The medieval fantasy combat/butter-buying simulator "Mount & Blade 2" updated today, significantly improving the game by adding requested features and fixing critical gameplay issues.

Players can now set block direction to automatic, eliminating the need to flick the mouse in a specific direction to block. Another major fix is an overhaul of how bandit hideouts work, allowing players to choose which troops will accompany them in the famously frustrating battle.

Previously, players were given a random selection of troops to attack bandit hideouts. Now, players can either take the highest level of troops automatically or custom-build a roster of attacking troops for themselves. The number of bandits in a battle has also been rebalanced. Hopefully, you will no longer be pinched by forest bandits. Hopefully.

The last major change is that conversations with other parties on the campaign map have been adjusted so that they no longer require a loading screen. Other changes in the patch include an increase in the variety of weapons among the faction's soldiers and a general balancing of the weapons used by the soldiers. In addition, long-standing complaints about bugs, such as Levi Crossbowmen being counted as melee infantry and dying in an assault, have been addressed. Also, you can now cheer with your troops when they win. Just press 0 when the battle is over.

Read the full Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord 1.4.3 patch notes here or on Steam As is typical with Bannerlord updates, a new beta patch is also available. 1.5.0 beta patch includes the long-awaited further improvements to the combat formation AI overhaul and other much-anticipated further changes. These are among the changes announced in the latest developer update.