The struggle for renown in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is real. It’s the gateway to higher-tier troops, lucrative mercenary contracts, and ultimately, your own kingdom. While vanilla gameplay offers ways to increase your standing, mods can drastically accelerate the process, making your rise to power significantly faster and more enjoyable. This article delves into some of the most effective Bannerlord 2 mods for gaining renown, offering practical advice and unique perspectives based on my own extensive experience in the game.
Several mods directly impact renown gain, either by tweaking existing mechanics or introducing entirely new ones. These are the ones I’ve found most impactful.
Diplomacy Fixes and Enhancements
While not directly about renown, improved diplomacy through mods such as “Diplomacy” can have a significant indirect impact.
- Better Relationships, More Opportunities: A smoother political landscape means more opportunities for profitable wars and alliances, both of which contribute to renown.
- Reducing Faction Instability: A stable kingdom is more likely to engage in wars and grant you positions of power, leading to more renown opportunities.
The “Diplomacy” mod enhances the game’s diplomacy mechanics, adding features like sending emissaries, forming alliances, and declaring war more strategically. This results in a more dynamic and engaging political landscape, providing more opportunities to gain renown through military achievements and political maneuvering. Find the mod here: https://www.nexusmods.com/mountandblade2bannerlord/mods/832
Tournament XPanded: A Renown Goldmine
Tournaments are a staple of Bannerlord, but their vanilla renown rewards can feel underwhelming. Tournament XPanded significantly enhances this aspect of the game.
- Increased Renown per Victory: This mod boosts the renown earned from winning tournaments, making them a much more viable renown farming method.
- Variety and Challenge: Some versions introduce new tournament types and challenges, keeping the experience fresh and rewarding.
Tournament XPanded is a game-changer because it takes one of the most readily available activities in Bannerlord and makes it a consistent source of renown. No longer will you feel like tournaments are a waste of time. It is a way to quickly accumulate renown. You should look into variations that increase the difficulty of the tournaments as well, which means bigger rewards!
Distinguished Service: Rewarding Your Troops, Rewarding You
This mod offers a unique approach: your troops contribute directly to your renown.
- Promote Troops to Nobles: As your troops gain experience and demonstrate exceptional service, you can promote them to noble status.
- Renown Boost for Promotions: Each promotion grants you a significant renown boost.
Distinguished Service is excellent because it provides a tangible reward for investing in your troops. It’s no longer just about building an army; it’s about developing individuals who contribute to your overall success and renown. This creates a more engaging and rewarding gameplay loop. You now get more renown for the soldiers you have.
Beyond the obvious advantages of accelerated renown gain, using these mods has led to some unexpected benefits that have profoundly changed my Bannerlord experience.
Breaking the Cycle: Early Game Domination
In vanilla Bannerlord, the early game often feels like a slow grind. Accumulating enough renown to progress beyond basic mercenary contracts can be tedious. With mods like Tournament XPanded, this grind is significantly reduced. I found myself being able to quickly assemble a respectable force and accept higher-paying contracts much earlier in the game. Early game domination is easier!
Strategic Investment in Companions
Mods that boost renown also encourage a more strategic approach to companions. In vanilla, it can be tempting to simply recruit the cheapest companions to fill party roles. However, with renown-boosting mods, investing in high-quality companions becomes a much more attractive proposition. Their skills contribute more significantly to your overall success, leading to faster renown gain and a more effective fighting force.
The Power of a Well-Rounded Army
Distinguished Service pushed me to focus on training and upgrading my troops more effectively. Instead of simply recruiting masses of low-tier units, I concentrated on building a smaller, more elite force. The renown bonuses from promoting these troops made the investment worthwhile, resulting in a more powerful and versatile army capable of tackling a wider range of challenges. I used a well-rounded army.
Not all mods are created equal, and what works for one player may not work for another. Here’s how to choose the right renown-boosting mods for your specific playstyle.
Are you a Tournament Junkie?
If you enjoy the thrill of tournament combat, Tournament XPanded is a must-have. It elevates tournaments from a side activity to a core renown-farming strategy. Consider pairing it with mods that enhance tournament rewards or introduce new tournament types for even greater variety.
Do You Prefer Large-Scale Battles?
If your focus is on building a powerful army and dominating the battlefield, Distinguished Service is an excellent choice. It rewards you for investing in your troops and promotes a more strategic approach to army composition.
Do You Want a More Realistic Experience?
Mods like Diplomacy are best for those who value realism and immersion. While they don’t directly boost renown, they create a more dynamic and engaging world where renown opportunities are more abundant and strategically meaningful.
While renown-boosting mods can significantly enhance your Bannerlord experience, it’s important to be aware of potential drawbacks.
Balancing Issues
Some mods can unbalance the game, making it too easy to accumulate renown and progress too quickly. This can diminish the sense of accomplishment and reduce the overall challenge. I recommend adjusting the mod settings to your liking or choosing mods that offer more subtle and balanced renown boosts.
Mod Compatibility
Not all mods are compatible with each other. Conflicts between mods can lead to crashes, bugs, and other issues. Always check the mod descriptions for compatibility information and test new mods thoroughly before integrating them into your main game.
The Temptation of Overpowered Characters
The speed at which you gain renown from these mods might allow you to rush certain storylines or kingdom decisions before you are truly ready. This can lead to unforeseen consequences and a less satisfying overall experience. Try to take it slow, even if the allure of power is very strong.
Installing and managing mods for Bannerlord can be a daunting task, especially for newcomers. Here are a few tips to make the process smoother.
- Use a Mod Manager: A mod manager such as Vortex simplifies the process of installing, enabling, and disabling mods.
- Read the Mod Descriptions Carefully: The mod description often contains important information about installation instructions, compatibility issues, and potential conflicts.
- Test Mods Thoroughly: After installing a new mod, test it in-game to ensure it’s working correctly and doesn’t conflict with any other mods.
| Mod Name | Renown Impact | Playstyle Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diplomacy | Indirect | Players who enjoy political maneuvering and strategic alliances | Enhances diplomacy mechanics, creating more opportunities for renown gain through war and political success. |
| Tournament XPanded | Direct | Players who enjoy tournament combat | Increases renown rewards for winning tournaments, making them a viable renown-farming strategy. |
| Distinguished Service | Direct | Players who focus on building and training elite troops | Rewards you for promoting troops to noble status, encouraging a more strategic approach to army composition. |
While renown is essential for progression in Bannerlord, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. A holistic approach to power requires a combination of factors.
Skill and Strategy
No amount of renown can compensate for a lack of skill in combat or strategy in war. Practice your combat skills, learn the terrain, and develop effective battle tactics to maximize your impact on the battlefield.
Economic Prosperity
A thriving economy provides the resources you need to recruit, equip, and maintain a powerful army. Invest in workshops, trade routes, and infrastructure to generate wealth and fuel your ambitions.
Political Savvy
Navigating the complex political landscape of Bannerlord requires diplomacy, negotiation, and strategic alliances. Build relationships with other lords, manage your reputation, and forge alliances to secure your position in the world.
Mods are a powerful tool for customizing your Bannerlord experience and accelerating your rise to power. By choosing the right mods and using them strategically, you can quickly accumulate renown, build a formidable army, and carve out your own kingdom in the world of Calradia. Experiment with different mods, find what works best for your playstyle, and embrace the freedom to shape your own destiny. Choose the right mods for your playstyle.