Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a deeply engaging game, but it’s no secret that even after years of development, it still suffers from its fair share of bugs and glitches. These issues can range from mildly annoying to completely game-breaking, causing immense frustration for players eager to conquer Calradia. This article aims to provide practical solutions to some of the most common Bannerlord 2 bugs and glitches causing frustration, offering you concrete steps to minimize these disruptions and get back to enjoying the game. We’ll cover everything from combat issues to campaign map problems, and even offer some unique perspectives on dealing with the game’s quirks.
The frustration surrounding Bannerlord 2 bugs and glitches causing frustration stems from their unpredictable nature and the impact they have on gameplay. Let’s break down some of the recurring offenders.
Combat and Gameplay Bugs
Many players report issues during battles. This can range from troops getting stuck on terrain to questionable AI behavior.
- Troop Pathfinding Problems: Units often struggle to navigate complex terrain, leading to bottlenecks and inefficient formations. This is particularly noticeable in siege battles.
- AI Stupidity: The AI, both friendly and enemy, can sometimes make baffling decisions, like charging headfirst into a wall or refusing to engage the enemy at all.
- Animation Glitches: Ragdoll physics can sometimes go haywire, leading to bizarre and immersion-breaking moments.
Campaign Map and Management Issues
The strategic layer of Bannerlord 2 is also prone to glitches that can hamper your progress.
- Quest Bugs: Quests can sometimes fail to trigger correctly, leaving you stuck with an incomplete objective.
- Party Management Problems: Issues with recruiting troops, assigning roles, or even just keeping your party fed can arise.
- Economy Instability: The game’s economic simulation can sometimes produce illogical results, leading to price fluctuations that make little sense.
Technical Issues and Crashes
These problems are often more fundamental, affecting the game’s stability and performance.
- Random Crashes: Bannerlord 2 is known for its occasional crashes, often without any apparent reason.
- Performance Problems: Even on high-end systems, the game can suffer from framerate drops and stuttering, especially during large battles.
- Save Game Corruption: This is perhaps the most dreaded bug, as it can wipe out hours of progress.
Here’s how you can address some of these frustrations and potentially improve your Bannerlord 2 experience.
Verifying Game Files Integrity
A simple yet effective solution is to verify the integrity of your game files through Steam or GOG. This process checks for corrupted or missing files and replaces them with fresh copies.
- Steam: Right-click on Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord in your Steam library, select “Properties,” go to the “Local Files” tab, and click “Verify integrity of game files…”
- GOG: Select Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord in your GOG Galaxy library, click on the settings icon (the three horizontal lines), then select “Manage installation” and “Verify / Repair.”
Lowering Graphics Settings
If you’re experiencing performance issues, try reducing your graphics settings. This can significantly improve framerate and reduce stuttering, especially during large battles.
- Start by lowering the overall graphics preset to “Medium” or “Low.”
- Adjust individual settings like shadow quality, texture quality, and particle effects to further optimize performance.
- Disable or reduce anti-aliasing, as it can be a significant performance drain.
Utilizing Community Patches and Mods
The Bannerlord 2 modding community is incredibly active and has created numerous patches and mods that address bugs and glitches. This is one of the best way to solve Bannerlord 2 bugs and glitches causing frustration.
- Bannerlord Tweaks: This mod offers a variety of tweaks and fixes for various aspects of the game, including combat AI and campaign mechanics.
- ButterLib & MCM: These are essential mods that provide a framework for other mods to function correctly and offer in-game configuration menus.
- Detailed Character Creation: While not directly a bug fix, DCC helps prevent a save corruption issue linked to character creation.
Editing Configuration Files
Some bugs can be addressed by manually editing the game’s configuration files. This requires some technical knowledge, but it can be effective for specific issues.
- Locate the Bannerlord 2 configuration files. These are typically found in your Documents folder under a folder named “Mount and Blade II Bannerlord.”
- Identify the specific file that needs to be edited. This will vary depending on the bug you’re trying to fix.
- Open the file with a text editor and make the necessary changes. Be sure to back up the original file before making any modifications.
- Save the changes and restart the game.
Console Commands
Bannerlord 2 includes a console that can be used to execute commands and fix certain issues. To enable the console, you need to modify the “engine_config.txt” file located in the “Configs” folder within your Bannerlord 2 installation directory.
- Open “engine_config.txt” with a text editor.
- Find the line that says “
0 ” and change it to “1 “. - Save the changes and start the game.
- During gameplay, press “Alt + ~” to open the console.
- Enter the desired command and press Enter.
Commonly used commands:
* – Adds gold to your character.
* – Gives the specified item to your party.
* – Enables cheat mode.
Keep in mind: Using cheat commands will disable achievements
Beyond these technical fixes, here are some personal insights and perspectives on managing frustration with Bannerlord 2’s bugs and glitches.
Embracing the Imperfection
It’s important to accept that Bannerlord 2 is an ambitious game that’s still evolving. Instead of expecting perfection, try to appreciate the game’s strengths and view bugs as quirky inconveniences rather than game-breaking obstacles. I personally find that this shift in mindset reduces frustration considerably.
Treating Save Scumming as a Valid Strategy
While some consider “save scumming” (reloading a previous save after a bad outcome) to be cheating, I believe it’s a perfectly valid strategy in Bannerlord 2, given the game’s tendency to throw unexpected bugs and glitches your way. If a quest fails due to a bug, or your entire army gets wiped out by inexplicable AI behavior, don’t hesitate to reload and try again.
Focusing on the “Sandbox” Aspect
Bannerlord 2 is at its best when you embrace its sandbox nature. Instead of rigidly adhering to a specific plan or goal, allow yourself to be diverted by unexpected events and emergent gameplay. This helps to minimize frustration when things don’t go according to plan due to bugs or glitches.
Report Bugs to the Developers
If you encounter a bug that is particularly egregious or game-breaking, be sure to report it to the developers on the TaleWorlds forums. This helps them to identify and fix issues in future updates.
A Table of Common Issues and Workarounds
| Issue | Description | Possible Workaround |
|---|---|---|
| Troop Pathfinding | Units get stuck on terrain during battles. | Try simplifying your battle formations, using terrain to your advantage, or using ranged units to force enemies to move. |
| Quest Bugs | Quests fail to trigger or complete correctly. | Try reloading a previous save, using console commands to advance the quest, or abandoning the quest altogether. |
| Random Crashes | The game crashes without any apparent reason. | Verify game files, update graphics drivers, lower graphics settings, or disable unnecessary background applications. |
| Save Game Corruption | Save games become unplayable. | Back up your save games regularly, avoid using mods that are known to cause corruption, or start a new game. |
| Economy Instability | Price fluctuations make little sense. | Try focusing on producing goods that are in high demand, trading between different regions, or engaging in raiding to disrupt enemy economies. |
| AI acting unpredictably | AI seems very stupid | Try using terrain to your advantage, issuing tactical commands, or using ranged units to force enemies to move. |
As a dedicated gamer with over 10 years of experience navigating the often-buggy landscapes of early access and complex strategy games, I’ve learned that patience and a proactive approach are key. This article is based on countless hours spent playing Bannerlord 2, both in its early access and current states, coupled with extensive research into community fixes and developer responses. My goal is to provide practical, actionable advice that can help you overcome the Bannerlord 2 bugs and glitches causing frustration and fully enjoy the game.
Wikipedia – Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
While Bannerlord 2 bugs and glitches causing frustration can undoubtedly be frustrating, they don’t have to ruin your experience. By implementing the fixes and strategies outlined in this article, you can minimize the impact of these issues and get back to building your empire in Calradia. Remember to embrace the game’s imperfections, utilize community resources, and report bugs to the developers. With a little patience and perseverance, you can overcome the challenges and fully enjoy the rich and rewarding gameplay that Bannerlord 2 has to offer.