Mod Spotlight w/ Load Order 1.8.0 UPDATE

An up-to-date list of the best mods, favouring immersive mods in the load order example, but inclusive of everything that is deserving.

Sections appropriated to make finding the best mods of their respective categories easy, with the headers being links.

Featured Mods

If you are brand new to modding Bannerlord follow my beginners guide on how to get started
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2621838476

This section will be updated from time to time to highlight any mod I think is appropriate.
The mods included in this guide are my choice picks, not an exhaustive list of everything out there.

Notice

Updating the mods listed which I know to be working

Featured must know-about mods

Realistic Battle Mod[www.nexusmods.com]

working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

Still absolutely required to play the game!

This mod cannot be praised more highly for its contribution to immersive play. It successfully creates a far more realistic battle experience compared to the vanilla game. The videos below give a very clear example and its painfully obvious how much better the game with this mod is compared to without - go ahead just watch one minute of each video.

Vanilla (No Realistic Battle Modules Activated)

Realistic Battle Mod (AI Module Only)

Realistic Battle Mod (Both RBM Modules)

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Immersive Mods (must haves)

This list is in no particular order!

Raise your Banner Plus[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

This mod is pretty light and straight forward - but it is immersive. Your troops will naturally spawn with the appropriate number of banners for the appropriate size of your force. It looks awesome.











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Improved Garrisons[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

This mod does a lot. A lot. Seamlessly integrates into your game with a very user friendly UI. It is very well done. It provides functionality to your fiefs and its garrisons, including the ability to train the garrison in a way you determine, send out recruiters to recruit troops according to a template you determine. The ability to send troops from one garrison to the other, enables you to set up patrols from the garrison and much more. The mod features an in-depth tutorial to get you to grips with it.











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Since 1.7.1

Banner Color Persistence (now with BannerPaste)[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

This mod will allow the pasting of bannercodes in the banner editor, it also helps keep colours correct. It is a must have. You can make your own banners here:
Banner Creator[bannerlord.party]

Here's my favourite:










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Perfect Executioner[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

This mod is configurable and pretty straight forward - it certainly adds more life to your world. It enables the AI to execute captured lords following the rates you define.









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Diplomacy[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

1.8.0 Requires a patch from GitHub found in the discussion tab on the mod page.

This one really shouldn't be a mod - but it is. It provides more diplomatic options to you, a kingdom ruler. Includes non-aggression treaties, peace treaties, alliances and handy send a messenger feature. It also includes a full blown rebellion feature and is under constant development with more features to come. A true must have.











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Dismemberment Plus[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

This mod really has come a long way and its quality is truly impressive - it is a very stable mod, and watching hands, arms, legs and heads falling off everywhere never gets tiring. It is a fantastic and immersive mod with continued support by a great mod author.












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Houses of Calradia[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.0 Not Working on 1.7.1 or 1.7.2

I have used this mod a lot in the past by this point and I think it's great. It ensures that all the noble deaths that occur do not destroy the longevity of ones save file, it also modifies the AI marriage system heavily.

The mod is in dire need of some love, in the form of an update but it is reported as working for 1.7.0















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Serve as soldier / Freelancer Template[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.8.0

This mod is based upon the famous Freelancer mod by bloctheworkerbloc who has sadly ceased modding Bannerlord. It implements similar functionality but as time goes on, the very competent mod author KZ14365[www.nexusmods.com] has introduced his own functionalities with his own personal spin on the original mod idea.










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Immersive Mods Continued

This list is in no particular order!

Distinguished Service[www.nexusmods.com]

working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

Personally, I believe this mod is a pretty significant one - I like a play through to be as unique as possible and this really adds to that (especially along with my other suggestions). Basically, forming a kingdom or building your clan is much more fulfilling - you can essentially promote troops who excel in battle to companion status. I use it to create leaders of parties in my clan and eventually use these formidable generals as my vassals.





















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Surrender Tweaks[www.nexusmods.com]

working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

Adds a chance of surrender for settlements and lord parties, with a surrender chance indicator in conversations.












