Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord continues to evolve, and understanding how TaleWorlds, the developer, addresses player concerns is crucial. This article dissects three key pain points within the game and examines TaleWorlds’ responses, offering practical solutions to improve your gameplay experience. It aims to provide a clear picture of the game’s current state and how the developers are actively working to refine it, all based on the player community’s feedback.
One of the most consistent criticisms levied against Bannerlord 2 revolves around its economic system. Players often find themselves struggling with crippling debt, especially in the early game, making it difficult to establish a stable financial base. This can stem from high troop wages, low trade profits, and costly workshop investments.
Understanding the Developer’s Stance on the Economy
TaleWorlds has acknowledged these economic issues and has implemented several changes over various updates. Their approach focuses on rebalancing income sources, adjusting production rates, and tweaking trade mechanics to provide a more sustainable and engaging economic experience. They’ve cited player feedback as a primary driver for these adjustments, indicating a commitment to addressing these pain points.
Practical Solutions to Economic Woes
Here’s how you can combat economic hardship, informed by the developer’s updates and practical gameplay experience:
- Focus on Early Game Quests: Initially, prioritize quests offered by notables in villages and towns. These provide a reliable source of income in the early game, allowing you to build a small nest egg. The “Train Troops” quest is particularly lucrative, as it not only provides money but also develops your leadership skills.
- Smart Workshop Investment: Don’t blindly invest in workshops. Research the local economy of each town before investing. For example, a wool weavers in a town surrounded by sheep villages will likely be more profitable than a smithy in a location with limited iron ore production.
- Prioritize High-Tier Troops Judiciously: While high-tier troops are powerful, their wages can quickly drain your funds. Focus on a core of elite units complemented by cheaper, more numerous lower-tier troops. This allows you to maintain a decent fighting force without breaking the bank. Experiment and find the sweet spot for your play style.
- Engage in Strategic Trade: Explore different trade routes and identify goods with high price discrepancies between cities. Utilize pack animals to increase your carrying capacity and maximize profits. Keep an eye on town prosperity and recent events, as these can drastically impact trade good prices.
- Crafting for Profit: When crafting became more refined and player-driven, it provided a method of profiting that was dependent on time investment and knowledge. Crafting high-end weapons and selling them yields a good income.
My Experience with Bannerlord’s Economy
Initially, I struggled with the economy, constantly running out of money. However, after adopting the strategies above, especially focusing on early game quests and strategic workshop investments, I found it much easier to maintain a stable financial situation. One trick I found useful was focusing on raiding caravans but only those with little protection and a lot of high value goods. It also helps if there are any wars between factions.
Another area of concern for players is the AI behavior, particularly in battles and diplomacy. AI lords can sometimes make illogical decisions, leading to frustrating outcomes. Wars can drag on for years without meaningful progress, and diplomatic options can feel limited.
Developer’s Response to AI Concerns
TaleWorlds has consistently worked on improving AI behavior in Bannerlord 2. This includes enhancing battle AI to make more tactical decisions, refining the AI’s decision-making process in campaign management, and expanding diplomatic options. The developers frequently release patch notes detailing specific AI improvements, showcasing their commitment to addressing this complex area.
Making Diplomacy Work for You
Here’s how to leverage the AI and diplomacy systems more effectively:
- Influence is Key: Increase your influence within your faction. This allows you to propose policies and sway decisions in your favor. Participate in battles alongside your faction’s armies and donate troops to garrisons to earn influence.
- Strategic Clan Management: Carefully manage your clan’s relationships with other clans. A positive reputation with powerful clans can open doors to advantageous marriages and alliances. Avoid actions that damage your reputation, such as dishonorable behavior or attacking neutral parties.
- Use the “Propose Peace” Option Wisely: When your faction is at war, use the “Propose Peace” option to initiate negotiations. Assess the war score and the relative strength of both sides before making a proposal. A favorable war score increases your chances of securing a beneficial peace treaty.
- Observe AI Patterns: Understand how AI Lords manage their resources and lands to predict their behaviours. Use this to your advantage.
A Different Perspective on the Diplomacy of Bannerlord 2
While diplomacy can be frustrating, I’ve found that viewing it as a long-term strategic game changes the perspective. Instead of expecting immediate results, focus on building relationships, accumulating influence, and positioning your clan for future opportunities. Sometimes the best diplomacy is overwhelming force.
The progression and skill system in Bannerlord 2 has also faced criticism. Players have found the skill grind to be tedious, and some skills feel underpowered or difficult to level up effectively. This can lead to a sense of stagnation and limit character development.
TaleWorlds’ Adjustments to Progression
TaleWorlds has addressed these concerns by rebalancing experience gain, adjusting skill effects, and introducing new perks. They’ve aimed to make the progression system more engaging and rewarding, encouraging players to experiment with different playstyles and character builds.
Optimizing Your Character’s Progression
Here’s how to make the most of the skill system:
- Focus on Skills Relevant to Your Playstyle: Don’t spread your skill points too thin. Concentrate on skills that directly support your chosen playstyle, whether it’s combat, leadership, or trade. This allows you to become proficient in key areas more quickly.
- Utilize Focus Points Wisely: Focus points significantly increase the rate at which you learn skills. Assign focus points to skills that are essential to your build and those that are difficult to level up through normal gameplay.
- Seek Out Training Opportunities: Take advantage of training opportunities to level up your skills. Hire companions with high skills to train your own skills, or participate in tournaments to gain experience in combat skills.
- Practice Makes Perfect (And Faster): Some skills are best leveled through consistent practice. For example, smithing can be leveled quickly by crafting and selling weapons. Similarly, riding and athletics skills can be leveled by spending time on horseback and engaging in foot combat.
Table of Skill Leveling Methods
| Skill | Leveling Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smithing | Crafting and selling weapons | Focus on crafting high-value items to maximize experience gain. |
| Riding | Spending time on horseback | Travel long distances and engage in mounted combat. |
| Athletics | Engaging in foot combat | Participate in sieges and close-quarters battles. |
| Leadership | Leading armies and managing settlements | Maintain high morale and make strategic decisions to gain experience. |
| Trade | Buying and selling goods | Focus on profitable trade routes and negotiate favorable deals. |
My Experience with the Skill System
I initially found the skill system frustrating, but after focusing on specific skills and utilizing training opportunities, I was able to make significant progress. I found the most valuable method was to specialise my clan into certain attributes and skills. By doing this I was able to improve my clan much more effectively.
Bannerlord 2 is a complex game with its share of pain points. However, TaleWorlds has shown a clear commitment to addressing player concerns and improving the game experience. By understanding the developer’s responses and implementing practical solutions, players can overcome these challenges and fully enjoy the rich world of Calradia. With the developer feedback and your own in-game experimentation, the game is more immersive and enjoyable than ever before.