Today I had chance to play just a "monarch".
It took some time till I've learned how to play and what is what (even though i've read tutorial).
The main difference between The Sims and TS Medieval is in character's needs (there r just 2 of them - Hunger and Sleep). And well the quests, I found them quite boring - more like the chalanges of the day u can lock up, that used to be in TS3. But what is probably temping is a possibility to choose between many options and quests and then watch how it affects the kingdom.
