Just played for 5-6 hours... Have very mixed feelings.
Many players concider the pre-patched version of cRPG as some sort of a "Grind Era". It seems cRPG have entered a "Spam Era" now.
I am not a good "skilled" player, I use a 1h + Shield, but the last 2 hours on a siege server the only weapon i used was a Great Maul.
Why? Both defenders and attacker were a giant spam mob.
Life became cheap in post-patch cRPG. A vicious, raging pre-patched peasant is wearing a decent armor and wielding a huge axe or sword, but there is the same guy inside the armor. Peasant tactics is simple and effective: be in a mob - swing your weapon with all your horse-knight-hating might!
Its funny and sad. I used to cherish my kills. To every kill, to every battle, there used to be its own story. I laughed, I cursed, I planned... I could recognise many players by their looks. Now there is only a faceless spamming mob: Stay in tight group - spam and gank.
Its fun! M&B is a great game! I have played many great games and have many great memories! I feel still addicted to cRPG, and its great game-play, but my greatest cRPG moments will stay with the old version. It is somehow not "spicy" enough now...