3 Solutions for Bannerlord 2 Prisoner Management Pain Points

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord offers a deep and engaging sandbox experience, but one persistent headache for players is prisoner management. This article solves three key problems: minimizing escape attempts, maximizing profit from captures, and reducing the negative impact on your party’s morale. We’ll explore practical strategies that go beyond the basics, drawing from my own experiences and observations in countless hours spent conquering Calradia.

Prisoner escapes are frustrating. They represent a loss of potential profit, manpower, and even valuable nobles who could fetch a hefty ransom.

Minimizing Escape Attempts: Security Measures

The first line of defense against escapes is understanding the factors that influence them. The number of prisoners you hold, their tier, and your party’s morale all play a role. A large number of high-tier prisoners in a low-morale party is a recipe for disaster.

• Increase your Security Skill: This skill directly reduces the chance of prisoner escapes. Invest in it early, especially if you plan on making prisoner management a core part of your strategy.
• Choose the Right Perks: Certain perks, particularly in the Steward and Medicine skill trees, offer significant bonuses to prisoner management. Look for perks that reduce escape chance, increase prisoner carrying capacity, or improve party morale.
• Designated Garrisons: Instead of lugging around a massive group of prisoners, consider depositing them in well-defended castles or towns. Choose locations with high garrison security and plenty of food to minimize escape attempts.
• Patrol the Area: Having a companion patrol the area around your garrison can also help deter escapes. This strategy can be particularly useful for smaller settlements with weaker garrisons.

My Experience: The Value of a Dedicated Garrison

I once learned this the hard way. I was trying to ferry a group of captured nobles across the map when a series of bad events (famine and desertion) hit my party. Morale plummeted, and suddenly, all my high-value prisoners escaped! Ever since then, I prioritize secure garrisons. I’ve found that strategically placing prisoners in a centrally located, well-stocked castle drastically reduces escape risks.

Prisoners are a valuable resource, but maximizing their potential requires more than just holding them until someone offers a ransom.

Beyond Ransom: Alternative Uses for Prisoners

While ransoming lords is a good way to make money, there are other ways to profit from prisoners:

• Recruitment: Many low-tier prisoners can be recruited into your army. This is a great way to quickly replenish your ranks after a battle, and it’s often more cost-effective than recruiting new troops from villages. The perk “Every Day I Learn” at Steward skill level 25 is a great way to increase daily recruitment chance of prisoners.
• Selling to Ransom Brokers: Ransom brokers offer a quick and easy way to sell prisoners, though the price they offer is usually lower than what you could get by ransoming them directly. They can be found by traveling to different towns and looking for the “ransom broker” character.
• Gladiator Pits: Some towns have gladiator pits where you can sell prisoners to fight. While morally questionable, this is another way to squeeze some profit out of your captives. Keep in mind that some companions may disapprove of this practice.

Fine-Tuning Your Approach

• Targeting High-Value Prisoners: Focus on capturing lords and high-tier troops. These prisoners are worth significantly more than low-tier units.
• Trading Skills: Invest in the Trading skill to get better prices when selling prisoners to ransom brokers.
• Waiting for the Right Offer: Don’t be afraid to hold onto prisoners until you get a good ransom offer. Sometimes, lords are willing to pay significantly more to get their family members back.

Why Patience Pays Off

In my early playthroughs, I was always eager to offload prisoners as quickly as possible. Now, I’m much more patient, often holding onto them for weeks, sometimes months, waiting for a lucrative ransom offer. This strategy has paid off handsomely, allowing me to finance larger armies and expand my influence more rapidly.

Carrying around a large group of prisoners can negatively impact your party’s morale. This can lead to desertions, reduced combat effectiveness, and even mutinies.

Mitigating Negative Morale Effects

• Food Variety: Ensure your party has access to a variety of food. This can help boost morale and offset the negative effects of prisoner management.
• Winning Battles: Nothing raises morale like a string of victories. Keep your troops engaged in combat and crush your enemies.
• Leadership Skills: Invest in Leadership skills to improve your party’s morale. Certain perks can specifically reduce the negative morale impact of prisoners.
• Clan Policies: Certain Clan policies can provide passive bonuses to morale, helping to offset the negative effects of prisoner management.

A Tactical Approach to Morale

• Prioritize Troop Morale: Regularly check your party’s morale and take steps to address any issues before they escalate.
• Rotate Prisoners: If you’re carrying a large number of prisoners, consider rotating them between your party and your garrisons to minimize the morale impact.
• Be Mindful of Troop Types: Some troop types are more susceptible to morale penalties than others. Be mindful of this when composing your army.

What I Learned About Morale the Hard Way

I once had a promising campaign derailed because I neglected my party’s morale. I was so focused on capturing prisoners and expanding my territory that I didn’t pay attention to the growing discontent within my ranks. The resulting desertions crippled my army, and I was forced to retreat. Now, I make morale a top priority.

Mastering prisoner management in Bannerlord 2 is crucial for long-term success. By understanding the factors that influence escape attempts, maximizing profit potential, and mitigating the negative impact on morale, you can turn prisoners into a valuable asset in your quest to conquer Calradia.

The Importance of Continuous Learning

Bannerlord 2 is a complex game with many different systems interacting with each other. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new strategies. The more you play, the more you’ll learn, and the better you’ll become at managing your prisoners and building your empire.