Mount&Blade - With Fire and Sword, Captain Smith #1 @ RPS

Quinton Smith at Rock, Paper, Shotgun has penned the first of an After Action Report on M&B: With Fire and Sword, titled Captain Smith:

The Mount & Blade games are all about getting involved in the warfare and violent politics of medieval Europe in a very real way. The end game sees you leading your grubby band forth to siege cities, instigate rebellions, and even work with rightful (or pretend) heirs to out various kings and leaders to slot your boss in their place.

To start with, though, you’re placed at the very bottom of the ladder. You are a dude with a shirt and a sword. And I’m going even lower.

For starters, there’s an option in the menu, on by default, which causes your hero to take half damage in combat. I quickly correct that. Also, in character creation, I shunt all of my points into Intelligence and Charisma rather than Strength and Agility. I want to see just how bad a fighter I can take to the top.

If I listen very closely, I think I can hear the game laughing in my face.