So, playing 1257 (the dev version that I'll be uploading soon. I personally like it a lot more than the new one they have and it has less bugs)...
You have a new version?
Yeah, I tried it and it was rather broken ...granted it IS considered a beta test. Its the SVN new anno1257 that DrThomas and his partner have made. The other version they made I didn't really like either that they have up for public (kill the peasants version)...but I'm not gonna rant about it as they did a lot of work. I personally don't like that work, but they still did a lot of work. So I give them some kudos for that.
But if you want to try an older, a bit unfinished, but less buggy version that Othr made:
https://mega.co.nz/#!8AhjUJAQ!yLytWcXH9ZwxlAuHfy_yXEMTaVBa_LU4hLDBS1VH98AIt has its problems too though. Like, a bunch of "buildings" not being able to be built (city properties) even though they show up. (edit: But buying guild businesses and all the manor stuff works fine.) And music plays pretty rarely (though its epic when it plays...the music got taken out of the newer versions. The rarity may be a plus/negative depending on the person). And possibly on outdated PCs, the much much larger (GIANT, the size of saturn...okay maybe not...but its huge) map can be laggy though in my 100 hours of playing I never noticed anything that lagged on the map. Campaign AI works fine. Campaigns are a lot longer due to the larger map (con/positive depending on person), which makes a lot less blitzing. Empires don't blitz into huge blobs like they do on smaller maps. Possibly the caravans could cause lag (caravans got taken out in the newer versions), but not for me. There is a lot more stuff going on in Othr's version on the map...newer ones felt really empty and barren. But could cause lag for some people.
One huge negative is unlike new versions, you can't turn off weapon breaking so gotta scrounge the battlefield. Probably the one thing that might make it or break it for you. Guess it depends how hardcore you are...personally kinda find it annoying, but tons of weapons on the battlefield to pick up anyway. That and the custom cities/castles aren't in that got put in the newer versions.
Tournaments are a lot better. The betting option is a tad bugged in that you can bet 5000 but its just in the wrong place on the list...only thing that is "bugged". Otherwise it works as it should. However, you can do William Marshal Style which is a huge tournament orgy...I mean brawl. That got taken out in the new versions (dunno why, it wasn't bugged at all and the betting thing is fixed just by editing the menu file so that can't be why)...
The BEST part of Othr's version for me is the actual battles themselves. Which are completely broken (in my opinion) in the newer versions. Which really is what mount and blade is about. You can give orders to your troops before you enter a battle (got taken out in newer versions) AND there is TONS of formation options. AND THE AI isn't broken. They don't always 100% go right into square shield formation and do stupid stuff like in the newer versions...AND they actually attack instead of just stand there until you attack (like in newer versions). Literally I could stand for an hour and no one would attack in the newer versions...not ranting, but it is fact lol. The AI is a lot better and smarter. Also archers don't suddenly end up going into melee in sieges and disobey all orders, they actually work like they should. Othr had the best combat I've personally played in a single player Warband mod. It got totally nerfed and skinned alive in the newer versions of 1257.
One thing with battles. Cheats sorta work in battles, some people complained they couldn't ctrl alt f4 and everyone dies or ctrl f4 or whatever. I tested that, and they only do (mostly) 1 damage each time you press it...not a problem for me, but guess people find it annoying they can't cheat. I found most enemies died, but a lot of enemies still lived...personally don't care, but on the forums people complained about it. So thought I'd include it here.