Story Mode news

Basically, Story Mode will be linked missions and scenes allowing players to relive events from the novels (and some made by the team, like "The Rise of Sauron" which is about Sauron getting The One Ring and destroying Middle-Earth). Story Mode will not include a campaign map and isn't a sandbox in any sense. Instead it will rely on heavily scripted linear missions, objectives, cutscenes and dialogue, it will act closer to custom battles than the original Mount and Blade's campaigns. Player(s) will be on a team to complete specific goals that align to the chosen story.

Currently we have 23 stories ranging from The Last Alliance to Bullroarer (Orcs invading Eriador with Bandobras 'the bullroarer' Took) to The War of the Dwarves and Orcs. Each story will have a set of missions ranging from sieges, battles and possibly things like stealth. Story Mode allows the player to have experiences they normally wouldn't be able to have because of the sandbox nature of Mount and Blade. Play as Elendil duelling Sauron? Check. An Olog-Hai breaking down gates of Minas Tirith? Check. Properly executed and cinematic charges of Dol Amroth Knights, Rohirrim, and the Grey Company against Sauron's minions? Check. This is the main reasons of adding the Story Mode, it is great fun to forge your own story but equally so having the option to jump in and play established events in the lore.

The idea of unlocking units and characters has been discussed, once completing specific missions in Story Mode those characters or units will be available to play during a "free-play" of the story or in any multiplayer modes we have. For example, after completing The Battle of Pelennor Fields the player has access to Prince Imrahil. Prince Imrhail would then be an option to be player as in Bannerlord's captain mode, leading Swan Knights. We have also discussed creating a purchasing system to buy characters and units to play as in the different multiplayer modes we will have, though the specifics we have not determined.

The Last Alliance campaign SA 3429- TA 2

An example of one of the story modes that we plan to include.

1. The siege of Minas Ithil [The White Tree of Minas Ithil gets burned] S.A. 3429
Location: Minas Ithil
Objectives: Defend capture point X for X minutes, Keep Isildur alive, reach capture point: Anduin
`Unlocks:` Herendur (flees to Osgiliath)
Isildur, Herendur and his men (possibly Isildur's sons)
vs.
Sauron, Laz-bag and his forces from Mordor

2. The Siege of Osgiliath and Minas Anor S.A. 3429
Location: Osgiliath and Minas Anor before it was ruined
Objectives: Defend capture points X, survive for X minutes, kill 5 mordor captains
`Unlocks:`Meneldil & Laz-bag
Anárion, Meneldil and his men
vs.
Sauron, Laz-bag and his forces

3. The Battle of Dagorlad [Amdír & Oropher dies] S.A. 3434
Location: Dagorlad (The Dead marshes)
Objectives: Capturing capture point X, kill X amount of units to make them rout
`Unlocks:` Amdír, Oropher & Ghêkhún (also Amroth & Durin IV if included)
Gil-galad, Elendil, Isildur, Anárion, Elrond, Círdan, Thranduil, Amdír (Amroths father), Oropher (Thranduil's father), men elves, dwarves
vs.
Sauron, Cheiftain Ghêkhún of Gathod, Ringwraiths, easterlings and mordor forces

4. The Siege of Barad-dûr [Anárion dies] S.A. 3434-3440
Location: Barad-dûr
Objectives: Capturing capture point X, keep Isildur alive.
`Unlocks:` Anárion
Gil-galad, Elendil, Isildur, Anárion, Elrond, Círdan, Thranduil, elves, men and dwarves
vs.
Sauron, Ringwraiths and his forces

5. The slopes of Mount Doom [Sauron, Gil-galad & Elendil dies] S.A. 3441
Location: The slopes of Mount Doom
Objectives: Defeat Sauron, Reach capture point X kill X amount of orcs
`Unlocks:` Gil-galad, Elendil, Elrond
Gil-galad, Elendil, Isildur, Elrond, Círdan, Thranduil, elves, men and dwarves
vs.
Sauron, Ringwraiths and his forces of Mordor

6. The disaster at Gladden fields T.A. 2
Location: The gladden fields
Objectives: Survive for X minutes
`Unlocks:`Isildur, Elendur, Ciryon, Aratan, Ohtar, Estelmo, Ulûg
Isildur, Elendur, Ciryon, Aratan (Isildur's sons), Ohtar (Squire of Isildur, bringing the shards of Narsil to Rivendell after the battle), Estelmo (Elendurs squire), 200 knights and soldiers, fewer than 20 archers.
vs.
Ulûg black-eye, Forces from Mordor (said to be ten times larger than the numbers of the Númenóreans)

Gameplay Concept

Spawning
Depending on the mission players will have 1 of 3 options to spawn:
Soldier
Similar to basic Warband multiplayer, the player can choose between preset classes and a varied amount of equipment for each. Has moderate stats, no control of any troops, and takes orders.
Captain
Based on the Bannerlord footage, Youtu.be , the player can choose to be a captain of a select amount of troops. The amount of troops would scale depending on what the level expects of the player.
Hero
The hero can act like a soldier or captain, depending on the level. They will have buffed stats and can only spawn once. Some heroes might be restricted in certain missions, until they are completed (Beorn in the battle of the five armies could be an example, as he is not part of the battle from the start).

Objective Types
There will be different ways to complete each level:
1. Capture a control point
2. Hold and defend a control point for a specific amount of time
3. Complete the mission within a specific amount of time
4. Kill specific opponents
5. Get to a certain control point*
6. Kill/route all enemy units
7. Destroy X equipment ie, siege equipment, gate, wall, etc
8. Keep certain character alive

Most of these objectives will be combined to get a more intense experience and gameplay. For missions you might have X amount of lives to complete the mission.

That is all this time, if you have any suggestions for Story Mode, any questions, or what you would like to see from KoA regarding unique gamemodes, please comment. Huge thanks to Nicrlaitheking, who has designed the majority of this gamemode!