Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord offers a sprawling world of conquest and political maneuvering. While land battles dominate, ignoring the potential of naval warfare can severely limit your campaign and understanding of the power balance. This article will explore how leveraging naval power—or being vulnerable to it—fundamentally changes the strategic landscape of Calradia. We’ll delve into practical methods and unique perspectives to help you navigate these often-overlooked aspects of the game.
The Calradic coastline isn’t just scenic; it’s a strategic weakness for any landlocked faction. Control of the seas allows raiding parties to bypass traditional defenses and strike at vulnerable settlements. Think of it like this: a castle may be impenetrable from land, but a well-coordinated naval assault can land troops behind its walls, cutting off supply lines and forcing a surrender. Coastal cities and towns become prime targets, their prosperity constantly threatened by seafaring raiders.
Consider the Battanians, with their strong forest defenses. A naval force could, in theory, land troops on their western coast, circumventing the dense woodlands and striking directly at their economic centers. This forces the Battanians to divert resources from their land armies to coastal defense, weakening their overall strength.
Gaining control of the seas is a multifaceted endeavor. It’s not just about building ships; it’s about strategic positioning, economic investment, and understanding the limitations of your opponents.
- Investing in Coastal Settlements: Develop coastal towns and cities to maximize their shipbuilding capacity. Focus on improvements that increase prosperity and trade income, as these will directly translate into increased tax revenue and, consequently, more resources for naval development.
- Strategic Port Placement: Secure strategic ports along the coastline to act as naval bases. These ports should be easily defensible and capable of supporting a fleet. Control of key chokepoints, like straits between islands, can give you a significant advantage in controlling sea lanes.
- Raiding and Piracy: Disrupt enemy trade routes and weaken their economy through targeted raids. A small, fast fleet can cripple a larger empire by targeting their merchant ships and coastal villages. However, be mindful of the diplomatic consequences of widespread piracy.
- Building a well-rounded fleet is important For example, Aserai players can build dhows which are fast for raiding but weak. Empire Players have access to heavier more durable ships which may be better suited for sustained combat.
Effective naval warfare in Bannerlord (even without dedicated naval battles) relies heavily on troop deployment and understanding the limitations of ship transport.
- Amphibious Assaults: When landing troops, prioritize strong infantry units with shields to establish a beachhead. Protect them with archers providing covering fire from the ships.
- Coastal Raids: Use fast ships to conduct hit-and-run raids on coastal settlements. Target undefended villages and resource gathering locations to disrupt enemy economies.
- Naval Blockades: Establish naval blockades to cut off enemy trade routes and starve their coastal cities. This can significantly weaken their economy and force them to negotiate. Remember, however, that maintaining a blockade requires a significant naval presence.
Calradia’s geography offers unique opportunities for naval warfare. Islands, rivers, and straits can be used to your advantage.
- Island Bases: Use islands as forward operating bases for your fleet. They offer natural defenses and can be easily supplied via sea.
- River Raids: Navigate rivers to strike deep into enemy territory, bypassing traditional land defenses. Be cautious of shallow waters and potential ambushes.
- Strait Control: Control straits and narrow waterways to control sea lanes and choke off enemy trade. This can give you a significant strategic advantage.
Having played Bannerlord extensively, I’ve found the rivers to be surprisingly effective for raiding. While I initially focused on land-based campaigns, I discovered the power of using shallow-draft vessels (think heavily armed canoes in a historical context – imagine that in Bannerlord!) to navigate deep into enemy territory. I was able to bypass heavily fortified border castles and strike directly at wealthy, undefended towns further inland. The enemy was often caught completely off guard, and I was able to loot significant resources before they could muster a response. This highlights a crucial, but often overlooked, aspect of naval warfare in Bannerlord: it’s not always about large fleets battling on the open sea, but rather about exploiting vulnerabilities in the enemy’s defenses. Rivers offer a degree of freedom that is hard to come by in other modes of transport.
The other factions in Bannerlord are slow to respond to threats in rivers and often are not aware that they can transport troops by river. This also affects the AI and creates an oppurtinity to outflank enemies.
Beyond raiding and conquest, naval dominance unlocks other crucial advantages:
- Trade Monopoly: Control of sea lanes allows you to establish a trade monopoly, enriching your kingdom and crippling your rivals. Think of the Venetian Republic’s dominance in the Mediterranean Sea.
- Faster Troop Movement: Transporting troops by sea is often faster and safer than marching them across land, especially in hostile territory. This allows you to rapidly reinforce your armies and respond to threats more quickly.
- Diplomatic Leverage: A strong navy can be a powerful tool for diplomacy. It allows you to project power and influence your neighbors, potentially forcing them to make concessions.
Naval warfare in Bannerlord is, admittedly, somewhat abstract. There aren’t true naval battles where ships clash on the open sea. Instead, naval power is expressed through the ability to transport troops, conduct raids, and establish blockades. This simplicity means that success relies heavily on strategic planning and exploiting AI weaknesses.
However, this simplification also allows for creative strategies. For instance, using a small fleet to constantly harass coastal settlements can force an enemy to divert significant resources away from their main armies. This creates opportunities for your land forces to advance, even if you’re outnumbered.
| Strategy | Description | Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Raiding | Using fast ships to attack undefended coastal villages and resource locations. | Disrupts enemy economy, weakens morale, and provides loot. | Can lead to diplomatic repercussions and requires a constant naval presence. |
| Amphibious Assaults | Landing troops on enemy territory to capture castles and cities. | Bypasses land defenses and allows for surprise attacks. | Requires careful planning and strong infantry units to establish a beachhead. |
| Naval Blockades | Cutting off enemy trade routes and starving their coastal cities. | Weakens enemy economy and forces them to negotiate. | Requires a significant naval presence and can be costly to maintain. |
| River Raiding | Navigating rivers to strike deep into enemy territory. | Bypasses land defenses and allows for attacks on undefended towns. | Can be risky due to shallow waters and potential ambushes. |
While current naval mechanics are basic, there’s always the potential for future updates or mods to expand upon them. Imagine ship-to-ship combat, naval boarding actions, and more complex naval tactics. These additions would undoubtedly add another layer of strategic depth to Bannerlord, further emphasizing the importance of naval power in shaping the political landscape of Calradia.
Ultimately, naval warfare in Bannerlord 2 is a strategic tool that, while not fully realized, can significantly impact regional power balance. By understanding its potential and leveraging its advantages, you can gain a crucial edge over your rivals and carve out your own empire.