Naval travel is a game-changer in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Understanding its implications can significantly impact your campaign strategy. This article breaks down how naval travel time affects your strategic decisions, offering insights into logistics, raiding, and power projection.
Naval travel introduces a new dimension to campaign strategy in Bannerlord 2. It fundamentally alters travel times, opening up new avenues for warfare and trade, while simultaneously presenting logistical challenges. Ignoring these factors can leave your campaign vulnerable.
Speed and Distance: Recalibrating Your Response Time
Naval travel allows armies to bypass land-based obstacles and drastically reduce travel times between coastal regions. However, the actual time saved isn’t always straightforward.
- Consider embarkation and disembarkation: These actions consume valuable in-game time. Waiting for your entire army to board or disembark can negate the speed advantage of naval transport, especially for smaller distances.
- Weather conditions play a role: Storms can significantly slow down or even halt naval travel. Planning around seasons and weather patterns is crucial. A sudden storm can delay your reinforcements, leaving a besieged settlement vulnerable.
- Strategic Positioning: Use naval travel to strategically position armies before declaring war. A surprise landing behind enemy lines can cripple their war effort before it even begins.
Logistical Nightmares: Supply Lines and Naval Capacity
Naval travel presents unique logistical challenges. Overextended supply lines can cripple your armies far from your strongholds.
- Coastal Fortifications: Ensure you have fortified coastal settlements to act as resupply points for your naval expeditions. Well-garrisoned ports are vital for maintaining a steady flow of supplies.
- Fleet Size and Capacity: Your fleet’s capacity dictates how many troops and supplies you can transport. Investing in larger ships is essential for long-range campaigns. Balance fleet size with the risk of naval encounters and piracy.
- Managing Food Supplies: An army at sea consumes food rapidly. Calculate food consumption rates carefully to avoid starvation, especially during long voyages. Consider establishing supply depots along the coastline.
Raiding and Coastal Warfare: New Avenues of Attack
Naval travel unlocks new opportunities for raiding and coastal warfare, allowing you to strike at vulnerable targets with speed and surprise.
- Target Selection: Identify lightly defended coastal villages and towns as primary targets. Raiding these locations can disrupt enemy economies and morale.
- Amphibious Assaults: Coordinate naval landings with land-based attacks to overwhelm enemy defenses. Use your fleet to bombard fortifications before sending in your troops.
- Naval Superiority: Secure naval dominance to protect your trade routes and prevent enemy reinforcements from reaching besieged settlements. Investing in a strong navy is crucial for coastal warfare.
Power Projection and Strategic Deployment: Expanding Your Reach
Naval travel enables you to project your power across vast distances, influencing events far beyond your borders.
- Intervention in Distant Conflicts: Use your fleet to intervene in distant conflicts, supporting allies or destabilizing rivals. A well-timed naval intervention can swing the balance of power in your favor.
- Rapid Response Force: Establish a mobile strike force that can be quickly deployed to any coastal region. This force can respond to threats, reinforce besieged settlements, or launch surprise attacks.
- Strategic Alliances: Forge alliances with factions that control key ports and naval routes. These alliances can provide you with access to valuable resources and strategic locations.
Beyond the basic mechanics, understanding some nuanced strategies can give you a decisive edge in Bannerlord 2.
The “Empty Ship” Gambit
A common tactic is to use naval vessels solely for troop transport. However, consider the “empty ship” gambit. Send a fleet of empty ships ahead of your main army. This will draw enemy attention and potentially force them to commit forces to defend their coastlines. Your real army can then strike elsewhere, exploiting the diverted defenses. This relies on deception and careful timing.
Naval Blockades as Economic Warfare
Instead of always opting for open naval battles, use your fleet to establish blockades of enemy ports. This drastically reduces their trade income, weakening their economy and their ability to field large armies. Be prepared for counter-attacks and piracy, though.
Coastal Garrisons as “Bait”
Purposely leave a small garrison in a coastal castle or town, essentially using it as bait. The enemy will likely attack, giving you the opportunity to trap their army between your main force and the sea, potentially leading to a devastating defeat. This requires precise coordination and a strong understanding of enemy behavior.
