The burning question on every Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord player’s mind is: will we ever get naval combat? And if we do, will it involve sea creatures? While the idea of battling krakens alongside warships in a Bannerlord 2 Naval DLC: The Integration of Sea Creatures? sounds epic, the reality is far more complex. This article explores five reasons why this particular feature might actually sink the potential of a naval DLC, focusing on practical development hurdles and gameplay considerations.
Implementing fully realized naval combat is already a monumental task. Adding fantastical elements like sea creatures exponentially increases the complexity.
Animation and AI Challenges
Animating realistic sea creatures, from small dolphins to colossal leviathans, requires specialized skills and resources. The AI would need to handle creature behavior, attack patterns, and interactions with both ships and the environment. This level of detail is far beyond what’s currently present in Bannerlord.
Resource Intensive
Developing detailed creature models and animations would consume significant development time and resources. TaleWorlds, the developers of Bannerlord, have a history of taking considerable time to implement new features. Diverting resources to sea creatures could delay the implementation of core naval combat mechanics.
Integrating sea creatures would inevitably disrupt the carefully crafted balance of the game’s combat system.
Unpredictable Combat
Bannerlord is known for its relatively realistic combat system, emphasizing skill and tactics. Introducing unpredictable elements like sea creatures could turn naval battles into chaotic affairs where luck plays a more significant role than strategy.
Imbalance of Power
Some factions might gain an unfair advantage if they have access to specific sea creatures or have advantages in fighting them. Imagine a northern faction with trained seals to sabotage enemy ships, while southern factions have no counter.
The world of Calradia, while fantastical, maintains a degree of grounded realism. Adding sea creatures could clash with the established lore and tone.
Disruption of Immersion
The presence of mythical beasts could feel out of place in a game that otherwise strives for historical plausibility. This would detract from the player’s immersion and make the world feel less believable.
Difficulty of Integration
How would sea creatures fit into the existing political and economic landscape of Calradia? Would they be tamed and used for warfare? Hunted for resources? Simply coexist peacefully? Answering these questions requires significant world-building and could lead to lore inconsistencies.
Instead of focusing on fantastical elements, TaleWorlds should prioritize delivering a solid foundation for naval combat.
Ship Customization and Management
Allow players to build, customize, and manage their own fleets. This could involve choosing different ship types, equipping them with various weapons, and hiring crew members.
Naval Tactics and Formations
Implement a system for commanding ships in battle, allowing players to utilize different formations and tactics. This would add depth and strategy to naval combat.
Coastal Raiding and Blockades
Enable players to raid coastal villages and towns, and establish naval blockades to disrupt enemy trade routes. These features would add a new layer of strategic gameplay to the campaign map.
As a long-time Mount & Blade player, I’ve learned that ambition needs to be tempered with realism when it comes to game development. I vividly remember the early days of Warband modding, attempting to shoehorn in half-baked features that ultimately detracted from the core gameplay. TaleWorlds seems to be grappling with a similar challenge.
Prioritizing Foundational Gameplay
The allure of adding impressive, headline-grabbing features like sea creatures is undeniable. However, it’s far more crucial to first establish a robust and engaging foundation. In my opinion, I’d rather see them focus on well-implemented ship-to-ship combat, realistic sailing mechanics, and strategic naval map interactions before even considering mythical creatures.
Meeting Realistic Player Expectations
Players are more likely to appreciate a polished and functional naval system that adheres to the established lore of Bannerlord. The current modding community are creating some impressive and relatively realistic mods to fill this void, but a professional, polished implementation of solid naval gameplay would be very welcome.
Drawing Inspiration from History, Not Fantasy
The historical period that inspires Bannerlord offers a wealth of content for naval warfare. TaleWorlds could draw inspiration from real-world naval tactics, ship designs, and historical events. They can focus on the Warband-like historical authenticity instead of the Total War: Warhammer approach.
| Feature | Benefit | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Creatures | Potential for unique and exciting gameplay elements | High development cost, potential gameplay imbalance, lore inconsistencies |
| Core Naval Mechanics | Grounded and realistic gameplay experience | May be perceived as less exciting or innovative |
While the idea of sea creatures might seem appealing on the surface, the development complexities, gameplay balance issues, and lore inconsistencies they introduce make them a risky proposition. A more realistic and focused approach to naval combat, centered on core mechanics and historical plausibility, would ultimately be a more successful and satisfying addition to Bannerlord 2.