Bannerlord 2’s tournaments offer a fun, skill-based way to earn renown, improve your character, and maybe even snag some decent gear. However, the “maybe” is the problem. The inconsistent and often underwhelming rewards are a significant pain point for many players. This article will delve into the core issues with tournament rewards, offering practical solutions and unique perspectives to make your tournament grind more worthwhile.
The main problem lies in the randomness and generally low value of the rewards. You could win multiple tournaments in a row and consistently receive items that are either useless to your character or easily obtainable through other means. This can lead to frustration and a feeling that the time invested isn’t worth the return. Players often complain about receiving low-tier horses, damaged weapons, or armor pieces that are significantly worse than what they already possess.
LSI Keywords and People Also Search
Let’s consider what players are searching for regarding Bannerlord 2 tournaments:
- Tournament rewards list Bannerlord 2
- Bannerlord 2 best tournament rewards
- Bannerlord 2 tournament cheese
- Bannerlord 2 how to win tournaments easily
- Bannerlord 2 tournament betting
These searches indicate a desire for: (1) Knowing the possible rewards, (2) Finding ways to get the best rewards, (3) Exploiting easy win strategies, and (4) Maximizing profit through betting. We’ll address these needs in our solutions.
While the item rewards themselves are unreliable, betting on yourself offers a consistent, albeit small, source of income. The key is to minimize your potential losses.
How to Maximize Profit
- Save before entering the tournament: This is crucial. If you lose early, reload and try again.
- Only bet on yourself: Betting on other participants is a gamble. Your own skill is the only factor you can reliably control.
- Don’t bet everything you have: Leave enough money for your party’s wages and other essential expenses. A series of losses can be devastating.
- Utilize the “wait” function: If you see other strong competitors in the early rounds, you can sometimes strategically “wait” until they eliminate each other, increasing your chances of advancing.
- Bet the maximum amount allowed: This maximises the money you can earn.
Personal Experiences with Strategic Betting
I’ve personally found that a disciplined betting strategy, combined with save-scumming, significantly increases the financial benefit of tournaments. While not the most honorable tactic, it’s a practical way to compensate for the poor item rewards. I’ve also noticed that the odds offered for betting on myself often change depending on my character’s skills and equipment. A well-geared, high-level character will typically have lower odds, reflecting their increased chance of winning.
What to Do When Save-Scumming Feels Wrong
While effective, constant save-scumming can detract from the game’s immersion. One alternative is to accept the occasional loss but focus on improving your skills and equipment over time. This will naturally increase your win rate and profitability without resorting to reloads. Treat tournaments as a long-term investment in your character’s development.
Not all tournaments are created equal. Some towns are known to offer a better selection of potential rewards than others. While there’s no definitive list, community experience suggests that towns in wealthier regions tend to have better rewards.
How to Pinpoint Good Tournaments
- Check the local economy: Towns with “Very High” or “Flourishing” prosperity often have better goods available in the marketplace, which can translate to better tournament rewards.
- Visit different regions: Experiment with tournaments in different regions (e.g., Battanian, Vlandian, Sturgian) to see if you notice a pattern.
- Talk to the locals: While not always reliable, tavern keepers and other NPCs might offer hints about valuable items circulating in the area.
- Keep a record: Manually track the rewards you receive from tournaments in different towns. Over time, you’ll develop a personal list of “hotspots.”
First-Hand Experience with Tournament Hotspots
In my playthroughs, I’ve consistently found that tournaments in Vlandian cities like Sargot and Pravend tend to offer better rewards, particularly horses and armor. This could be due to Vlandia’s focus on heavy cavalry and their generally prosperous economy. However, this is based on anecdotal evidence, and your experience may vary.
Is the Reward Even Good?
When checking the town, there are specific items in the reward pool you should lookout for:
| Item Category | Example Good Reward | Example Bad Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Horses | Aserai/Arabian Horse | Pack Horse |
| Weapons | Tier 4 or 5 Weapons | Tier 2 or lower Weapons |
| Armor | Tier 4 or 5 Armor Pieces | Tier 2 or lower Armor Pieces |
The Trade-Off
Finding and farming high-value tournaments requires travel time. You’ll need to balance the potential for better rewards against the opportunity cost of doing other things, like completing quests or engaging in battles. Consider your overall goals and priorities when deciding whether to focus on tournament farming.
If you’re willing to use mods, several options can directly address the tournament rewards pain points. These mods typically offer increased reward quality, customizable reward pools, and even the ability to add specific items to the tournament loot table.
Recommended Mods for Better Tournament Rewards
- Tournaments Enhanced: This mod is a popular choice, offering increased reward quality, customizable reward pools, and the ability to adjust tournament frequency and difficulty.
(Check the Nexus Mods website for the latest version and compatibility information.) - Realistic Tournaments: Aims to balance tournaments and make the rewards more appropriate.
Mod Installation
- Download the mod: Find the mod you would like to use on Nexus Mods or a similar website.
- Install: Most mods require you to extract their contents into the “Modules” folder inside your Bannerlord directory.
- Enable: When launching the game, enable the mod in the launcher.
Important Considerations
- Compatibility: Always check the mod’s compatibility with your current version of Bannerlord. Incompatible mods can cause crashes or other issues.
- Load Order: Pay attention to the mod’s recommended load order. Incorrect load orders can also lead to problems.
- Balance: Be mindful of how mods affect the game’s balance. Radically increasing reward quality can make the game too easy and diminish the sense of progression.
My Preferred Modding Approach
I prefer mods that offer customizable reward pools, allowing me to tailor the rewards to my specific needs and preferences. For example, I might add rare crafting materials to the tournament loot table to make it easier to acquire specific weapons or armor. This allows me to address the reward pain points without completely breaking the game’s economy or progression system.
Even with underwhelming item rewards, tournaments still offer significant benefits. They provide a reliable source of renown, improve your character’s combat skills, and offer opportunities to recruit companions and troops. Ultimately, tournaments are a valuable part of the Bannerlord 2 experience, even if the rewards themselves aren’t always spectacular. Focus on the other benefits they provide, and the occasional decent loot drop will feel like a welcome bonus.