The backbone of any successful Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord campaign is a strong retinue of companions. While the base game offers a solid foundation, modding can elevate your companion experience, offering deeper customization, expanded roles, and richer interactions. This article dives into the best Bannerlord 2 mods for companions, providing actionable insights to enhance your gameplay. We’ll explore mods that improve companion skills, expand their backstories, and allow for more meaningful relationships.
Bannerlord’s companion system, while functional, often feels limited. Companions, intended as your trusted allies and skilled specialists, sometimes fall short in terms of depth and impact. Modding offers a solution, unlocking the potential for a more immersive and personalized experience.
Bannerlord Tweaks: Refining Companion Skills and Development
Several mods focus on tweaking the existing companion system to offer greater control over their development. These mods often address issues like slow skill progression, limited skill specialization, and a lack of customization.
Character Reload: This is your go to tool. This mod allows you to completely respec your companions, changing their skills, attributes, and even their culture. This is incredibly useful for tailoring companions to specific roles, such as surgeons, scouts, or party leaders. Character Reload provides unmatched flexibility in shaping your companion’s abilities. I’ve personally used this to transform a lackluster companion into a formidable battlefield commander.
- Download link: https://www.nexusmods.com/mountandblade2bannerlord/mods/224
Realistic Trainer: This mod adjusts the training system, allowing companions to effectively train troops based on their skills. This means your companions can become valuable assets in building a powerful army, not just participating in battles. You’ll need to consider their skills when assigning them to garrisons or training detachments.
- Download link: https://www.nexusmods.com/mountandblade2bannerlord/mods/463
Improved Perks: Many of the base game’s perks are either ineffective or simply don’t function as intended. The Improved Perks mod overhauls the perk system, making each perk meaningful and impactful. This directly affects your companions, allowing them to utilize their skills more effectively and contribute more significantly to your party.
- Download link: https://www.nexusmods.com/mountandblade2bannerlord/mods/266
Diving into Immersion Mods: Adding Depth to Companion Interactions and Backstories
Beyond tweaking existing systems, some mods focus on enhancing the immersion and role-playing aspects of companions. These mods often introduce new dialogue options, expanded backstories, and more meaningful interactions.
Detailed Character Creation: While not strictly a companion mod, this enhances the character creation process and therefore allows you to make your character much more fitting to the world and more of an immersive experience.
*Download link: https://www.nexusmods.com/mountandblade2bannerlord/mods/3614Character Manager: Another useful addition, this mod allows you to manage your companions with ease and add character development trees.
*Download link: https://www.nexusmods.com/mountandblade2bannerlord/mods/3190Banner Kings: This total conversion mod fundamentally alters the game, introducing a feudal system with vassals, titles, and political intrigue. Companions gain increased importance as potential vassals and administrators, requiring careful consideration of their skills and personalities. I’ve found that Banner Kings adds a whole new layer of depth to companion management, forcing me to think strategically about their roles within my kingdom.
- Download link: https://www.nexusmods.com/mountandblade2bannerlord/mods/2436
Redoing the AI: Enhance Companion Tactics and Combat Prowess
The AI controlling companions in battle can be underwhelming. Mods aimed at improving AI can significantly enhance their combat effectiveness and tactical decision-making.
Better AI: This mod focuses on improving the AI’s decision-making in battles and on the campaign map. Companions will make smarter choices in combat, utilize their skills more effectively, and contribute more meaningfully to your overall strategy. The changes are subtle but noticeable, resulting in a more challenging and engaging experience.
- Download link: Too many, search for AI mods.
RTS Camera: While not specifically for companions, the RTS Camera mod allows you to issue commands to your troops from a top-down perspective. This gives you greater control over your companions in battle, allowing you to position them strategically and utilize their unique skills. I often use this to direct my companion cavalry to flank enemy formations or to protect vulnerable archers.
- Download link: https://www.nexusmods.com/mountandblade2bannerlord/mods/256
Compatibility and Load Order: Ensuring a Smooth Modding Experience
Modding Bannerlord can be a complex process, and compatibility issues are common. It’s crucial to pay attention to mod compatibility and load order to avoid crashes or unexpected behavior.
- Use a Mod Manager: A mod manager like Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 is essential for managing your mods and ensuring they are loaded in the correct order. These tools help you identify conflicts and resolve compatibility issues more easily. I strongly recommend using a mod manager, especially if you plan to install multiple mods.
- Read Mod Descriptions Carefully: Always read the mod descriptions on Nexus Mods before installing them. The authors often provide valuable information about compatibility with other mods and any known issues. Pay close attention to the required dependencies and installation instructions.
- Test Your Load Order: After installing a new mod, always test your load order by starting a new game or loading an existing save. If you encounter crashes or errors, try disabling mods one by one to identify the culprit. A systematic approach is key to resolving compatibility issues.
A Table of Recommended Mods for Companions
| Mod Name | Category | Description | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Reload | Skill Tweaks | Allows complete respec of companions | Tailor companions to specific roles. |
| Realistic Trainer | Skill Tweaks | Companions can effectively train troops based on their skills. | Build a powerful army by training troops. |
| Improved Perks | Skill Tweaks | Overhauls the perk system. | Utilize skills more effectively and contribute more significantly to your party. |
| Banner Kings | Immersion | Introduces a feudal system with vassals, titles, and political intrigue. | Companions gain increased importance as potential vassals and administrators. |
| Better AI | AI Improvement | Improves AI’s decision-making in battles and on the campaign map. | Make smarter choices in combat, utilize their skills more effectively. |
| RTS Camera | AI Improvement | Allows issuing commands to troops from a top-down perspective. | Greater control over companions in battle, allowing strategic positioning and utilization of unique skills. |
Personal Experiences and Recommendations: Modding from a Player’s Perspective
I’ve spent countless hours tweaking my Bannerlord experience, and I’ve found that modding companions is one of the most rewarding aspects of the game. By carefully selecting and configuring mods, you can transform your companions from generic followers into unique and valuable assets.
One particular instance stands out: I was struggling to maintain order in a newly conquered city. I decided to use Character Reload to respec one of my companions into a skilled governor. With the right perks and skills, they were able to quell unrest, improve the city’s economy, and ensure its loyalty. This simple change made a huge difference in my campaign and highlighted the power of modding companions.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment: The best way to find the mods that work for you is to experiment and try different combinations. Don’t be afraid to uninstall mods that you don’t like or that cause compatibility issues.
- Focus on Your Playstyle: Choose mods that align with your preferred playstyle. If you enjoy role-playing, focus on immersion mods. If you prefer strategic gameplay, prioritize AI and skill tweaks.
- Community Resources: The Bannerlord modding community is incredibly active and supportive. Don’t hesitate to ask for help or advice on forums or Discord servers. You can find valuable information and recommendations from experienced modders.
Ultimately, the best Bannerlord 2 mods for companions are the ones that enhance your personal gaming experience. By exploring the options, experimenting with different combinations, and paying attention to compatibility, you can create a truly unique and engaging campaign.
Keep in mind that the Bannerlord modding scene is constantly evolving. New mods are released regularly, and existing mods are often updated. Stay informed about the latest developments by checking the Nexus Mods website and community forums. This ensures you are using the most up-to-date and effective mods for your game.
By leveraging the power of modding, you can elevate your Bannerlord 2 experience and forge your own unique path to victory with a team of companions customized exactly how you want them. Good luck, and have fun conquering Calradia!
Here are some frequently asked questions about Bannerlord 2 mods for companions to further assist you in your modding journey:
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