Ethan Crossfield 
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord players with modding experience—or a strong concept—can now compete for up to €12,000, roughly $13,900, in TaleWorlds' War Sails Modding Competition. The event runs from August 14 through November 22 and includes categories for major conversion projects, original ships, and coastal battle scenes. It is worth following if you want to build around Bannerlord's new naval systems, while creators without a finished mod can still enter with a well-presented plan.
What changed for Bannerlord modders
War Sails expanded Bannerlord with naval travel and combat, letting players command ships, fight at sea, and take their campaigns beyond the game's traditional land battles. TaleWorlds has also released the War Sails Modding Kit, which gives creators tools for building naval maps and content based on those mechanics. The competition is designed to push those systems further, especially through projects that introduce fresh maritime gameplay ideas. The largest category is the Conversion Mod Contest, which accepts both total and partial conversions. Entrants can substantially reshape Bannerlord or create a project with a different setting while incorporating War Sails features.
Who can enter and what they need
The contest is not limited to completed, publicly playable mods. TaleWorlds will consider unreleased work based on its concept, development plan, and presentation, giving early-stage creators a realistic route into the event. Conversion Mod Contest participants must publish a public YouTube showcase covering the project's features, current progress, and intended direction. Individuals may submit up to three entries, although only their highest-rated project will count toward the final rankings. Teams are also allowed, which may suit ambitious conversion projects that require several creative and technical roles.
What comes next and what is at stake
The conversion category awards €12,000 to first place, €6,000 to second, and €3,000 to third. A separate Community Vote prize adds €1,000. Smaller projects have dedicated options: the 3D Art Contest focuses on original ships, while the Scene Design Contest asks creators to build coastal villages designed around seaborne raids. Each of those categories pays €2,000 for first place, €1,000 for second, and €500 for third, plus a €500 Community Vote award. With €30,000 in total prizes, the event gives modders several ways to participate instead of requiring everyone to develop a full campaign overhaul.
What players should know
- The competition runs from August 14 through November 22.
- The top conversion mod prize is €12,000, approximately $13,900.
- Released and unreleased projects are eligible in the conversion category.
- Conversion entries require a public YouTube presentation.
- Creators may submit up to three projects, but only their highest-rated entry is ranked.
- The 3D Art and Scene Design contests offer alternatives focused on ships and coastal environments.
Expert View
TaleWorlds is offering a meaningful incentive without narrowing the event to established teams or finished total conversions. The strongest opportunity is for creators who can connect War Sails' naval mechanics to a clear, achievable concept, while the art and scene categories lower the scope for individual specialists. The contest should produce worthwhile experiments, but the quality and long-term availability of those projects will depend on how successfully entries move from showcase material to playable releases.
