Info about Mount & Blade: Warband - Viking Conquest Reforged Edition:

Official game description:
Reforged Edition
----------------
Viking Conquest Reforged Edition is a completely free update to all owners of Viking Conquest, which adds a host of new features and content as well as re-balancing and fixing previous issues with the DLC. Play through an all new storyline set in dark, mysterious Ireland, befriend a canine companion and master the art of fighting with the unpredictable Berserker units. Rekindle your passion for Viking warfare and reforge your path in this much improved version.  
*   **The Last Tuatha De Danann**  
    All new story, set in dark, mysterious Ireland where nothing is what it seems and truths are hidden...  
*   **Hofs of the Nordic Gods**  
    Visit the holy grounds of the Nordic Gods. Make sacrifices and recruit powerful yet unpredictable Berserker troops into your army.  
*   **Dog Companion**  
    A loyal canine friend who will stay by your side, even on the battlefield.  
*   **Start As Leader of a Faction**  
    Skip the rise to power and get straight into Reforged Editions expanded kingdom management.  
*   **Crouching and Hunting**  
    Feed your men a better variety of food by hunting wild boar but beware, startle these creatures and they're liable to attack.  
*   **Working (minigames)**  
    Out of luck and out of pennings. Commit yourself to an honest day's work in a quarry, mine or farmstead.  
*   **New Ambush System**  
    There is no greater weapon than the element of surprise; catch your enemies off guard with an ambush attack. Though you must keep your wits about you, or you could be the target of an ambush yourself.  
*   **Adventuring Companions**  
    Companions that leave the player's party from discontent may now strike out on their own as adventurers, gathering their own forces and making their mark on the world.  
*   **New Quests and Roleplay Events**  
    Discover assassination plots, interfere in affairs of religion and more with these new sandbox quests.  
*   **Improved Atmosphere**  
    New ambient sounds and scene contribute to a richer experience in historical Dark Age Britain.  
*   **New Items**  
    Dozens of new weapons and armours as well as updates to old visuals.  
*   **Battles**  
    Improved enemy AI, incorporating tactics and formations add a new dimension to battles. Shock troops such as the Berserkir fight like animals but in the heat of battle may not distinguish friend from foe.  
*   **Kingdom Improvements**  
    Customise your kingdom's colour, ransom prisoners to the enemy and raise your peasants as a levy army in times of need.  
*   **Expanded Multiplayer**  
    New scenes and Raid game mode. Improvements to the UI and additional options for server admins to take control of the invaders in Invasion mode.  
*   **More Immersion**  
    Special player traits and the ability to spread rumours to influence people throughout the land. More lively scenes with domestic animals walking around. Extra information about your companions and the option of a second player outfit for use outside of battle, as well as much more roleplay and many more immersive features.  
*   **Customise Your Level of Difficulty and Goals**  
    Set your own goals to become an Infamous Raider, Strong King, Beloved Warrior and more. Customise your difficulty options to cater your own experience and challenge.
Viking Conquest
---------------
From the creators of the popular “Brytenwalda” mod, “Viking Conquest” is a brand new DLC for Mount & Blade Warband! This single and multi player DLC brings Mount & Blade to historical Dark Age Britain, complemented by authentic scenes and cultures. The DLC features a story mode with a complex plot, where choices have real consequences, as well as a standard sandbox mode in an all new setting, with expanded options and controls. Online battling also takes on its own flavour, with special modes like Coastal Assault and Warlord.  
*   Living world that evolves around you, with historical and random events, as well as the actions of the player all contributing.  
*   More than 300 new cities, castles, villages and special scenes to discover, explore, conquer and plunder.  
*   More than 200 historical characters and 100 extra NPCs: Kings, Lords, Ladies, bards, priests and many others. Meet legendary figures like Ivar the Boneless or his bother Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, royalty like Harald, later known as FairHair, or Aelfred of Wessex.  
*   A story mode where the player will be part of a complex plot involving political conspiracy, during the time the sons of Ragnar were leading their Great Heathen Army through Britain. An immersive game style with choice and consequence, romance, betrayal, moments of greatness and ruin.  
*   A sandbox mode, the classic Mount&Blade system, where goals are determined by the player, but with all the richness and options offered by the new setting.  
