Not that far :
From PCGamer :
9.43 EST OH BOY OH BOY Mount and Blade. New expansion, set in 1653, has muskets.
Called “With Fire and Sword”.
You’re a mercenary leader, you can either make an alliance or “go at it alone in this chaotic time.” Enhanced siege mechanics. Bribe a guard to open the door, use gunpowder, or poison the food supply during sieges, if you’d like. New MP mode: “captain” mode where you bring in soldiers, if I heard him correctly–from the campaign, and duke it out with other players. Seven new multiplayer maps, thank god. Footage now being shown.
Mostly familiar combat footage of cavalry combat, but holy hell, did that horse just jump? I hope that’s a new animation–one of the riders leaped his horse over an obstacle. Really, really cool to see muskets and matchlock pistols in M&B, it totally suits the slow style of the archery. Noticed some new, very colorful skyboxes in there as well. Very curious about the total size of this expansion–it seems less significant than Warband. Out Spring 2011.
So a few months. There are lots of neat screenshots on Taleworld. I'll be buyin git, that's for sure.