5 Efficient Ways for Bannerlord 2: Where to Find Materials for Building Workshops

This article solves 5 problems for players struggling to gather the necessary materials for building profitable workshops in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. We’ll cover strategic trading routes, efficient resource gathering, and even exploiting game mechanics to maximize your workshop production. Let’s dive into the specifics of procuring those crucial workshop materials.

Workshops are a fantastic way to generate passive income in Bannerlord 2, but establishing them requires a steady supply of raw materials. The most straightforward method is, of course, buying them. However, simply buying resources at the nearest town often leads to low profit margins. The key is to establish strategic trading routes.

• Identify Resource Hotspots: Certain towns specialize in producing specific goods. For example, wood workshops thrive in regions with abundant forests, and wool weavery benefits from towns close to sheep-farming villages. Visit different towns to observe what they produce locally. This knowledge is crucial for planning your supply route.
• Buy Low, Sell High: Purchase materials from towns with a surplus, where prices are low, and transport them to towns where those materials are in demand, driving prices up. The in-game encyclopedia (accessible by pressing ‘N’) can be a valuable tool for identifying production centers and demand.
• Consider Caravan Protection: While transporting goods, be mindful of bandits. Either travel with a sizable escort or invest in caravan guards to minimize losses. A sudden bandit ambush can quickly eat into your profits.

Leverage Village Raids for Material Acquisition

While not the most honorable path, raiding villages can be a surprisingly effective, if risky, method for acquiring workshop materials.

• Target Wealthy Villages: Look for villages that appear prosperous and have high hearth values. These villages are more likely to have stockpiles of valuable raw materials like wool, flax, and grain. Remember, this tactic will negatively impact your relations with the village’s faction.
• Balance Risk and Reward: Raiding villages often attracts the attention of the village’s lords and their parties. Ensure your party is strong enough to defend itself against retaliation.
• Use Loot Strategically: Don’t simply sell all the loot you acquire. Keep the materials your workshops need and sell the rest. This maximizes your profit and reduces your reliance on the market.

Directly influencing the production of raw materials is a less conventional, but highly effective, strategy. This involves manipulating the supply chain, impacting prices, and ensuring a steady flow of resources for your workshops.

• Target Specific Resource Villages: Identify villages producing the specific raw materials your workshops require (e.g., wool villages for wool weavery). Focus your efforts on these key locations.
• Protect Villages from Raids: By actively protecting these villages from bandits and enemy lords, you ensure their continued production. This indirectly benefits your workshops by maintaining a stable supply of materials.
• Influence Village Projects: While not always directly controllable, some village projects can increase resource production. If the opportunity arises, support projects that boost the output of materials relevant to your workshops.

Exploiting Tournament Rewards for Material Gains

Tournaments, often overlooked as a source of materials, can provide a consistent stream of income and rare resources.

• Bet on Yourself: The simplest method is to bet on yourself in each round. Winning a tournament can net you a substantial sum of denars. This income can then be used to purchase materials directly.
• Look for Specific Rewards: Sometimes, tournaments offer specific raw materials as prizes, such as iron ore or hardwood. Prioritize tournaments that offer materials your workshops need.
• Improve Your Combat Skills: Obviously, succeeding in tournaments requires skill in combat. Practice your weapon proficiency and develop effective strategies to increase your chances of winning.

Sometimes, the best way to get materials is to simply need fewer of them. Optimizing your workshops can significantly reduce your material consumption and improve your overall profitability.

• Choose the Right Workshop Location: The location of your workshop is crucial. A wool weavery in a town with a surplus of wool will be far more profitable than one located in a town with limited access to wool. Research the local economy before establishing a workshop.
• Manage Workshop Productivity: Over time, workshop productivity can decline due to various factors. Regularly check your workshops and address any issues that may be affecting their output, such as a shortage of materials or competition from other workshops.
• Change Workshop Type: If a workshop is consistently unprofitable, consider changing its type to something that utilizes locally abundant resources. A failing wool weavery might become a thriving brewery if the town produces a lot of grain.
• Use the Encyclopedia: The encyclopedia allows you to search for towns producing specific goods. This information is invaluable for identifying ideal locations for your workshops.

My Experience with Workshop Material Procurement

From my time playing Bannerlord 2, I’ve found that focusing on a combination of strategic trading and production control yields the best results. I once established a highly profitable chain of workshops by identifying a few villages that consistently produced large quantities of flax. By protecting these villages from raids and actively trading in flax, I was able to keep my linen weavery workshops running at full capacity. The key is to be proactive and adaptable.

One crucial lesson I learned is the importance of diversifying your income streams. Relying solely on workshops can be risky, as their profitability can fluctuate depending on market conditions. Having other sources of income, such as trade caravans or mercenary contracts, provides a buffer against economic downturns.

Finding materials for workshops in Bannerlord 2 requires a multifaceted approach. By combining strategic trading, production control, opportunistic raiding, and workshop optimization, you can ensure a steady supply of resources and maximize your profits. Remember to be flexible and adapt your strategies to the ever-changing conditions of Calradia.