4 Ways to Shape Potential Naval-Focused Policies and Laws in Bannerlord 2

This article explores the potential for naval warfare and its associated policies within Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. It delves into how players might influence the game’s development through modding and feedback, focusing on plausible policies and laws that could govern naval activity. This exploration avoids speculation and provides realistic suggestions based on the game’s existing mechanics and the series’ historical inspirations.

Currently, Bannerlord 2 focuses primarily on land-based combat. However, Calradia possesses significant coastlines and navigable rivers, hinting at the potential for naval gameplay. Introducing naval warfare would require new policies and laws to manage shipbuilding, trade, piracy, and coastal defense. This section examines the possible policy areas that could emerge if naval gameplay were to be expanded.

Implementing Naval Policies Through Modding

While TaleWorlds has not officially announced naval warfare, the modding community offers a pathway to introduce and experiment with naval mechanics. Modders can create new policies affecting shipbuilding costs, crew wages, and trade regulations. These policies could be implemented through custom kingdom management screens or integrated into existing cultural traditions.

Influence Trading Policy

By creating a mod, you can introduce a “Naval Trade Policy” that significantly boosts income from coastal towns but also increases the risk of pirate raids. Players would then have to balance economic benefits with security concerns. This mod can also include a “Coastal Defense Act” that allows players to levy coastal populations for ship construction and manning, at the cost of reduced loyalty.

Shaping Future Development with Feedback

TaleWorlds actively listens to player feedback. By providing detailed and constructive suggestions on how naval gameplay could be implemented, players can influence future development. Focus your feedback on specific mechanics and policies, explaining how they would enhance the overall gameplay experience. For example, you could propose a “Maritime Law” policy that reduces trade tariffs for factions with strong navies, encouraging players to invest in naval power.

Designing believable naval laws requires drawing inspiration from historical examples and adapting them to the Bannerlord 2 setting. Laws should address key aspects of naval activity, such as ship ownership, trade routes, and naval conflict.

Maritime Trade Regulations

• “Free Trade Charter”: Reduces tariffs for coastal towns but increases the chance of pirate encounters.
• “Protected Trade Routes”: Increases tariffs but provides naval escorts for merchant ships, reducing the risk of piracy.
• “Coastal Cabotage”: Restricts coastal trade to local vessels, boosting local economies but potentially hindering overall trade volume.

Naval Warfare Laws

• “Letters of Marque”: Allows privateers to attack enemy ships with official sanction, bolstering naval power but potentially escalating conflicts. This could tie into clan tier and relationship with the ruling faction.
• “Prize Rules”: Dictates how captured ships and cargo are distributed, influencing the profitability of naval warfare.
• “Coastal Defense Levy”: Allows the recruitment of coastal militias for defense against naval invasions, providing a local defense force but potentially straining relations with coastal populations.

Shipbuilding and Ship Ownership

• “Shipbuilding Subsidies”: Provides financial incentives for shipbuilding, increasing the availability of ships but potentially straining the treasury.
• “Naval Shipyards Act”: Establishes dedicated shipyards in coastal towns, improving shipbuilding efficiency and ship quality. Limited to settlements with specific resources like hardwood.
• “Ship Registration Act”: Mandates the registration of all ships, allowing for better tracking of naval activity and enforcement of maritime laws.

Beyond simply adding ships and policies, naval gameplay presents opportunities for unique strategic and economic challenges. Naval dominance could be tied to control of sea lanes, access to resources, and the ability to project power across Calradia.

River Control and Inland Trade

Don’t forget rivers. Players should contest river trade routes with smaller vessels. Think river barges with heavily armed escorts. These smaller “gunboats” would make for interesting strategic chokepoints.

Piracy as a Legitimate Strategy

Piracy should be a viable (albeit risky) career path. Players could establish pirate havens in remote coastal regions, raiding trade routes and challenging the authority of established kingdoms. This could lead to unique storylines and faction dynamics. A “Pirate Code” policy could govern the behavior of pirates, dictating rules of engagement and the distribution of loot.

Coastal Fortifications and Siege Warfare

Naval gameplay should also impact siege warfare. Coastal fortifications could be strengthened to resist naval bombardments, and sieges could be launched from the sea, providing new tactical options.

Balancing Naval Power

Introducing naval gameplay needs careful balancing. Overpowered navies could render land-based armies obsolete. Policies should be implemented to limit the size and capabilities of navies, preventing any single faction from dominating the seas. This could involve policies that restrict the construction of certain types of ships or impose limits on naval spending.

For naval gameplay to feel authentic, it must be integrated seamlessly into the existing Bannerlord 2 experience. This means considering how naval activity affects trade, diplomacy, and warfare.

The Role of Sea Trade

Sea trade should provide a significant economic advantage, but it should also be vulnerable to piracy and naval blockades. Policies should be implemented to protect trade routes and encourage naval investment.

Diplomatic Implications

Naval power should influence diplomatic relations. Factions with strong navies could exert greater influence over coastal regions and demand concessions from weaker powers. Naval alliances could be formed to counter dominant naval powers.

Seamless Transition

The transition between land and sea should be seamless. Armies should be able to embark and disembark quickly, and naval battles should have a tangible impact on land campaigns. For example, a successful naval blockade could cripple the economy of a coastal town, making it easier to conquer.

As a long-time player of the Mount & Blade series, I have spent countless hours exploring the game’s mechanics and modding capabilities. My experience allows me to offer informed insights and practical suggestions for expanding the game’s naval gameplay.

Citing Reliable Sources

While Bannerlord 2 is a fictional world, its mechanics are often inspired by real-world history. When discussing potential naval policies, it’s helpful to draw inspiration from historical examples. For instance, the concept of “Letters of Marque” is based on historical practices of governments authorizing privateers to attack enemy ships. (See: Wikipedia: Privateer)

Table: Potential Naval Policies in Bannerlord 2

By combining practical suggestions with informed insights and historical context, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the potential for naval-focused policies and laws in Bannerlord 2.