This article provides practical solutions to address the current limitations of naval troop transport and combat within Bannerlord 2. Currently, the game lacks true naval warfare, and this article will provide workarounds to improve your coastal campaigns and troop movement across water.
Currently, Bannerlord 2 does not natively support naval combat or dedicated naval troop transport in the way many players envision. Armies near a coastline can embark on boats and be transported to other locations, but this process is heavily simplified. The game lacks tactical depth in naval engagements, leaving many players wanting more. There are some mods that begin to tackle this issue, but without native support, the options are limited. The default embarkation is immediate. And there is no ship.
In the absence of true naval combat, you can leverage the game’s existing mechanics to create a pseudo-naval dominance. This involves strategically positioning armies and garrisons along coastlines.
Controlling Key Ports and Coastal Cities
First, focus on capturing and heavily garrisoning key ports and coastal cities. These locations act as strategic chokepoints, allowing you to control sea lanes and limit enemy troop movements. A strong garrison deters enemy landings and provides a base for launching your own amphibious assaults.
Utilizing Raiding Parties for Economic Disruption
Smaller, fast-moving raiding parties can be deployed to harass enemy coastal settlements. These parties can quickly land, raid villages, and then retreat before a large enemy force can respond. This disrupts the enemy’s economy and weakens their ability to wage war. Raiding is a highly effective tool for demoralizing and weakening an opposing faction.
Simulating Naval Battles with Land Engagements
While you can’t directly engage in naval battles, you can stage land battles near the coast to simulate the impact of naval power. For example, if an enemy army is attempting to land troops, you can intercept them on the beach, effectively recreating a naval landing scenario.
One of the most effective ways to overcome the limitations of Bannerlord 2’s naval system is through modding. Several mods aim to enhance or overhaul the naval aspects of the game, introducing new mechanics, units, and strategic options.
Exploring Existing Naval-Focused Mods
Search Nexus Mods and the Steam Workshop for mods that add naval units, ship models, or new naval mechanics. While a complete naval overhaul mod may not exist yet, there are likely mods that can improve the experience. Experiment with different mods to find the ones that best suit your playstyle. Be sure to check mod compatibility before installing to avoid potential issues.
Creating Your Own Naval-Inspired Content
If you have modding experience, consider creating your own content to enhance the naval aspects of the game. This could involve designing new troop types specializing in naval warfare, creating custom ship models, or even scripting new events and missions related to naval activity.
Table: Useful Mods for Enhancing Bannerlord 2 Gameplay
| Mod Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Detailed Character Creation | Allows for greater character customization, useful for roleplaying a naval commander. |
| Improved Garrisons | Enhances garrison management, enabling you to better defend your coastal holdings. |
| Diplomacy | Improves diplomatic options, making it easier to form alliances and coordinate naval strategies with allies. |
Even without dedicated naval mechanics, you can still roleplay a naval-focused campaign by setting your own rules and limitations. This involves creating a backstory for your character and faction that emphasizes naval power and trade.
Defining Your Naval-Focused Character and Faction
Create a character with skills and attributes that align with a naval theme. Focus on skills like stewardship (for managing coastal cities) and leadership (for commanding troops in amphibious assaults). Develop a backstory for your faction that emphasizes their maritime history and naval prowess.
Setting Self-Imposed Rules for Naval Engagements
Establish rules for how you will approach naval engagements. For example, you might decide that you will only engage enemy forces near the coast or that you will prioritize capturing coastal settlements over inland territories.
Utilizing Coastal Terrain to Your Advantage
When engaging in battles, always try to fight near the coast. This allows you to utilize the terrain to your advantage, creating choke points and limiting the enemy’s maneuverability. You can also use the coast as a natural barrier to protect your flanks.
Having spent countless hours playing Bannerlord 2, the absence of robust naval mechanics is undeniably a missed opportunity. Sieging coastal towns feels far too similar to sieging inland castles, and the lack of naval battles diminishes the strategic importance of coastlines.
Personally, I’ve found that the best approach is to combine the workarounds mentioned above. By strategically positioning armies, utilizing mods, and roleplaying a naval campaign, you can create a more immersive and engaging naval experience.
My Experience With Coastal Raiding
I’ve had quite a bit of fun organizing small, highly mobile raiding parties. Landing a force of 50-100 elite troops behind enemy lines can wreak havoc on their economy, and force them to divert resources to defend their coasts. It’s a guerilla warfare tactic that can be very effective, even without true naval combat.
Modding Is Essential
Honestly, for a truly satisfying naval experience, modding is essential. While the base game offers a rudimentary naval transport system, mods can add depth and complexity that significantly enhances the gameplay.
The Future of Naval Warfare in Bannerlord 2
Hopefully, TaleWorlds will eventually add more robust naval mechanics to Bannerlord 2. A system that allows for ship construction, naval battles, and more strategic control over sea lanes would greatly enhance the game’s depth and replayability. Until then, we must rely on workarounds and the creativity of the modding community to fill the void.
Ultimately, while Bannerlord 2 currently lacks full naval implementation, the tips above offer some ways to have fun.
Bannerlord 2’s naval troop transport and combat are lacking, but not hopeless. You can strategically position armies, use mods, and roleplay to create a better naval experience. We hope TaleWorlds introduces naval systems in the future.
Here are some frequently asked questions about naval troop transport in Bannerlord 2: