Man I love this game. In this latest installment to the Mount and Blade Series (well, it's a standalone expansion to the first one, and it has it's own standalone expansion With Fire and Sword and DLC Napoleonic Wars) you can make your own character and explore a fantasy medieval world split between rival kingdoms and their faithful vassals. You start as someone who has just completed a long journey for a reason you just decided in the story background and come to this new land to make a name for yourself. You go to the capital city of one of the kingdoms (you choose) and are on your way to a good nights sleep when you get attacked by a bandit! Whether you win the fight or not (which really depends on how quickly you learn the controls) a merchant comes by and helps tend to you. He then shares that he has his own problems and so your first quest appears. And While this game is an RPG, it's made by Paradox Interactive, so you know there's a strategy bit, and there is. I mean, this is the makers of EUIV, Vicky2, HOI3, and CK2, what else did you expect? The eventual goal is to make a kingdom for yourself and get the other kings to recognize your legitimacy. Still waiting for the DLC where I can convert my save games to EUIV, though... JK

Man I love this game. In this latest installment to the Mount and Blade Series (well, it's a standalone expansion to the first one, and it has it's own standalone expansion With Fire and Sword and DLC Napoleonic Wars) you can make your own character and explore a fantasy medieval world split between rival kingdoms and their faithful vassals. You start as someone who has just completed a long journey for a reason you just decided in the story background and come to this new land to make a name for yourself. You go to the capital city of one of the kingdoms (you choose) and are on your way to a good nights sleep when you get attacked by a bandit! Whether you win the fight or not (which really depends on how quickly you learn the controls) a merchant comes by and helps tend to you. He then shares that he has his own problems and so your first quest appears. And While this game is an RPG, it's made by Paradox Interactive, so you know there's a strategy bit, and there is. I mean, this is the makers of EUIV, Vicky2, HOI3, and CK2, what else did you expect? The eventual goal is to make a kingdom for yourself and get the other kings to recognize your legitimacy. Still waiting for the DLC where I can convert my save games to EUIV, though... JK