I have spent several thousand hours on this game. I like it very much. I hit the point where I'm playing mods because I've done a lot of runs in vanilla Medieval II. Sometimes I reinstall the game for the heck of it and play some more hundred hours.

Its replayability and kingdom management systems make this game much more than a glorified tactics game. Battles are fun, exploiting the AI makes you feel like an astute general but the greatness lies with its campaign. The expansion (what's a "dee elle see"?) would bring even better gameplay and new content for a timeless game.

I love and hate this game, for what it was, back when I used to play on community servers, for what it will be, thanks to a predatory monetary system, for the experience, from the extremely deep movement strats to its special fanbase ... I've lived a big chunk of my life playing this game, at times religiously, at times every so often, but always willing to "get in a pub". It's a lifestyle, at a certain point.

I've met friends, I've made unforgettable memories and it will always be that comfort game where, if I ever lost the will to play videogames, will remind me what experiencing joy while gaming means.

Then to be killed from half the map away from a bot, that's another story for another time.