I voted worse... but my opinion is distorted as I only started playing about 5 days ago.
It wasn't nice at first... as with most new games, I was confused and frustrated. I bought the game in the Steam deals and really enjoyed SP in the original M&B, then switched to Warband purely for the crpg mod. I knew at the time, from the things I had read, it was going to be tough to begin with... gathered with the other peasents in a corner, avoiding arrows and staying where the action is whilst avoiding horses. The heavy armored, or even light/medium with big swords pwnd me time after time... for hours on end (26 of them over two characters to be exact) and my one hope and goal was that one day... I will stand a chance... an even chance. Heck one day I was hoping to be feared by peasents too - and that's what spurred me forward (to my 20:250 KD ratio - not including sieges of course).
It took a long time (though obviously most will have played more - but I think 26 hours counts as a long time!) to realise where my points needed to go, and I made mistakes along the way (which I was hoping to correct by retiring) but overall I was having fun! I encouraged a friend to play too and had a blast. Figuring out what to buy next was fun, saving up to add a little more armour to last a few seconds longer to add the additional damage that may somehow turn the tide of battle was awesome!
I was really enjoying the new mod I had found and was looking forward to slow, but steady improvements every day. But now I feel like the great game has been ripped away from me before I really had chance to get into it properly. I feel like I did all the hard part and just as I was about to get my reward it got taken away
I realise I feel this way, as we all do with new exciting games, because it is/was something different. I also realise that for many of the older players, a new slant on things is welcome and refreshing. The changes made are for the right reasons, I'm sure... and in the end I will agree with what was done. For right now however... I'm back to being confused and frustrated.
I doubt it'll be long before I start having fun again though... I just wish I'd had a little longer and reaped the rewards a little before the change.
I would like to know a few things however... I understand that the item only breaks when you lose - my question is how long does the item last before it breaks? Or is it by chance... and if so what percentage, and is each item different... do any stats affect the item's durability?
The main problem I am seeing (which will, I'm sure, be addressed) is that some items repair cost is more than the item cost itself. Is this, again, modified by stats in any way?