Realistic Medieval RPG...?

Hi Gang,

I'm a newbie at gaming in general, but an "older" player, so please bear with me if I sound naive. Unlike many gamers here, I didn't grow up with computers and gaming and I have a lot to learn.

I have a BIG interest in medieval history (is my user name a hint?). I have a decent custom pc that runs Medieval 2 Total War so it looks amazing. I love the game graphics currently available...they are outstanding!

But, I can see that I'm not really into the strategy type of medieval theme games...managing armies and directing battle maneuvers, at least not on that kind of a scale. I really would like something more on the line of the RPG or Action RPG and with a strong medieval theme. The problem is that most games seem to be of the medieval/fantasy type and not the more historically realistic theme like Total War. I have hunted and searched through past, present and upcoming pc games, but really can't find much other than medieval fantasy RPGs with their dragons, fairies, elves, monsters, etc. etc.

So, my question is...am I missing a good historic and more realistic medieval theme RPG or action RPG? Or, is there a game that can be played without using the dragons, monsters and other mythical creatures so it can be a bit more historically accurate?

Maybe my wish is sheer fantasy, but please post me a note if you have any suggestions.

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure there's a whole lot (any) of non-fantasy, medieval RPGs. There might be a few that are fantasy-light, but I can't think of anything off-hand. You could probably find something similar to what you want in setting in text-based online RPGs. If you want something that's prettier, you're probably going to have to look at user mods. I think Oblivion might be your best bet for finding one.

For an FPS, you might want to look at the Thief series:
Thief: The Dark Project
Thief II: The Metal Age
Thief: Deadly Shadows

The Total War series is different from most RTS games. So, you could also try Age of Empires.

If part of the reason you don't want the strategy genre is because you'd like more time to plan your attack. There's also the turn-based strategy genre. I know Matrix Games has a good variety that tend to favor historical accuracy. You're also much more likely to find historically acurate games in the turn-based stategy genre than in any other genre.

Thanks to all of you for the suggestions and comments!

It sounds like most of you agree that what I hope for probably doesn't exist at the moment. I will take a look at the other suggestions, though, and maybe I'll find something I like.

I wonder if there are any other RPG games that are 'fantasy-lite' but with good historical graphics that might be a compromise. I guess I could try one that isn't built too much on mythology.

It seems a bit odd to me that there are several medieval theme RTS and other genres that are historically pretty realistic, but none in the RPG or Action RPG genre. Maybe there is a good reason for it.....?

In any case, I really appreciate the help!

It seems a bit odd to me that there are several medieval theme RTS and other genres that are historically pretty realistic, but none in the RPG or Action RPG genre. Maybe there is a good reason for it.....?old_archer

It's never been established to be sellable to the mass market. The reason RTS' can be more realistic wrt the middle ages is that the life of a single knight might not be that interesting, but the life of say, a thousand knights, might be interesting in the time period in which they are fighting another thousand knights.

But if a realistic medieval RPG existed and got good reviews, I'd probably buy it. I mean, if the Sims can appeal to me, I can say I'm not glued to tradition (though I have been a "Sim" fan since Simcity)

As 2 users already posted Mount and Blade. I don't know any other medieval RPG games without magic. It is not finished yet. Current version is 0.903 (basically 90% finished). You can try the demo (same as current full version except you don't pay money but you can only play till your characters get level 6 or you play for 20 something game days). I played the demo version 0.894 and it was fun, I spend a lot of time on it. You can buy the game now as well, it costs I think 25$ to get a serial key for the game, but because its only 90% finished the cost is 22$ I think.

Fun on foot combat and even better if you have a horse tofighton.Mounted combat is a lot of fun. There is no magic and levelingup does not make your characters overpowered, makes him stronger but not a terminator.

But you can't learn any history from the game like from Medieval 2. Graphic wise it is bit outdated but because of it people witholder computers can play the game and it allows combat 50 vs 50 and more.

The full version of this game probably will be released this year, hopefully.

Thanks again for all the great feedback.

I will check out all the suggestions and ideas. A couple of you have suggested using Oblivion with mods, so I have to ask...What mods? Where would I find them and how much difference would they make? I took a look at Oblivion reviews and it looks like a fantastic game...it sure ranks high, but the stock game appears to be full of monsters and magic. If it's possible to mod the game to play without them, that would be cool.

In the meantime I will check out Guilds 2, Mount and Blade and anything else that seems to have some RPG or sim elements.

Assassin's Creed looks really interesting...thanks reserati!

I'm grateful for all of the help...!

Age Of Empires, Age Of Kings, realistic and true to Medievil warfare. RTS though. =)

Many thanks again for the latest suggestions and comments. This gives me a couple more things to check out.

As a newbie gamer, its really interesting to hear the opinions and comments about medieval games from veteran gamers who have experience with them.

"Mount and Blade" is on my wish list, now that I've had a chance to check it out. I hope its not ALL just slash and bash, but it's definitely a RPG type of medieval theme and it looks like fun. As some of you pointed out, the graphics aren't the prettiest and polished as some, but not bad either. It appears to be a pretty good role immersive kind of game. I found some video clips of it posted on Youtube by googling.

I guess it's not historically faithful to medieval times, but it looks like it's got a strong medieval flavor. It sure gets high marks from players!

Thanks be to the wise sages who shared this wisdom...

I've downloaded the demo for "The Guild 2". Really charming with neat graphics BUT I find the costumes and environment to be almost more early Renaissance than late Medieval with their baggy pants and hat styles. I sure wish this had been themed a couple hundred years earlier...call me picky! I can see why they went from this into a pirates add-on.

I'll bet the play would bore a lot of you to tears, but as a newbie with high medieval interest I would still find it to be fun...just for the activity...kind of like playing in a medieval sandbox IF it was set a bit earlier in time! Darn!

There's an awesome, AWESOME, medieval game designed by an independant company in Turkey called "Mount & Blade" It has absolutely no fantasy elements in it, not even health potions. It's mostly a hack and slash, but you do get to join one of the warring factions and own and manage a village and stuff. Mount&Blade is based on very realistic cavalry combat that most games leave out or don't feature enough. It takes a while to master but once you do it's an amazing game. Very realistic and the scenery and characters are like what you would find 1000 years ago. It's so good and no one's ever heard of it. I can give you the website:

www.taleworlds.com

Check it out; I'm really trying to get people into Mount&Blade because it's so unknown and its such an amazing game. Paradox Interactive is a husband-and-wife team in Turkey and the full version was just released back in November, I believe. Please check it out. It's one of my top favorite games.

"Mount and Blade" ...I hope its not ALL just slash and bash

old_archer

it's not slash and bash. the combat system is almost a fighting simulator.

no magic, and RPG battle is never as real as in this game.

I sense magic about... powerful necromancy...

Mount and blade is the clostest i can think of.

Wow this thread has been necromanced twice!

Wow this thread has been necromanced twice!

cabose38

Yeah Warband pretty much owns now. lol.

( Am well aware this is a zombie thread. :p )

Curse you, necro thread!

Definately try out Mount and Blade Warband. One of the best games I've played.

Good sir, truly, I bow to your necromancy skills. Yet you say you are not interested in strategy? If not I fear I cannot help you.

Try Mount and Blade series.I think its perfect for you.tantimariuta

Hi gang?....... leaving thread