Mount&Blade - Warband Preview @ Resolution

Mount & Blade: Warband has been previewed at Resolution Magazine.  Here's a snip:

Warband, then, finds itself in an interesting position. It’s a standalone expansion that aims to refine, rather than reinvent, the world of Calradia. In keeping with Mount & Blade tradition, there’s still no predefined storytelling to speak of, so Warband’s focus is on new features and a tightening up of what came before.

warband1An advanced political system allows progression right to the very top, and as a king you’ll be able to grant your companions land within the world. You can now get hitched to NPCs, with wives looking after affairs while you’re away at battle. There’s a larger map and more units, and a heavier focus on dialogue promises to make interaction a little less bland than it had a tendency to be in the original game.