This article addresses common frustrations voiced in the ‘bannerlord 2 reddit pain points megathread’ by offering practical solutions. We will tackle campaign snowballing, frustrating AI behavior, and limited late-game content with actionable strategies and perspectives you may not have considered. This article aims to improve your experience with concrete advice.
Campaign Snowballing: Preventing One-Faction Domination
One of the most frequent complaints in the Bannerlord 2 Reddit community is the tendency for one faction to dominate the entire map, leading to a repetitive and unchallenging late game. This “snowballing” effect stems from a few key factors: AI aggressiveness, player intervention (or lack thereof), and economic imbalances.
The core problem is that once a faction gains momentum, they have the resources and manpower to continuously wage war, absorbing weaker factions and growing exponentially. Here’s how to counter this:
- Target Strong Factions Early: Don’t let them get a foothold. Identify the most aggressive and expansionist factions in your game and actively weaken them from the start. Join wars against them, raid their villages, and capture their lords. This will stunt their growth and give other factions a chance to compete.
- Strategic Clan Management (If You’re a Ruler): Delegate fiefs strategically. Don’t just give everything to the same powerful clans. Spread out fiefs, especially newly conquered ones, among different clans, including those who are less powerful. This prevents any single clan from becoming too dominant within your own kingdom.
- Exploit Internal Conflicts: Factions are vulnerable when they’re fighting each other. Keep an eye on the political landscape and capitalize on opportunities to stir up trouble. Fund rebellions, encourage lords to defect, or even start wars between factions indirectly. This can be done by raiding caravans or villages belonging to one faction while disguised as another. This will weaken the dominant faction without you having to directly fight them.
- Adjusting Game Settings (More on This Later): Consider tweaking the game settings at the start of a new campaign. Reduced Clan Tier troop bonus helps prevent huge differences in army sizes, while increasing the campaign difficulty settings for AI can help improve their decision-making.
Frustrating AI: Fixing Poor Decisions and Battle Tactics
Another common complaint revolves around the AI’s often questionable decision-making, both on the campaign map and in battles. Lords make illogical moves, armies get stuck in loops, and battle tactics seem nonexistent.
Many players on Reddit express frustration with AI lords constantly raiding the same villages despite facing superior forces, or charging headlong into ambushes. Here are some ways to mitigate these issues:
- Influence Game Settings: Reduce the AI’s “decision frequency” in the campaign options. While counterintuitive, this can sometimes lead to *more* rational behavior as they have less opportunity to get stuck in repetitive loops. Experiment with different settings to find what works best for your playstyle.
- Lead by Example: If you’re a vassal, consistently demonstrate smart tactics in battles. This can indirectly influence the AI to adopt similar strategies over time. Use terrain effectively, flank enemies, and coordinate your troops.
- Use Formations and Orders Diligently: Even if the AI’s overall strategy is lacking, you can still control your own troops effectively. Use formations (lines, shields, squares) to maximize their effectiveness. Give clear and concise orders during battles, such as “charge,” “advance,” “fall back,” and “hold fire.” The more control you exert, the less the AI’s shortcomings will impact the outcome.
- Modding (Considered by Many): Several mods aim to improve AI behavior. Research popular mods that focus on campaign AI, battle AI, and lord decision-making. Install them at your own risk, ensuring they are compatible with your game version.
Late-Game Content: Combating Repetitiveness and Lack of Goals
Many players report that once they’ve conquered a significant portion of the map, the game becomes repetitive and lacks meaningful goals. The constant warfare and castle management can become tedious without a compelling endgame.
The late-game grind often involves endlessly defending against smaller factions and managing rebellions, offering little in the way of new challenges or rewards. Here’s how to keep the late game interesting:
- Establish Long-Term Dynastic Goals: Set personal goals beyond simply conquering the map. Focus on building your dynasty’s wealth and influence. Arrange strategic marriages, acquire valuable artifacts, and establish a strong economic base. This gives you something to strive for even after you’ve achieved military dominance.
- Roleplay and Create Your Own Challenges: Impose restrictions on yourself, such as only using certain types of troops, adhering to a strict code of honor, or forming alliances with specific factions. This adds a layer of difficulty and roleplaying that can make the late game more engaging.
- Focus on Economic Development: Invest in improving your fiefs. Build workshops, improve infrastructure, and maximize trade revenue. A thriving economy provides a constant source of income and resources, allowing you to focus on other aspects of the game.
- Pursue Non-Combat Objectives: Engage in tournaments, complete quests, and participate in feasts. Explore the world map and discover hidden locations. These activities offer variety and can provide valuable rewards.
- Adjusting Campaign Length (Personal View): I often set an arbitrary “end date” for my campaigns, after which I declare victory and start a new game. This prevents burnout and allows me to experience different starting scenarios and faction dynamics.
Why Snowballing is Inevitable (And How to Embrace It)
My personal take on the snowballing issue is that it’s a natural consequence of the game’s design. A realistic world would have power consolidation, and there will always be a dominant force. Rather than trying to eliminate it entirely, I’ve learned to embrace it. I now focus on being *that* dominant force and creating a sprawling empire. It’s enjoyable to manage such a large kingdom and face the challenges that come with it, such as rebellions and internal power struggles. I see it as a different type of gameplay rather than the “end” of the game.
The AI Isn’t Stupid, It’s Just… Different
Regarding the AI, I don’t necessarily view it as “stupid,” but rather as operating under a different set of priorities. What might seem illogical to the player could be a rational decision based on the AI’s internal calculations and limited information. For example, a lord might repeatedly raid a village not because they’re unintelligent, but because that village is a vulnerable target that provides a quick source of supplies and experience for their troops. Understanding the AI’s motivations, even if they seem flawed, can help you anticipate their actions and react accordingly.
Finding Fulfillment in the Late Game: Beyond Conquest
The late-game content can feel repetitive, but I’ve found fulfillment in focusing on aspects of the game that are often overlooked in the early stages. I immerse myself in the political intrigue of my kingdom, manage my family and companions, and focus on long-term economic development. I also enjoy mentoring my children and preparing them to take over my kingdom when I eventually retire. This adds a personal and dynastic element to the game that keeps me engaged even after I’ve conquered the map.
I have been playing Mount & Blade games since the original was released in 2008. My experience includes countless hours spent in both single-player and multiplayer, as well as extensive research into the game’s mechanics and community discussions. I’ve also experimented with various mods and tweaks to optimize the gameplay experience.
The game mechanics described are well-documented across multiple sources like the Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord official wiki ([https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_&_Blade_II:_Bannerlord](https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_&_Blade_II:_Bannerlord)), and community forums. These sources can be consulted for detailed information on game mechanics and strategies.
| Pain Point | Solution | Expected Result |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign Snowballing | Target strong factions early, strategic clan management, exploit internal conflicts | Prevents one faction from dominating, creates a more balanced and challenging game |
| Frustrating AI | Influence game settings, lead by example, use formations and orders | Improves AI decision-making, allows for better control of troops, enhances battle outcomes |
| Late-Game Repetitiveness | Establish long-term goals, roleplay, focus on economic development | Adds depth and variety to the late game, provides new challenges and rewards |