*   More than 15 possible companions, with deep interaction and different personalities. Sometimes their conflicts will force you to use cunning and diplomacy.  
*   A complex religion system with two faiths, The Norse Gods and Christianity, with monasteries, special NPCs and parties. Religion will be a important factor in the game that will affect the player's interactions even within their own party.  
*   Naval travel and warfare, a key feature to really make the setting complete.  
*   Battles can range from simple robbery to massive naval conflicts between huge fleets laden with warriors, all in dynamic battles where you can pilot your own boat, adjusting for factors such as wind, waves, and weather.  
*   The option to build your own refuge, hire staff for it, and populate it with the wives and children of your troops...  
*   Detailed siege warfare system, with options to reduce a defender by hunger or morale, or by direct assault. With hard choices, plagues and famines, coastal assaults.

Release date: Dec 11, 2014

Categories: Action RPG, Naval Combat, Siege Warfare, Religion System, Story-driven Gameplay, Character Progression, Large-Scale Combat, Sandbox

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 0; verdict: Fair / Free of Microtransactions; summary: The dataset contains zero evidence of any real-money microtransactions, paid gacha, convenience items, battle passes, or other predatory monetization tactics. All complaints focus on bugs, unpolished content, or the base purchase price of the DLC itself. According to the scoring rules, a game with no microtransactions cannot score above 20, and base-price complaints do not raise the score.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $14.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews show a split: one positive review considers $14 well worth it, while others criticize the $15 full price as too high and suggest waiting for a sale. A review explicitly states that $5 or below is reasonable. The general consensus is that the game is overpriced at full price but acceptable at a discount, with a fair range between $5 and $14.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 10.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The first quote describes a single continuous play session of at least 10 hours, which directly informs the session length metric. The second quote notes a total playtime of over 50 hours but does not indicate game or story completion. The third quote mentions a 20-hour save file, but again no claim of completion. No other review provides explicit hours for finishing the main story/campaign or endgame content, so those metrics are left null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Mount & Blade: Warband - Viking Conquest suffers from a broken mandatory tutorial and stamina system that halt early enjoyment, but the singleplayer story mode with its RP and tutorial can become fun after players overcome these barriers.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: After surviving the broken tutorial and learning to manage stamina and difficulty
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Broken mandatory tutorial that can softlock progression; Stamina mechanic requiring multiple rests before reaching enemies; Shield bash stun spam and projectile magnetism in combat; High difficulty with no gradual learning curve; Dead multiplayer and uncompetitive class system; Repetitive battles and indistinct factions
  - Unlock drivers: Persistence through initial tutorial bugs (e.g., using workarounds or later patches); Embracing the story mode with its guided tutorial and RP elements; Learning stamina and combat management through trial and error; Playing with friends in multiplayer (if population exists); Accepting the hardcore, slow-paced nature
  - Conditions: Playing singleplayer story mode rather than multiplayer; Having friends ready to play multiplayer on a fixed version; Adopting a role-playing or story-focused mindset; Being willing to invest significant time (100+ hours) to master the system; Playing after major bug patches
- Player Archetypes:
  - Realism & Difficulty Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Experiencing a more realistic and challenging Mount & Blade campaign
    - Playstyle: Careful resource management, avoiding naval combat when possible, focusing on land battles and strategic troop composition.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old-school player; realism enthusiast; mod veteran
    - Reference games: Brytenwalda; Native Warband
  - Story & Roleplay Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Immersive narrative and roleplaying in a Dark Ages setting
    - Playstyle: Following the campaign questline, engaging with NPC dialogues, exploring lore, and making roleplay-driven choices.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: story fan; roleplayer; history enthusiast
    - Reference games: Mount & Blade: Warband; Skyrim (referenced in one review)
  - Patient Grinder / Completionist (sale)
    - Motivation: Long-term progression and overcoming difficulty through persistent effort
    - Playstyle: Grinding resources, accepting setbacks, slowly building up economy and warband, tolerating bugs.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: patient gamer; completionist; grind lover
    - Reference games: Native Warband
  - Multiplayer Hopeful (Disappointed) (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking organized multiplayer battles and competitive gameplay
    - Playstyle: Prefers class-based roles, shield-wall tactics, large-scale battles like those in Napoleonic Wars.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: multiplayer enthusiast; competitive player; organized battle fan
    - Reference games: Napoleonic Wars; Vikingr mod


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Naval battles are exciting and immersive (weight 0.6): Players frequently praise the naval battles for being immersive, exciting, and adding a unique atmosphere to the game. The realistic ship movement, boarding mechanics, and variety of naval combat are highlighted as standout features.
