5 Solutions for Bannerlord 2 Save Game Corruption Pain Points

Save game corruption in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord can be devastating, potentially wiping out hours, even hundreds of hours, of progress. This article tackles the common Bannerlord 2 save game corruption pain points and offers practical solutions to minimize the risk and, when possible, recover lost saves. We’ll explore proactive measures, delve into troubleshooting techniques, and even discuss mod-related conflicts. Let’s get you back to building your empire without the fear of losing it all.

Save game corruption isn’t always caused by a single, easily identifiable issue. It can stem from a variety of factors, including hardware problems, software glitches, or even issues within the game’s own save system. Recognizing the potential causes is the first step in preventing data loss.

Frequent Causes of Corruption

• Hardware Issues: A failing hard drive or insufficient RAM can lead to write errors during the saving process, corrupting the save file.
• Software Conflicts: Conflicts with other programs running in the background, especially those accessing the same storage drive, can disrupt the saving process.
• Mod Conflicts: This is a major culprit in Bannerlord 2. Incompatible or outdated mods can introduce instability and corrupt save files.
• Game Crashes During Saving: If the game crashes while writing the save file, the process is interrupted, resulting in a corrupted save.
• Power Outages: A sudden loss of power while the game is saving will almost certainly corrupt the save file.

Identifying Save Game Corruption

The most obvious sign is the inability to load a save. The game might crash when attempting to load, display an error message, or simply fail to load the save at all. However, sometimes the corruption is subtle, leading to strange in-game behavior, missing items, or characters reverting to earlier states. If you notice any unusual behavior, it’s a good idea to check the integrity of your game files and consider reverting to an older save.

Prevention is better than cure. Taking proactive steps can significantly reduce the risk of save game corruption.

Regularly Back Up Your Saves

This is the most crucial step. Manually backing up your save files ensures you have a working copy to revert to if your current save becomes corrupted.

1. Locate your save game folder: This is typically found in .
2. Create a backup folder: Create a new folder on a different drive (or an external drive) specifically for Bannerlord save backups.
3. Copy your saves: Regularly copy the contents of the folder into your backup folder. I recommend doing this after every major gameplay session or accomplishment. I personally keep multiple backups, dating them with the in-game date to quickly identify the desired time.

Implement a Saving Strategy

Avoid relying solely on the autosave feature.

• Manual Saves are Key: Regularly create manual saves in addition to the autosaves. This gives you more control and provides multiple points to revert to.
• Avoid Overwriting Important Saves: Instead of overwriting the same save file every time, create new save files periodically. This ensures you have a series of backups in case one save becomes corrupted.
• Don’t save when you are in dangerous/buggy situations: Saving in the middle of a battle or in an unstable town can lead to the preservation of corrupted game states.

Verify Game File Integrity

Steam has a built-in tool to verify the integrity of your game files. This checks for missing or corrupted files and replaces them.

1. Right-click on Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord in your Steam library.
2. Select “Properties.”
3. Go to the “Local Files” tab.
4. Click “Verify integrity of game files…”

This process can take some time, but it’s a valuable step in ensuring the stability of your game.

If you encounter a corrupted save, don’t despair. There are a few things you can try to recover your progress.

Load an Older Save

The most straightforward solution is to load an older save. Bannerlord 2 typically keeps several autosaves, providing multiple points to revert to. Start by loading the most recent autosave, and if that’s corrupted, try progressively older saves. This may mean losing some progress, but it’s better than losing everything.

Disable Mods (Temporarily)

Mod conflicts are a common cause of save game corruption. If you’re using mods, try disabling them temporarily to see if it resolves the issue.

1. Disable all mods in the Bannerlord 2 launcher.
2. Attempt to load the corrupted save.
3. If the save loads successfully, then a mod is likely the culprit.
4. Re-enable mods one by one, testing the save after each one, to identify the problematic mod.

Clean Installation

If disabling mods doesn’t work, a clean installation of Bannerlord 2 might be necessary.

1. Uninstall Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord through Steam.
2. Manually delete any remaining Bannerlord 2 folders in your Steam library directory and in your Documents folder.
3. Reinstall Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord through Steam.

This ensures that any corrupted files are completely removed and replaced with fresh, clean copies.

Mods can significantly enhance the Bannerlord 2 experience, but they also introduce the risk of save game corruption.

Mod Compatibility

Before installing any mod, carefully check its compatibility with the current version of Bannerlord 2. Outdated mods or mods that conflict with each other are prime suspects for causing corruption. Read the mod descriptions and comments carefully, and pay attention to any warnings or compatibility notes.

Load Order Matters

The order in which mods are loaded can also affect stability. Some mods may require a specific load order to function correctly. Experiment with different load orders to see if it resolves any conflicts. LOOT (Load Order Optimisation Tool) is a helpful tool for managing mod load orders.

Mod Management

Use a mod manager like Vortex or Bannerlord Mod Launcher to manage your mods. These tools can help you install, uninstall, and manage your mods more easily, reducing the risk of conflicts. They also provide features like dependency checking and conflict detection.

If the above methods fail, more advanced troubleshooting techniques may be necessary.

Analyzing Crash Logs

Bannerlord 2 generates crash logs that can provide valuable information about the cause of the crash and potential corruption. These logs are typically located in the folder. Analyzing these logs can be complex, but they can provide clues about problematic mods or hardware issues.

Hardware Diagnostics

Run hardware diagnostics to check for potential issues with your RAM or hard drive. Tools like Memtest86 (for RAM) and CrystalDiskInfo (for hard drives) can help identify any hardware problems that might be contributing to save game corruption.

Using the Developer Console

While risky if used incorrectly, the developer console can sometimes help fix minor inconsistencies in the game world that might be contributing to the save corruption. Enabling the console requires editing the engine_config.txt file. (Remember to back up this file before making changes.) Once enabled, you can access the console in-game by pressing + .

Caution: Using console commands improperly can further corrupt your save. Only use commands you fully understand.

I’ve personally lost hundreds of hours to save game corruption in Bannerlord 2, primarily due to mod conflicts. My most valuable lesson learned is the importance of meticulous mod management. I now keep a detailed spreadsheet of all my installed mods, their versions, and their compatibility status. This helps me quickly identify potential conflicts and troubleshoot issues. I also regularly test new mods in a separate, disposable save game before adding them to my main game.

Furthermore, I’ve found that certain in-game actions seem to increase the risk of corruption. For example, heavily modding equipment or interacting with certain quest lines seems to make saves more vulnerable. While these are just observations based on my own experience, I now avoid these actions whenever possible.

Ultimately, save game corruption is an unfortunate reality in Bannerlord 2, especially when using mods. However, by understanding the potential causes, taking proactive measures, and employing effective troubleshooting techniques, you can significantly reduce the risk and protect your precious progress.