How do I set up a map rotation?

In custom_server_config.txt, add each map using add_map_to_automated_battle_pool, add enable_automated_battle_switching, and restart the server.

Can I change the time limit for each map?

Yes. For example, add MapTimeLimit 15 to custom_server_config.txt. This overrides the time limit ZapX sets for the game mode.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord: Game Modes and Maps

Explore all the game modes and matching maps for your Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord game server, and set up an automatic map rotation → Learn more

10 November 20263 min read0 Views0 helpful

Introduction

Whether you're having small clan skirmishes or large sieges with lots of players, your Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord game server supports all six of the game's multiplayer modes. In this guide, we'll show you which game modes are available, which maps go with them, and how to set up an automatic map rotation.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord: Game Modes and Maps

Set the game mode and map

You can set the game mode and map in ZapX under the Configuration tab in Startup Parameters:

Select a game mode from the list in the Game Mode field.
Enter the map your server should start with in the Map field. If you leave this field empty, your server uses the game mode's default map.

Save your changes and restart your server.

Important

Official maps only work with the game mode they were created for. If the map you entered doesn't exist or is misspelled, your server automatically uses the game mode's default map. Be sure to use the exact spelling shown in the table below.

Game modes at a glance

Game Mode	Description	Default map
`Skirmish`	Round-based battles between small teams, with no respawns and flags as the objective	`mp_skirmish_map_008_skin`
`Captain`	Round-based like Skirmish, but each player leads their own troop of AI soldiers	`mp_sergeant_map_007`
`TeamDeathmatch`	Two teams fight with respawns to score the most points	`mp_tdm_map_003`
`Siege`	Attackers storm a castle while defenders hold the control points	`mp_siege_map_007_battania`
`Duel`	Players challenge each other to one-on-one fights	`mp_duel_mode_map_004`
`Battle`	Round-based field battles with no respawns	`mp_battle_map_001`

For all modes, the number of players depends on your server's slots. Large battles in Siege, Team Deathmatch, or Captain require significantly more server resources than small skirmishes in Skirmish or Duel.

Maps for each game mode

You can enter these official maps for each game mode in the Map field:

Game Mode	Maps
`Skirmish`	`mp_skirmish_map_002f`, `mp_skirmish_map_003_skinc`, `mp_skirmish_map_007`, `mp_skirmish_map_008_skin`, `mp_skirmish_map_009`, `mp_skirmish_map_010`, `mp_skirmish_map_014`, `mp_skirmish_map_020`
`Captain`	`mp_sergeant_map_007`, `mp_sergeant_map_008`, `mp_sergeant_map_009`, `mp_sergeant_map_010`, `mp_sergeant_map_012`, `mp_sergeant_map_013`, `mp_sergeant_map_vlandia_01`
`TeamDeathmatch`	`mp_tdm_map_001`, `mp_tdm_map_001_spring`, `mp_tdm_map_003`, `mp_tdm_map_004a`, `mp_compact`, `mp_duel_001`, `mp_duel_002`
`Siege`	`mp_siege_map_003`, `mp_siege_map_005`, `mp_siege_map_006_vlandia`, `mp_siege_map_007_battania`, `mp_siege_map_009`, `mp_siege_map_011_b`, `mp_siege_map_012`
`Duel`	`mp_duel_mode_map_004`
`Battle`	`mp_battle_map_001`, `mp_battle_map_002`, `mp_battle_map_003`, `mp_skirmish_map_002f`, `mp_skirmish_map_003_skinc`, `mp_skirmish_map_009`, `mp_skirmish_map_010`, `mp_skirmish_map_014`, `mp_skirmish_map_020`

Cultures

Use Culture Team1 and Culture Team2 to choose which factions the two teams fight as: empire, vlandia, battania, sturgia, khuzait, or aserai. The culture determines which classes and equipment are available to players. There are no fixed teams in Duel, so the culture fields have no effect in that mode.

Set up a map rotation

Instead of always playing the same map, your server can automatically switch maps after each mission. To do this, add the maps you want and the automatic switching command to the custom_server_config.txt file in your server's main directory. You can edit the file in the Files tab.

Example for a Skirmish server with three maps:

Code

add_map_to_automated_battle_pool mp_skirmish_map_008_skin
add_map_to_automated_battle_pool mp_skirmish_map_007
add_map_to_automated_battle_pool mp_skirmish_map_010
enable_automated_battle_switching

Then restart your server. It will start with one of the maps in your list and switch to the next map after each mission. ZapX automatically adds the command to start the mission, so you don't need to enter it.

Tip

Only add maps that match your game mode to the rotation. In Duel, automatic switching is already enabled by default.

Adjust time limits and rounds

ZapX sets the time limit for each map based on the game mode—for example, 8 minutes for Skirmish and 30 minutes for Siege. To use different values, add them to custom_server_config.txt. They will override the defaults:

Code

MapTimeLimit 15
RoundTotal 3
RoundTimeLimit 420
WarmupTimeLimitInSeconds 180

MapTimeLimit is specified in minutes; RoundTimeLimit and WarmupTimeLimitInSeconds are specified in seconds. RoundTotal applies to the round-based modes Skirmish, Captain, and Battle.

Conclusion

You now know which game modes and maps your Bannerlord server offers and how to keep things varied. Our guide Become an admin and manage players shows you how to change the map and mode in-game as an admin. If you have any other questions, our support team is available every day! 🙂

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

All six multiplayer modes: Skirmish, Captain, TeamDeathmatch, Siege, Duel, and Battle. Select a mode in ZapX under Configuration in the Game Mode field.

It will use the game mode's default map, such as mp_skirmish_map_008_skin for Skirmish or mp_siege_map_007_battania for Siege.

The map doesn't exist, is misspelled, or isn't compatible with the game mode. Your server then automatically uses the default map.

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