Landing that coveted castle or town in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord often hinges on your ability to sway your fellow lords. This article cuts straight to the chase, revealing four practical methods, backed by experience, to boost your chances of getting elected as the new fief holder. You’ll learn how to leverage influence, relationships, and strategic gameplay to secure the fiefs you deserve.
The core of influencing fief elections lies in understanding the factors the AI considers. It’s not just about being a good warrior; it’s about reputation, relationships, and active participation in your kingdom. The AI prioritizes candidates who contribute significantly to the kingdom’s success and maintain strong relationships with other clans.
Influence is your political currency in Bannerlord. Use it wisely to sway votes during fief elections. Here’s how:
Earning and Spending Influence Effectively
- Battles & Raids: Participating in successful battles, especially against larger forces, generates significant influence. Raiding enemy villages also contributes, though it impacts your honor.
- Policy Support: Supporting kingdom policies that benefit your clan will increase your influence over time. Look for policies that provide bonuses to clan renown or reduce party wages.
- For example, championing “Royal Guard” can boost your clan’s influence proportionally to its strength.
- Influence Spending: During an election, you can spend influence to support your candidacy or undermine others. However, spending too much too frequently can drain your resources and make you appear desperate. A measured approach is key.
Building Positive Relationships
- Helping Fellow Lords: Assist other lords in battles, rescue them from captivity, or complete quests for them. These actions foster goodwill and improve relationships.
- Be mindful of personality traits. Honorable lords appreciate honorable actions, while calculating lords value strategic gains.
- Marriage Alliances: Marrying into powerful clans can solidify alliances and improve your standing within the kingdom.
- Gift Giving (With Caution): Gifting companions or valuable items can improve relations, but it can also be seen as manipulative if done excessively or to lords with high honor.
Beyond influence and relationships, your in-game actions play a crucial role in election outcomes.
Capturing Fiefs and Contributing to Defense
- Leading Sieges: Actively lead sieges against enemy castles and towns. Successfully capturing a fief significantly increases your chances of being considered for its ownership.
- Defending Territory: Be proactive in defending your kingdom’s territory from enemy incursions. Rallying troops and repelling invaders demonstrates your commitment and strengthens your reputation.
- **Strategic Placement of Armies: ** Maintain a strong garrison force within your own fiefs; this will prevent immediate loss, boost security and in turn, increase the value AI lords see in you.
Understanding Clan Tier & Power
- Clan Tier: Your clan’s tier directly impacts your influence and the weight your voice carries in kingdom decisions. Focus on increasing your renown by winning battles and completing quests to advance through the tiers.
- Clan Strength: A strong clan with numerous troops and substantial income is more likely to be taken seriously by the AI. Invest in upgrading your fiefs and recruiting skilled soldiers to bolster your clan’s power.
- Avoid unnecessary battles: Smaller conflicts can result in high casualties. The AI will prefer a player that is always at full strength.
From my personal experience, the game’s AI seems to reward consistency and dedication. It’s not about one grand gesture; it’s about consistently contributing to the kingdom’s well-being. Here are a few insights I’ve gathered:
- The “First in, First Served” Mentality: I’ve noticed that the lord who initiates the siege of a fief often has a slight advantage in the election. Be the first to offer your services when a castle or town is ripe for the taking.
- The “Underdog” Effect: If you’re a relatively new or weaker clan, actively participating in wars and demonstrating bravery can surprisingly boost your popularity. The AI seems to appreciate a “rags to riches” story.
- Don’t Neglect Your Starting Fief: Upgrading your starting fief, even if it’s just a village, sends a signal of your commitment to the kingdom. The AI considers your stewardship skills when making decisions.
- Use Diplomacy Skill to Your Advantage: The diplomacy skill impacts relationship gain, especially with the charm perk “effusive greetings” which grants +2 relationship when first meeting an NPC. This provides an early and lasting bonus that requires no other action.
- Pay Attention to Clan Culture: Each clan has a different culture that will affect how they are perceived by others.
Scenario: Imagine a castle is captured. Three clans are potential candidates: Clan A (powerful, wealthy, but somewhat inactive), Clan B (moderate strength, good relations, actively defends territory), and Clan C (weaker, recently joined the kingdom, but bravely led the siege). Clan C, despite being the weakest, has a good chance because they initiated the capture. Clan B, with its consistent contributions and solid relationships, is also a strong contender. Clan A, while powerful, may be overlooked due to its relative inactivity.
| Clan | Strength | Relations | Activity | Chance of Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | High | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
| B | Moderate | High | High | High |
| C | Low | Low | High (Led Siege) | Moderate/High |
As a long-time Mount & Blade player, I’ve spent countless hours experimenting with different strategies to influence fief elections. These insights are based on direct gameplay experience and observations within the game’s mechanics.
While direct, explicit documentation on the AI’s exact decision-making process is limited, the Mount & Blade community provides valuable insights. Discussions on platforms like the Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/Bannerlord/) often reveal player experiences that corroborate these strategies. Understanding general game mechanics and AI behavior, as described on resources like the Mount & Blade Wiki, can also provide context for these observations.
Securing fiefs in Bannerlord 2 is a multifaceted process. By mastering influence, cultivating relationships, actively participating in strategic gameplay, and understanding the nuances of AI behavior, you can significantly increase your chances of getting elected. Remember, consistency, dedication, and a bit of strategic thinking are key to conquering the political landscape of Calradia.
To master the art of influencing fief elections in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, it is key to keep in mind that:
* Building positive relationships with your fellow lords by helping them in battles, rescuing them from captivity, and completing quests for them is key.
* Capturing and defending fiefs is as important as your relationship with other lords.
* Your clan tier and power will affect your influence and the weight your voice carries in kingdom decisions.