I see. Thanks for the explanation. :)
I mean, I knew it was there, but I thought it was more optional. Instead, it's pretty much the main focus of the game.

Just a tip for whoever decides to play Mount & Blade and happens to see this thread:

Don't create a new character with the same name as an older one. The game get's pretty confused between saves. XD

Fortunately, I wasn't too far into the game when I re-entered and noticed my new save had my character with items from the earlier save as the same save only on exit scheme as well. I didn't pay attention to the stats, but wouldn't be surprised if they were the same from the other save.

You were not kidding. I'm almost 16 hours in and, while having fun, the game keeps trying to make me align with one of the kings, even though I keep avoiding it.

It doesn't help that basically ever criminal group runs away from my 50+ party, so I spend a lot of time buying and selling stuff, and participating in tournaments. Every now and then, I try to pick up a quest for some XP injection, but they're very often terrible and I end up either rejecting them or reloading a save before the quest.

I also keep losing companions for some reason.

I do feel hooked on the game. It's janky as hell and I get the feeling that a lot was half assed to add something more to do to it, which is fine, but often feels like things could have been so much better with a bit more effort from the devs and designers. Stll, as I said above, I'm having a lot of fun.

First game? They all have one companion they dislike and one they like and some actions they dislike and they all dislike low morale. I gave up trying to balance and keep them and just accept that they come and go. The traveller in the taverns can tell you where you can find them, if they are findable at the moment.

Yeah, first game. I started checking the wiki before hiring someone new just to avoid nuisances. The low morale thing I didn't know, but does explain a few desertions.

I knew about the traveller, but he couldn't find the guy I needed when I needed, so I guess he wasn't findable again yet,

I too have been playing Warband and have been having fun. Keep getting my ass handed to me, though. Bandits pick fights with me, kill off what little army I have and the most effective strategy for dealing with them is to just fire my crossbow into crowds from horseback and pick them off that way, but if they're too numerous, I don't have enough ammo for that. And then I get captured. Fun jank is still jank, and fun.

And one more thing, picking Lezalit as one of your companions will help you know the best unit from each faction. Additionally, it's sad to see how in almost every playthrough I have with the game, the Swadia faction always loses.

Well, I found a video online with starting tips for Warband that worked well with the original. So I restarted my game following some of those tips. I don't remember which video was, but maybe you could find one and restart?

Also, I did the tutorial first and foremost and it helped me understand the fighting mechanics well enough so that I didn't frustrate myself in the first battles.
Swadia is in the middle of all factions. Really hard to put up a fight in 4 fronts, right? XD

I have Lezalit in the team, but didn't notice that hability of his.

Yep, that's true. And the fact that the king keeps having a feast also doesn't help LOL

As for Lezalit, you need to travel to a certain part of the map first in order to prompt a conversation with him, in which he will talk about his past as well as giving you that information I told you.

Swadia in a nutshell.

Hahaha... that's a good one. XD I laughed out loud here with the video.

About the conversation, I've probably triggered it before, but didn't pay attention to it.

Feasts are a Warband thing.

Nah, this game seems like it's something that rewards improvising and taking risks, go with whatever the game hits you with. Restarting would probably be defeating the point of such a task, and as such I feel no reason to save scum. Besides, I find the arena melees to be a decent source of both money and practice with no downsides aside from time wasted, at least early on.

Fair enough, I think. :)

If you want to practice your fighting skills and also get a little experience (and let your soldiers get experience, too, depending on which training mode you use), visit one of the training grounds out in the "wilderness". You won't get money from it, but you don't have to pay for it, either.

^This. And the failures my character experienced throughout his adventure are what make the journey more worthwhile.