3 Key Bannerlord 2 Future Updates to Fix Pain Points

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a sprawling sandbox RPG with immense potential, but even after its official release, some nagging issues detract from the experience. This article dives into three crucial areas where future updates could significantly improve the game, focusing on practical solutions and offering insights drawn from extensive playtime.

Diplomacy is arguably Bannerlord 2’s weakest link. Wars feel constant, peace treaties are flimsy, and the entire system lacks depth. You might find yourself stuck in endless, meaningless conflicts, grinding away at lords simply to see them rejoin the fight weeks later.

The Fickle Nature of Alliances

One of the biggest frustrations is the AI’s inability to value long-term strategic alliances. Factions declare war on a whim, often for seemingly no reason. I’ve seen kingdoms with a single town bordering three powerful enemies declare war on all of them simultaneously. This is unrealistic and gamey.

Here’s how future updates could address this:

• Implement a “war score” system. Similar to Crusader Kings III, this would track the benefits and costs of a war for each side. Capturing towns, winning battles, and raiding caravans would increase a faction’s war score. Taking heavy losses or failing to achieve objectives would decrease it. A war score would then heavily influence AI decisions about making peace, ensuring that wars are only pursued when strategically advantageous.

• Introduce “casus bellis”. These are justifications for war, like claims on territory or religious grievances. Requiring a casus belli before declaring war would force factions to think strategically and offer players opportunities to influence diplomacy before swords are drawn. For example, a faction might fabricate a claim on a town, giving you a chance to expose their plot and prevent the war.

• Develop dynamic opinion modifiers. Currently, faction leaders’ opinions of each other are largely static. Introduces events and actions that dynamically affect these opinions. A successful marriage alliance, a generous gift, or a coordinated military campaign could improve relations, while betrayals, broken treaties, or unjust executions could damage them. This would make diplomacy feel more reactive and meaningful.

These changes would not only make wars feel more justified but would also allow players more agency in shaping the political landscape of Calradia.

Council and Internal Politics Overhaul

Even when you are part of a kingdom, the control you exert feels limited. Policy changes happen with little player input, and there is a notable lack of political intrigue. The current system is too simplistic and does not provide the complexity expected from a medieval political simulator.

Focusing on enriching council dynamics allows for more internal political tension.

Here’s my take:

• Introduce a council system. The player, as a ruler or a powerful clan leader, should have a council of advisors with different skills and opinions. The council could include a chancellor responsible for diplomacy, a marshal in charge of military affairs, a steward managing finances, and a constable overseeing internal security.

• Implement council positions with unique roles and responsibilities. Allow these council members to directly influence kingdom policy and exert their own power. This will make the player feel like part of a larger power structure.

• Allow council members to have their own agendas and ambitions, leading to internal conflicts and power struggles. The player would have to navigate these complex relationships, making decisions that could either strengthen or weaken their position within the kingdom.

While the skill system is deep, Bannerlord 2’s character development lacks a certain something. It can feel grindy to level skills, and the perks often lack impactful effects.

Addressing the Skill Grind

Leveling skills can feel like a chore. You might find yourself repeatedly performing the same actions to grind up a particular skill. This is especially true for non-combat skills like trade or scouting.

Here’s a potential fix:

• Implement “skill challenges.” These would be specific tasks that award large amounts of experience when completed. For example, a skill challenge for trade might be to successfully establish a profitable trade route between two distant cities. A scouting challenge could be to discover a hidden bandit hideout. These challenges would provide a more engaging and rewarding way to level skills.

• Increase passive skill gains. Certain skills, like stewardship or medicine, could be leveled passively based on your actions. Managing a fief well could passively increase stewardship, while treating wounded troops could passively increase medicine. This would reduce the need for mindless grinding.

A more dynamic and rewarding skill system would make character progression feel more meaningful.

Meaningful Perks and Specializations

Many perks in Bannerlord 2 are underwhelming. They offer small, incremental bonuses that are barely noticeable. This makes character builds feel less impactful.

Consider these improvements:

• Introduce “signature perks.” At certain skill levels, players could unlock signature perks that dramatically alter their playstyle. For example, a signature perk for medicine might allow the player to perform battlefield surgeries, instantly healing wounded troops. A signature perk for leadership could allow the player to inspire their troops with powerful speeches, boosting their morale.

• Implement “skill trees.” Instead of a linear progression of perks, players could choose from a branching skill tree. Each branch would focus on a specific playstyle or specialization. This would allow for more diverse and interesting character builds.

These changes would make character development feel more impactful and allow players to create truly unique heroes.

Sieges in Bannerlord 2 can be repetitive and frustrating. The AI often makes questionable decisions, and the map designs are often unbalanced.

Tactical AI Improvements

AI during sieges, both attacking and defending, often makes poor decisions. Defenders will leave walls undefended, and attackers will mindlessly charge into kill zones.

Possible solutions:

• Implement clearer AI roles and behaviors. Assign specific roles to AI units, such as archers, infantry, and siege engineers. Program the AI to prioritize objectives based on these roles. For example, archers should prioritize targeting enemy archers, while infantry should focus on breaching the walls.

• Improve AI pathfinding and navigation. AI units often get stuck in bottlenecks or take illogical routes. Improving pathfinding would make sieges flow more smoothly and allow for more tactical maneuvers.

• Allow players to issue more detailed commands. Give players the ability to specify which walls to defend, which gates to attack, and which units to prioritize. This would give players more control over the battle and allow them to compensate for the AI’s shortcomings.

By improving the AI’s tactical decision-making, sieges would become more challenging and rewarding.

Dynamic Siege Events

Sieges often feel the same, regardless of the location or the opposing forces. A future update could introduce random events to spice up the gameplay.

Some ideas include:

• Disease outbreaks. A disease could break out within the besieged city, weakening the defenders and lowering morale.
• Supply shortages. The city could run out of food or water, further weakening the defenders.
• Sabotage. A spy could infiltrate the city and sabotage defenses or open the gates.

Adding these dynamic elements would make sieges feel more unpredictable and engaging.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord has the potential to be a truly legendary RPG. By addressing these key pain points with future updates, TaleWorlds Entertainment can unlock the game’s full potential and deliver an experience that will captivate players for years to come. By improving diplomacy, character development, and sieges, the game can become more strategic, rewarding, and engaging. These suggested improvements are based on countless hours of gameplay and observation, aiming to enhance the user experience and create a more immersive and enjoyable world of Calradia.