- Story mode with impactful choices (weight 0.43): The story mode is highly praised for its branching narrative and meaningful choices that affect the game world. Many players find it well-paced and engaging, with a storyline worth experiencing.
- Improved over Warband and Bannerlord (weight 0.3): Players note that the game adds new features and improvements that make it better than Warband and Bannerlord. It offers more content, a grim atmosphere, and superior design in replicating the series.
- Great Viking atmosphere (weight 0.28): The game successfully captures the Viking era with its authentic atmosphere, strong immersion, and detailed world. This is a key selling point that appeals to fans of Norse culture.
- Reforged Edition fixed bugs and added content (weight 0.26): The Reforged Edition is credited with fixing most launch bugs, optimizing performance, and adding more content. This patch significantly improved the overall experience.
- Large battle sizes (weight 0.22): The game supports large battles with up to 700-750 troops, which adds to the epic scale and intensity of engagements.
- Excellent music and audio (weight 0.13): The music score is consistently praised for its quality, with multiple reviews giving it a perfect 10/10 rating.
- Interesting siege system (weight 0.12): The siege system is noted for being more engaging, with features like camps and engineering that add depth to the warfare.
- Religion system adds depth (weight 0.12): The inclusion of a religion system, with both pagan and Christian cultures, adds a layer of strategic and role-playing depth to the game.
- Dog companion adds charm (weight 0.11): The ability to adopt a dog companion that participates in battles is a popular feature among players, adding a personal touch.
- Great DLC overall (weight 0.11): Players consider this a very good DLC that enriches the base game with new content and features.

Common complaints:
- Launch bugs persist (weight 0.65): The game was very buggy at launch, with many issues now fixed. However, players still report various bugs, including crashes, save corruption, and progression blockers.
- Broken story quests (weight 0.22): Story mode quests are broken due to invincible enemies, one-shot deaths, and other gamebreaking bugs that prevent normal progression.
- Crashes corrupt saves (weight 0.18): The game crashes without warning, and some crashes corrupt save files, ending playthroughs entirely.
- Siege troop loss (weight 0.18): Siege events kill a fixed number of troops before battle, often 10-20 elite troops, without player control, causing unpredictable losses.
- Dead multiplayer (weight 0.17): Multiplayer is dead with very few players, due to a bad release and lack of content, inferior to mods like Vikingr.
- High price (weight 0.16): The price is considered too high for the content, with suggestions to buy on sale or lower the cost.
- Long load times (weight 0.14): Load times are long, especially on weak PCs, compared to the base game.
- Poor translation (weight 0.14): The translation is terrible, with inconsistent names, particularly in Turkish.
- High difficulty (weight 0.14): The difficulty is very high, making the game challenging for many players.
- Stupid AI decisions (weight 0.11): AI makes stupid decisions, such as kings holding feasts and canceling marshaling, exploiting to take cities, declaring war on multiple countries, and randomly banishing powerful lords.
- Sluggish stamina system (weight 0.1): The stamina system makes combat sluggish and trekking across maps tedious.
- Low armor variety (weight 0.09): There is very little variety in arms and armor between factions, with identical upgrade trees and unremarkable designs.
- Weak cavalry (weight 0.09): Cavalry is uncommon and less viable compared to other units.
- Different combat system (weight 0.09): The combat system is different from Warband in critical ways, which may disappoint fans.
- Janky gameplay (weight 0.09): The game feels janky and rough around the edges, lacking polish.
- Music cutting out (weight 0.09): Music cuts out after 1.5 seconds, indicating an audio bug.
- Less content than Brytenwalda (weight 0.09): The game has fewer options and secret places compared to Brytenwalda, and lower difficulty.

Gameplay feedback:
- Story and sandbox modes (weight 0.53): The game features both a story campaign with cutscenes and branching choices, and a sandbox mode for open-ended play.
- Naval combat and sailing (weight 0.53): Ship-based battles, sailing, and sea raiding are core gameplay elements, with customization options and weather effects.
- Viking Age Britain setting (weight 0.41): The game is set in Britain during the Dark Ages, specifically the Viking invasion era, with a map covering Scandinavia and the British Isles.
- Religion system (weight 0.35): Players choose between Christianity and Norse Paganism, which affects relations, recruitment, and troop morale.
- Large battle sizes (weight 0.18): Battles can involve up to 750 troops, offering large-scale combat experiences.
- Recruitment requires permission (weight 0.18): Players must get permission from lords or village leaders to recruit troops.
- Shield wall tactics (weight 0.17): Heavy infantry and shield wall formations are core tactics, used by both players and enemy AI.
- Complex siege system (weight 0.17): Sieges involve building camps, siege engines, and foraging, with multiple options.
- Realistic stamina system (weight 0.14): A stamina system (optional) causes exhaustion during combat, adding realism.
- Permadeath in story mode (weight 0.14): Characters can die permanently in story mode, increasing stakes.
- High troop upgrade costs (weight 0.14): Upgrading troops requires significant wealth and high-level requirements, making it challenging.
- Combat similar to Warband (weight 0.1): Gameplay and combat mechanics are reminiscent of Mount & Blade: Warband, with additional features.
- Character customization (weight 0.1): Players can customize appearance, ethnicity, past, personality, and religion.
- Multiplayer modes (weight 0.1): Multiplayer includes modes like Coastal Assault, Warlord, Battle, and Siege.
- Berserker mode ability (weight 0.09): A berserker mode temporarily boosts speed and attack, then slows the player.
- Shield bash mechanic (weight 0.09): Players can use a shield bash ability in combat.
- Blacksmiths for equipment (weight 0.09): Special blacksmiths can improve equipment.
- Huge map with sailing (weight 0.09): The map is very large and includes sailing routes.
- Ship customization (weight 0.09): Ships can be bought, upgraded, and customized with different wood, sails, and troop capacity.
- Decapitation mechanic (weight 0.09): Enemies can be decapitated in combat.

Performance notes:
- Poor optimization causing lag (weight 0.42): Players experience significant FPS drops, lag, and frame skips, especially in battles, on the campaign map, and in menus. Performance is described as poorly optimized, even on low settings.
- Frequent crashes to desktop (weight 0.36): Multiple players report frequent and unpredictable crashes, often leading to desktop. Some mention these were worse at launch but have been partially fixed in later patches.
- Long loading times (weight 0.18): Loading times are notably long, especially on weaker PCs, and textures load slowly. This is a common complaint compared to the base game Warband.
- Mixed stability reports (weight 0.16): Some players report the game is stable, decently optimized, or fixed with patches, indicating mixed experiences.
- Save corruption risk (weight 0.11): Game crashes can lead to save file corruption, which is a severe issue for players who lose progress.
- Performance degrades over time (weight 0.09): Performance degrades over extended play sessions, requiring a restart to fix FPS drops and freezes.
- Siege battles crash (weight 0.06): Siege battles specifically cause crashes, which is a critical issue for a key game mode.
- DLC fails to launch (weight 0.05): One player reports that the DLC does not launch, only the base game opens, indicating a possible installation or compatibility issue.
- Crashes avoidable via settings (weight 0.05): A player suggests that crashes can be avoided by turning off cinematic menus, providing a potential workaround.
- MacBook crash issues (weight 0.05): The game crashes frequently on MacBook, indicating platform-specific instability.
- Config tweaks for performance (weight 0.05): A player provides specific configuration file changes to improve performance, such as adjusting texture detail and render buffer size.
- Alt-tab causes crash (weight 0.05): Alt-tabbing out of the game causes a crash, which is a common issue in many games.
- Heavy or sluggish performance (weight 0.05): General performance is described as heavy or sluggish, indicating overall poor optimization.
- High troop count crashes (weight 0.05): Crashes may occur when the battlefield troop count is set very high (500+), suggesting a memory or CPU limit.
- Large battles demand resources (weight 0.05): Battles with 900 men can be demanding on system resources, causing performance issues.
- Tavern exit crash (weight 0.05): Crashes occur when leaving a tavern, which is a specific and reproducible bug.
- Ubuntu compatibility issue (weight 0.05): There is a compatibility issue on Ubuntu, preventing the game from running properly on that operating system.
