(Comparison) Bannerlord Online vs Single Player
So you've found your way to Bannerlord Online and are wondering what it's like? Whether or not you have played single player can make a difference in expectations. So let's talk a bit about the differences between single player and Bannerlord Online. I'll seperate it in 3 topics. What isn't in BO, what's different in BO and what's unique to BO.
It is worth mentioning that Bannerlord Online is designed to offer an MMO feel of the Bannerlord experience. This mod is not designed to mimic the single player in a co-operative experience. If you are a new player to Bannerlord Online, make sure to check out the new player tips.
So let's start by clearly pointing out some of the things that are not in Bannerlord Online, before we go focus on the things that are.
Fief ownership & Sieges
Starting with the big one. It is currently not possible to own castles or towns in Bannerlord Online. This process is in development and has been for a long time. It will get there, but the when has become a meme in itself. Part of the mechanics and synchronization has already been done, but it will take more time.
Armies
Parties joined together to form a large single army. Commonly used in single player for sieges, this option is not available in Bannerlord Online.
Passive Income
There is no way to currently obtain a passive income, like from workshops or taxes. This is planned for the future though.
Some features from single player do exist in Bannerlord Online, but are quite different from how you'd see it in single player.
Trading (Player Caravan)
There's not really a trade market for you to buy goods and try to sell them for profit in another city. Instead, our city Trader (NPC) offers trade cargo with predetermined locations and predetermined price/profits. A much simpler way of doing it, but also often left behind after the players level their Trade skill high enough to be able to get mules for increased carrying capacity.
Tournaments
Every day, player tournaments take place. However, these are different from what you might expect if you played them in single player.
These tournaments are fully player driver and start off with large groups. There are no small group brackets. See Daily Tournaments for information.
Trade Posts (AI Caravan)
You may occasionally run into an AI caravan (aside from the player caravan mentioned about). These caravans always deliver a specific resources depending on the village they departed from. You can attack these to get a small amount of the resources (3) and some random loot. Be aware, these caravans belong to a clan and the clan can assist the caravan in its defense. Clans can bid for information on the prime caravan and take control of the trade post. See Trading Posts and Caravans for information.
Workshops (Not yet implemented)
Player owner workshops were planned as part of the economy update, but even then it will not be like single player. While the workshop got delayed, the plans for it was to allow players to work in the workshop of whomever is renting it, to produce food, or craft gear. No eta on this, devs revealed this proved to be much more difficult to implement than initially suspected.
Crafting
Crafting like you've seen it in single player does not exist in Online. While there is a crafting mechanic, it's vastly different. Currently crafting requires a recipe andlots of resources. The Artisan is the temporary NPC to do the crafting until players replace him in the future. See Crafting System for information.
Companions
While companions are available ingame, they do not have the same leveling experience they have in single player. Instead, they do have perks that can impact the entire party. See Companions for information.
Repeatable Quests
While Bannerlord Online offers repeatable quests, they differ from the quests available in single player. See Quest Guide for information on the basic quests.
Recruiting Troops
Unlike single player, troops can not be hired from villages or settlement menus.
Single player uses "Order of Battle" system that was introduced in beta version 1.7.0 . Bannerlord Online however continues to use the older Formation system in which troops are predefined into specific formations through the party menu. See How to use formations for more information.
There are some functionalities in Bannerlord Online that you can't find in native single player. So let's talk a bit about those next.
Co-op Quests
Unique to Bannerlord Online, due to its multiplayer nature, is the addition of co-op quests designed to be completed alongside other players. While with high ingame skills, it is possible to do solo, it's certainly designed for a group. See Black Claw Scenario and the above Quest guide (Bandit Oppressor) for information.
Village Work
Ready to hang your sword on the wall? Probably not, but you can actually do some manual labor in several villages for a decent wage. This includes farming wheat, hunting boars, chopping wood or mining ore. Guides on the work can be found in the new player tips mentioned at the top of this post.
Clan Halls
Clans are completely player driven in Bannerlord Online, but what really makes them stand out from single player, is that each clan has 1 or 2 clan halls that can be fully decorated to your own taste with a large number of decorations available ingame. These decorations are meant to be part of random loot (currently bugged) and players can sell decorations through the Trader in a town. Clan halls can be expanded in size, offer shared clan storage and can even be expanded to include a prison to place captured players.
The Wildlands
South of Aserai lands, you can find the Wildlands in the desert. This is a free-for-all PvP area that has AI bosses roam around and drop loot not available in any other area, including horses and a unique currency for the Antique Market. This area offers fast healing points in the form of Oasis. See Wildlands and Antique Market for information.
The Frostlands
North of Sturgia and Khuzait, accessed by land at the Khuzait border, you can find the Forstlands in the snow. This area includes both a PvE and a free-for-all PvP area. No mounts will join in on battles here and this place also offers AI bosses for end game loot. This area offers fast healing points in the form of Bonfires, that also have a chance for you to recruit tier 4 or 5 troops in exchange for influence.
So you've found your way to Bannerlord Online and are wondering what it's like? Whether or not you have played single player can make a difference in expectations. So let's talk a bit about the differences between single player and Bannerlord Online. I'll seperate it in 3 topics. What isn't in BO, what's different in BO and what's unique to BO.
