VC Balance Mod features hundreds of gameplay and balance improvements, including tournaments varied by faction, 2-handed dane axes and throwing axes, more elite AI armies, realistic travel speeds based on map scale, increased Norse sailing advantage, AI lords stats based on history and literature, balanced troop and item stats, strengthened Laithland, added lord families, random bandit armies, and much more. All changes documented, so you can know exactly what you are installing.
Expanded family trees for AI Lords. Vanilla VC was missing many family relationships, but with balance mod, 15+ AI lords now remember who their fathers and sons are. Here is Hrodulf Haraldsson, son of Harald Hemingsson.
Vanilla Viking Conquest was missing around 15 lord families. Take Frisia for example--a Harald, and two Haraldssons, and none had family relationships assigned?
Balance Mod helps those 15 families remember each other, making politics much more interesting.