Dev Blog 09/08/19 [EN]

[Callum]

https://steamcommunity.com/games/261550/announcements/detail/1594757207488896533

Greetings warriors of Calradia!

As development on Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord steadily proceeds, we are constantly looking at how best to allow players to interact with the game’s many features. One big change in this regard is the way that we are handling sieges. Sieges are key events in Mount & Blade games, and we are making great efforts to improve this aspect of the game in Bannerlord.

As we discussed previously, sieges in Bannerlord encompass a lot more than simply waiting until the attacker is ready to initiate an assault (as is the case with Warband). There is an active back and forth between the besiegers and the besieged as they seek to gain an advantage over one another or hamper each other’s progress, even on the world map. This raised some important questions that we had to consider. Should these changes be abstracted in images and text or should there be something more tangible? And to what extent should the level of control be for players?

We felt it would be best to provide players with a relatively high level of access and visual representation to make the initial stages of a siege more engaging for both attackers and defenders. When a settlement is besieged, a siege camp is set up by the attacking force, with individual tents being placed down for each attacking lord. Following this, both sides have the ability to construct siege engines to be used in both a bombardment phase that takes place on the world map and the final assault that takes place in a scene. Each settlement has a limited number of slots assigned to it, which players can select between and choose which siege machines to build and in which order. This should be given some tactical consideration as siege machines will automatically target whatever is closest to them.

The besieging force has the option to build siege towers and battering rams, which are only brought to the front to be used during the assault phase. They also have an assortment of ranged siege engines at their disposal, which can be used to attack the enemy’s machines, soldiers, and walls during the world map bombardment phase, weakening the enemy before the battle begins. Each ranged machine performs differently and has varying levels of success depending on what the player is trying to achieve -- so while a ballista may excel at whittling down the enemy troops, they are ineffective against walls. Meanwhile, trebuchets can be used to dominate the defender’s machines and walls, but they are expensive to produce. Of course, players could always choose to conserve their supplies and refrain from building any machines at all, and instead, opt to starve their enemy out without taking any casualties. Likewise, defenders can choose to hunker down and avoid building any machines while they wait for a relief force to break the siege. However, this would leave the attackers free to bombard the walls of the settlement without reprisal.

Players now have complete control on the deployment of siege engines on the campaign map. The game shows hit point bars on siege engines and wall sections so players can follow the development of the ranged duel, can pull back damaged machines to reserve, and put them back to the frontline when needed. These new additions make the campaign part of the sieges much more interactive and interesting, turning them into an event that engages players from start to finish. No longer is it simply a case of bringing greater numbers and waiting for the assault to commence (although, that is still a possibility). Now, there are other aspects to consider and tactics to develop, which helps to make each siege stand out and feel unique.

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[Phalnax811]

Yay! The beacons are lit! The Blog has come today!

Wait, siege machines automatically attack? Even during the battle phase? Wasn't it shown that players can at least aim the ballistae/catapults during the siege/battle phase?

Are mantlets going to be a thing? Would be cool if they were automatically positioned and archers would automatically use them as cover while firing (2 per Mantlet probably).

[Percavil]

release date?

[Engineer]

Bannerlord when?

[Deer]

why do you hate us

[cake]

sounds great when is release date

[Coel]

I can't wait to play this!

[Bruderfaust]

Should let us preorder and playtest specific things and give feed back for those things. It's been SEVEN years since you announced Bannerlord. I for one have lost interest and check back maybe twice a year and seeif theirs a beta or alpha or anything.

idk. I want to play this game but I feel like it's stuck in development hell or something. I think you would benefit greatly from polishing what you have, releasing it or a beta, and then setting a road map. You'd probably profit more too by being able to periodically release expansions of different factions or locations. Ill check back in january I suppose. good luck and god speed

[Percavil]

god speed

Can't wait for season 2 of the Siege chapters dev blogs series.

[Harpo]

Feature request: When siege machines are deployed, add an interactive instance/phase allowing both players to use the machines against the opposing forces within a short/limited amount of time. The end result of this instance can become a multiplier during the siege on the campaign map until the next phase. If the attacker performed well with the trebuchet, then walls would fall faster "automatically" over time. If the defender did well with the ballista (lots of casualties), then automated ballistas would reduce attacking forces quicker over time. Eg. This would allow a defender with superior machinery inside the castle walls a better chance at survival if the attacker decides to try and wait it out. :)

[Dildozer]

So the catapults and ballistae that were is previous siege video are no longer in use during the assult? only rams and towers? So now its a world map bombardment that ranged engines are used in? Also how many blogs are you going to do on sieges?

Why dont the defenders have engines built already? What they tear them down after using them?

[We'll Bang, Okay?]

please just release it

[Callum]

Originally posted by Dildozer:

So the catapults and ballistae that were is previous siege video are no longer in use during the assult? only rams and towers? So now its a world map bombardment that ranged engines are used in? Also how many blogs are you going to do on sieges?

Why dont the defenders have engines built already? What they tear them down after using them?

They are still there: they are used in BOTH the world map and the assault, whereas battering rams and siege towers are only used in the assault.

[GothVII]

This is very useful information, but
I want to know the process of the wedding and how to get a marriage in Bannerlord. In the first part of the game for the engagement it was enough to sing a couple of poems for the beloved and win victories in tournaments, then, having received the blessing of the father and making a contribution for the bride, to have a wedding that we see in one scene.

[Dildozer]

Originally posted by Callum:

Originally posted by Dildozer:

So the catapults and ballistae that were is previous siege video are no longer in use during the assult? only rams and towers? So now its a world map bombardment that ranged engines are used in? Also how many blogs are you going to do on sieges?

Why dont the defenders have engines built already? What they tear them down after using them?

They are still there: they are used in BOTH the world map and the assault, whereas battering rams and siege towers are only used in the assault.

Ok thanks.

[Kayne]

Originally posted by Dildozer:

Originally posted by Callum:

They are still there: they are used in BOTH the world map and the assault, whereas battering rams and siege towers are only used in the assault.

Ok thanks.

Bummer, I thought we were going to have a damage engine where we could see our artillery in action...