The lack of significant naval combat in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord has been a long-standing point of discussion amongst the player base. While mods have attempted to fill this void, official implementation would open a wealth of opportunities, particularly in the realm of achievements and trophies. This article explores three key ways that naval warfare could be integrated into Bannerlord 2, along with potential achievements that would enhance the gameplay experience and provide new challenges for players.
Introducing naval combat isn’t just about adding boats; it’s about expanding the strategic depth of the game. Imagine controlling coastal territories becoming significantly more valuable, requiring players to invest in naval defenses and fleets to protect their interests. This could lead to achievements related to naval dominance, such as “Sea Lord” for controlling a certain percentage of coastal trade routes, or “Coastal Defender” for successfully repelling a certain number of naval invasions.
Furthermore, naval combat could influence trade. Think about the possibility of blockades impacting resources available in certain regions. This creates opportunities for achievements related to economic warfare, such as “Trade Disruptor” for successfully blockading an enemy port, or “Merchant Marine” for maintaining a thriving naval trading network.
Implementing Naval Mechanics
The key here is balancing realism with gameplay. A simple “click-to-attack” system for ships would be underwhelming. Instead, consider incorporating elements of naval tactics, such as positioning, wind direction, and ship types (e.g., fast raiders, heavy warships, transport vessels). This could involve a simplified version of real-time strategy mechanics during naval battles.
Achievable Achievement Examples
- “Sailor’s Luck”: Successfully navigate through a storm at sea.
- “Coastal Raider”: Plunder 5 villages from the sea.
- “Shipwright”: Build a flagship class vessel.
- “Blockade Runner”: Successfully evade a naval blockade 3 times.
- “Admiral of the Fleet”: Command a fleet of 10 ships.
Currently, factions in Bannerlord 2 are largely land-based. Introducing naval warfare could provide unique identities and strengths to coastal factions. For example, the Battanians could become skilled in coastal raiding, while the Empire could focus on building large, well-organized navies. This could also lead to the introduction of entirely new factions focused solely on naval power, like pirate kingdoms or seafaring traders.
Faction-Specific Naval Units and Abilities
Each faction could have unique ship designs, crew skills, and even naval doctrines. This creates opportunities for diverse gameplay experiences and challenges players to adapt their strategies based on their chosen faction.
Achievement Ideas Based on Faction Naval Strengths
- Battanian Buccaneer: (Battania) – Successfully raid 10 enemy coastal settlements.
- Imperial Navigator: (Empire) – Establish a trade route that connects 3 different Imperial ports.
- Vlandian Privateer: (Vlandia) – Capture 5 enemy ships while acting as a mercenary fleet.
- Aserai Corsair: (Aserai) – Control the seas.
- Khuzait Raider: (Khuzait) – Successfully raid the coast with a longboat party.
- Sturgian Viking: (Sturgia) – Successfully invade and capture a coastal town.
Naval combat opens the door to new siege mechanics. Instead of simply assaulting a castle from the land, players could launch naval invasions, bombarding coastal defenses from the sea, landing troops behind enemy lines, or blockading ports to starve out defenders. This creates a more dynamic and strategic siege experience, requiring players to coordinate land and sea forces.
Strategic Naval Considerations During Sieges
Factors like weather, sea currents, and the placement of coastal defenses would play a crucial role in naval sieges. Players would need to carefully plan their attacks, taking these elements into account to maximize their chances of success.
Achievement Opportunities in Naval Sieges
- “Amphibious Assault”: Successfully capture a coastal town by launching a naval invasion.
- “Naval Blockade”: Successfully starve out a coastal town by maintaining a naval blockade for 30 days.
- “Coastal Artillery”: Destroy 5 enemy siege engines with naval bombardment.
- “Sea Dog”: Sink enemy ships.
- “Naval Superiority”: Control the seas.
Having experimented with naval combat mods in Bannerlord, I can say firsthand that the biggest challenge is integration. Simply adding ships without considering the larger strategic context feels tacked on. The key is to make naval power feel integral to the overall campaign, influencing trade, politics, and warfare. This requires not just new mechanics, but also tweaks to the existing AI and world map to accommodate naval movement and interactions.
Another crucial aspect is visual fidelity. Seeing a fleet of ships engaging in combat is visually stunning, but the animations and ship models need to be high quality to truly immerse the player. This is where TaleWorlds’ expertise would be invaluable.
Lessons Learned from Modding
Through modding, I’ve learned that players are hungry for more strategic depth in Bannerlord. Naval combat, done right, could provide that depth, adding a new layer of complexity and excitement to the game. The potential for achievements and trophies tied to these mechanics is enormous, offering players new goals and challenges to pursue.
Adding naval warfare to Bannerlord 2 would significantly enhance the game’s depth and replayability. Not only would it introduce new tactical considerations and strategic options, but it would also open the door to a wealth of new achievements and trophies that would reward players for mastering the seas. By focusing on faction-specific naval units, dynamic siege mechanics, and meaningful integration with the existing world map, TaleWorlds could create a truly immersive and engaging naval combat experience.
In conclusion, integrating naval warfare into Bannerlord 2, as illustrated, has the potential to significantly enrich the gaming experience. This upgrade brings a new dimension to gameplay and presents novel challenges for achievement seekers.
Here are some useful links for further exploration:
* Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Official Website:https://www.taleworlds.com/en/games/bannerlord
* Wikipedia entry for Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_II:_Bannerlord