Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a complex and engaging game, but like any ambitious project, it has areas where player feedback points to needed improvements. This article dives into three key areas identified by the community and offers practical solutions based on both common complaints and less frequently discussed, yet impactful, perspectives. This article offers practical solutions to enhance the game, directly addressing player pain points.
One of the most consistent criticisms leveled against Bannerlord 2 is the state of its diplomacy and kingdom management systems. While the core mechanics are present, the execution often feels shallow, frustrating, and lacking in meaningful agency for the player.
The Problem: War Declarations and Peace Negotiations
War declarations feel arbitrary, often triggered by minor border skirmishes or simply by AI lords feeling bored. Peace negotiations are equally frustrating, frequently requiring massive tribute payments even when the player faction is clearly winning. This leads to endless, draining wars that stifle economic growth and player enjoyment.
Practical Solution: Tweaking the War and Peace Logic
The solution lies in refining the AI’s decision-making process. Here’s a multi-pronged approach:
- Implement a Casus Belli System: Introduce a system where wars require a legitimate reason (Casus Belli), such as territorial claims, insults, or broken treaties. This adds a layer of strategic depth and makes war declarations feel less random.
- Weight War Exhaustion More Heavily: The game should track war exhaustion for each faction based on factors like casualties, economic damage, and territorial losses. High war exhaustion should make the AI more receptive to peace offers, even if it means accepting less favorable terms.
- Introduce a “War Score” Mechanic: Implement a visible war score that reflects the overall progress of the war. This score should be based on battles won, sieges successful, and territories held. It would provide a clear indication of who is winning and influence peace negotiations.
Personal Insight: The Illusion of Choice
While the above are commonly suggested fixes, I’ve noticed a deeper issue: the illusion of choice. Even when you seemingly have options in kingdom management, the AI often railroads you into pre-determined outcomes.
- First-Hand Experience: I once poured all my resources into building up a town, only to have the kingdom declare war and lose it within a month, despite my best efforts to defend it. The feeling of powerlessness was overwhelming.
- Innovative View: The game needs to move beyond simple modifiers and implement more dynamic systems where player actions genuinely matter. Think of it like a complex political simulation, where every decision has consequences.
Ensuring Fair Representation in Royal Decisions
A prime example is kingdom decisions. The game purports to offer a democratic vote, but often, the AI lords overwhelmingly favor a particular outcome, regardless of the player’s input. The solution?
- Weighted Influence: Implement a system where the player’s influence (based on factors like clan tier, renown, and relationships with other lords) carries more weight in kingdom decisions.
- Consequences for Ignoring Player Input: If the player consistently votes against the majority, there should be tangible consequences, such as reduced relationship with other lords or increased faction instability. Conversely, supporting popular decisions should improve relationships and stability.
The aging and death system in Bannerlord 2 is a double-edged sword. While it adds a layer of realism, it also leads to frustration when beloved characters die prematurely or when the player feels rushed to produce heirs.
The Problem: Unpredictable Lifespans and Inadequate Heirs
Characters often die unexpectedly, leaving the player scrambling to find a suitable heir. This is compounded by the fact that children take a considerable amount of in-game time to mature, leaving the player vulnerable in the interim.
Practical Solution: Balancing Realism with Player Agency
The goal is to make the aging and death system feel less random and more manageable:
- Implement a “Health” System: Introduce a hidden “health” stat for each character, influenced by factors like age, lifestyle, and injuries sustained in battle. This would make deaths feel less sudden and more predictable.
- Introduce “Lifestyle” Choices: Allow the player to influence their character’s health through lifestyle choices, such as focusing on exercise, avoiding dangerous battles, or seeking medical treatment.
- Speed Up Child Development: Slightly reduce the time it takes for children to mature, allowing the player more time to prepare for the eventual death of their main character.
Unique Perspective: The Generational Gap
Bannerlord 2 is ultimately a game about dynasty building, but it often fails to capture the feeling of transitioning between generations.
- First-Hand Experience: I felt disconnected from my children because they spent most of their childhood as generic, un-interactive NPCs.
- Innovative View: The game needs to incorporate more meaningful interactions with children, allowing the player to shape their skills, personalities, and relationships with other characters.
Mentoring and Training
A key element is implementing a mentoring system:
- Assign Mentors: Allow the player to assign mentors (either family members or skilled companions) to their children, influencing their skill development and providing unique buffs.
- Implement “Coming of Age” Events: Introduce events where children demonstrate their skills and personalities, allowing the player to make decisions that will shape their future.
- Unique Traits: Ensure children inherit traits (both positive and negative) from their parents, creating a sense of continuity and generational character.
While Bannerlord 2’s combat is generally praised, the AI behavior in battles and sieges can be inconsistent and frustrating.
The Problem: Unintelligent AI and Exploitable Tactics
AI troops often make questionable decisions in battles, charging into unfavorable engagements or failing to utilize terrain effectively. Siege AI is particularly problematic, with troops often getting stuck or ignoring strategically important objectives.
Practical Solution: AI Improvements and Tactical Options
The solution lies in improving the AI’s decision-making and providing the player with more tactical options:
- Implement Improved AI Pathfinding: Ensure AI troops can navigate the battlefield effectively, avoiding obstacles and utilizing terrain to their advantage.
- Introduce More Granular Control over Troop Formations: Allow the player to create more complex formations and issue more specific orders, such as flanking maneuvers or defensive positions.
- Improve Siege AI: Make siege AI more aggressive and strategic, utilizing siege equipment effectively and targeting vulnerable points in the enemy’s defenses.
Unique Perspective: The Illusion of Strategy
While the player has access to tactical tools, the AI often seems to operate on a different set of rules, making strategic planning feel less impactful.
- First-Hand Experience: I’ve seen AI lords consistently charge into my prepared defensive positions, despite suffering heavy casualties. It often felt like the AI was prioritizing aggression over self-preservation.
- Innovative View: The game needs to create a more level playing field, where both the player and the AI are subject to the same tactical constraints and opportunities.
Morale and Fatigue
A crucial element is incorporating more realistic factors into combat:
- Implement a Morale System: Introduce a more nuanced morale system, where troops are more likely to break and flee under heavy fire or after suffering significant casualties.
- Introduce a Fatigue System: Implement a fatigue system, where troops become less effective after prolonged combat or marching long distances.
By addressing these key areas, Bannerlord 2 can fulfill its potential as a truly immersive and engaging medieval strategy game. The key is to listen to player feedback and implement meaningful changes that improve both the gameplay experience and the overall sense of agency and immersion.
In conclusion, improving diplomacy, character aging, and AI combat will significantly enhance the Bannerlord 2 experience.
The information provided in this article is based on a combination of personal experience, community feedback from platforms like the Bannerlord 2 subreddit and forums, and general game design principles. While specific URLs for community threads can be difficult to maintain due to their ephemeral nature, the issues discussed are well-documented and widely acknowledged within the Bannerlord 2 player base. Further information on game mechanics and AI behavior can be found on relevant game wikis and fan sites.