In comparison to the base game, this mod’s UI and plethora of options (like combat core and siege realism) make for a polished experience tailored to how you want to play. Along with over a thousand of high quality items like weapons, clothing and armor, as well as other custom goods and crops, Bellum Imperii is an overhaul that takes its classification seriously. With a whopping 24 factions throughout Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, you’ll have plenty to do, whether you wish to be a mercenary, merchant, or monarch. Having recently updated to version 1.2, this Warband mod based from Brytenwalda (the makers of which went on to make the Mount & Blade: Viking Conquest DLC) and chronicles the rise of the Roman Empire. If you’d prefer Europe in a darker era, gokiller‘s Bellum Imperii‘s got you covered. And you don’t even need Napoleonic Wars to play. With the amount of effort gone into this Warband mod, L’Aigle is definitely one for your library. While the mod includes high quality uniforms, equipment, and effects overall, the unit AI has also been improved, now capable of battle formations such as the anti-cavalry square to stave off charging dragoons. There’s also cannons, naval battles, and tons of new units, all “thoroughly-researched and historically-accurate.”

Or just save up those paychecks and just buy yourself a commission. This process, of course, can be expedited by nabbing enemy battle standards and turning them in at the depot for fame and glory, but again, you’ll have to run between the bullets. It’s easy cash early on so long as you dodge the hail of gunfire whizzing at you from enemy formations down range, and if you’re lucky enough to survive, you’ll garner the prestige needed to command your own unit soon enough. In addition to recruiting from the local villages, you can enlist as a regular at any of the factions’ depots found in the heart of the nation you wish to pledge fealty. Geared mostly towards war, it reminds me of a more expansive, historically modern version of With Fire and Sword. Recreating Western Europe at the dawn the War of the Fifth Coalition and with ten countries including Napoleonic France, Great Britian, Italy, and Holland (with more to come), this mod is made with line infantry commanders in mind. L’Aigle (which, in my culturally ignorant mind sounds like laggle) has been the labor of love by one Docm30, arriving on Steam Workshop last summer. For those of you who enjoyed Warband‘s multplayer-only Napoleonic Wars DLC but hate playing with other people, you’re in luck.

16th century mount and blade