Build the best M&B seafaring mod and win €30,000

If you’ve been dreaming of diving into the world of PC game modding but have been lacking the necessary motivation, a massive incentive might just be what you need. TaleWorlds Entertainment, the developers behind Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, has launched an exciting contest for fans of the War Sails expansion, inviting the community to create the ultimate add-ons for the game’s nautical DLC.

This isn’t just one competition; modders are invited to enter a trio of distinct challenges, catering to various creative talents. First up is the Conversion Mod contest, where participants are encouraged to completely or partially reimagine the expansion, rethinking how ship battles and naval campaigns play out on the water. This category is ripe for historical deep-dives, with previous community favorites like Shokuho and Eagle Rising demonstrating the depth of creative overhaul possible within the modding scene. The top prize for this ambitious rework is a staggering €12,000, with further rewards available for second and third place.

For those who prefer visual innovation over full mechanical redesigns, there are equally captivating challenges. The contest also includes a 3D art competition, challenging creators to design entirely new ship types that could grace the waters of Bannerlord. Furthermore, modders can unleash their vision through scene design by creating “Seaborne Village Raid scenes,” requiring intricate plotting of coastal assaults complete with navigation meshes, spawn points, and environmental details.

Across all these categories, the rewards are substantial. Each of the three competitions offers €2,000 to the winner, with secondary awards of €1,000 and €500 for the runners-up. Modders have until November 22nd to submit their creations, with winners slated to be announced in January next year.

The announcement itself was clearly designed to showcase the incredible modding tools that TaleWorlds has released recently, particularly following the release of the ws_v128_bl patch. However, there is more to this initiative than just a promotional exercise. The context surrounding War Sails has often been debated among players, with some expressing frustration over technical issues and compatibility problems that plague the expansion.

While some felt the naval features existed on the periphery of the game and deserved more focus as a standalone experience, others pointed out that these additions required significant code rewrites by TaleWorlds, which complicated compatibility for existing mods. This tension highlights a recurring theme in the modding community: the desire for greater control and creative freedom within the game world.

By incentivizing modders to create their own content, TaleWorlds appears to be fostering an environment where the community can address these technical hurdles creatively. It’s a smart move, encouraging passionate players to not only use the existing tools but to push them further, ultimately injecting fresh life and compelling narrative possibilities into the War Sails expansion. It is a fantastic opportunity for creativity, rewarding those who want to take their Ship-and-Sail ambitions to the next level.