It is worth mentioning that Bannerlord Online is designed to offer an MMO feel of the Bannerlord experience. This mod is not designed to mimic the single player in a co-operative experience. If you are a new player to Bannerlord Online, make sure to check out the new player tips.
What is not in Bannerlord Online?
So let's start by clearly pointing out some of the things that are not in Bannerlord Online, before we go focus on the things that are.
Fief ownership & Sieges
Starting with the big one. It is currently not possible to own castles or towns in Bannerlord Online. This process is in development and has been for a long time. It will get there, but the when has become a meme in itself. Part of the mechanics and synchronization has already been done, but it will take more time.
Armies
Parties joined together to form a large single army. Commonly used in single player for sieges, this option is not available in Bannerlord Online.
Passive Income
There is no way to currently obtain a passive income, like from workshops or taxes. This is planned for the future though.
What is different in Bannerlord Online?
Some features from single player do exist in Bannerlord Online, but are quite different from how you'd see it in single player.
Trading (Player Caravan)
There's not really a trade market for you to buy goods and try to sell them for profit in another city. Instead, our city Trader (NPC) offers trade cargo with predetermined locations and predetermined price/profits. A much simpler way of doing it, but also often left behind after the players level their Trade skill high enough to be able to get mules for increased carrying capacity.
Tournaments
Every day, player tournaments take place. However, these are different from what you might expect if you played them in single player.
These tournaments are fully player driver and start off with large groups. There are no small group brackets. See Daily Tournaments for information.
Trade Posts (AI Caravan)
You may occasionally run into an AI caravan (aside from the player caravan mentioned about). These caravans always deliver a specific resources depending on the village they departed from. You can attack these to get a small amount of the resources (3) and some random loot. Be aware, these caravans belong to a clan and the clan can assist the caravan in its defense. Clans can bid for information on the prime caravan and take control of the trade post. See Trading Posts and Caravans for information.
Workshops (Not yet implemented)
Player owner workshops were planned as part of the economy update, but even then it will not be like single player. While the workshop got delayed, the plans for it was to allow players to work in the workshop of whomever is renting it, to produce food, or craft gear. No eta on this, devs revealed this proved to be much more difficult to implement than initially suspected.
Crafting
Crafting like you've seen it in single player does not exist in Online. While there is a crafting mechanic, it's vastly different. Currently crafting requires a recipe andlots of resources. The Artisan is the temporary NPC to do the crafting until players replace him in the future. See Crafting System for information.
Companions
While companions are available ingame, they do not have the same leveling experience they have in single player. Instead, they do have perks that can impact the entire party. See Companions for information.
Repeatable Quests
While Bannerlord Online offers repeatable quests, they differ from the quests available in single player. See Quest Guide for information on the basic quests.
Recruiting Troops
Unlike single player, troops can not be hired from villages or settlement menus.
- Regular troops (tier 1-3) can be found standing around towns.
- Regular troops (tier 4-5) can occasionally be found in taverns.
- Infantry/Ranged (tier 4-5) can be recruited at Bonfires in the Frostlands, in exchange for influence.
- Noble units can only be obtained in specific ways, see (Guide) Noble units and how to get them
- Notice: Khan's Guard have their Glaive replaced by a Spear for balancing purpose.
- Notice: Battanian Fians have their two handed sword replaced by a one handed sword.
Single player uses "Order of Battle" system that was introduced in beta version 1.7.0 . Bannerlord Online however continues to use the older Formation system in which troops are predefined into specific formations through the party menu. See How to use formations for more information.
What is unique to Bannerlord Online?
There are some functionalities in Bannerlord Online that you can't find in native single player. So let's talk a bit about those next.
Co-op Quests
Unique to Bannerlord Online, due to its multiplayer nature, is the addition of co-op quests designed to be completed alongside other players. While with high ingame skills, it is possible to do solo, it's certainly designed for a group. See Black Claw Scenario and the above Quest guide (Bandit Oppressor) for information.
Village Work
Ready to hang your sword on the wall? Probably not, but you can actually do some manual labor in several villages for a decent wage. This includes farming wheat, hunting boars, chopping wood or mining ore. Guides on the work can be found in the new player tips mentioned at the top of this post.
Clan Halls
Clans are completely player driven in Bannerlord Online, but what really makes them stand out from single player, is that each clan has 1 or 2 clan halls that can be fully decorated to your own taste with a large number of decorations available ingame. These decorations are meant to be part of random loot (currently bugged) and players can sell decorations through the Trader in a town. Clan halls can be expanded in size, offer shared clan storage and can even be expanded to include a prison to place captured players.
The Wildlands
South of Aserai lands, you can find the Wildlands in the desert. This is a free-for-all PvP area that has AI bosses roam around and drop loot not available in any other area, including horses and a unique currency for the Antique Market. This area offers fast healing points in the form of Oasis. See Wildlands and Antique Market for information.
The Frostlands
North of Sturgia and Khuzait, accessed by land at the Khuzait border, you can find the Forstlands in the snow. This area includes both a PvE and a free-for-all PvP area. No mounts will join in on battles here and this place also offers AI bosses for end game loot. This area offers fast healing points in the form of Bonfires, that also have a chance for you to recruit tier 4 or 5 troops in exchange for influence.
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