Leveraging Naval Travel for Mercenary Contracts
Use your naval capabilities to quickly transport yourself and a retinue to faraway lands, and actively seek out lucrative mercenary contracts. This provides a steady income stream and allows you to build renown and experience without committing to a single faction.
My insights come from hundreds of hours playing Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, experimenting with different naval strategies, and analyzing their impact on the campaign map. This is coupled with analysis of community discussions and observation of successful (and unsuccessful) player strategies.
For general information on Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord mechanics, refer to the official Taleworlds Entertainment website and the Mount & Blade Wiki:
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Official Website: https://www.taleworlds.com/en/Games/Bannerlord
- Mount & Blade Wiki: https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_&_Blade_Wiki
These resources provide a solid foundation for understanding the game’s core mechanics, while my experiences offer a practical application of that knowledge.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of scouting. Before committing to a naval invasion, send a small, fast ship ahead to scout the coastline and identify potential landing sites. A well-chosen landing site can make all the difference.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed ambush. Position your fleet in a hidden bay or behind an island, and wait for enemy ships to pass by. A surprise attack can cripple their fleet and give you a significant advantage. Naval battles are often decided in the first few moments.
Finally, be patient. Naval campaigns take time and require careful planning. Don’t rush into action without considering all the factors involved. A slow, methodical approach is often the key to success.
Imagine you’re playing as a kingdom in the south, and the Northern Raiders are constantly harassing your coastal villages. Here’s how naval travel can help:
- Establish a Naval Patrol: Create a small fleet of fast ships to patrol your coastline. This will deter raiders and provide early warning of incoming attacks.
- Amphibious Counter-Attacks: When the Raiders attack, use your fleet to transport a strike force to their homelands. Raid their villages and castles to cripple their economy and force them to reconsider their actions.
- Coastal Fortifications: Invest in coastal fortifications to protect your settlements from naval assaults. Well-garrisoned castles and towns can withstand even the most determined attacks.
By using naval travel strategically, you can effectively defend your kingdom from the Northern Raiders and ensure the safety of your coastal regions.
| Feature | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Speed | Faster movement between coastal regions, bypassing land obstacles. | Embarkation/Disembarkation time, vulnerability to storms. |
| Logistics | Access to sea routes for supply transport. | Increased food consumption, need for coastal supply depots. |
| Raiding | Ability to strike vulnerable coastal targets. | Risk of naval encounters, limited carrying capacity for loot. |
| Power Projection | Enables intervention in distant conflicts and rapid response deployment. | Requires a strong navy, potential for overextended supply lines. |
FAQ:
Q: How much faster is naval travel compared to land travel in Bannerlord 2?
A: Naval travel can be significantly faster, especially for long distances between coastal regions. However, factor in embarkation/disembarkation times and potential weather delays. A journey that would take weeks overland might only take a few days by sea, if conditions are favorable.
Q: What are the biggest risks associated with naval travel?
A: The biggest risks include:
* Storms that can delay or damage your fleet.
* Enemy naval vessels or pirates that can attack your ships.
* Running out of food and supplies during long voyages.
* The time it takes to embark and disembark troops.
Q: How do I protect my trade routes from naval raiders?
A: To protect your trade routes, establish naval patrols along key sea lanes. Invest in faster ships that can quickly respond to threats. Consider forming alliances with factions that control important ports, giving you access to safe harbors and naval support.
Q: Does naval travel affect morale?
A: Yes, long voyages can negatively impact morale. Ensure your troops are well-fed and have access to entertainment to maintain their spirits. A happy army fights better, even at sea.
Q: Can I use naval travel to transport siege equipment?
A: Yes, larger ships can transport siege equipment. This allows you to quickly besiege coastal castles and towns, catching the defenders by surprise.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of how naval travel affects campaign strategy in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. By understanding the advantages, disadvantages, and innovative tactics associated with naval warfare, you can significantly improve your chances of success.