So it looks like leveled opponents are a part of the game, and as is too often the case, it looks like the leveling is not properly capped. I am finding bandits (the Sassau cleanup) full up with plate armor and high end swords. I have even been upgrading my kit, which I thought was already quite good for a blacksmith’s son, with the droppings of these dead bandits. On the bright side I still encounter thugs with clubs, so maybe the leveling is only for quest related bandits. Even so, these guys have better kit than the nobility.
I had two guys with no armor doing bandit stuff in the woods. Either one of them would have made Bernard look like a stable-boy! After each of them parried my every attack for five minutes I was able to feint and get each in the head.
Once you get to those bandits you had better just accept that most will be half plate at least. You just have to up your game! Practice with Bernard get your skill level up a bit. But unfortunately once you get your skill level high enough those bandits become one shot killable.
In my opinion once you reach mid game the enemies are too easy.
I had something funny happen last night when I was playing. I’m mid game and have over 130 hours in. Im riding along on Warhorse Jenda, wearing full plate and carrying St. George’s sword.
Suddenly this bandit attacks, I get off draw my sword. Only to see a man wearing those shorts and a white shirt. He had no weapons so I put my sword away and he surrendered. LOL. I’m like nope we are fighting. I easily beat him with my fist. The bandit had no clothing I could take. All he had was a potion and a beer. I took them and threw him in the river.
I have never had a bandit attack without at least a club. I’ve also never seen a bandit attack without clothes. It was funny.
It’s not a complaint about difficulty. The quest is fun and the rewards are very, very high - almost 2K per camp. It also taught me something valuable: up my mace skill. Swords don’t do it against plate.
Camp 2 was a real challenge. I had to wait until night and start doing stealth kills. Run away if I got caught. Camp three was similar, Run away, isolate one or two, beat them, then go back for more. I like it when I have to think through a solution.
Pretty sure the Sassau “bandits” for the bandit killing quests are supposed to be deserters. Which would explain the higher-end gear.
Not sure if i know what camp it was, the one up on the hill, but that one I did have to wait until nightfall and do a stealth kill scenario for at least 3 of the bandits so it wasn’t 4 on 1. But that was before my warfare and sword skills were maxed. I started using a mace just because, but I can one shot a dude in full plate with my sword easy peasy.
And yes I have had the underwear bandit attack me before, very dumb move.