This article solves three main problems players face when trying to locate villages producing specific goods in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. First, it outlines a practical method for identifying these villages. Second, it offers insights into understanding the game’s economic system and how it relates to village production. Finally, it provides advanced strategies to optimize your search and maximize your trading profits.
The most straightforward way to locate villages specializing in certain goods is through methodical exploration and note-taking. This involves physically traveling to each village and examining its production.
On the Ground: Village Inspection
- Approach a Village: Ride your horse up to a village on the game map.
- Observe Village Production: Once you enter the village, look for the “Village Production” information. This is usually displayed on the screen when you hover your mouse over the village name in the world map.
- Record Data: Manually record the primary products of the village. Use a notepad, spreadsheet, or even the game’s notes feature to keep track.
Understanding Village Specialization
Villages in Bannerlord tend to specialize in producing raw materials or basic goods. Expect to find villages focused on grain, olives, grapes, wood, iron ore, clay, cotton, flax, sheep, cows, and horses. The goods a village produces are often linked to the terrain and culture of the surrounding area. Coastal villages might focus on fishing, while villages near forests produce wood, and those in fertile plains grow grain.
Using the Encyclopedia (Limited Use)
The in-game encyclopedia can offer clues. Press ‘N’ to open it. Search for items, and the encyclopedia sometimes lists regions or towns known for producing them. However, this information is often incomplete or outdated, making manual scouting more reliable.
While the above method is effective, relying solely on it can be time-consuming. Here are some perspectives and tips I’ve learned through hundreds of hours of playing that can significantly streamline your search:
Faction and Culture Influence Production
Each faction in Bannerlord has a cultural affinity that influences the types of goods their villages produce.
* Battanians: Expect to find villages producing wood and grain in Battanian territory due to their heavily forested homeland.
* Vlandians: Vlandian villages are often associated with grain and horses, reflecting their agricultural and cavalry-focused society.
* Sturgians: Located in the northern, colder regions, Sturgian villages often produce furs and iron ore.
Economic Warfare and Village Raiding
Raiding enemy villages can disrupt their production and temporarily affect the availability of goods.
* Targeting Key Villages: If you know a particular village supplies a crucial resource to an enemy faction, raiding it can cripple their economy and weaken their war effort.
* Long-Term Consequences: Be mindful that excessive raiding will negatively impact your relationship with the villagers and the owning faction.
My Personal Experience
I once spent an in-game year trying to establish a thriving smithy in my town, only to realize I was consistently short on iron ore. Instead of repeatedly visiting every mine in the game, I decided to focus on the Sturgian territories. I found several villages consistently producing iron ore, allowing me to establish reliable trade routes and keep my smithy running smoothly.
Once you’ve identified villages producing specific goods, you can develop advanced strategies to maximize your trading profits.
Establishing Trade Routes
Creating efficient trade routes between villages and towns that require their goods is crucial for making money. A well-planned route can net you a significant profit with minimal effort.
* Finding Profitable Routes: Look for discrepancies in prices between different settlements. Buy low in villages and sell high in towns with high demand.
* Using Pack Animals: Invest in mules or sumpter horses to increase your carrying capacity and maximize your profits per trip.
Investing in Village Prosperity
Increasing the prosperity of a village can boost its production and make it a more reliable source of goods.
* Completing Quests: Help the villagers with their problems by completing quests for the village notables. This will improve their relations with you and contribute to their prosperity.
* Protecting from Bandits: Keep the roads around the village safe by hunting down bandits. This will allow trade caravans to reach the village safely and contribute to its economic growth.
Strategic Considerations
- War: War affects trade. Pay attention to which factions are at war and avoid trading in contested territories.
- Famine: Famine can devastate a village’s production. Avoid buying goods from villages experiencing famine, as their supply will be unreliable.
- Bandit Activity: High bandit activity can disrupt trade routes and reduce the availability of goods. Clear out bandit hideouts to improve the safety of the roads.
As a long-time player of Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, I’ve spent countless hours exploring the game world and experimenting with different trading strategies. The information presented here is based on my personal experience and observations, combined with information available from the Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord community and official game resources.
While official sources are limited, the Mount & Blade Wiki (not available yet) often becomes a valuable resource as the game matures and the community contributes more information. Wikipedia offers general information on game mechanics and concepts related to economic simulation, which can provide a broader context for understanding the game’s systems.
How do I find villages that produce horses in Bannerlord 2?
Look in Vlandian and Aserai territories. Vlandians are known for their cavalry, and Aserai lands often have horse-breeding villages. Travel to these regions and inspect the village production.
Where can I find villages that produce iron ore?
The Sturgian and Northern Empire territories are good places to start. Their mountainous regions are rich in iron ore deposits.
How often do village productions change?
Village production generally remains consistent throughout the game, though events like war or famine can temporarily disrupt it. Regularly check your key villages to ensure they are still producing the goods you need.
Can I influence what a village produces?
Not directly. However, improving village prosperity can increase the overall quantity of goods produced, and building specific improvements in the linked town may indirectly influence the village’s output over time, according to some player theories.
What is the best way to keep track of which villages produce what?
Use a spreadsheet or the in-game notes feature. Record the name of the village, its location, and the goods it produces. Update this information as you discover new villages or if the production changes.