I've wrapped up my Mount and Blade Bannerlord campaign. Happy with it. Started as the son of a Vlandian yeoman, Ingalther. Made a name in the tourneys, self-promoting, a crass, brash young fighter(like McGregor, big mouth, not GOAT talent, but a champion), until I was honored with a knighthood by the king himself(house rule: vassalage must be initated by the king).
Here, Ingalther found his real calling was command. The vigor and martial ethos he instilled in his corps was superb. His hand-selected officers were developed to his specifications, becoming very impactful. His medical and logistical support networks were similarly unparalled. At the center of almost every decisive victory in the field, his usually unimpeachably positioned infantry and archers became the backbone of the West. Vicious in pursuit of Vlandian interests, and unquestioningly loyal to his king and his men. Taboos were broken. No city fell without a devastating plundering. He remained the man of steel heart to his foes, for the sake of the men of his corps, whose profits he candidy valued far more than the lives of helpless civilians.
He conquered largely without noble knights, who shunned him. He cared just as little for them, never bothering to learn to ride a horse, and just the once, rode a camel, mockingly proclaiming himself to be the lone member of the Royal Camel command, of equivalent honor. He used his popularity with the people and monarch to free the serfs, while enshrining legal protections of the newly made free yeomen. These men would make for the largest and most economically prosperous manpower pool worldwide. A great career for an outstanding war captain, who retires a pariah amongst all but free Vlandians, and called lord by the many peoples his conquests brought to ruin. He saw no conflict in showing great generosity to those he considered his to protect, while simultaneously showing complete savagery to those he sought to destroy.
Non-RP: Vlandian sergeants are the best T5 infantry. Relative to legion, they destroy faster. Lighter armor, better weapons, so more speed bonus dmg. Worse armor, but only in theory. In practice, faster wipe effectively means incurring less dmg on avg. Dead men can't swing a menavlion.
The Aserai vet has thunder god javelins, but you have to give up shield wall or square, the best formations. If you don't, only the first rank can throw. That becomes more important the bigger battles get. No mace either,struggle against armor again, slower. Vets are better against militia, but ability v militia isn't relevant to outcome, defeat of armored troops, however, very much is.
Current campaign is as Yehuda. He's an Aseri merchant pastoralist, and member of a minority religious community. He finds a home with the Mongol-inspired Khuzaits as a cowboy, eventually becoming something of a mix between Herod and Babur, ruling over Aseri lands in the name of the Khan.