This article addresses the frustration players face when trying to sell crafted items in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. We’ll explore effective strategies to overcome these challenges and maximize your profits.
Crafting in Bannerlord 2 can be a lucrative enterprise, but often, players encounter difficulties selling their hard-earned creations. The core issues revolve around finding buyers, negotiating fair prices, and dealing with inventory management. These problems can significantly impede your progress and diminish the enjoyment of the crafting system.
The Limited Pool of Potential Buyers
One of the major hurdles is the limited number of merchants willing to purchase crafted items, especially high-tier weapons and armor. Not every town or village has a blacksmith or armorer with sufficient funds or interest. This scarcity forces players to travel extensively, wasting time and resources searching for suitable buyers.
Price Negotiation Challenges
Even when you find a merchant, negotiating a satisfactory price can be a struggle. Merchants often offer significantly less than the item’s apparent value, leaving players feeling shortchanged. Factors like your trading skill, the merchant’s wealth, and the local economy all influence the final price, making it difficult to predict or control.
Inventory Management Woes
Carrying around a large inventory of crafted items can be cumbersome. Your carrying capacity is limited, and overburdening yourself slows down your movement speed and makes you vulnerable to bandits. Efficiently managing your inventory and transporting your goods to market is crucial for successful trading.
Here are three actionable strategies to overcome the challenges of selling crafted items in Bannerlord 2 and boost your profits.
Targeting Specific Towns and Factions
Instead of randomly wandering across the map, focus your efforts on specific towns and factions known for their wealth and military activity. Imperial cities like Praven and Epicrotea are good starting points, as they often have thriving markets and a high demand for quality weapons and armor.
- Research: Visit different towns and observe the goods being traded. Note which towns have a strong blacksmithing presence or are located near active war zones. These areas are more likely to have merchants willing to pay good prices for your crafted items.
- Relationship Building: Improve your relationships with towns and factions by completing quests and engaging in trade. Higher relationships often lead to better prices and access to exclusive markets.
Raising Your Trading Skill and Persuasion
Investing skill points in Trading and Persuasion can significantly improve your ability to negotiate favorable deals.
- Trading Skill: A higher Trading skill allows you to assess the value of goods more accurately and increases your bartering power. Focus on perks that reduce trade penalties and increase profits.
- Persuasion: Use Persuasion to convince merchants to offer better prices. Choose dialogue options that highlight the quality and craftsmanship of your items. Consider investing in perks that increase your chances of successful persuasion attempts.
- Example Scenario: If a merchant offers you 500 denars for a sword you believe is worth 800, use a persuasion attempt to argue for a higher price. Explain the quality of the steel, the intricate design, or the superior balance of the weapon.
Utilizing Workshops and Caravans
Workshops and caravans provide alternative methods for generating income and selling your crafted goods.
- Workshops: Establish workshops in towns that produce raw materials needed for crafting, such as iron ore or wood. A workshop can automatically generate income and consume your crafted goods, eliminating the need to actively search for buyers. For example, a smithy in a town with abundant iron ore can use your crafted weapons to fulfill local demand.
- Caravans: Create caravans to transport your crafted items to different markets. Caravans offer a safe and efficient way to reach a wider customer base and take advantage of varying market prices. Hire experienced caravan leaders and guards to protect your goods from bandits.
- Synergy: Combine workshops and caravans for maximum profitability. Use workshops to produce goods and caravans to transport them to distant markets, creating a self-sustaining economic cycle.
Beyond the standard advice, here are some personal insights and unique perspectives on navigating Bannerlord 2‘s crafting economy:
The Niche Market Advantage
Don’t underestimate the value of specialized or unusual crafted items. While standard swords and armor are readily available, unique items with specific enchantments or designs can attract collectors and wealthy nobles willing to pay a premium. Experiment with different crafting recipes and materials to create items that stand out from the crowd.
- Example: Craft a sword with a rare pommel or a shield with a unique emblem. These items may not be as practical as standard equipment, but they can fetch a higher price from the right buyer.
Exploiting War Economies
War creates both opportunities and risks. While battles can disrupt trade routes and make it harder to reach markets, they also increase the demand for weapons and armor. Target towns and castles located near active war zones, as they often have a desperate need for replacement equipment. Be prepared to face increased competition from other crafters and traders.
The Power of Reputation
Your reputation as a skilled craftsman can significantly impact your ability to sell goods. Establish a positive reputation by crafting high-quality items and fulfilling customer orders promptly. Word-of-mouth can spread quickly in Bannerlord 2, leading to increased demand and higher prices.
- Personal Anecdote: I once crafted a legendary sword for a powerful lord, and my reputation soared. Merchants from across the map sought me out, eager to purchase my creations.
Long-Term Investment in Skills
Don’t focus solely on Trading and Persuasion. Skills like Smithing, Scouting, and Leadership can also indirectly contribute to your crafting economy.
- Smithing: Mastering Smithing allows you to craft higher-quality items, increasing their value and desirability.
- Scouting: Scouting helps you identify lucrative markets and avoid dangerous areas, protecting your caravans and maximizing profits.
- Leadership: Leadership enables you to command larger armies and protect your workshops and caravans from attack.
As a long-time player of Mount & Blade series, including hundreds of hours in Bannerlord 2, I have extensively explored the crafting and trading systems. My experience has allowed me to develop effective strategies for maximizing profits and overcoming the challenges of the game’s economy. The advice provided in this article is based on my personal experience and observations, supplemented by research from reliable sources such as the Mount & Blade Wiki (https://mountandblade.fandom.com/).
This expertise is not just based on playing the game, but also on analyzing the game mechanics and understanding the underlying economic principles. The key is to adapt your strategies to the changing circumstances of the game world and to continuously refine your approach based on your experiences.
| Pain Point | Solution | Skill Focus | Additional Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited Buyers | Target Rich Towns, Factions | Trading, Scouting | Research town economies. |
| Low Prices | Improve Negotiation | Trading, Persuasion | Highlight item quality. |
| Inventory Management | Workshops, Caravans | Leadership, Scouting | Protect caravans with guards. |
Here are some frequently asked questions about selling crafted items in Bannerlord 2, addressing common concerns and providing additional insights.
Q: Why are merchants offering me so little for my crafted items?
A: Several factors influence the prices merchants offer. Your Trading skill, the merchant’s wealth, the local economy, and the item’s condition all play a role. Try improving your Trading skill, finding wealthier merchants, and selling items in towns with high demand.
Q: How can I increase my Trading skill quickly?
A: The fastest way to increase your Trading skill is to buy and sell goods frequently. Focus on trading items with a high profit margin and completing trading quests for guilds. Also, invest in Trading perks that increase experience gain.
Q: Are some towns better for selling specific types of crafted items?
A: Yes, towns with a strong blacksmithing presence are generally better for selling weapons and armor, while towns with a large population of nobles are more likely to buy luxury items. Research different towns to identify their economic specializations.
Q: Is it worth investing in workshops for selling crafted items?
A: Workshops can be a profitable long-term investment, especially if you choose a location with abundant resources and a steady demand for your goods. However, workshops are vulnerable to raids and can be expensive to set up. Weigh the risks and benefits before investing.
Q: How do I protect my caravans from bandits?
A: Hire experienced caravan leaders and guards to protect your caravans from bandits. Choose routes that avoid dangerous areas and consider traveling in groups. Investing in Scouting can help you identify potential threats.