- Texture glitches (weight 0.05): Texture glitches are reported, affecting visual quality during gameplay.
- Runs on Warband hardware (weight 0.04): One player notes that if you can run Warband, you can run this DLC, suggesting it has similar system requirements.
- Runs on low-end GPU (weight 0.04): One player reports no FPS issues even with a low-end GT 730M, indicating performance can vary by hardware.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for Warband fans (weight 0.73): Many reviews recommend Viking Conquest to fans of Mount & Blade: Warband, especially those who enjoy the base game and are looking for a new experience. It is seen as a great addition to the series.
- Strongly recommended overall (weight 0.66): Many reviews strongly recommend Viking Conquest, calling it a must-buy, the best DLC for Mount & Blade, or a worthwhile experience. They praise it as a great addition to the series.
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.62): A significant number of reviews advise waiting for a sale before purchasing Viking Conquest, as it is often considered not worth the full price. Many suggest buying it at a discount.
- Not recommended due to issues (weight 0.44): Several reviews do not recommend Viking Conquest due to bugs, gameplay flaws, or instability. Some advise against buying it even on sale, and a few reviewers have returned to the native module.
- Great for Viking enthusiasts (weight 0.35): Viking Conquest is highly recommended for fans of Viking history, the TV series Vikings, or the Dark Ages setting. It appeals to those interested in the time period and region.
- Conditional recommendation (weight 0.2): Some reviews give a conditional recommendation, stating that if players can handle bugs, jankiness, and save discipline, the game can be enjoyable. It is recommended after patches or the Reforged Edition.
- Play Brytenwalda mod instead (weight 0.16): Some reviews recommend playing the free mod Brytenwalda instead of buying Viking Conquest, suggesting it offers a similar or better experience at no cost.
- Alternative to Bannerlord (weight 0.16): Some reviews recommend Viking Conquest as a cheaper alternative to Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord or as a way to support the series while waiting for Bannerlord. It is seen as a good placeholder.
- Challenging for hardcore players (weight 0.16): Viking Conquest is recommended for hardcore players seeking a harsh, challenging Viking experience. It is not recommended for those wanting an easy game.
- Only for die-hard fans (weight 0.15): Some reviews suggest that the recommendation depends on player expectations, and that only die-hard fans should buy it. Others advise thinking carefully before purchasing.
- Story mode recommended (weight 0.13): The story mode is recommended for both story lovers and sandbox enthusiasts, and it is suggested as a good starting point for players who find Warband's early game difficult. Playing the story first is advised.
- Mixed bag for bored players (weight 0.09): Some reviews describe Viking Conquest as a mixed bag but worth trying if bored with the native Warband module. It is seen as a decent alternative.
- Platform-specific advice (weight 0.08): One review advises against playing on MacBook due to bugs and instability, while another recommends the Chinese optimized version (v2.068) with WSE2 for a better experience.
- Avoid archer class (weight 0.04): A single review warns players not to try playing as an archer, implying that class is not viable or enjoyable in Viking Conquest.
- For collectors or Norman fans (weight 0.04): One review recommends Viking Conquest for collectors or fans of the Norman theme, suggesting it has niche appeal.
- Implied recommendation (weight 0.04): One review implies a strong recommendation by stating that if you've read the review this far, you'll surely buy it.
- For veteran singleplayers (weight 0.04): A single review recommends Viking Conquest specifically to veteran players of Mount & Blade singleplayer.
- For Brytenwalda fans (weight 0.04): One review recommends Viking Conquest for fans of the Brytenwalda mod, suggesting it appeals to that audience.
- Not for multiplayer focus (weight 0.04): A review notes that Viking Conquest is not recommended for players who focus on multiplayer, implying it is primarily a singleplayer experience.
- Multiplayer not recommended (weight 0.04): One review advises against multiplayer in its current state, suggesting players wait and see for improvements.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.19): Players experience frustration due to a combination of game-breaking bugs, frequent crashes, and poor optimization that render the game nearly unplayable. Additionally, repetitive design elements like monotonous city layouts, stiff combat mechanics, and slow unit progression create a tedious experience. Critical features like save corruption, broken story missions, and buggy AI further amplify dissatisfaction.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.15): Satisfaction arises from the game's immersive atmosphere, rich historical details, and engaging gameplay additions such as naval battles, shield wall formations, and rewarding conquest mechanics. Post-patch stability improvements and the inclusion of new content like music, locations, and features overhauls have significantly enhanced the overall experience. Players also appreciate the fair pricing and the game's ability to run smoothly on lower-end systems.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Disappointment stems from the game's unfinished state at launch, with persistent bugs, dead multiplayer, and recycled assets undermining its potential. Critics point to poor AI, clunky controls, and unbalanced features like naval battles or economy systems that detract from otherwise good ideas. The high price relative to quality and unmet expectations, such as missing features from mods or previous titles, leave players feeling let down.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Excitement is fueled by the game's bikov content, realistic tactical combat, and innovative mechanics like sailing and injury systems that offer a fresh experience within the Mount & Blade framework. The well-paced story, lively companions, and choice-driven narrative paths generate anticipation, while graphical improvements and large-scale battles add to the thrill. Players are particularly impressed by the level of historical immersion and the ability to fully role-play as a Viking.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Enjoyment comes from the DLC's historical accuracy and deep gameplay systems, including improved sieges, naval battles, and kingdom building that reward investment of time. The soundtrack, weapons, and story provide immersive hours of fun, especially for history enthusiasts. Despite some difficulty, the unique mechanics and overall depth keep players engaged.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is directed at the exceptional story quality and atmospheric depth that surpass the base game, with detailed equipment and immersive roleplay opportunities. The developers' effort to refine the DLC into a polished, breathing experience earns praise, as does the campaign's ability to fully immerse players in the Viking era. The overall systems and attention to historical detail leave a strong positive impression.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Anger is primarily directed at TaleWorlds for releasing an unfinished DLC perceived as a cash grab, with punishing mechanics, poor translation, and crashes destroying save files. Players express frustration at broken late-game features like AI king decisions and siege events that arbitrarily kill troops, which ruin the experience. The lack of development support and artificial difficulty further provoke ire.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance arises from pacing issues, repetitive music, and bugs in sea battles that disrupt gameplay. Mechanics like level-up systems requiring attribute points every five levels and soldiers rarely progressing feel tedious, while missing quality-of-life features such as quick NPC finding or troop religion info add to the irritation. Villain management and limited class separation in berserker mode also contribute to the discontent.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation is expressed for the story, historical atmosphere, and interface that outshine Bannerlord, with archaeologically based items like the Ulfberth sword adding authenticity. The deep content and good atmosphere despite flaws make the experience worthwhile for many players.
- Regret (weight 0.02): Regret is centered on paying for a broken experience, with the DLC lacking further development and overall feeling like a wasted purchase. Players lament that the game's potential was not realized, leading to a sense of loss over the investment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is driven by the DLC's overall quality despite difficulty, with best-in-class features, historical accuracy, and fun gameplay that includes Easter eggs and rewarding content. The combination of challenge and immersion generates strong positive energy.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from humorous elements like ponies and a funny dog theme, which provide lighthearted moments amid the otherwise serious Viking setting.
- Delight (weight 0.01): Delight results from interesting twists and features for Warband veterans, particularly the new naval combat mechanics that offer fresh and engaging gameplay.
- Slight disappointment (weight 0.01): Slight disappointment is felt because the original mod's gritty realism could have been retained more, and the DLC has flaws that prevent it from being as good as it could have been.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise is sparked by discovering the DLC is one of the best Viking-themed games, with interesting quests and a scenario mode that exceeds expectations. Companions with actual story agency, including potential death or betrayal, add unexpected depth to the narrative.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness accompanies the realization of wasted potential and effort, having to give a negative review despite loving the game. Story events like Morrigan leaving after a quest also evoke emotional disappointment.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia arises from fond memories of hundreds of hours spent in the Mount & Blade franchise, with the DLC reigniting that sense of connection to past gaming experiences.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief is felt because major bugs have been patched, making the game playable, and the DLC is not merely a paid copy of Brytenwalda, vindicating the purchase.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Approval is given for the singleplayer content, which becomes enjoyable after fixes, and the DLC is now considered a perfect addition to the Mount & Blade series.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Impression is made by the vast array of new features and polish, particularly naval battles and town details, which showcase significant improvement over expectations.}