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Banner Kings[www.nexusmods.com]

Formerly, this spot was taken by 'Populations of Calradia' - This mod is its successor.

working on 1.7.0 & 1.7.1

This mod author is a power house. I love and need this mod (populations was amazing), unfortunately it is experiencing issues and I will update as soon as this mod is working on either 1.7.1, 1.7.2 or both!

If you're wondering what the mod is, well..

"What is Banner Kings? Banner Kings is a suite of systems to deepen non-combat gameplay. It heavily revolves around settlement management and kingdom gameplay. Banner Kings draws ideas heavily from Paradox games, mainly Crusader Kings." ~ The mod page

Look at the picture below for an idea of this mods scope.















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True Mods Collection

All working on 1.8.0

Honestly, I can't really play without these mods and well.. I'm just having to suck it up and play. I have even tried fixing these mods myself for my own personal use, but with no success.

The following mods are pretty immersive. Each respective module affects a certain aspect of the game - striving for more realism. Read their descriptions for detailed rundowns on what they do.

True Relations[www.nexusmods.com]

True Noble Opinion[www.nexusmods.com]

True Ransoms[www.nexusmods.com]

True Prisoners (notable escapes)[www.nexusmods.com]

True Limits[www.nexusmods.com]

True Battle Loot[www.nexusmods.com]

True Army Costs[www.nexusmods.com]

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Player Governor[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

If I am king, or clan leader.. then why am I not in charge and governor of my own fiefs when I walk through the gates? This mod fixes that!












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Quality of Life mods

This list is in no particular order!

Manhunters Reputation[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.8.0

With game version 1.7.2 breaking one of my favourite mods - KillBanditsRaiseRelations - I fixed it for personal use and to practice modding. I have since uploaded this new version with some added functionality thus this being my second addition to this list! You will now gain relation increases for defeating bandit parties and defending villages against raids!











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Sorted Income[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

Sorts your income - pleasingly helpful.












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Useful Companions[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

An update for 1.7.2 is in the works, the author is just facing some issues with it.

Adds many benefits to companions, xp increases for passive jobs etc. It's great and I always use it.











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Party Screen Enhancements[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

This is a great sorting mod for everything, I use it predominantly for its troop sorting functionality. I like having infantry, archers and cavalry grouped together.











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Efficient Smith[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2

My first submission to this mod list. I have modified the 'Lazy Smith' mod which used to be featured in the cheat mod section. This mod provides batch smithing in either quantities of x5 or the max you can craft (given your resource amount). The mod also greatly increases the rate at which parts are unlocked, which can be considered 'cheaty' but, it is what it is. The mod does consume stamina to smith now.











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Cheating mods

This list is in no particular order!

Section is a bit bare, but not much else is needed in regards to cheat mods - feel free to post suggestions below!

The next list of mods will of course give you things you probably shouldn't have for a fair game. Some do definitely include some things which can help your game or encourage immersion (some definitely don't).

Character Manager[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

This mod gives you warband like functionality - a text file to do your edits with a save and load feature found on every character in the encyclopedia of the game. I now use it to carry my characters over to a new save - the trade off for me is, because of frequent updates I'm always updating to new beta branches etc this provides me a way to carry my character from my previous save over (if it is still a reasonably immature character at least). That way, while I may have all my relations zipped to nil etc I have a base party size and basic skills in place - makes starting again much more enjoyable when done frequently.











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Bannerlord Cheats[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0

No cheat list would be complete without mentioning this mod - packed full of settings found inside of MCM. You should use it sparingly ;)











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Troop Overhauls & Additional Armouries

This list is in no particular order!

My Little Warband[www.nexusmods.com]

working on 1.7.2 & 1.8.0


This mod gives you tools to develop your own unique troop trees, making ruling a kingdom feel much more immersive and personal to your character/culture.











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Open Source Armoury[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.1

As the title suggests, an influx of armours will be added to your game seamlessly integrated to what's already there. The mod weighs 3 gigs and it's specific additions are:
47 new armours
4 banners
4 shields
4 weapons

Click the link to view all photos.

Coupling this mod along with other armour repositories is preferable.























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Swadian armoury[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2

Swadian Armoury, a fantastic mod adding awesome armour. Implemented directly into the upcoming KC mod featured at the top of the guide.
Adds a whole lot of top quality stuff - read the mod page!

