The potential for compelling companion backstories in Bannerlord 2 is immense, and exploring naval-themed origins offers a largely untapped well of narrative possibilities. This article dives into three unconventional concepts for naval-related companions, providing concrete ideas to enhance your role-playing experience and injecting more depth into your Calradian campaigns.
Most companions in Bannerlord 2 originate from land-based backgrounds: fallen nobles, skilled artisans, or seasoned mercenaries. Introducing naval backstories offers a refreshing change and opens doors to unique skill sets, personality traits, and questlines.
The Disgraced Admiral’s Daughter
Imagine a companion who is the daughter of a renowned admiral, wrongly accused of treason and stripped of their titles.
- This background immediately provides conflict and motivation. Perhaps she seeks to clear her father’s name, reclaim their lost honor, or even prove her own worth beyond her lineage.
- Skills: This character could excel in tactics, leadership, and scouting (representing her knowledge of naval routes and strategies). She might also possess high charm, useful for navigating political intrigues as she seeks support for her cause.
- Questline: A potential questline could involve uncovering the conspiracy that led to her father’s downfall, navigating treacherous political waters, and potentially even leading a naval rebellion against those who wronged her family. This could involve bribing informants, deciphering old naval charts, and engaging in simulated sea battles (using troop formations and tactics that mimic naval warfare).
The Former Corsair Seeking Redemption
Another compelling option is a companion who was once a notorious corsair (pirate).
- This provides a compelling internal conflict and a chance for redemption. They might be haunted by their past actions and seeking to atone for their sins by helping others.
- Skills: This character would likely be proficient in scouting, riding, and weapon skills (especially those suited for close-quarters combat, such as one-handed weapons and throwing). They could also have a high roguery skill, reflecting their past as a cunning and resourceful pirate.
- Questline: Their questline could involve protecting coastal villages from pirate raids, hunting down former crewmates who continue their life of crime, or even helping to establish a legitimate trading empire along the coast, using their knowledge of hidden routes and safe harbors. Imagine them needing to use their underworld contacts to gather intelligence or having to make difficult choices between their past and their present.
The Cartographer With a Secret
Consider a companion who is ostensibly a simple cartographer, mapping the coastlines of Calradia.
- However, they may secretly be searching for a lost city or a hidden treasure mentioned in ancient naval texts. This provides a sense of mystery and intrigue.
- Skills: This character would excel in scouting, engineering (for deciphering maps and building siege equipment), and perhaps trade (for acquiring necessary resources and information). They might also possess a surprisingly high level of lore, reflecting their study of ancient texts and legends.
- Questline: Their questline could involve deciphering cryptic clues found on old maps, exploring dangerous coastal ruins, and facing off against rival treasure hunters who are also seeking the lost city. The culmination could involve a perilous sea voyage to a remote island, where they must overcome traps and guardians to claim their prize.
From my experience playing Bannerlord 2, companions often feel somewhat generic after a while. Their backstories are interesting initially, but they don’t always translate into meaningful gameplay experiences beyond a few simple quests. The key to making naval-themed companions truly stand out is to integrate their past experiences into their dialogue, interactions, and strategic advice.
For example, the disgraced admiral’s daughter could offer unique tactical insights during coastal battles, suggesting flanking maneuvers or pointing out weaknesses in the enemy’s defenses based on her naval training. The former corsair could provide valuable information about smuggling routes and hidden coves, allowing you to bypass enemy patrols or establish secret trading posts. The cartographer could decipher enemy troop movements based on the terrain and weather patterns, giving you a strategic advantage on the battlefield.
Furthermore, these companions could have specific preferences and dislikes based on their naval backgrounds. The admiral’s daughter might be offended by dishonorable tactics, while the corsair might be more tolerant of morally ambiguous actions. The cartographer might be fascinated by ancient ruins and artifacts, leading to interesting discoveries and side quests.
Implementing these naval-themed companions requires careful consideration of the game’s existing mechanics.
Skill Balancing and Perks
Their skills should be balanced to avoid making them overpowered, but their unique perks should reflect their naval expertise. For example, the admiral’s daughter could have a perk that increases the morale of troops during coastal battles, while the corsair could have a perk that improves the efficiency of raiding villages.
Quest Design and Rewards
Their questlines should be engaging and rewarding, offering unique items, titles, or even the opportunity to establish your own naval fleet. Consider incorporating naval battles into these questlines, perhaps using a simplified version of the existing siege mechanics to represent ship-to-ship combat.
Dialogue and Interactions
Their dialogue should be well-written and reflect their personalities and backstories. They should have unique responses to different events and situations, adding depth and immersion to the game world. Consider having them comment on coastal cities, naval vessels, or even the weather, based on their past experiences.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing Bannerlord 2, experimenting with different strategies, and exploring the game’s lore. My understanding of the game’s mechanics and companion system allows me to offer informed and practical advice on how to enhance the player experience.
While Bannerlord 2 doesn’t have a comprehensive wiki like some other games, information on the game’s mechanics and lore can be found on various fan forums and community websites.
For information on historical naval warfare and piracy, Wikipedia provides a good starting point:
- Naval Warfare: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_warfare
- Piracy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy
By introducing unconventional naval-related companion backstories, Bannerlord 2 can offer a more diverse and engaging role-playing experience. These companions, with their unique skills, personalities, and questlines, can add depth and immersion to the game world, making your Calradian campaigns even more memorable. The ideas presented here are designed to spark creativity and provide a framework for modders and developers alike to expand the game’s horizons.
Here are some frequently asked questions about potential naval-related companion backstories in Bannerlord 2:
Q: Why are naval companions a good addition to Bannerlord 2?
A: Naval companions introduce fresh perspectives, unique skill sets, and exciting questlines that can diversify the gameplay experience beyond the typical land-based conflicts.
Q: What skills would a naval companion typically have?
A: Common skills would include scouting, tactics, navigation, roguery (for corsair backgrounds), and engineering (for cartographers).
Q: What kind of quests could a naval companion offer?
A: Quests could involve clearing a family name, hunting down pirates, discovering lost treasures, establishing trade routes, or even leading a naval rebellion.
Q: How would naval companions interact with the existing game mechanics?
A: They could offer unique tactical advice during coastal battles, provide information on smuggling routes, decipher enemy troop movements, and offer unique perks related to naval activities.