I have everything on the highest setting and it runs as smooth as butter... mind pointing me to a link?

Anyone mind taking a little more time to elaborate on why you like M&B:Warband?  Been reading the thread and I certainly wouldn't mind another great PC game. 

For instance, what's so great about the core game... the mod diplomacy... and battlefield tactics mod?  Why would someone prefer this to the base game.  Also, are you guys playing SP or what?  Any other mods that would add some value?  And if so, which ones.  Thx now and karma to follow. 

Let me try and elaborate a bit more about M&B:Warband. The game is best summarized as a open ended free form RPG, but this summary does not even begin to describe the various aspects of the robust game play. In M&B Warband, the vast majority of game play takes place on a predefined world map featuring static towns, castles, and cities. Each of these places is ruled by a lord who is aligned with a particular faction of which there are six factions. You take on the role of a singular individual in the world and are given free reign to do whatever you would like. The general path of play is that you ride along the country side raising an mercenary army, and eventually siding with one of the various factions to aid the various wars that spark over the course of the game. The combat takes the form of army v army battles wherein you fight as your character while your army fights at your side taking your commands. When you fight, your weapon has a length and speed rating as hits always connect for a strike, and you control the direction of attack and block. Thus, if you are being attacked from the left and you block right, you will be hit. The game features amazingly fun mounted and unmounted combats in general. As your army fights and wins, they too can be upgraded down various paths. For instance, a recruit->militia->swordsman or crossbow man. This is a fairly simple example, but the base game features 6 upgrade trees for each faction which are deeper than our example, as well as several upgrade trees for the factionless units such as the sword sister.

As a game progresses, you will eventually come to control various towns, castles, and cities. The diplomacy mod adds various NPCs which allow you to send out recruiters to automatically bolster your forces, to send out gifts to the various lords and kings to curry favor, and to manage your finances. On top of this, if you decide to start your own faction, the diplomacy mod grants more diplomatic options for your faction such as alliances and trade pacts.

Battle Field Tactics adds more formations to your battle commands. Before going into battle you have the ability to group your units and with this mod you can give those groups formations while on the battle map.

Honestly, mods in M&B:Warband are fairly personal as there are many which do all sorts of interesting things. Some mods change the battle maps for siege battles ( the battles which occur at cities and castles ), while other add guns and magic. The game uses a python based modding system which allows for a great deal of variety in what is possible in the game.

Thanks for the detailed reply (looking forward to hearing from eviliron once he's feeling better ).  Sounds like it could be a lot of fun.  So, the game never technically ends, though?  You just play and become more powerful, etc, right?  So is there that much of a story element?  Eg, is there always something to do or some guidance as to who to fight, etc?  Or do you just decide after a bit to attack X for X reason?  Just curious.  Are there any other mods you'd recommend?  And have you ventured into MP?  Any fun? 

Just to add something to what kenata said, while there really isn't a narrative storyline, RPG elements were still present and surprisingly good. True, I wasn't expecting much, but that only meant that I was occasionally very surprised. Just to give one example, I bought some cattle for a villiage in some lord's fief. Later, when I ran across him, he brought it up. He said something to the effect of "I know you mean well, but please don't give my subjects any more aid, I'd prefer not to have them looking to someone else for help." Lots of little things like that add to the atmosphere.

Plus, it's really hard to describe just how gratifying it is to charge at full speed toward an enemy knight and run them through with a couched lance.

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I'll also vouch for M&B warband - a great game, if a little rough around the edges.

My favourite thing about it is the combat. The story is non-existent - basically you make your own, although you do get some standard quests and plenty of scope to do things (i.e. become a lord/have your own kingdom). The graphics are decent enough for me to enjoy but aren't great compared to most modern games. The sound is decent (the quests aren't voiced though).

The combat though - you've got melee combat (with parrying, shields etc.), mounted combat (with lances), and ranged combat, all of which are very well done, and really help immerse you in the game.

Your character can specialise in whatever they want, so you could focus on being great at all three of the above, or sacrifice them for skills to support any troops you command.

I've never spent too long with the army/troop aspect in terms of battle commands (they're fairly limited although you do still have some options), but the troops are also a well done part of the game, with each individual soldier gaining experience and being able to be promoted to a more advanced unit.

You can also then have a few followers who operate on the same progression as you (i.e. you can choose how to upgrade their skills and equipment, compared to a standard troop unit where you choose between pre-set upgrades).

There's also multiplayer which is a bit hit and miss but can be OK - it's essentially a medieval RPG-lite counterstrike with sieges instead of demolition maps.

This is also all before you consider the various mods out there - I've only tried one myself but there are plenty to choose from, and either enhance the original game or give you an entirely different setting.