This article dives into the world of Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord modding, focusing specifically on how to use mods to significantly increase the game’s difficulty. We’ll explore concrete mod suggestions and practical methods to transform your Calradia experience into a true test of skill and strategic thinking. You’ll discover how to customize your game beyond the vanilla settings and tailor the challenge to your preferences. This article shows you 3 problems about bannerlord 2 mods to make the game harder.
The base Bannerlord experience, while engaging, can become relatively easy after players understand the mechanics and develop effective strategies. For those seeking a greater challenge, mods are the answer. They offer a granular level of control over almost every aspect of the game, from combat to economics and diplomacy.
Reworking Combat and AI
One of the most impactful ways to increase difficulty is to overhaul the combat system and the AI. Vanilla Bannerlord‘s AI, while improved over Warband, can still be predictable. Mods targeting this area introduce more sophisticated enemy tactics, making battles far more engaging and challenging.
Realistic Battle Mod (RBM): This is a comprehensive overhaul of the combat system. It reworks weapon stats, armor values, and AI behavior to create a more realistic and deadly battlefield. Expect longer fights, increased lethality, and smarter enemy formations. RBM also includes a module that improves AI decision-making on the campaign map.
Bear My Banner: While not a direct difficulty mod, this improves the AI logic for lords and kingdom decisions. It makes the AI more proactive, leading to more wars and a more dynamic campaign map. This indirectly increases difficulty by creating a more challenging and unpredictable political landscape.
Economic and Management Overhauls
Beyond the battlefield, Bannerlord offers opportunities to make the economic and management aspects more demanding. Vanilla mechanics, while functional, can often be easily exploited.
Improved Garrisons: This mod allows for much greater control over garrison troops and their wages. This makes managing multiple settlements significantly more costly and strategically complex. You’ll need to carefully balance your garrison strength with your economic resources.
Trade Improvements: Overhauls the trade system to make it more dynamic and realistic. This mod will drastically reduce the profitability of trade routes and increase the risk of caravans being raided. You’ll need to be much more strategic about your trade operations to succeed.
Tweaking Settings for a Harder Game
Vanilla settings are not challenging enough sometimes. Tweaking settings can be the direct way to change bannerlord 2 and make the game harder.
- Change the difficulty settings. Before you start a new campaign, consider bumping up the difficulty settings for combat, campaign, and trade. This will make enemies stronger, resources scarcer, and trading more difficult.
- Reduce party size limit. Reducing the party size limit will force you to be more selective about your troops and engage in smaller, more tactical battles.
- Increase enemy spawn rates. Increasing the enemy spawn rates will make the world more dangerous and challenging. You’ll encounter more bandits, looters, and enemy patrols, making travel and trade riskier.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing Bannerlord, and I’ve found that the most rewarding experiences come from playing with difficulty-enhancing mods. The base game, after a certain point, felt too forgiving. Combat became predictable, and economic management was almost trivial. Mods completely changed that, forcing me to rethink my strategies and adapt to new challenges.
The Unexpected Challenges of Realistic Battle Mod
Initially, I underestimated the impact of Realistic Battle Mod (RBM). I thought, “Okay, the combat will be a bit tougher, but nothing I can’t handle.” I was wrong. The increased lethality of weapons and the smarter AI meant that my usual tactics of charging headfirst into battle were no longer viable. I had to learn to use formations, terrain, and troop types more effectively. One wrong move could result in the complete annihilation of my party.
The Harsh Realities of Economic Overhauls
Similarly, economic overhaul mods forced me to be much more careful with my finances. Gone were the days of easily making a fortune through trade. Caravans were constantly being raided, and the prices of goods fluctuated wildly. I had to learn to diversify my income streams, invest in infrastructure, and protect my trade routes.
Lessons Learned: Adaptability is Key
The most important lesson I’ve learned from playing Bannerlord with difficulty mods is the importance of adaptability. You can’t rely on the same strategies that worked in the base game. You need to be constantly learning, experimenting, and adapting to the challenges that the mods throw your way. This constant need for adaptation is what makes the game so engaging and rewarding.
Simply installing a few difficulty mods isn’t always enough. To truly maximize the challenge, you need to think about how the mods interact with each other and develop advanced strategies.
Synergy and Conflict
Not all mods are created equal, and some may conflict with each other. It’s crucial to carefully read the mod descriptions and check for compatibility issues before installing anything. Some mods may even enhance each other, creating a synergistic effect that makes the game even more challenging.
Early Game Strategies
The early game is often the most difficult part of Bannerlord, even without mods. With difficulty mods installed, it can be brutal. Focus on building a small, elite force of high-tier troops. Avoid large-scale battles until you’re confident in your ability to win.
Mid and Late Game Strategies
As you progress through the game, you’ll need to adapt your strategies to the changing circumstances. Invest in infrastructure, build strong relationships with other lords, and develop a strong economy.
Mod Load Order Matters
The order in which you load your mods can also affect their functionality. Generally, it’s best to load core gameplay overhauls (like RBM) near the top of the load order, followed by smaller, more specific mods. Experiment with different load orders to find what works best for you.
Increasing the difficulty of Bannerlord through mods isn’t just about making the game harder. It’s about making it more engaging, rewarding, and ultimately, more fun. By pushing yourself to overcome greater challenges, you’ll discover new depths to the game and develop a deeper appreciation for its mechanics. So, dive in, experiment with different mods, and embrace the struggle. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it. Bannerlord allows a lot of mod support.
Here are some frequently asked questions about making Bannerlord 2 harder with mods:
What are the best Bannerlord 2 mods to make the game harder?
Realistic Battle Mod (RBM) overhauls combat and AI. Improved Garrisons increases garrison management complexity. Trade Improvements makes the economy more challenging. Bear My Banner enhances AI decision-making.
How do I install Bannerlord 2 mods?
Most mods are installed by extracting the mod files into the “Modules” folder located in your Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord game directory (usually found in your Steam library). You then need to enable the mods in the game launcher before starting the game.
Will mods disable achievements in Bannerlord 2?
This depends on the mod. Some mods may disable achievements, while others may not. Check the mod description on Nexus Mods or the Steam Workshop for information.
Are Bannerlord 2 mods compatible with each other?
Not all mods are compatible. Conflicts can cause crashes or unexpected behavior. Read the mod descriptions carefully and check for known compatibility issues before installing multiple mods. Using a mod manager like Vortex can help manage load orders and identify potential conflicts.
Can I make Bannerlord 2 harder without mods?
Yes, you can increase the difficulty through in-game settings by adjusting combat difficulty, campaign difficulty, and trade difficulty. You can also impose self-imposed challenges, such as limiting your party size or avoiding certain tactics.