In Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, shrewd resource management can be the difference between a flourishing kingdom and a swift demise. While many players focus on fertile lands and trade routes, coastal resources offer unique strategic advantages that are often overlooked. This article explores three key benefits of controlling coastal regions in Bannerlord 2, providing actionable insights for aspiring rulers.
One of the most significant, yet often underestimated, benefits of controlling coastal settlements is the access it grants to naval power, even though the game doesn’t directly feature naval combat. This advantage manifests in several indirect ways:
Disrupting Enemy Supply Lines Via Coastal Raids
Coastal regions are natural hubs for trade. By controlling coastal settlements, you can effectively disrupt enemy trade routes. Gaining control of coastal areas grants you prime locations to conduct raids, severely impacting their income and resource availability. This can be achieved by positioning smaller, faster parties near ports to intercept caravans and ships.
Utilizing Ports for Faster Troop Movement
While not a direct “naval unit,” ports serve as vital strategic assets for troop movement. Moving troops by sea is significantly faster and safer than traversing land, especially across enemy territory. Consolidating your forces quickly to repel an invasion becomes possible with secure ports. Think of it as an early-game fast travel system, provided you control both the embarkation and disembarkation points. This reduces attrition and fatigue, allowing your armies to arrive fresh and ready for battle.
Securing Coastal Resources: Fishing and Salt
Controlling coastal settlements grants access to valuable resources like fish and salt. These resources, while not as glamorous as iron or hardwood, can significantly boost your economy and the well-being of your troops.
Diversifying Your Economy with Coastal Trade
Fishing villages naturally generate fish, which can be sold in nearby towns for profit. Salt is essential for preserving food, reducing spoilage and improving morale. A diverse economy is a resilient economy, and coastal resources provide a valuable buffer against disruptions in traditional land-based trade. Consider building workshops specializing in fish processing or salt production in coastal towns to maximize their economic potential.
Boosting Troop Morale with Diverse Provisions
A well-fed army is a happy army. Access to seafood provides a welcome change from the usual grain and meat, boosting morale and combat effectiveness. Happy troops fight harder, and a coastal settlement ensures a steady supply of morale-boosting provisions. Prioritize acquiring settlements with fishing villages to improve your army’s morale.
Coastal regions, if properly fortified, can serve as formidable defensive strongholds. Understanding the terrain and strategically deploying your forces can deter enemy invasions and protect your kingdom from coastal raids.
Establishing Coastal Fortifications for Defense
Coastal castles and towns offer natural defensive advantages. The sea acts as a barrier, limiting the avenues of attack. Capitalize on this by building strong fortifications, such as walls, towers, and siege engines, to repel enemy landings. Consider focusing your defense efforts on key coastal chokepoints.
Preventing Enemy Landings Through Naval Patrols
While you can’t directly command ships, you can use your armies to patrol the coastline. Positioning strong garrisons in coastal settlements and actively patrolling the surrounding waters will deter enemy landings and disrupt their supply lines. Think of it as a preemptive strike, preventing the enemy from gaining a foothold on your territory.
Early Warning Systems on Coastal Areas
Coastal settlements act as early warning systems, providing valuable intelligence about approaching enemy fleets. This allows you to mobilize your forces in advance and prepare for the impending invasion. By establishing a network of scouts and watchtowers along the coast, you can detect enemy movements early and react accordingly. This provides crucial time to prepare your defenses and coordinate your response.
Beyond economic and defensive advantages, coastal regions offer unique strategic opportunities that can significantly impact the course of your campaign.
Launching Expeditionary Forces from Coastal Bases
Coastal settlements serve as ideal launching pads for expeditionary forces. You can use them to project power across the sea, conduct raids on distant enemies, or even establish colonies in new territories. This allows you to expand your influence beyond your immediate borders and exert pressure on your rivals from unexpected directions.
Forming Strategic Alliances with Naval Factions
Certain factions in Bannerlord 2 have strong naval capabilities. By controlling coastal settlements, you can cultivate strategic alliances with these factions, leveraging their naval power to your advantage. These alliances can provide valuable support in times of war, bolstering your defenses and expanding your reach. Consider the long-term implications of these alliances, as they can significantly alter the balance of power in Calradia.
Controlling Sea Trade Routes for Economic Supremacy
While land-based trade routes are important, sea trade routes offer even greater potential for economic gain. By controlling key coastal settlements and ports, you can dominate sea trade, generating massive wealth and controlling the flow of goods throughout Calradia. Think of it as a “choke point” for trade, allowing you to tax and control the movement of goods between different regions. This economic dominance can translate into military power, allowing you to field larger and better-equipped armies.
I’ve played hundreds of hours of Bannerlord and one aspect I consistently see underestimated is the psychological effect of controlling coastal territories. When I hold the coastline, my enemies are less likely to launch large-scale land invasions because they know their supply lines are vulnerable. This allows me to focus my forces on other fronts, creating a strategic advantage that is hard to quantify but very real. This is something I didn’t fully grasp until I started playing on higher difficulty settings, where every advantage counts.
Here’s a table summarizing the strategic advantages of coastal resources:
| Strategic Advantage | Benefit | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Naval Power (Indirect) | Disrupting Enemy Supply Lines, Troop Mobility | Coastal Raids, Securing Ports, Patrol Routes |
| Economic Benefits | Diversified Economy, Boosted Troop Morale | Fishing Villages, Salt Production, Enhanced Provisions |
| Enhanced Defense | Coastal Fortifications, Preventing Landings, Early Warning Systems | Building Forts, Patrols, Watchtowers |
| Unique Strategic Options | Launching Expeditionary Forces, Forming Alliances, Sea Trade Control | Coastal Bases, Diplomatic Relationships, Port Management |
In conclusion, coastal resources offer a wide range of strategic advantages in Bannerlord 2. By understanding and leveraging these benefits, you can significantly enhance your kingdom’s economic prosperity, defensive capabilities, and overall strategic position. Don’t underestimate the power of the sea – it can be a valuable asset in your quest for dominance in Calradia.
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding coastal resources in Bannerlord 2: