Firing out of line is easily the most egregious rule a soldier can break, but it is the officer who is responsible for ensuring this doesn’t happen, not the game. These rules are also self-enforced, a unique prospect amid multiplayer shooters that are usually governed by rules built into the game. It isn’t an extension necessary for immersion but for success a regiment who is disciplined and well practiced will always outperform on the field of battle. What makes this equation so fascinating is how that role-play feels reinforced by the nature of the game. An element of role-play is baked into the community officers discipline soldiers firing out of formation or talking while receiving orders. This was true especially during the Napoleonic era, when armies would march in formation and exchange volleys until one retreated. Historically, discipline has always been one of the core tenets of any army.
It sounds intimidating, and when I joined the 19te to get my first taste of battle, it was. “There are rules that we have internally and then there are rules we have to follow based on what event we go to,” Patriot said. The organized aspect of Napoleonic Wars, however, extends beyond simply being a game. The 19te is just one of countless regiments, all with their own culture, vision and tactics they employ within the game. “We try to shy away from that, the reason being we can be serious when we need to be but we like to have a fun atmosphere.” “There are some units that are very strict and have permission to speak,” Patriot told me. They belong to the Prussian Army, a grouping of several like-minded regiments that represent the ideals of sportsmanship, integrity and fun. Around 20 of their members gather to participate in battles against other regiments several times a week. The 19te, along with their sister corporation, the 1st EPI, played a crucial role in helping establish the North American community. Patriot has been leading a regiment, the 19te, for several years now. “There’s really nothing out there at the moment that is quite like that,” Hauptmann Patriot told me during an interview. It’s slow, tactical and the most refreshing multiplayer experience I’ve had in ages. Following a strict formation, these players are led by an officer who issues commands and maneuvers them against other regiments. Multiple times a week, thousands of players gather to partake in line battles. But what makes Napoleonic Wars so unique is how the community has taken those basic fundamentals and crafted a thriving multiplayer game built upon discipline, teamwork and reverence for history. You have a musket that fires a single shot, reloading takes upwards of 10 seconds and you can skewer people with a bayonet. Most competitive online games are built to inherently support their gameplay, but Napoleonic Wars is, compared to Call of Duty, a much simpler game. At the heart of that experience is its vibrant community. Mount and Blade: Warband – Napoleonic Wars defies that trend, and in doing so has created one of the most unique experiences available to players. World War II, Vietnam, modern combat, and near-future science fiction: all of them desiccated by oversaturation in the genre.
They find a new premise and they bleed it dry sucking the inspiration from it before moving on in search of their next victim. Many shooters are, like most of pop culture, vampires. I had just been reprimanded in a videogame. By the time I was making the return jog to our formation, I was laughing.
Without so much as a word, I started running. He walked over to stand before me, and through the monitor I could sense the eyes of my 20 comrades. “At ease,” shouted the officer-I was too flustered to see who. I could feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment the moment mine went off. We were standing in two rows, our muskets pointing forward waiting for the signal.