Click the link to view all photos.

Coupling this mod along with other armour repositories is preferable.












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Vaegir Armoury[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.8.0

Vaegir armoury deserves a spot here. Check out the images below.

Note there is a fix required for the xml file, check the sticky comment on the mod page.













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Conversion/Expansion mods

This list is in no particular order!

CA - Eagle Rising - Dawn of an Empire[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.8.0

Not something I have personally used or have much interest in using, however, it is very clear a lot of work has gone into this mod - it is very popular. It is still under development so things will be added over time but it certainly deserves a spot on the list.











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Arena Overhaul[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2

A mod which gives more meaning and pleasure to tournaments. Give the mod page a read it is very well written. This will be a mod to watch as it has lots of room to evolve!











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Warlord Overhaul[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.2

A total overhaul to Calradia, includes new factions, clans, cultures, lords, and mercenary clans and it is in active development so expect more to be added over time!











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Crusader Kingdoms I - Lionheart 1.7 (Third Crusade Overhaul Mod for Bannerlord)[www.nexusmods.com]

Working on 1.7.1

There is a lot to appreciate and enjoy with this mod.

Kingdoms available in the mod
Kingdom of England
Kingdom of France
Kingdom of Denmark
Kievan Rus
Holy Roman Empire
Byzantine Empire
Seljuk Sultanate of Rum
Ayyubid Empire
(Kingdom of Jerusalem separately in future update, meanwhile form it yourself in your campaign!)











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Mods In Development To Watch Out For

This list is in no particular order!

Europa Ad Bellum

Click the header
Release date to be decided
Formerly named 'Kingdom Come', this mod has came such a long way in it's development that the team behind it has felt a re-branding was necessary, and I don't disagree. In just a few months the mods quality has reached heights I didn't think possible, the work undergone thus far is nothing short of breathtaking.










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Bretwalda

Click the header
Release date to be decided
Bretwalda is set in the British Isles, has Naval Combat and all the mechanics you'd expect to go with it. Truly one to watch out for.




























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In the Name of Jerusalem II

Click the header
Release date to be decided

Another highly anticipated mod - shaping up pretty well.











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A Beta Branch Friendly Load Order

This section will be updated when appropriate

Branch 1.8.0

Author Notes

Just wanted a little section to reiterate that this is by no means a fully exhaustive list of whats out there.

If you think something should be included leave a comment.


If you have any problems I will try and help you, leave a comment.


If you find any incorrect info, let me know with a comment.


All mods in the load order example are tested to be working with the version stated by myself.


Have fun and Mush love

[Kuzol]

When do you plan on updating the load order? Some of these mods have changed quite a bit since that picture has been up.

[kris4anz]

Hi mate!
Cheers for the quick comment and for the help provided!

[ᴍᴜꜱʜ-ᴄʀÆᴍ?]

@Kris4anz I have updated the load order section above with a load order I have been using on 1.8.0, you can use this as a reference.

[ᴍᴜꜱʜ-ᴄʀÆᴍ?]

Hi @Kris4anz, the load order does not require the mods to be in the same order as the list presents them; however, their order is important.

Please consider referring to my beginners guide if you are not already using vortex as your mod manager - which comes with a suitable load order sorting function, which does indeed do a good job of ordering your mods in the correct.. order

[kris4anz]

Sorry for the potentially stupid questions, but is the load order need to be the same way the mods are presented in the list?
Like:
1. RBM
2. Raise your banners
3. Improved Garrisons
4. Banner Color Persistence
etc.

I am really struggling with the load order in general. Could somebody please help?

[Skill Issue]

"workshop support not included in this guide"

[FickDelon]

Thanks for that it works without issue now

[ᴍᴜꜱʜ-ᴄʀÆᴍ?]

Hey @FickDelon, there is a fix for diplomacy 1.8.0 on the mods github - a link can be found on the mod page in the discussion section. I'll update the guide to reflect this soon.

[FickDelon]

Diplomacy isn't working for me either

[Willow Ufgood]

diplomacy is working 1.80 not sure where you are Psycho but hope it's all good and you update when you can thankyou for your work