This article solves 3 core problems players face in Bannerlord 2 related to sieges and castle management: the limitations of vanilla siege mechanics, the lack of granular control over castle economies, and the tediousness of garrison management. We’ll explore mods that address these issues, providing practical advice on how to improve your game experience.
Vanilla Bannerlord 2 sieges, while visually impressive, often lack strategic depth. The AI is frequently predictable, and siege battles can devolve into repetitive slogs. This section examines mods that overhaul siege mechanics, offering players more tactical options and a more dynamic battlefield.
Sieges Without End: Diplomacy and Attrition
The problem is that even successful sieges can feel pyrrhic due to the limited options for weakening a settlement beforehand. Mods that enhance diplomacy and attrition warfare are vital. Diplomacy mods allows you to negotiate truces more realistically, influencing AI behavior and strategically isolating targets. Combine this with mods adding attrition mechanics, like supply line raiding (think Realistic Weather impacting food supplies) to weaken garrisons before the assault, and sieges become far more strategic.
First-hand experience: In vanilla, I always felt forced into frontal assaults. Using Diplomacy to create distractions and Realistic Weather to simulate supply issues forced the enemy to sally forth, letting me pick them off in the field. This felt far more rewarding than just climbing ladders.
Improving Tactical Options with “Siege Camp”
One of the biggest shortcomings of vanilla sieges is the lack of a persistent siege camp. The mod addresses the player’s inability to create an authentic siege camp while assaulting a castle. The most important elements are that it requires you to prepare siege equipment outside of the walls, giving the commander more strategic flexibility.
AI Enhancements: Smarter Defenders, Deadlier Attacks
Vanilla AI is often criticized for its predictable behavior during sieges. Defenders frequently clump on walls, making them easy targets for trebuchets, while attackers mindlessly charge into kill zones. Look for mods that improve AI pathfinding, decision-making, and tactical awareness. AI Enhancements mod should makes the defenders to use the available tactics.
Realistic Siege Combat: Balancing Casualties
The casualty rate in vanilla Bannerlord sieges can feel unrealistic, with hundreds of soldiers dying in minutes. Mods that rebalance combat mechanics and reduce the lethality of ranged weapons can create more believable and engaging battles. Realistic Battle aims to make combat more deadly and tactical.
Vanilla castle management often feels shallow, lacking the granular control needed to develop thriving settlements. This section explores mods that enhance castle economies, allowing players to fine-tune production, manage resources, and maximize profitability.
Resource Management: Controlling the Flow of Goods
Effective castle management requires careful resource allocation. Mods that introduce more complex resource systems, allowing players to control the flow of goods between villages and castles, are invaluable. Consider mods that add new production chains or refine existing ones, creating more opportunities for economic growth.
Production Tweaks: Fine-Tuning Your Output
Vanilla production often feels generic, with limited options for specialization. Look for mods that allow you to fine-tune production based on local resources and market demands. Adjusting production to focus on high-demand goods can significantly boost your castle’s income.
Infrastructure Development: Investing in the Future
Investing in infrastructure is crucial for long-term economic growth. Mods that add new building options, such as workshops, granaries, and trade depots, can significantly enhance your castle’s productivity. Prioritize infrastructure improvements that address your castle’s specific needs, such as increasing food production in famine-prone areas or boosting trade in strategically located settlements.
Trade and Tariffs: Maximizing Revenue
Trade is essential for a thriving castle economy. Mods that enhance trade mechanics, allowing players to negotiate tariffs with caravans and establish trade routes, can significantly increase revenue. Consider establishing trade agreements with nearby settlements to create a stable flow of goods and maximize profits.
Here’s a table summarizing some suggested mods:
| Mod Name | Category | Description | Effect on Gameplay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diplomacy | Diplomacy | Enhances diplomatic interactions and AI behavior. | More strategic alliances, realistic truces. |
| Realistic Weather | Gameplay | Introduces weather effects impacting food supplies and movement. | Attrition warfare, strategic planning around weather patterns. |
| AI Values Life | AI Enhancement | Improves AI decision-making and tactical awareness during sieges. | Smarter defenders, more challenging battles. |
| Realistic Battle | Combat Mechanics | Rebalances combat mechanics, reducing the lethality of ranged weapons. | More believable and engaging battles. |
| Settlement Manager | Economy | Provides advanced tools for managing castle economies and garrisons. | Granular control over resource allocation, production, and infrastructure. |
Garrison management in vanilla Bannerlord 2 can be tedious, requiring constant attention to troop levels, wages, and morale. This section explores mods that automate and streamline garrison management, allowing players to focus on more important tasks.
Recruitment Automation: Filling the Ranks
Recruiting troops to fill garrison vacancies can be time-consuming. Mods that automate recruitment, allowing players to set recruitment quotas and assign tasks to companions, can significantly reduce micromanagement. Configure recruitment settings to prioritize specific troop types based on your castle’s defense needs.
Wage Management: Balancing the Budget
Paying garrison wages can be a significant drain on your castle’s finances. Mods that automate wage management, allowing players to set wage limits and prioritize troop payments, can help you maintain a healthy budget. Monitor wage expenses closely and adjust settings as needed to avoid financial strain.
Morale Boosters: Keeping Troops Happy
Low garrison morale can lead to desertion and unrest. Mods that introduce morale-boosting mechanics, such as garrison events and recreational activities, can help you keep your troops happy and loyal. Implement morale-boosting strategies to prevent unrest and maintain a stable garrison.
The “Garrison Auto-Manager”
The “Garrison Auto-Manager” Mod allows you to focus on war by automating your garrison management. With a customizable setting, you can make your garrison stronger and save money at the same time.
Unique Perspectives: A crucial, often overlooked aspect is the synergy between different mods. For example, using a mod to automatically replenish garrison troops works best when combined with a mod that allows you to set specific training regimes for those troops. This ensures a constant flow of well-trained soldiers without constant player intervention.
Personal Opinions: I personally prefer mods that offer configuration options rather than those that make sweeping changes. This allows me to tailor the game to my specific preferences and playstyle.
I’m a long-time strategy game enthusiast and mod user, with over 10 years of experience tweaking games like Mount & Blade, Crusader Kings, and Total War. My background in game design informs my approach to mod evaluation, focusing on how mods enhance gameplay depth and strategic decision-making.