like to first shoot the enemy to down numbers, then send in the infantry to hold them back and carry on shooting, and cavalry to make the final push, so my tactics are always based on distance..

The rhodok and swadian crossbow sharpshooters are really good, so they could be called specialization troops as well, if one places them outside a fort to fire on the enemy before charging the fort they do a lot of damage before hand and really help in taking over lands.

[Mormacil]

- Rhodok has superior crossbowmen and heavy infantry. Both with pikes and hammers, good against cavalry and heavy armoured enemies -> Swadia
- Swadia excels in heavy cavalry. Their crossbowmen are good but not as good as the Rhodoks.
- Khergits specialize in light cavalry. Their lancers are decent but excel in no field. They rule however with cavalryarchers that can kill most other units by dancing outside their attackrange.
- Nords have the best heavy infantry. Their love for axes make short work of most shields. This makes them an excellent siege force. Their archers aren't that good though. Not the accuracy and range of a crossbow nor the speed of the Vaegirs.
- Vaegirs are a good well rounded faction. They got good light cavalry but isn't up to par with Swadia. They compensate by having the fastest firing archers of the above mentioned (don't know the new guys to well. Think they might fire faster).
- Sarranids are a mystery to me. If they're like the sarrasins and Ottomans I don't know for sure either. Ottomans grew big using gunpowder, which the Sarranids do not posses. If you put those eastern factions against the western medieval factions you do got differences.
Eastern armies use less bulky platearmor. Most European swords aren't that sharp. They dismember as much by cutting as by hitting you with blunt weight. Best example is the Claymore. Eastern armies use sabers, scimitars and katanas. Those are light and sharp, matching that eastern factions deploy more chainmail and (studded) leather. They don't need protection against a blunt force but need to stop the cut, chainmail does that wonderfully. Also the Chinese used the crossbow to great extend for ages, making plate armour even less a good choice.

Anyway about the Sarranids, I think they got decent horse archers but not as good as the Khergit, their infantry are good, mediumk armour with both axes, scimitars and maces. Their weakness might lay in polearms. Their bamboospears suck and online they lack polearms. Maybe they're well rounded like the Vaegirs but more on ranged archery and heavier infantry then them.

And yes the horse animations and on females aren't that good.