* "VC Balance Mod version 10.0" tweaks with the following alterations and additions:

    * Items:    Over 250 new weapons and armors; most from Brytenwalda and several made by mashing existing armor sets.
* New items fully integrated.
* All spears classed as "long" may be couched.
* Short bows are back in the game. Only the highest tier archers now use longbows. Bows are further broken down into groups based on material.
* Bow damage increased.
* Some exotic weapons will turn up in the shops from time to time. Say what you like about Vikings, they got around.
* Horses--horses for days! Over 50 mounts representing 12 breeds.
* Armored versions of higher-end warhorses.
* 2 unique, named horses can be acquired on items page 1 in the cheat menu.
* Free Battle Horn! (you start with a horn as they hardly ever show-up in stores no matter how high I set their frequency)

    * Troops:    Dozens of new troop types:
        * Mercenary troops now have veteran and elite levels.
        * Several new archer types, including some that were CALLED archers but only threw rocks. Seriously, WTF?
        * Women may now progress beyond camp defender to join the warband as proper warriors.
        * War Priests! Holy men who insist on military service will eventually get good at it and aquire some half-decent gear.
        * Special troop tree available to the player only. "Wolfclan" troops split into Infantry, Skirmishers, Cavalry, and Archers.

    * The Arena: Make some side coin or play as a dedicated arena fighter.
* Arena Tournaments are 2 v 2 for the first two rounds then 1 v 1 for rounds three to six.
* Tournaments held at castles are 1 v 1 for all rounds.
* You may bet 5000, 1000, 500, 100, or 50 in tournaments.
* Melee fights in the arena now have decent payoffs to make them worth doing.
* Renown for winning a tournament is increased a tad (a metric tad)

    * FOOD: Each unit of food feeds 1 man for 1 day for ease of reference. Non-perishable food items now bought in higher amounts to compensate.

   * Companions:
* Companions will not leave the party.
* Companions will not constantly whine and complain about each other!
* Morrgain will remain after her quest line is complete.
* Additional info available on the Companions page (sandbox only).
* Companions all have at least Riding 1.

   * Settlements:
* Slightly more recruits available from villages.
* Settlements produce more income.
* Tax inefficiency reduced slightly.
* Building times reduced.
* Merchants are richer.
* Special NPCs like Physicians, smiths, and town mayors now wear distinctive new outfits to make easier to spot.
* Adoptable dog now has a new texture to make it easy to pick out. It is a nasty half-wolf with a better bite but not overpowered.
* Loot from pillaging villages and monasteries increased. (Note: always pillage before you burn)

   * NPC Lords:
* Beaten lords less likely to escape after battle.
* Lords less touchy about you not accepting their missions.
* Enemy lords more understanding about being attacked. It's business--not personal.
* You may give troops to any lord.

   * Battles:
* You may choose either side when joining a battle.
* More reinforcement waves for each side in field battles and sieges.
* Capturing ships is much more likely in naval battles; damage ranges more reasonable.

   * MISC:

    * Bandit camps visible from further away. You may now bring 12 troops to attack them.

    * Your men are less twitchy about the recruitment of prisoners. Morale loss is minor and Vikings may be recruited.

    * Slightly higher base morale (60) for the party.

    * Character starts with slightly increased stats and weapon skills.

   * Leadership, Trainer, and Inventory Management are now party skills.

    * Inventory Management is now Intelligence based as you aren't carrying all that crap on your back.

    * No late game stat loss for player.

    * Cattle moves faster.

    * Player text color on map changed to more readable pale yellow.

    * AI Kingdoms don't automatically declare war on you if you are the strongest faction.
    
    * Some fun new music courtesy of Bardcore.

    * Other stuff I'm forgetting! (I really should have made a list as I went. Ah well.)


IMPORTANT NOTE: This mod requires the player, when playing a Norse character, to read all dialogue options aloud while doing their best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression. I wasn't able to make this work in the code so we'll be working on the honor system. Do not disappoint me--I LOATHE disappointment...

KNOWN ISSUE: For reasons I cannot fathom, let alone fix, sometimes the vanilla horse models show-up instead of the new ones at the Horse Merchant. It doesn't affect anything except visually. Just avoid those ones if it bothers you like it does me. If you know how to fix this please don't keep it to yourself as it makes me a little bit crazy...










WISH LIST/HELP WANTED:

I am new at modding this game and have fairly limited time to learn python. Subsequently a lot of things I would have liked to include are not in the mod. If anyone has working VC scripts that do these things, or wants to be a saint and explain how to accomplish them, I shall be eternally grateful for the help:

* Combine "Weapon Maintenance" skill effects into "Weapon Mastery."  This frees up a skill slot and, frankly, I imagine the two would be basically aspects of one skill anyhow.

* Re-introduce the "Entertain" skill from Brytenwalda with all its effects. Allowing the character to perform at Lords' halls for honor and cash would also be sweet.

* A new custom camera to allow for a full-body 3rd person view.

* Donate to villages to get them to like you like in Brytenwalda.

* Bounty missions available from inn keepers; and reduce bad village reaction a bit from -10. I know you just killed a dude and that makes people nervous but he was obviously a jerk.

* Force Ratio meter for battles.

* Perform speeches in towns for Right to Rule points, like in--you guessed it--Brytenwalda.

* Talk to town mayors from menu.

* Return hunting of dear, wolves, goats, wild donkeys, etc.

* Conversation option, similar to the Brytenwalda "Seduce" where you can raise or lower your relations with an NPC by chatting with them.

* Enlist in a lord's army. (Basically anything Brytenwalda does that VC doesn't I want it to have)