Mount&Blade/Gameplay

The world map
Mount&Blade's gameplay centers around a world map. The map shows the entirety of the game world, and features visual representations of different structures and terrain features. Parties are represented by single figures, and move around the map in real time (not unlike Star Fox 2). Time pauses whenever your party is not moving, but you can progress time by holding Space. Time is also paused in towns and during combat.

The primary control for the map is and the direction keys (WASD). Structures and parties on the world map can be interacted with by travelling to them using. If the party is friendly or neutral you can talk to them, but if they are hostile they will try to fight you. Hostile parties smaller than your own will run from you, while hostile parties larger than yours will hunt you down.

If you have a character who knows Tracking you will see arrows appear on the world map to represent tracks left by parties (including your own). The direction they point indicates the direction parties have taken on the map, and, at higher skill levels, the approximate party size. At higher skill levels the arrows will also be colored to represent the strength of the party.

Your visibility on the map is limited; while locations are always visible, parties disappear after they go a certain distance away from you. You can increase the distance at which you can see other parties by increasing your Spotting skill. Visibility is lower at night than it is during the day, and parties also move slower.

When two or more hostile parties clash with each other they will stand adjacent with a recognisable "crossed swords" symbol over their heads. You will also hear the sound of battle as you draw near.

If one of the parties is a friend and the other an enemy you can jump into the battle to help your allies. If you are neutral to both factions you cannot join the battle.

As time goes by the parties' forces will be wounded or killed, and then the one that is losing will either flee from their attackers or else they will be utterly destroyed and the survivors will be taken prisoner. If you attack a hostile force that has prisoners you can rescue them and add them to your own party (see Party for more information).

Combat
Once you have encountered a hostile force you will be faced with a menu showing the party sizes and giving you the combat options "Charge the enemy" and "Order your men to engage the enemy while you stay back". If you were the one chasing the hostile party you will see a "Leave" option at the bottom, which lets you flee the battle without any negative consequences. If they were chasing you you will instead see a "Surrender" option, which makes you lose all your men and some of your gold and equipment. By fighting well you can earn the "Leave" option regardless of which party was the aggressor.