Mount & Blade: Warband Preview

Destructoid has kicked up a tiny GDC-based preview of Mount & Blade: Warband, though it doesn't sound like they enjoyed the expansion in the short time they had with it.
I saw Warband earlier this afternoon and left the demo unimpressed. The long and sweeping attacks of either melee class made for several uninspired battles against players participating in the game's beta. And while I think the tactical options are there to exploit (for example: hold this castle), it's nigh impossible to get 32 players on the same page without a robust reward system like MAG. And that's not to mention that the maps felt dead. A lone castle in a sea of green grass was all that I could find.
I guess this guy requires instant gratification.